My 13A Visa journey - Probationary!

Hi, my name is Wouter; I married Victoria (Filipino) in June 2019 in the Philippines. This is how we walked to get the process started for my 13A; I am not a lawyer or a legal advisor. I share the story that is matching for me and hopefully will help you also.

My background:

• I am Dutch, living and working in the Philippines,
• My wife and I have no children together (I have a daughter who lives in the Netherlands),
• We live in Metro Manila.

Depending on where you are born and/or if you have children together or not (or you as the applicant will bring your child), the journey can be different, and different documents are mandatory. So please use this as your guide to get started and contact your local BI office when needed.

My 13A journey:

The journey itself is not that difficult; it is only time-consuming. Never give up even when you get setbacks. Focus on your mission; that is what is important.

Ensure that you have all the needed documents, stamps, and all before you make your appointment. When you have that, you create your appointment online, advise, be early to avoid challenges if you need to fix some documents. It took me one whole day; I am working in IT, so I didn't lose too much time working. I can work remotely. The reason why it took one day? I forgot to check my NBI, it was not valid anymore, and it must be 6 months from the moment you apply.?

How to apply?

Create an online account. Click here to create your account. This is needed to apply and follow up the steps (Metro Manila, please validate your area's applicable area) for your 13A journey. Only create an appointment, when you have done all the required/needed to make your 13A Visa request.

Download the 'general instruction guide' and print it. It would help if you had this when you go to apply for your 13A Visa. Click on BI FORM V-I-002-Rev 1 to download this form. We only needed numbers 1 to 6 for my 13A Visa; 7 and 8 were not needed for me, but verify this to avoid challenges when applying.?

What did I bring:

On the checklist that you need to

• Joint letter?(I can send a sample if needed, PM me) that you need to?be notarized. The document's notarizing can be done just outside the Immigration office (left when exiting it).?
• You need the BI FORM CGAF-001-Rev 2.1 form; click here to download it. We had to check 'Conversion,' 'Personal' (when you do it yourself). You need?two times this form, one for your?13A?filing and one for your?ACR-I Card,
• Two 2x2 photos,
• Marriage Certificate?or Marriage Contract (one original PSA and one photocopy),
• Birth Certificate?or certified true copy of BI-issued Identification Certificate as a Filipino citizen of the?Filipino spouse, and a photocopy,
• Photocopy of passport bio-page?and latest admission with valid authorized stay. Also, it would be best if you had a?complete photocopy?of?all pages?of your passport. And just in case of, a?photocopy of your wife's?passport bio-page,
• Photocopy?of your?ACR-I Card,
• Valid?National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance,?6 MONTHS Valid from the moment you apply in the BI office. Click here to make an online profile and appointment.
• One extra letter,?The Affidavit of Joint Cohabitation this is the replacement of the seminar/interview. We didn't know that the need to have this. The BI official was super helpful and helped my wife to get this done directly. My wife went to the nearest lawyer in town for an additional requirement,?The Affidavit of Joint Cohabitation.??It's an affidavit stating that the husband and wife live together under the same roof for?XX?years. Make sure to present your wedding certificate also.

Ready, Set, Go!

All papers are ready; the next step is getting it done. The next step is, make an online appointment for your 13A Visa. Click?here to go to the page to make your online appointment. Make sure to print the invite sent to your email address, or go back to the appointment page and download it.

At the BI Manila (1):

Make sure to bring all papers with you, try to order them properly. If you do have not have two folders, you can buy them the BI (that is what we did).

First (actually, that is the most important part of your 13A journey) is to submit the documents for pre-screening to the Central Receiving Unit (CRU) or the frontline officer or staff of other Immigration Offices able to process this transaction.

In the BI's main office in Manila, they are located in the main hall aside from the stairs. When you enter the building, go straight to window one (that is directly aside from the stairs) in the main hall.?The BI official was guiding us 100%, be polite, and listen to what he is telling you, make sure that your spouse is with you to translate when needed (is really helping out).

• Submit requirements for 13A application,
• Submit requirements for ACR I-Card application (second form?BI FORM CGAF-001-Rev 2.1)

Get the Order of Payment Slip (OPS), and pay the required fees. Be aware that you need to pay also 'Express lane'; it is not mentioned on the 13A page.

Just make sure you bring enough cash with you. An ATM is just around the corner at the main entrance on the right when you go out. We paid around 12000 PHP total, like always, cash only,

Since we had some extra delays (the NBI journey), we had to make a new appointment online. Not sure if that is the default or not.

In our case, the payment was the final step for the first visit. We had to make an online appointment on the given date/time printed on the Official Receipt. Click?here to go to the page to make your online appointment. Make sure to print the invite sent to your email address, or go back to the appointment page and download it.

