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Hi moonunit, welcome to the forum.

I did the same thing 6 or 7 years ago from Australia thinking wow that's an inexpensive way to go as I planned to live in Manila with my partner but visit other local Asian countries every 6 or 8 weeks,,,,,,,,,,, never happened for various reasons and subsequentially visited immi in Intramuros every 58/9 days for visa extensions and yes the proverbial ACR 1 card. Costly.



Throw away tickets are for those that know they are going to stay for some time but avail the "up to 3 years" every 59 days or some say 6 month visas are available before having to exit and start the process again. As a tourist you won't get on the plane to PH. without an onward ticket.

We visit for 4 to 6 weeks annually and if staying more than 30 days, used to be 21 days, I simply ask for a visa extension when I arrive at the airport, directed to immi and for less than PHP 3K have a 59 day visa.
If you plan to leave the country every 8 weeks the visa you obtained i the way to go, something to think about.

Moving to our house next April for retirement I will go the SRRV route or perhaps the SRIV scenario, still researching.
If you return/exit after 59 days you are out of pocket with the visa you chose. I am sure others will chime in here. Hey this is only my opinion and observations.
Research plenty before you lob up in PH. Good luck and enjoy.

Cheers, Steve.

You probably don't want to make your first visit to the Philippines anytime between April and September.  When did your one year start?  Hopefully you could get your two month trip in to get home by the end of March.  If you want to regroup and come back within the year, then October/November would be a good time.  Flying from Virginia will be a long trip just to get to Manila

The Visa is effective through 11/14/2019. I have a nonstop flight from JFK to MNL.

How jet lagged will I be and how long to take to adjust?  This is my first overseas trip, so it is going to be somewhat of a challenge.  I have a flight from MNL to Cebu a few hours after landing in MNL.  I have chatted with some girls in Pasig, and may want to delay to flight a few days to visit with them.

When is your nonstop flight?  Which airlines?  The PAL flight is listed as nonstop but you land in Vancouver, do not get off the plane, but it takes 90 minutes or more to fill up the plane before it takes off for Manila.  Wind up being on the same plane for almost 24 hours, tough first overseas trip.  What time does it arrive in Manila?  There are some good hotels in Pasay, a 15 minute cab ride from the airport, right on Manila Bay.

It is an overnight flight arriving around 8am PH time. The itinerary doesn't show a stop in Vancouver. What can I expect, as far as jet lag is concerned? I plan to take some Xanax to better sleep on the plane. How many days to adjust from jet lag?  The time zone changes were maybe an hour difference flying, and I did drive cross country, but that was gradual.

If you have any suggestions?

You will probably get off the plane closer to 8:30 AM, will take another hour until you go through immigration and get your checked luggage.  Don't bring anything that must be claimed in customs and you can walk out to get a taxi.  Bring a crisp $100 Bill and get pesos at the exchange in the airport.  The current rate would get you about 5,200 pesos, the cab ride should cost less than 500.  You will probably have to wait in the lobby of whatever hotel until at least noon to check into your room.  We like to walk around in the afternoon, if you are near the Mall of Asia it is a good spot to eat dinner later.  Best to wear shorts with big front pockets, keep your valuables in those pockets.  Being familiar with a mall will be helpful when you want to meet your Filipino Cupid friends, best to meet them for the first time at a public place.  You want to stay awake at least until the sun goes down, perhaps go to bed around 7 PM and get a good nights sleep, not meet anyone until the next day.  Make plans to meet someone at a certain place in the Mall, don't be surprised if they are late.  It is a national tradition.  Good lick

I have read that the taxis are a scam, overcharging big time.  Have you used GRAB or UBER for rides?  Do hotels provide airport shuttles?

I have also read that sometimes a date will bring one or two family members, expecting me to pay for their meal.

There are some women I have chatted with who live in Davao, Ozamiz City, etc.  Is Mindanao a place I should avoid?

Any other suggestions?  I plan to travel light, with 2 carry on bags to make travel easier.  What type of outlets do they use in PH?  I know it is 220VAC, but wanted to buy an adapter to charge my phone or get a solar charger?

Some taxis are scams, but not most.  Just make sure they use a meter.  Your girl should look out for you, too. 
As far as your date bringing family, it is very possible.  It is like an insurance policy.
She has only met you online and maybe with a few phone calls.
They are her 'bodyguards'.  Just roll with it.  They might be your inlaws, soon.

Deltaem wrote:

Some taxis are scams, but not most.  Just make sure they use a meter.  Your girl should look out for you, too. 
As far as your date bringing family, it is very possible.  It is like an insurance policy.
She has only met you online and maybe with a few phone calls.
They are her 'bodyguards'.  Just roll with it.  They might be your inlaws, soon.

He is talking about dating women he has recently met on the net, no long term plans yet, if ever.  Meeting in a public place should be safe enough for both parties.  Any extra family members on a first date would be a sign of bad things to come, could set the tone for future expenditures.  No one needs the "if you marry me you marry my family" reminder on Day One.

PAL now has a non-stop flight to JFK with the new A350.  No stop over in Vancouver anymore...

Bob604 wrote:

PAL now has a non-stop flight to JFK with the new A350.  No stop over in Vancouver anymore...

Saw that it leaves next Tuesday at 1:45 AM New York time and flys 16 hours 35 minutes to land in Manila at 7:20 AM Wednesday Manila time.  Means one should be in JFK at 10:45 PM Monday or shortly there after.  Then there is getting from Virginia to JFK.  Gonna be a long trip.

moonunit0103 wrote:

Any other suggestions?  I plan to travel light, with 2 carry on bags to make travel easier.

PAL allows one carry on bag weighing 15 pounds or less.  Cannot imagine going for 2 months without a checked bag, max 50 lbs and no extra charges on international flights.  You can buy cheap t-shirts in the Philippines,  150 pesos, about $3, but you will want to bring all of your pants, socks, shoes and underwear. You might want to bring some small gifts, I always bring small Hershey bars.  People like to get anything from the USA, even if it is made in China.

Electrical outlets are 2-prong, like older outlets in the USA.  Plan on the girls bringing a family member or two, its what they do, especially the younger ones.

How jetlagged?  All depends on you and if you can sleep on the plane.  I was wacked the whole time I was there (2 weeks) my first time, awake at about 2am even though I stayed up until 9 or 10pm.  Don't remember much of my flight home.  My flights were gruelling though, well over 24 hours in each direction.

There have beehttp://philippineembassy-usa.org/philippines-dc/consular-services-dc/faq-dc/#nonimmigrant

requests for the application link.  Here is is:

To your question about Mindanao. I live in Davao City & it's as safe as any other place in the Philippines. The southwestern part of the island(Muslim area) can be a little sketchy, though I know Americans who have traveled/lived there without any issues.

Is General Santos, Ozamiz, and Sultan Kuradat sketchy?

Yeah, they all should be ok. I've been to GenSan & it's fine. Haven't been to the other 2 cities. Though I have been to lligan, which is close to Ozamiz & it was alright. And I know an American who lived in Lake Sebu for awhile, which is near Sultan Kuradat. He said no problem with the area.