Permit me to start out by saying that we, as residents, have a constitutional proper to journey. It’s enshrined in our structure. Nonetheless, this isn’t absolute.
That’s the reason we nonetheless undergo Immigration checks each time we depart the nation. And generally, vacationers get offloaded. However let’s make clear this primary. For the longest time, in different international locations, offloading means you might be already on the aircraft after which requested to get off. However right here within the Philippines, it often means you weren’t allowed to board the aircraft or ship within the first place. Immigration officers right here really use the time period “deferred boarding”. So on this article, once we say offload, we imply you weren’t allowed to board.
So, what are the attainable causes vacationers or enterprise vacationers get offloaded? On this put up, we’ll focus on the 10 purple flags that, in our expertise, have a tendency to boost extra questions when present process immigration inspection within the Philippines. Word that we’re focusing solely on Philippine outbound immigration. We are going to cowl immigration procedures in different international locations in separate articles, since they fluctuate relying on the vacation spot.
DISCLAIMER! We aren’t immigration officers or immigration legal professionals. We aren’t from the Bureau of Immigration or Division of Overseas Affairs. The whole lot we’re sharing is predicated on interviews with our pal who was an immigration officer, in addition to on public paperwork and press releases from DFA and BI, together with the Pointers on Departure Formalities and our personal private experiences.
Fortunately, we have now by no means been offloaded ourselves, and we hope it stays that means. However we do know individuals who sadly have been. And over the previous 15 years that we have now been touring internationally, we have now picked up notes each time we undergo Immigration. Once more, we’re not I.O.s, so please take all the pieces we share with a grain of salt.
In abstract, many of the instances or causes on this listing fall underneath one among these three classes:
- Difficulty with paperwork
- Suspicion of human trafficking/unlawful recruitment
- Suspicion of overstaying
Let’s undergo them one after the other, beginning with…
10 OFFLOADING RED FLAGS
Crimson Flag #1: Invalid Passport or Visa
Let’s begin with the only or most evident one. You want a passport that’s not simply legitimate, however should additionally has a minimum of six (6) months validity. It also needs to be readable and never broken or mutilated.
In case your vacation spot requires visa, be sure you have the precise one and that it’s nonetheless legitimate. Each visa has a particular validity interval and allowed size of keep, so be sure that your journey dates should fall inside that interval. For instance, in case your Japan visa is sweet for 15 days solely, your keep shouldn’t exceed these 15 days.
And keep in mind that, though Filipinos take pleasure in visa-free entry to a number of international locations, it nonetheless comes with limits. For instance, in Taiwan, we’re not required to safe a visa if our keep is barely 14 days or shorter. However whether it is longer than that, it is advisable get a visa. It’s additionally 14 days for Hong Kong, 21 days for Vietnam, and 30 days for Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
And when you’ve got connecting flight, there are additionally instances the place you want a transit visa on your layover nation. If each legs of your journey are on the identical airline or are code-shared, you often don’t want one. However if you’re flying with totally different airways, you’ll most definitely want a transit visa as a result of you’ll have to exit Immigration to choose up your baggage and test in once more. So, it’s vital to know and concentrate on these attainable problems forward of time.
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Crimson Flag #2: Uncommon or Questionable Vacation spot
Vacationers heading to a rustic with an present deployment ban, alert stage, or journey advisory towards it are very more likely to endure secondary inspection.
However there are additionally locations with no journey ban, alert, or advisory however are nonetheless carefully monitored by the authorities. These are locations that aren’t common or widespread vacationer vacation spot for us Filipinos and have a big OFW inhabitants, corresponding to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain. These are often international locations within the Center East and Africa.
To be clear, we’re not saying that these sure locations are purple flags per se. However there are cases when the said tourism function is questionable or doesn’t match the vacation spot. For instance, it’s your first time to journey overseas and you might be touring alone, then you definately declare your function of journey is tourism. Nonetheless, your vacation spot is Cyprus. Even when I have been the immigration officer, I’d in all probability have doubts and have a number of questions additionally.
