Immigration.
A much heated topic of debate these days in the United States. Actually, for well over 40 years now. They just can't seem to fix the problem of illegal immigration. I'm leaning heavily on the idea that they really don't want to because there seems to be an entire industry that makes money on helping keep people in the country illegally... mainly lawyers. Now we have entire city governments protecting illegals - Sanctuary Cities they are called.
Then I look at a country like the Philippines, where I choose to live. The way that most visitors wind up here "illegal" is through a voluntary failure to leave. The majority arrive by plane, are provided visas upon arrival, then choose to hide out in a overstay status. And many of these individuals have a portable income. That is a much different scenario than sneaking across a porous border with NO documentation and NO money however, it is an issue here in the Philippines. A much larger issue is the number of "undesirable's" that are showing up here. And Philippines authorities have taken notice.
In recent years, the Philippines has tried to crack down on the number of undesirable individuals that are allowed to enter the Philippines, and it is now being addressed with stronger background checks from one's country or origin. Although it is hard to with the tourist types, the government is taking a different approach. You often read or hear about deportations in the Philippines, and it usually entails foreigners who may be apprehended for petty crimes or even more nefarious acts. Pedophilia comes to mind. It's not very often that overstays are evicted. They just pay the fines and get updated documentation.
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Subjectivity - Battle on the Front Lines.
The battle has turned to the most front line of defense... the airport, by arming immigration officials with "The power to Judge." The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has revealed it deported 74 foreigners for being rude to immigration officers last year. They were simply refused entry into the country because they brought a "bad attitude" with them. Some were even blacklisted from returning.
The BI says that such “disrespectful” behavior qualifies visitors as being “undesirable aliens.” BI Commissioner Jaime Morente goes on to say that “The entry and stay of foreigners in the country is not a right but a mere privilege. Thus, they ought to show respect and courtesy to immigration officers upon their arrival in our ports of entry.” Can you just imagine if we adopted this type of policy in the West? We would need revolving doors at the airports! (And more lawyers!)
According to BI officials, the Bureau has been strictly implementing a policy to “exclude or disallow the entry of foreigner who show disrespect or make offensive utterances to symbols of Philippine authority”. Such grounds for exclusion are listed under a memorandum order that former immigration chief Andrea Domingo issued in 2001. The 2001 memorandum provides not only for the exclusion of “rude foreigners” but also candidates for blacklisting, or to bar their return to the Philippines. While this directive is not new, it is being re-introduced with emphasis and determination (and maybe just a little prejudice).
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“This is done to teach these arrogant and discourteous foreigners the lesson that ours is a sovereign country whose authority they should respect,” Jaime Morente also says. The current and updated policy though allows anyone who might be blacklisted for being rude, the opportunity to request removal of their name from the list. To do so, they would need to contact the BI commissioner with a formal apology and provide “meritorious reasons” for why they should be allowed to return to the Philippines.
My question is this - Why can't U.S. officials follow our own immigration rule of law. Many foreigners here in the Philippines complain that the rule of law here is never followed, but it certainly is when it comes to immigration laws. I guess "rudeness" is protected under our Constitutional 1st Amendment (freedom of speech) and here in the Philippines, freedom of speech and attitude are two different things. Being overly disrespectful here can get you... well... you know, a bad day!
So I say when you intend on visiting or coming to live in one of the "Happiest Country's on the Planet," at least show up here with a smile and a good attitude. It goes much farther than you think.
The Philippines...
Love it for what it is, not Hate it for what it isn't!
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This article made me laugh. It doesn't pay to get cocky at immigration. What works in your home country might get you thrown out on your ass in another...
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Right! I know a few candidates here who slipped through the crack! lol
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Great post. Immigration is a crazy thing.
Especially for those of us who have Filipina wives and children.
The USA gave my wife Citizenship after three years of holding a green card. And she was allowed to reclaim her Filipino citizenship with out much fanfare.
But for me to have the same circumstances is impossible under current Philippines/ US Law. I would be able to obtain a Philippine Citizenship after 10 years of proven legal residency but then I have to renounce my US citizenship. Then My wife and Children would have US and Philippine passports and I would only carry Philippine passport.
I would not be able to return to the country of my birth? That is some insane baloney. Why would I not be allowed to accomplish the same as the other members of my family?
Crazy thing living in a house with 5 others that hold two passports and I can only have one!
Why do we even have to have permission from governments to travel? Do they own us all? Are we all just property and they choose where we can live and die? Let me know what you think?
I would upvote this post but my vote is worthless right now. SO I just followed you. We have watched some of your videos on YT
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Thanks for the comment. You can always come back and upvote later! he he 😉 👍 Why would you even want a Philippine Passport? You have all you would ever need... don't look a gift horse in the mouth! Oh, and thanks for watching my videos!
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I would like to live in the Philippines with out having to jump through hoops like a monkey. The uSA has not been so good to me. I would like to have another Passport from a nation not responsible for so much murder all over the world.![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPsxqWGKzKeUWuptMs4Dy9WeMyMuLMG3a1GpUXhEUZfg2/image.png)
I did up vote now my power was at 100 percent you got nothing.
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According to SteemSupply, your current Voting Power: 84.91% with a current vote worth: $0.02. Hang in there, you have nothing to worry about (jumping through hoops). You can get permanent residency for five years at a time. Remember, if you renounce your U.S. citizenship, you jeopardize loosing Social Security, Medicare, and any other social program help you may need in your lifetime. Keep the passport man!
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I didnt know that permanent residency was for 5 years? Do you have to apply for a acr card yearly with that?
I will start out on the Balikbayan Privilege that last for one year. I was just not sure what I would do next? We though about just exiting and returning once a year with the Asawa?
I am not thinking SS will still be viable in 6 years when I can get it. That is why I stopped donating to the program 20 years ago. They will crush it.
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Funny thing is Asawa paid in more the first year she worked here than I did my entire life. Right now they are telling me I can draw about 300 per year and my minor children can draw about 400 total on top of mine.
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You can apply directly for a 13A Visa at the Philippine consulate nearest where you live. That gives you a one year entry, then you apply for permanent residency once you are here... good for 5 years. It is much easier to get the process started in the U.S. as compared to in country here where there are more of those hoops you are worried about. I applied for the ACR here the day after I arrived and 4 hours later, it was done... but I already had the 13A processed in Chicago. I wouldn't worry too much about SS... like big banks, it is too big to fail.
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You dont have to renew the ACR yearly?
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No, renewal is every 5 years. But there is an annual "Check-in" you must do with local immigration office and that cost is P310. Cheaper than a tourist visa that needs to be constantly extended.
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Wow, that read like something from the Thai immigration bureau. Although with the huge influx of Chinese tourists in the past few years they'd be deporting planeloads every day. Yeah, they (the mainland Chinese) can be just as bad as rumor says.
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Chinese and Koreans can be very rude. Must be all that cold weather! lol
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Beep! Beep! This humvee will be patrolling by and assisting new veterans, retirees, and military members here on Steem. @shadow3scalpel will help by upvoting posts from a list of members maintained by @chairborne and responding to any questions replied to this comment.
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I read your post seriously, I like seeing the world in the news, reading your post add to my insight thanks
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