Immigrant Visa Fee $165--USCIS ELIS

April 18, 2014- One week after my brother's port of entry, we paid the immigrant visa fee of $165 at the USCIS Electronic Immigration System (ELIS)  website.
Steps on paying the IV Fee $165- First, you have to create an account in order to Log in to USCIS ELIS.  Have your passport/visa ready. You will be asked your complete name, date of birth,  NVC case number or your MNL case -if your embassy is Manila-, Alien registration number. All of the information are printed on your visa. Remember to read all the instruction carefully. Once you have created your ELIS account, you will be able to pay the visa fee of $165. Then, the waiting begins-for the physical Green Card. According to them, it will take 3-6 months for your green card to process. Personally, I don't think it will take that long.


NOTE: According to the USCIS ELIS website, the USCIS immigrant fee of $165 must be paid after you receive your immigrant visa packet from the US Embassy or before you depart for the United States.
But, on my brother's case, we decided to pay it here because I have known so many immigrants on which they also have paid their visa fee after they got here with no problem, in other words they still got their Green Card. But, in no sense I am encouraging you to pay the fee in the US.  If you are able to pay the required fee before you depart, then do so. Because, at the end of the day, you will not be able to receive your permanent resident card or GC until you pay the required the USCIS Immigrant Fee .

Detroit Port of Entry (POE) Experience

April 11, 2014 was my brother's date of entry--entry to the US soil- at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne Airport (DTW).

All of passengers were ushered to the immigration counter. He fall  in line towards the "visitor" lane, when it was his turn, he was photographed and had his biometrics taken. Then he was directed to the different counter because of his visa category which is immigrant visa. The lady officer on the immigration counter asked for the yellow packet and his passport. She asked him few questions; what's the purpose for his travel on which he replied; to live permanently with his mom and sister. He was also asked to verify our address and phone number here in the US. After that, the custom officer had my brother signed the immigrant data summary sheet. The officer also told him, that he needs to stay here in the US for certain amount of time and if he wants to go back to the Philippines he can't stay for more than 6 months, if he wants to apply for citizenship in 5 years.  Then he got his passport back with the date of arrival stamped on it.

My brother went to get his luggage at the carousel then went to checked-in for his connecting flight.  The custom at the checked-in counter did not open his luggage but he was asked if he brought any food with him. He said yes-he had few lbs of dried fish in his luggage- but the custom officer did not bother to look at it.



PS: If you have connecting flight, do not worry. If you think you don't have enough time to catch up for your next flight because of the long custom process, do not worry, because if you will be late on your scheduled flight, the airline will accommodate you on their next available flight. All you have to do is approach the airline counter customer service which is usually located at your original boarding gate. So, just relax when you are at the immigration lane and pay attention on all signs and instructions. Huwag tatanga-tanga, presence of mind ang kailangan. :)

NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) Departure Procedure/Experience

April 11, 2014-  After 2 years of my brother's visa journey, this is the day we have been waiting for. His scheduled flight was 6:45am but they left a little bit early at 6:30am via Delta Airlines going to Japan then Detroit as his first port of entry.
At the NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) Terminal 1, after all the security checks he fall in line at the DELTA counter when they opened the checked-in lane. He gave his passport to the custom officer that was on duty  and he was asked few security questions which all of them are just self-explanatory.  Then he was sent to the Department of Tourism counter located inside the airport-just right before DELTA's counter-  to pay for the travel tax of 1,620PHP. At the Tourism area, he gave his passport and the amount for the travel tax and was given a receipt. He went back to the lane and ready to checked-in.  He had one (1) piece of luggage -Delta allows 2 luggages  for free  with 23kg each- and his carry-on bag which has all his documents and books. He handed his e-ticket and his passport to the lady at the counter. They weighed his check-in luggage and was given an official ticket and boarding passes for Manila, Japan and his US connecting flight.
Next step was the payment of 550PHP for the terminal fee which is located inside the terminal. Then next  was immigration check- show your passport with the terminal fee receipt. The last step was the final security check before going to your boarding gate.

