Tourist Visa Extension Issue for Months 5–6

I'm a U.S. citizen and I went through a tough screening once. An Immigration officer interviewed me. I was a middle-aged single man with no apparent ties, so they got suspicious. Once I mentioned I had a Filipino partner, they seemed to ease up. Another time, I wrote "Have a house in the Philippines with a Filipino partner" in the box asking for the reason for extension, and that worked for years. Last year, when I was in Iloilo, I applied for an extension and wrote the same thing. But this time they asked for my ID and a photo of my partner, and I panicked. I quickly called my partner (who is in Bulacan), and she sent me a passport photo and a national ID with her picture. That satisfied them. But then they told me to bring a printout, so I did, and every time I had to show a printed photo. That was only in Iloilo, though. Recently, at SM North in Quezon City, they didn't care at all whether I had printed proof of my partner. I didn't need to say anything beyond having a Filipino partner and a house in the Philippines.

I've been living here since the middle of 2015 and I leave the country briefly every three years. I also have a seven-year-old daughter here, so I've stayed despite all the trouble from my exes. I haven't had any problems with Immigration, though. Just be honest, keep your address updated, and state your reason for staying.

If you're staying less than six months, the screening is a bit lighter. If your stay is under six months, you don't need an ECC, and your tourist ACR card remains valid when you return.