At the BI Manila (2):

The second time, it was for me, a 30 minutes step by the BI only. Just a digital Image and Fingerprint Capturing. We had planned it 3 days later (the date/time is printed on the receipt; actually, they gave two dates).

NOTE: Be aware that if you miss the data, you have the chance to start all over again. This is noted on the Order of Payment Slip.

When you are in the building, go to the 1st floor (called 2nd), go to the right, and all the way at the end on the left side is room 214. Handover your receipt and they will give you some papers back to continue the journey.

Now you go down back to the ground floor, in the main entrance go to the left. In the far end, you have the place for your?Image and Fingerprint Capturing. A little cueing, and you are ready.

This step is to capture a digital image of your face (front and side-looking) and a digital set of fingerprints. This is with the Capturing Counter of the Alien Registration Division (ARD). And you are done for now.

The waiting pays off!

After waiting for some extra weeks on top of the pre-set date, did we finally get listed on the BI's online released agenda? So what did we do all this time:

• We checked online weekly after the first preset date was passed,
• We started to call with the BI when things became unclear why nothing was changing,
• And in the end, when you call enough time, you get all the direct numbers that you need. Just make sure to stay polite all the time, know how to spell your name properly (they rather have your name and not the ID). And be persistent each time you contact them, don't give up. In my case, we needed about 1 1/2 months extra time!

So listed on the agenda, next challenge, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. I was one of the people listed on a 293 pages document with an average of 14 people per page. Every day they release 1 day of slots. Per slot, only around 10 people can come. So how did I beat the system?

I have NOT used an agent for my Visa, so how did I get the appointment without any trouble. Put an alarm at 11:55 Pm, open the BI page, and click on the Online Appointment link. Logon-in, wait until midnight, and select the proper options, and what you will see is ONE day of open slots. Don't think too long (we choose the first slot open) since these slots really fly out fast.

00:00 all slots free for ONE day, 00:05 one slot 50% gone 4 1/2. 00:15 slots closing fast.

At the BI Manila (3):

Finally, a green light from the BI was given, and an online appointment was made. We went to Manila for the final step, handing over your passport to add the VISA. A new appointment is given 2 days after this appointment, and to make it more fun, the day after you receive your passport, you can pick up your ACR I-card.

After some phone calls, we found out we have only one restriction in changing the collecting moment for my passport and ACR I-card. You can only collect them between 2 pm and 4 pm in the Manila office (that is where we did all our processing), and if you want to combine your trip, make sure to do this on the day of your ACR I-card after that release moment. Don't wait too long since this is your golden keycard!

At the BI Manila (4) the Final trip for my probation period:

After a nice ride with my driver did we arrive at the BI around 1:45 pm. The queue line is long already, and the sun burning like always. Not really sure why some individuals are getting permission to go in without waiting in the queue; I could stereotype easily, only I have an official record of why it happened.

Finally, after 30-45 minutes of sunbathing, I was allowed to go in, collect my passport and my ACR I-card. First things first:

• My passport, window 40, no queue, just one Chinese citizen collecting his passport. Before I realized it was, he went with his agent. I give the BI agent my receipt (make sure to secure your receipts well, all-time), and after no less than 2 minutes of waiting, I sign the famous book that I had received my passport.

Next listed is my ACR I-card.

• Going to window 1 to claim my ACR I-card, not really. The men behind window 2 collect my second receipt and removed one part of the receipt to hand it back with a note "Window 214". On the second floor, here we come, window 214 is behind a queue line that took me 45 minutes to get to the window. Window 1 of 214, handing the small paper, directly I was asked to go to window 2, and I was given my ACR I-card. One final set of signatures for this part of the 13A probationary Visa and all was done.

The journey never stops:

I have passed the final stage and updated this article with the latest details. Next year I have to request the permanent version, so let's wait for that and create a new follow-up.

Stop!

Besides getting your paperwork done, every year you have to report yourself within the first 60 days of the year, or when you are abroad, within 30 days after returning.

In compliance with the Republic Act No. 562, all foreign nationals with immigrant and non-immigrant visas who registered with the Bureau of Immigration shall report to the BI annually within the first sixty (60) days of every calendar year.

The following foreign nationals are required to comply with the Annual Report 2021:

• All Foreign nationals including their accompanying dependents who are holders of valid Alien Certificate of Registration Identity Card (“ACR I-Card”) are required to comply with the Annual Report 2021 (except for tourist visa holders);?

Useful links

Bureau of Immigration main page, click here to enter the page.

National Bureau of Investigation, click here to enter the page.

VISA application status, click here to go to the page. Not sure how often they update it.

Search for your Visa Status based on your OR and ID number.

Final NOTE:

As mentioned, I am not a lawyer nor a legal advisor. This is my journey if you need other documents or rules change. That is your responsibility; always ask/talk with your local BI office to see if rules are changed or if you need additional documents.

Hopefully, this is useful for you, and enjoy the 13A journey!