At the boarding gate, there's another security clearance check. Every time you step-out; to buy for souvenirs or just to roam  around while waiting for the boarding time, you will be checked again but you don't have to fall-in line  along with the new comers.

PS: After checking-in and before entering into the terminal, you are allowed to step outside the building , you just have to present your boarding pass to the security officer and you will given an entry id. That entry id will serve as your clearance without falling on line.

Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS)

April 8, 2014 (Tuesday)This day, my brother attended the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) at the Commission of Filipino Overseas (CFO) in Manila. He was accompanied by my sister. They went there around 11am but the next available session is at 2pm, so he had to wait until that time. 
First Step:  At the entrance desk he was asked to provide a valid  identification card (he gave postal id) in exchange for the official PDOS ID that is given for you to wear all the time while inside the building. A queue number was also given at the entrance which serves as your number.
Second Step: His number was called and he submitted all the required papers that is listed on their website like; Registration form-can be downloaded at the CFO website, copy of the data summary, original  with photocopy of the passport (front page), processing fee of 550PHP-make sure to bring the exact amount to avoid any delay, (1) 2x2 id, original and photocopy of the visa,
Last Step, would be the schedule for the next seminar. It's normally  a two-hour seminar that covers issues and concerns on finding employment rights and obligations of immigrants as well as policies and procedures on how to secure foreign citizenship.

    There is no reservation required for CFO PDOS because it's a first come, first served basis only. But you can pre-register online and you can print it ahead of time then just bring it with you so you don't have to fill-out the form when you get there.

For whole reference on current fees and requirements please refer to their website at here.

These are the Locations for CFO/PDOS:

CFO Manila

 

Citigold Center, 1345 Pres. Quirino Avenue
corner Osmeña Highway (South Superhighway)
Manila, Philippines 1007
Tel. No.: (02) 552-4700
Fax No.: (02) 561-8332
E-mail: info@cfo.gov.ph This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.cfo.gov.ph

 

 CFO Cebu Desk

 Causing-Lozada Building, Osmeña Boulevard corner
MJ Cuenco Street, Cebu City, Philippines
Telefax: (032) 255-5253
Email: cfocebu@cfo.gov.ph This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.cfo.gov.ph

 

 

Philippine Travel Tax & Tax Exemption

To date, the Philippine Travel Tax Rates are as follows:

	FIRST CLASS PASSAGE	ECONOMY CLASS PASSAGE
Full Travel Tax	PHP 2,700.00	PHP 1,620
Standard Reduced Travel Tax	PHP 1,350.00	PHP 810.00
Privileged Reduced Travel Tax for a Dependents of an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW)	PHP 400.00	PHP 300.00

But, many have asked me if  US Green Card holders have to pay for travel tax when leaving the Philippines. So, who has  to pay and who are exempted ?  According to the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA),  US permanent residents or Green Card holders who are staying in the Philippines for not more than one (1) year are exempted to pay for travel tax fee of PHP 1,620 when leaving the Philippines,  only if  they can provide the Travel Tax exemption Certificate issued by the PTA. To obtain the certificate,  individual  have to go to the Philippine Tourism office /travel tax offices and present your original passport, Green Card and a processing fee of  200PHP per certificate.  When checking in to your respective airline, present the tax exemption certificate along with your unexpired passports,  Green Cards and airline tickets. If you don't have the certificate with you,  the custom officer that will check your passport will  send you to the travel tax booth located at the airport.

For more information on the tax exemption and requirement for availability, visit the Philippine Tourism  and the TIEZA ( Tourism Infrastructure and Zone Authority) websites.



THE FOLLOWING ARE SUBJECT TO THE PHILIPPINE TRAVEL TAX:

1. Citizens of the Philippines  (except for citizens and family members who are covered by  R.A. 6768)

2. Taxable Foreign Passport Holders (Table 1)

3. Non-immigrant foreign passport holders who have stayed in the Philippines for more than one (1) year (Table 2)