In a few months, I’m hoping end of April or May 2025, I will be navigating my visa situation in the Philippines after applying for the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa. Back when my tourist visa was nearing its end, I realized that submitting the SRRV application didn’t automatically let me stay beyond my current extension. The SRRV process will probably take longer than expected—several weeks, even months—since they needed my passport, medical certificate, police clearance, and the visa deposit to be finalized.
I’ll be on my tourist visa, which I could extend in increments—one, two, or six months—up to a maximum of three years as a US citizen. To avoid any issues, I will make sure to request these extensions from the Bureau of Immigration before my visa will expire. While my SRRV is still being processed, I will go to the BI—probably the main office in Manila—and apply for another tourist visa extension to cover the gap. I will mention my pending SRRV application and show them the acknowledgment from the PRA, which should help smooth things over.
I know that overstaying isn’t an option—fines of about 500 pesos per month, potential detention, or even a blacklist could derail my SRRV approval. So, I’ll keep it legal by submitting my passport and the extension forms to the BI, ensuring I stay in good standing. Eventually, the SRRV will come through, and will have indefinite stay with multiple-entry privileges—no more worrying about extensions. I will keep everything in order, and I will checked with the PRA and BI to confirm the details as things unfolded.
I’ll keep you up to date with future posts.
