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Dave Starr

Work From Home In The Philippines

2019-12-11 by Dave Starr Leave a Comment

Work From Home In The Philippines

(Updated 30 Nov 2019)

I recently released an article on this subject, but there were some things I didn’t mention in that article that ought to be made clear.

You should read my first article to get more idea of what I am talking about.

Online Jobs At Home In The Philippines —September 2019

Go ahead, I’ll wait right here for you.
[Read more…] about Work From Home In The Philippines

Filed Under: Earning Money to Live in the Philippines

Manila US Embassy Phone Number Change

2019-11-20 by Dave Starr Leave a Comment

US Embassy PhoneNumberIn case you are not aware, the Manila U.S. Embassy’s phone number changed recently.

It is now: 02-5-301-2000.

The sneaky 5 was added.

The Social Security office can also be reached at that number.

When the recording starts, press 9. Social Security only takes calls on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8am to 11am.

Thanks and a tip of the hat to the folks at RAO Subic Bay.

Also, and a further tip of the hat to reader Lewis:

Anyway, I called the U.S. Embassy (today, Dec. 9, 2019), to get the numbers for the Visa Call Center, and the numbers given in the recording are not complete/correct. I called the embassy mainline, got the operator and got the correct numbers. Please take note:

02-8548-8223
02-7792-8988

Filed Under: Moving to the Philippines

Help With Getting Her Visa — Rapid Visa

2019-11-17 by Dave Starr Leave a Comment

Help With Getting Her Visa — Rapid Visa

(updated 12 November 2019)

OK, time to talk turkey here (after all, it’s now close to Thanksgiving, isn’t it?).

Query after query come to me here, and via email, about help in getting their Filipino friends, especially Pinay girlfriends, US B-2 Visitor Visas to enter the United States.

Normally this is a situation where I just can’t offer much hope.  It’s difficult, indeed, for a single, marriage-eligible female Philippine citizen to get a US Tourist visa.

But There Is Some Hope For Those Who Feel They Can’t Make The Grade

[Read more…] about Help With Getting Her Visa — Rapid Visa

Filed Under: Visas

You Can Still Make Money From Your Job After You Retire

2019-10-27 by Dave Starr Leave a Comment

You Can Still Make Money From Your Job After You Retire.

(Updated 27 October 2019)

If you’re like most readers who drop by here, you are interested in two primary questions:

How can I earn money to live in the Philippines?

And how can I find something to do in retirement which will be satisfying, rewarding and (maybe) even profitable?

Easy, I’ll Get A Job

If you’ve visited this blog before,  you already know I STRONGLY recommend that foreigners do NOT try to find a job in the Philippines.  In many cases, it may be illegal.  It will also involve very low wages and long tiring hours, and (at least in my personal opinion) it’s morally wrong for a foreigner with a pension income to try to take a job from a Filipino with a family to support.

Read more about why you don’t want a job here: 10 Reasons You Don’t Want A Job In The Philippines

Or, I’ll Start a Philippine Business

Well, in many cases you will run into the same sort of problems you’ll face with a Philippine job.

Many businesses are not legal for a foreigner to own or operate.

Most businesses foreigners think of in the Philippines have low margins/low-profit potential.

And a great many foreigners I have dealt with have a rather arrogant opinion regarding how things are “better” back in their own country and everything with a Filipino business will be alright and things will run smoothly once a foreigner “shows them how”.

I have news for you on that.  Philippine businesses have been running, in some cases for hundreds of years, and a foreigner is often not going to “out-Filipino a Filipino” on his home turf.  It’s better not to try.

OK, So That’s All Pretty Negative … What’s Your Suggestion?

Clearly, if you need to make some money and a local job or business is not a good choice, you need a specific slot or niche where you have experience and where you are expert enough to have earned a living for some years.

Your best niche opportunity may be already staring you in the face.

[Read more…] about You Can Still Make Money From Your Job After You Retire

Filed Under: Earning Money to Live in the Philippines

Business Advice For Anyone: Whatever You’re Thinking, Think Bigger

2019-10-25 by Dave Starr Leave a Comment

Whatever You’re Thinking, Think Bigger.

(Updated 25 October 2019)

I’m currently working with a couple of Americans who plan to move to the Philippines “someday”, and try to earn a living with their own business.

They have a depressingly mundane small set of ideas that come up constantly … over and over again.

  • An Internet café  with expensive equipment, extremely low profit margins and constantly being made antique by ever-cheaper tablets and iPhones.
  • Or sari-sari stores, where you can compete with the other 25 sari sari stores on the same block to see who will sell a cigarette (yes they are typically sold by just one “stick” at a time) for less.  Maybe you can cut the stick in half and sell it even cheaper for people who want a “quick smoke”.  *sigh*.
  • And of course whatever you sell you’ll be stuck selling on credit and no one will pay their bill voluntarily and you’ll wind up having to pay “5-6” rates (20% weekly interest) just to be able to put stock back in the store, or pay your electric bill.