First, Cyprus shouldn’t be a standard tourism vacation spot for Pinoys. Second, there are various OFWs in Cyprus, so they may suppose or suspect that you simply would possibly really be working there. And third, having Cyprus as your vacation spot on your first worldwide journey is a bit suspicious. When you say you might be visiting a relative, that may make sense. However for tourism, it’s unusual for first-time vacation spot, particularly as a result of it’s fairly far. Normally, Filipino vacationers’ go-to locations for his or her first worldwide journey are in Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Japan — not Cyprus immediately.
However why do immigration officers have a look at this?
In response to the Bureau of Immigration’s press launch in 2014, “it’s a widespread observe for Filipinos to journey as vacationers and find yourself as undocumented staff overseas.”
They refer to those as “vacationer employee profiles”, which regularly embody:
- First timers who’re going to locations that aren’t common amongst vacationers
- Vacationers with no regular supply of earnings within the Philippines and no benefactors of their nation of vacation spot
That’s to not say that when you’ve got no journey historical past and you might be flying to uncommon vacation spot, you’ll robotically be offloaded. Nonetheless, you need to count on extra questions.
After all, there are additionally conditions the place it is smart to have a long-distance vacation spot even for first-time vacationers. Possibly it’s a household journey and also you simply occur to be the primary timer within the group. To me, that’s straightforward to grasp.
It will also be a honeymoon journey, and you might be touring to Maldives or Europe. Or you’ll attend a marriage within the US or Canada. So long as you’ll be able to help your journey function with the precise paperwork, these are usually acceptable.
Crimson Flag #3: Inconsistent Objective of Journey
Your function of journey must be in keeping with the paperwork you could have. Are you touring for tourism or for enterprise? Make certain your paperwork all line up along with your declared function.
For instance, when you say you might be attending a convention, be prepared to point out proof that there actually is a convention overseas. Or if you’ll a marriage, like I discussed earlier, you need to have the ability to current proof or supporting paperwork if requested. You must show that there’s actually a marriage.
In response to an article printed by the Division of Overseas Affairs, particularly by Philippine Consulate Basic in Macau, “PROVE that you will your vacation spot nation for the PURPOSE that you’re making the journey. It’s possible you’ll be refused exit when you give CONTRADICTORY statements.”
If you’re touring as a TOURIST, it is advisable set up that you plan to return to the Philippines and that you’ve the monetary capability to shoulder your journey. That’s the reason it is very important current proof of lodging, return ticket, proof of earnings, and clear journey itinerary. These usually are not requested or required each single time, however when you occur to get assigned to a strict immigration officer, it’s higher to have them prepared.
And talking of return ticket, it ought to match what you advised the I.O. or the allowed size of keep. For instance, you stated you might be coming again on January 10, however your return ticket reveals March 10, that shall be an issue. We are going to focus on extra of this latern, however since we’re on the subject of paperwork…
Crimson Flag #4: Incomplete Paperwork
We regularly learn on Fb or hear tales like, “So-and-so received offloaded as a result of the immigration officer is power-tripping.” More often than not, that’s the speedy conclusion: The I.O. bullied them. I imagine there are some instances like that. There are authentic vacationers who nonetheless get offloaded. BUT I additionally imagine that more often than not, there’s really a sound motive behind it, and all of it boils all the way down to preparation.
Relying in your case, there are particular paperwork required. For instance:
- If the traveler is a minor and never accompanied by both father or mother or authorized guardian, a DSWD Clearance is required.
- If you’re a associate or partner of a foreigner meaning to depart to marry your fiancé, you could safe a CFO Steering and Counseling Certificates.
- If you’re a authorities worker, it is advisable get a journey authority issued by the right workplace.
For native authorities staff, together with barangay officers and SK members, these are the issuing or approving authorities. LCE means native chief government.
For public faculty academics, some are saying they should current a journey authority signed by the Colleges Division Superintendent (SDS). We aren’t very aware of the method since we’re not academics.
There are additionally paperwork which will technically not be required, however the officer would possibly ask for them if they’ve doubts. And these paperwork will show that what you might be saying is true and might persuade the I.O. to imagine you.
As our former Immigration Officer pal, Kevin, stated in an interview on The Poor Traveler Podcast: The immigration course of is document-based.
