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You Don’t Have to Live in a Condo to Have an SRRV

May 2, 2013 by 2 Comments
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I received an important comment/correction from my colleague, the "Subic Sage" regarding this article, so I need to make sure the correction/clarification goes out to as many readers as possible.  Please forgive the re-posting so soon after the original article. I didn't really say anything 'wrong" in that article, but the way I said it could leave a very wrong impression in some people's minds.  There are steps to follow, like 1, then 2, then 3 and so forth.  As the Sage says, you can't … [Read more...]

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Just How Many Manila Airports Are There?

April 3, 2013 by 18 Comments
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(Previously published.  Updated and corrected to stay aligned with what the airlines are doing here in the Philippines) Here's a subject that comes up time and time again.  What's the deal with the airport or airports in Manila?  We can help here at the old PhilFAQS info center but first of all we have to define a couple things. First of all, for our purposes here, we will define and "airport" as one contiguous plot of ground that has one or more runways where … [Read more...]

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Can’t Find Good Philippine Maps?

March 25, 2013 by 8 Comments
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Just recently a friend commented to me that he was trying to find some location in the Philippines and was frustrated by the fact he couldn’t find any information on a map. You Can’t Get There From Here Now for years a major frustration both for planning trips to the Philippines and for “getting around” while living here has been that it was very difficult to find any decent maps … especially for provincial areas. And to find maps with modern features like driving directions?  … [Read more...]

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Live by What the Rule Book Doesn’t Say Instead of What It Does Say.

March 21, 2013 by 2 Comments
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(Previously published.  Significantly updated and corrected in March, 2013, to answer a whole slew of "but does the law allow me to .... ? questions.  If it doesn't say you can't, you can) OK, if you’re reading this and you are under the age of 14, go away.  We’re both breaking some kind of federal law about making this site ‘child safe” or some other kind of federal anti this or anti that act, and I am not about to start complying, so run home and tell your mamma the mean old … [Read more...]

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30 Days to Move to the Philippines

February 18, 2013 by 11 Comments
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There’s headline you don't see every day.  Many folks I know spend years thinking and planning.  My wife and I spent 6 years in the USA, waiting mainly for the time to run its course on my wife’s US citizenship process … but we were planning, researching, re-planning the whole time as well. But I decided to write this article for those of you who don’t have time to wait.  what if something came up, or you finally got “off the pot” and decided it was time to go. Could … [Read more...]

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Update on the KISS Balikbayan principle

January 15, 2013 by 5 Comments
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Updated yet again and presented for your information and consideration.  Many of you are making the move to the Philippines much harder than it needs to be,  Take action in 2013. Many will recall I have frequently mention the fallacy of spending months of worry, research and even long, expensive trips to Philippine embassies or Consulates involved in getting a permanent resident visa (13(a) or 13(g)) before a couple even comes to live in the Philippines for the first time. Yes it can … [Read more...]

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Thought For 2013 — Take Action and Make Your Move to the Philippines

January 14, 2013 by 1 Comment
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Happy New Year.  It’s off to a great start and from what  can see, it’s going to be a great year … for me, anyway.  For you?  Well it CAN be, the outcome is way more up to you than many of you want to acknowledge.  Here’s how you can fix that problem. Now let me first off make a little disclaimer here.  For those of you who really haven’t decided on the move, hey, no problem.  It’s certainly not for everyone. But many of you reading this are very … [Read more...]

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Using Taxis in the Philippines Without the Drama

December 6, 2012 by 10 Comments
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Just thought I would throw in a couple easy to remember and use tips about taxis … the holiday season is upon us and it’s a lot harder to get around in cities and large towns .. and taxis are busier than ever. For years now one of the more common complaints I have heard from fellow foreigners here in the Philippines involves taxis.  The drivers are all crooks, they won’t use the meter, they do this wrong, they won’t do this or that the way I want them too, etc., etc.  One … [Read more...]

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Bringing A Loved One To The US — Fiancée Visa

December 1, 2012 by 4 Comments
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Previously published.  Significantly updated and corrected, 2 December 2012 If you are sure that the Fiancé(e) Visa is the one for you, then this post will give you a complete overview of what's involved.  As always I try to quote from authoritative sources and in this case you can't get much more authoritative than the USCIS' (United States Citizenship and Immigration Service) own web site ... www.uscis.gov … [Read more...]

Filed Under: US Visas, Visas Tagged With: ,

Can A Cow Jump Over The Moon?

October 29, 2012 by 4 Comments
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Really?  Do you think so? Well a young, single woman in the Philippines has about the same chance as the fictional cow if she is trying to get a Tourist Visa to visit the USA.  Possibly even less. Here’s a recent comment and my extended answer to the gentleman’s question.  This ‘fairy tale” type of story comes up here frequently and those of you who are not yet acquainted with the ‘facts of life” regarding US tourist visas really need to think this through and do … [Read more...]

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More On That Pesky Philippine BB Privilege Stamp

October 13, 2012 by 2 Comments
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Questions about travelling to the Philippines, living in the Philippines and retiring in the Philippines can, of course, be complex at times. One place those of you who are confused or uncertain regarding these issues might wish to start learning more is with one of my articles entitled What Everybody Ought to Know About Citizenship and Visas — Permanent Visas You are also well advised to read the “Related” articles which show at the bottom of every post.  In particular, those … [Read more...]

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A Few More Thoughts On Onward Travel and Throwaway Tickets

October 12, 2012 by 6 Comments
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I’ve mentioned before how, at times, this blog almost “writes itself” … often because readers contribute such cogent and informative comments. Such is the case again after my recent article on “insurance” against being denied board due to not having onward travel from the Philippines. Reader Joe P, who has helped me with true cost of living details and other current information about living here in the Philippines sent me in this great comment about his trials and tribulations … [Read more...]

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