Life can be very hard here for small businessmen and women, trust me on that … or find it out for yourself, your choice.

[Read more…] about Business Advice For Anyone: Whatever You’re Thinking, Think Bigger

Filed Under: Earning Money to Live in the Philippines

Philippine Marriage and the Am I Considered Married Question

2019-10-24 by Dave Starr Leave a Comment

Philippine Marriage and the Am I Considered Married Question

(Updated 24 October 2019)

Recently I received another comment with questions on this surprisingly common issue.  Is there any way a Filipino, who was legally married as recognized by the Philippines, be considered legally “un-married” by the Philippines and.or the US government.

(As always, remember that these are my layman’s opinions, offered for information and discussion purposes.  They are NOT legal advice and they should not be construed as legal advice in the Philippines or in any other country)

Of course, we all know (or if you didn’t, you will learn now), that there is no divorce in the Philippines.  The common legal “remedies” to being married include:

  1. A Philippine court-ordered annulment under Philippine law.
  2. A foreign divorce, if the divorce was initiated by the foreigner partner in a Filipino-Foreigner marriage.
  3. The death of a spouse under normal circumstances.
  4. The “presumptive death” of a spouse, as determined by a court of the Republic of the Philippines.

Today’s comments, (from reader Leonor, thanks, Leonor)  (in blue) and my responses deal with that fourth alternative, dissolution of marriage by the presumptive death of a spouse:

[Read more…] about Philippine Marriage and the Am I Considered Married Question

Filed Under: Divorce and Annulment

Still Married After All These Years

2019-10-23 by Dave Starr Leave a Comment

Still Married After All These Years.

(Updated 04 December 2019)

One of the saddest categories of articles I write and comments I answer here on PhilFAQS are those regarding Divorce in the Philippines.

The sad truth is, the is no divorce in the Philippics (for Christian folks at least).

And although the laws involved are not openly discriminatory to the women of the Philippines, in actual practice they disenfranchise women here to the utmost and essentially ruin many Philippine women’s lives forever.

Where Does the Divorce Problem Start?

For some background I recommend those who haven’t yet done so read this Marriage, Nationality and Divorce   Go ahead, I’ll wait.
[Read more…] about Still Married After All These Years

Filed Under: Divorce and Annulment

Marriage, Nationality and Divorce

2019-10-22 by Dave Starr 34 Comments

Marriage, Nationality and Divorce

(Updated 22 October 2019)
Here’s an article I republished many years ago and just recently updated.
And updated yet again because of some activity in the area of divorce law, and statements made by the Pope on a visit to the Philippines.

Things Are Different in the Philippines

Here’s an excellent article that will serve as a primer on the way divorce, annulment and citizenship work in the Philippines.
It describes the strange and often cruel way the laws about marriage, divorce, annulment and citizenship are applied to citizens of the Philippines (especially, female citizens).
Those of you considering marriage with a citizen of the Philippines really need to do some studying and “thinking through”.  Virtually everything regarding marriage and divorce here is different than what you know from the USA,

By Atty. Rita Linda V. Jimeno

The story of Rosanne in my column last week triggered numerous reactions from readers that merit discussion. As a jump-off point, we shall encapsulate Rosanne’s case.  Her Filipino husband who used to be loving and conscious of his familial obligations, abandoned all his duties toward her and their children when, as a result of his prolonged employment abroad, he found a new love.  He then divorced her and married his lover with whom he now has two children.

We said that there is a gap in our family law because while her husband is no longer married to her, she remains married to him, an incongruous situation which our family law offers no solution to… Read Full Article Here

Logically You Can Not Be Married and Unmarried (Divorced) At The Same Time

But you have to take into account that here in the Philippines, logic does not always apply.

I’ve had a number of online conversations lately about folks in the same or similar situations as the lady described in Attorney Jimeno’s article.

There is always a lot of discussion when a foreigner and a Filipino marry, often centering around where the marriage should take place and where, or when (if ever) they could divorce.

Now to most people’s logic, “marriage” and “divorce” (or “annulment”) are binary options.  You can’t be in both situations at the same time.

[Read more…] about Marriage, Nationality and Divorce

Filed Under: Divorce and Annulment

Make Money At Your Keyboard in the Philippines — Without PayPal

2019-10-21 by Dave Starr Leave a Comment

Make Money At Your Keyboard in the Philippines. Without PayPal,
(Updated 21 October 2019)

The title of this article never ceases to amaze me.  When I check the keywords and terms that people use to find this site online, that exact sentence turns up often.  I already rank at the top of Google for searches like:

Make Money At Your Keyboard in the Philippines — Without Typing

and

Make Money At Your Keyboard in the Philippines — No Website Required

But why the heck is the phrase “without PayPal” showing up so often?
[Read more…] about Make Money At Your Keyboard in the Philippines — Without PayPal

Filed Under: Earning Money to Live in the Philippines

Make Money At Your Keyboard in the Philippines

2019-10-20 by Dave Starr Leave a Comment

Make Money At Your Keyboard in the Philippines

(Updated 5 December 2019)

Another article on how to Make Money At Your Keyboard in the Philippines, Dave?

