Retire to the Philippines and Succeed — You Ask, I Answer. Find Your Answers Here.

Here’s One Of The Reasons I Tell You To Think Bigger — You Are So Much More

2020-11-13 by Dave Starr Leave a Comment

You Are So Much More.

(Updated 14 November 2020)

So many people visit here.

Many read, a few ask questions and there are times I feel so inadequate.

I have only traveled down one path in my life (as has everyone else, actually).

I only learned and observed just so much, and the majority of people who pass by here are younger, better educated and many are even way better off financially than I am.

Yet they often ask questions about how they can get to the Philippines and eke out a tiny living just to be able to live where they want.

The real answer is:

You Don’t Need To Earn Where You Live!

Home Country Things You Better Keep

2020-11-03 by Dave Starr 2 Comments

Home Country Things You Better Hold On To.

(Updated 4 November 2020)

Just recentlntlyI was telling a reader that writing about moving to the Philippines seemed very boring to me.

I had gotten very old and stale in my writing and in my living overseas thoughts.

But then I just had a conversation with a fellow US military retiree here in the Philippines and I realized there’s a whole raft of things out there I should be writing about.

One thing people always ask about over the years I have been writing about is:

“What to Bring from the US and What to Leave Behind”

Well, I think rather than a blog article someone could write a whole book on that subject. Sorry, that won’t be me.

But one thing that did come up with my retiree friend recently is something many westerners who move to the Philippines don’t think about a lot when packing their moving boxes.
[Read more…] about Home Country Things You Better Keep

Can My Philippine Friend Visit Me in the USA?

2020-11-02 by Dave Starr 64 Comments

US Visitor Visa concerns. Can My Philippine Friend Visit Me in the USA?

(Updated 3 November 2020)

Originally published sometime back. Significantly updated and corrected for my current reader’s information. Thanks for being a reader, by the way.

Remember one thing: I am not a lawyer and ecerything you read here is merely personal opinion ased on my understnding of how I “think” things work. No one except a consulat officer of the Untited Staes can issue a visa.

Anyone who tells you that she or he can get a visa issued, “for sure” is either mistaken or trying to scam you.

I have received a lot of queries over the years about the US Visitor Visa (known as a B2 Visa to the US State Department) for Filipinos.

Mainly these questions revolve around the subject of getting a Filipino friend a temporary visitor’s visa allowing them to enter the USA for a short visit.

People want to know, mainly:

How do they (the visas) work,
How much do they cost,
Can my girlfriend get one, etc.
I’ve heard they are very hard to get, and why?

It occurred to me today that I hadn’t written about these issues in some time when I opened an email from a reader here with some specific questions:

Here’s a video with some good information.

Why Can’t My Filipina Wife Get a Tourist Visa To The USA?

2020-11-02 by Dave Starr 7 Comments

Why Can’t My Filipina Wife Get a Tourist Visa To The USA?

(Updated 2 November 2020)

Updated and corrected to bring it up to date

This question comes up frequently. Often there is a lot of anger attached as a US citizen husband finds out that his lawfully married foreign spouse can’t get a US B2 Visitor (Tourist) Visa, despite having all paperwork and immigration status documents in order.

The Anger Is Fully Justified, In My View

But it doesn’t matter if you are angry, or even if I am angry in support of your position.

In many cases. the Tourist visa just ain’t going to happen. Why?

The US Visa System Just Doesn’t “Fit” the Way Most Expat Families Live

And it’s not likely to change any time soon.

Everything about the US Immigration system is geared to handle two things:

1. Tourists (Temporary Visitors) Who Have No Attachment To The USA

2. Spouses Of US Citizens Who Want To Come To the USA to Establish Legal Residence (Get a Green Card)

There’s Little Room in the Mind f the State Department For Any Other Category

How Hard Is It To Get a Tourist Visa to the USA From the Philippines?

2020-11-01 by Dave Starr Leave a Comment

How Hard Is It To Get a Tourist Visa to the USA From the Philippines?

(Updated 2 November 2020)

Here’s a typical comment that gets posted here at PhilFAQS, where you can learn how to move to and profit in the Philippines. Over the past 15 years, I have heard and seen so many stories like this that it makes me sad.

There’s nothing I can do except to try to clarify the way the US laws are written and how they seem to be applied to Filipinos applying for visitor visas (tourist visas) to the USA.

Disclaimer: Remember that I am not a lawyer and I have no connection with the US Embassy or any other agency or company involved in granting or denying US tourist visas. These are my own personal opinions and are not legal advice. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney.