In the identical means, when you stated you’ll a live performance and so they ask on your live performance ticket, you need to current it. They won’t simply take your phrase for it.
In the event that they ask about your job — the place you’re employed or what you do for a dwelling, and also you talked about an organization, be prepared with firm ID or Certificates of Employment. They might or might not test, however it’s higher to be ready, simply in case.
Many people have that “baka lulusot” mentality as a result of we heard {that a} pal or a vlogger didn’t get requested for sure paperwork. So, you assume you’ll not be requested, too. However what if you’re requested?
Keep in mind: the immigration officer doesn’t know you. That is your first time assembly them. So that they don’t have anything to carry on besides the paperwork you present them after they ask for it, particularly if you’re a first-time traveler. They haven’t any file about you. They don’t seem to be positive if you’ll return. So all the time err on the aspect of warning and put together all of the attainable paperwork you could be requested to current.
Crimson Flag #5: Can’t Show Monetary Functionality
You can not set up your monetary functionality to journey.
As what the Bureau of Immigration beforehand said, vacationers who usually tend to be questioned are:
- First-time vacationers flying to a not-so-popular vacation spot.
- Vacationers with no regular supply of earnings within the Philippines and no benefactors.
We already mentioned the primary level earlier (Crimson Flag #2). This time, let’s concentrate on the second merchandise: Vacationers with no regular supply of earnings and no sponsor.
When immigration officers ask us about our job, the place we work, and generally, even test our firm ID or COE (Certificates of Employment). Except for figuring out when you can afford to journey, they’re additionally assessing when you’ve got a powerful ties to the Philippines and a transparent motive to return, and never change into undocumented OFWs.
If you’re unemployed or unable to obviously show your supply of earnings, count on to get requested extra questions and a chance to undergo secondary inspection.
However let’s be clear. In a earlier press launch, the Bureau of Immigration emphasised this: Monetary functionality is NOT a requirement. Nonetheless, “an individual might solely be requested to current additional proof for his journey overseas if the particular person seems to have a motive totally different from what he has declared earlier than an immigration official.”
However what can unemployed vacationers do? Normally, immigration officers additionally ask for Affidavit of Assist and Assure (AOSG).
However then once more, simply because you could have an Affidavit of Assist doesn’t imply you might be robotically cleared to depart the nation. That’s the place Motive #6 is available in.
Crimson Flag #6: Unable to Show Relationship with Companion
You can not show your relationship along with your companion or sponsor.
Many assume that having a sponsor or inviter overseas makes it simpler for them to get a departure clearance from immigration officers. Sadly, it doesn’t work that means. In some instances, I.O.s might even ask some of these vacationers to current paperwork to show their relationship with their sponsor or inviter.
The bureau is document-based. For instance, when you say somebody is your sister, you could present a doc proving that — like start certificates.
Truly, we skilled this ourselves on one among our journeys to Singapore. It was my aunt’s first worldwide flight, and the I.O. was doubting that she and my mom have been associated as a result of they received totally different final names and so they had totally different facial options. Good factor we have been ready and introduced supporting paperwork with us.
And one other factor: even when you’ve got Affidavit of Assist, that’s not an categorical cross. It doesn’t robotically clear you. In response to the Division of Overseas Affairs (DFA), “The Affidavit of Assist and Assure is NOT a 100% GUARANTEE so that you can be allowed exit from the nation; it is just a SUPPORTING DOCUMENT that strengthens your CLAIM to LEGITIMATE TRAVEL.”
In the long run, the immigration officer nonetheless has the ultimate say on whether or not you could have sufficiently established your function of journey.
Different particulars in regards to the sponsor additionally matter, corresponding to your relationship to them and whether or not they’re Filipino or foreigner. Which brings us to Motive #7…
Crimson Flag #7: Touring with a Non-Relative Sponsor
You’re accompanied or sponsored by a non-relative foreigner and also you wouldn’t have the capability to journey.
In response to the identical memorandum and press launch from Bureau of Immigration, included within the listing of vacationers who could also be topic to secondary inspection are: “Vacationers with out monetary capability to journey escorted or accompanied by a foreigner who shouldn’t be associated.”
