Banned from the Philippines?

Hero · Post by **Hero** » March 3rd, 2012, 11:16 am

I once heard a story from an American guy who went to the Philippines, only to be denied entrance at the airport because he had been banned (presumably for rude behavior). I'm wondering, how can one check ahead of time if one is on the "banned" list? I went to the website of the Philippines Bureau of Immigration but couldn't find anything helpful.

xiongmao · Post by **xiongmao** » March 8th, 2012, 11:12 am

I guess it's some good payback for all those shithead US immigration officials that make visitors to the US lives hell!

ladislav · Post by **ladislav** » March 9th, 2012, 4:06 pm

I would be seriously surprised if they made the black list public and put it online.
Generally, you are blacklisted if you are involved in serious altercations with officials or rape someone or attack someone and beat them up in public. Also, if you overstay your visa and do not pay the fine and then leave, you can be blacklisted. Still, blacklisting in the Philippines happens rarely and lawyers can have you removed for a price.
In Pampanga, I have seen Americans and other foreigners act rudely, get involved in fights, insult locals and even hit them, and ...nothing.
I generally recommend that all Americans enter the Philippines via Clark and not via Manila or Cebu and that they extend visas in Angeles City through travel agents or visa agents there. Same with getting driver licenses, etc.
Angeles city is a former US military base with people used to Americans and doing business with them, getting visas for them and all things there run smoothly.
Basically a perpetual traveler expat needs to stay invisible and avoid any trouble with local cops and immigration as much as possible.

Hero · Post by **Hero** » March 11th, 2012, 11:54 am

Thanks Ladislav. But why does it make a difference if you enter via Clark instead of Manila?

ladislav · Post by **ladislav** » March 11th, 2012, 3:53 pm

You are welcome. It makes a difference because thousands of Americans live there and you will just be part of a crowd of US retirees and tourists they see coming in and out every day. You will look as usual to them as a Chinese person going into the SF airport. In Manila it is not as good and in Cebu some may cop an attitude.

davewe · Post by **davewe** » March 11th, 2012, 7:11 pm

ladislav wrote:You are welcome. It makes a difference because thousands of Americans live there and you will just be part of a crowd of US retirees and tourists they see coming in and out every day.

I will add that from my West Coast city flights to Clark are less frequent than to Manila and Cebu and more expensive. But it's good to know that there is an alternative.

ladislav · Post by **ladislav** » March 11th, 2012, 10:22 pm

I will add that from my West Coast city flights to Clark are less frequent than to Manila and Cebu and more expensive. But it's good to know that there is an alternative.

If this relieves the jitters, then it is worth the money. You can fly LA- HK-Clark, LA- Bangkok-Clark, LA- Kuala Lumpur-Clark, LA- Singapore- Clark. Your arrival and departure will be very discreet with no questions except if you have a Filipina wife and why not and if you like a Filipina girl and other such things.

Philippine immigration officers in Manila and Cebu can be ill tempered and unfriendly and give you a hard time for no reason. Does not happen all the time, but happens frequently. Some are just prejudiced against Americans. And the younger you are the more sh1t they can give you.

If you can fly via Clark, more power to you. If not, well, lets hope everything will be OK anyway.

It is an option and up to you if you can/ want to take it.

Hero · Post by **Hero** » March 15th, 2012, 5:12 pm

Thanks, but it's way too expensive to fly to Clark. I've already spent a fortune on this trip. Anyway I didn't have any problems arriving via Manila last time.

Hero · Post by **Hero** » April 7th, 2012, 11:54 am

Ever hear of somebody getting arrested at the airport upon his arrival in the Philippines?