Yep.  I just published one a day or two ago, and although there have been no comments so far, I can see a LOT of people have already been there and read it.

If you missed it, go take a look, Make Money At Your Keyboard in the Philippines — No Website Required  I’ll be happy to wait.

The gist of that article was to use your writing skills .. even common ordinary business and personal English skills, to earn a living in the Philippines as a freelance researcher/ writer.  There is certainly a huge demand out there.

But I Hate Writing

Yeah, I hear a few of you saying that already.  No problem at all.  If you hate writing, but still want to earn a steady, reliable passive income from “the Internet”, here’s an idea I have not written about really often here … why not invest in a proven online business that has:

  • Proven income
  • Will stand up to due diligence scrutiny
  • Will continue earning as long as you want to earn from it
  • Can be sold in the future (even at a profit if you want to make improvements)
  • And, like the apartment houses, I was talking about here, this is something you can leave to your children, or to your widow if you’re worried about her income after you pass.

Don’t Build a Business, Buy It

Here’s a teaser to what I am talking about.  Yaro Starak, the fellow who wrote this article, is one of my oldest online colleagues.  he’s been earning a six-figure or more income for years now, and he is not a fly by night or “fast-talking” Internet marketing guru (I hate those sort of guys as much as you do).

A warning.  Yaro  _IS_ selling something but here’s why I am including his article:

  • You don’t have to buy a thing in order to learn
  • I recommend you do not buy anything until you have a clear concept of where buying something might help you.
  • If you do decide to buy, there are no hidden “upsells” or gotcha’s”, it’s 100% risk-free.
  • And, if you do buy, full disclosure< I will earn a commission which does not come out of your pocket.

Philly recommends, you leave your credit card in your wallet for now and read and learn something.  Trust me it is more valuable than yet another hour wasted on FaceBook.

Fears That Make You Fail before You Even Start

by Yaro Starak, http://www.ejinsider.com/buyandsell/

FEAR NUMBER ONE:
“I don’t have that kind of money!”

Make Money At Your Keyboard in the Philippines

The great thing about buying a blog is you can decide how “big” a start you want to make.

There are blogs that sell for $20K, $50K or even six or seven figures, but you don’t have to start there.

You can get started with just a couple of hundred dollars.

Buy a blog, grow it and then sell it and buy a bigger blog, or keep it and save up the cash flow to buy another blog.

When I bought a blog it cost me $2,000, which was about 10% of the entire income I earned in the previous year. It was not an easy decision, but it was important because it gave me the confidence to make bigger purchases in the future.

Later I bought sites for $12,000, and after that made a bid of $50,000 for a blog network.

I climbed the success ladder, starting small, learning, then increasing my threshold for how much I was willing to risk as my knowledge and confidence increased.

The truth is, like any investment you have to be prepared to lose your money. That’s why if you are completely new, you should start with a blog that costs only a few hundred dollars.

Consider this: Is there any other type of investment that you can start with such a small amount initially, earn a steady cash-flow from it, and potentially make as much as 1,000% ROI when you sell the asset two years later?

To get these kinds of returns in real estate or in the stock market requires you exposé yourself to a lot more debt.

If you buy a blog, the likely “worse case scenario” is selling the blog for the same price you paid, losing nothing and gaining a heck of a lot of experience.

Or, you might have a winner on your hands, like I did, selling the blog I bought for $2,000 for $25,000 just two years later. Plus I was making $1,000 per monththe entire time I owned the blog.

I can’t think of any better opportunity available to us right now. Don’t let this pass you by… (read more at http://www.ejinsider.com/buyandsell/ or you can just

Make Money At Your Keyboard

There are Many Active Market Places To Buy Proven Web-based Businesses.

Here are just a few:

Flippa

This business grew out of a great internet discussion forum some years ago.  They now sell thousands of web sites and other online businesses per year.

The sites sold her are always among the cheapest.  Although the management team has done a lot over the years to eliminate fraud and scams, this is still very much a “buyer beware” marketplace.

But if you do your own due diligence it is possible to get some great bargains on Flippa.

Empire Flippers

I know (online and in-person) the founders of this business.  They are from the US and came to the Philippines to start a business here.

Originally they built and sold small “niche” sites, but then decided that there was more money to be made and that they could provide more value by brokering web site sales.

Recognized by many as the top of the line in web site brokering, they have a very thorough vetting program.  You will not make a bad buy here if you follow their guidelines.

Recommended

There’s a lot more to this story

But I thought I’d throw this out there and hope to get some discussion.  It’s really not that hard to find ecommerce websites and blogs that earn a few hundred to a few thousand per month for sale at attractive prices.  Easier than say building an apartment building and keeping it rented.

But maybe you guys hate this idea for how to Make Money At Your Keyboard in the Philippines.

Filed Under: Earning Money to Live in the Philippines

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