In response to Kevin, this is likely one of the instances that the Bureau often takes a more in-depth have a look at and be careful for due to the excessive threat of human trafficking or unlawful recruitment.
When you’re touring for leisure or tourism and being sponsored by a foreigner who shouldn’t be associated to you — say, a boyfriend, girlfriend, and even only a pal — however the catch is, it’s your first time to fulfill in particular person, you’ll most definitely be offloaded.
It’s actually onerous to show the connection if it’s not on paper. Keep in mind, immigration choices largely depend on the paperwork introduced. If you’re married, you’ll be able to present your marriage certificates. If you’re associated by blood, a start certificates works. However if you’re solely courting, it is rather difficult as a result of there is no such thing as a authorities doc to formally show the connection.
On-line communication, chats, or images are straightforward to faux or manipulate digitally, so they don’t seem to be thought of sturdy proof. So the tendency of immigration officer is to guard the Filipino traveler, particularly if in addition they lack monetary capability to journey as a result of they are going to be very susceptible overseas.
Actually, we consistently obtain messages from individuals on this similar state of affairs asking for recommendation. However we discover it onerous to present steering or recommendation as a result of these instances are difficult and sophisticated.
Crimson Flag #8: Inconsistent or Unbelievable Solutions
When going through an immigration officer and being requested questions, we should reply confidently, persistently, and honestly.
And as we all the time say, a very powerful of the three is TRUTHFULLY. When you inform the reality, even when the officer fires a number of questions at you or twists them round, it’s simpler to stay assured and constant.
It’s true that there are some vacationers with sincere intentions, that they actually simply need to tour, however they’ll nonetheless get offloaded. However mendacity or making up tales will make it exponentially worse. It’s onerous to maintain monitor of lies, and I imagine that immigration officers are skilled to identify lies or inconsistencies.
Be sure to know all the main points of your journey: the place you’re going, the place you’ll keep, when you’ll return to the Philippines, and different related info. In our case, once we journey with household and have first-timers or inexperienced vacationers, we often maintain a fast briefing at a café or restaurant on the airport simply to be sure that we’re on the identical web page and are aware of the main points of the journey. As a result of even amongst household or teams, individuals can nonetheless get offloaded.
We have now witnessed it first hand. One one flight, a gaggle was seated behind and beside us, and two of their companions have been offloaded. We have now additionally witnessed somebody in a gaggle being endorsed to secondary inspection whereas we have been within the queue.
If an officer asks for a doc, simply present it. If they’ve query about it, reply honestly. Getting too nervous could make issues worse. Attempt to chill out.
Crimson Flag #9: Earlier Immigration Violations or Legal Data
An immigration officer can cease you from flying if you might be on a watch listing or when you’ve got excellent authorized or felony case right here within the Philippines.
And it’s not simply felony file. In case you have a historical past of overstaying overseas, count on to get a number of questions. In case you have performed it earlier than, you can not fault them in the event that they assume you possibly can do it once more.
In response to a Rappler article primarily based on a press launch from Bureau of Immigration, passengers who are sometimes topic to secondary inspection additionally embody:
“Passengers who stayed overseas for multiple yr throughout a earlier departure from the nation as a vacationer/momentary customer, meaning to depart for the second and/or subsequent time.”
That’s the reason additionally it is vital to hold a clear journey file. If it’s your first time and the officer asks if you end up coming again, be sure you return on that date. Apparently, that is generally famous within the system, and so they can see that you simply did return on the date you declared.
Crimson Flag #10: Beforehand Offloaded With out Compliance
Right here’s a abstract of what our pal Kevin stated about this:
When you have been beforehand offloaded and didn’t adjust to the required paperwork, attempting to depart the nation once more from a distinct airport, is not going to assist. For instance, one passenger was offloaded at Clark Worldwide Airport within the morning, then tried to depart from NAIA later that night with out fixing the problem. Since her offloading file is already within the system, the passenger was offloaded once more.
In brief, be sure you adjust to the necessities first earlier than making an attempt to depart the nation once more.
Be part of The Poor Traveler Assist Group
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Shield your funds when touring!
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