Here’s a Video That May Help. The Outlook Isn’t Rosey

A Typical Reader Story

How To Visit the USA From the Philippines

2020-10-30 by Dave Starr 2 Comments

How To Visit the USA From the Philippines.

(Updated 30 October 2020)

Recently I published several articles about the difficulty of Filipinos getting approval for a US Visitors (Tourist) Visa, also known as a B1/B2 Visa.

Here are just a few:

I’m A US Citizen — Why Can’t My Filipina Wife Get a Tourist Visa To The USA?

Can My Philippine Friend Visit Me in the USA?

How Hard Is It To Get a Tourist Visa to the USA From the Philippines?

These will give you the idea of the problem, in case you weren’t already familiar.

What’s the common thread that runs through all tourist visa discussions?

Will We Ever Meet? Pandemic Blues

2020-07-12 by Dave Starr Leave a Comment

Will We Ever Meet?

(Updated 18 August 2020)

One of my most popular posts here on PhilFqs is this one: How To Get My Filipino Girlfriend To The USA

I plan to do some extensive re-writing there and add some ideas I have about overcoming the difficulties single Filipinos face in getting tourist visas to visit the USA.

Many Americans tell me, “Hey I don’t want to know about getting visas like the US Fiancee visa (K-1 or K-2)

I Just Want To Meet My Freind in Person

In the past, I have always had a “pat” answer that many readers didn’t like, but it was always a course of action that worked, and it didn’t require anyone’s permission.

Just get a passport. get on a plane, and come here and spend some time with your friend.

But Now COVID 19 Has Gotten In The Way

I Hate My Life

2020-07-12 by Dave Starr Leave a Comment

I Hate My Life (Is the Philippines the Cure?

(Updated 10 Jul 2020)

If you’re like most people, you probably have a long list of things you’d do differently if you had a second shot at life.

Maybe, considering our main topic here, you’d be thinking about moving to the Philippines and starting over again. Many people tell me how they hate their life and “if only” they could afford to move to the Philippines their lives would improve greatly.

But Warren Buffett? Not so much.

[Read more…] about I Hate My Life

No You Can Not

2020-07-03 by Dave Starr 2 Comments

Please Don’t Come Now.

I don’t have a lot to report on this issue, but it keeps coming up.

Just like the brand new EU” ban on US visitors, the Philippines has a “no foreigners” ban in place.

If you are not a Filipino (or a foreigner legally married to a Philippine citizen) DO NOT show up at a Philippine port of entry.

You will NOT be admitted

When will this restriction be lifted?

Don’t bug your airline, the Manila airport, or even the Philippine Bureau of Immigration. None of them has any control. The restrictions are by the order of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

This IATF is chaired by the President of the Philippines.

They will make the necessary decisions at the proper times.

Kindly cooperate

Updates For US Veterans in the Philippines.

2020-06-16 by Dave Starr 2 Comments

Attention US Vets.

(Updated 17 Jun 2020)

I’m just republishing this as a service to any of my readers who are US Veterans.

Thanks to my good friend Jim who forwarded the email to our US Veterans in the Philippines group.

And thanks to the Manila Clinic director, Daniel Gutkoski. In my nearly 14 years here in the Philippines I have never seen an email from the VA clinic with as much detailed information, much less the director’s direct email and desk phone number. Could it be there is now actually someone who cares in the VA. I’m hopeful.

You Are So Much More.

(Updated 14 November 2020)

So many people visit here.

You Don’t Need To Earn Where You Live!

(Updated 4 November 2020)

“What to Bring from the US and What to Leave Behind”

(Updated 3 November 2020)

People want to know, mainly:

(Updated 2 November 2020)

The Anger Is Fully Justified, In My View

The US Visa System Just Doesn’t “Fit” the Way Most Expat Families Live

1. Tourists (Temporary Visitors) Who Have No Attachment To The USA

2. Spouses Of US Citizens Who Want To Come To the USA to Establish Legal Residence (Get a Green Card)

(Updated 2 November 2020)

Here’s a Video That May Help. The Outlook Isn’t Rosey

A Typical Reader Story

(Updated 30 October 2020)

(Updated 18 August 2020)

I Just Want To Meet My Freind in Person

But Now COVID 19 Has Gotten In The Way

(Updated 10 Jul 2020)

But Warren Buffett? Not so much.

Please Don’t Come Now.

You will NOT be admitted

When will this restriction be lifted?

(Updated 17 Jun 2020)

Attention US Vets: