Comments on: Working in the Philippines if you’re a Foreigner http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/07/working-in-the-philippines-if-you%e2%80%99re-a-foreigner/ A Forum about an American Expat Living in Davao, Philippines Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:31:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Don http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/07/working-in-the-philippines-if-you%e2%80%99re-a-foreigner/comment-page-1/#comment-18672 Don Sun, 20 Mar 2011 12:31:40 +0000 http://americanindavao.com/blog/?p=956#comment-18672 There is a lady I found that I might possibly marry. I am only 25 young. I am currently on my way to get a degree in college education. What advice can you give me so I won't feel so afraid. I am willing. She lives 2 hrs north of metro manila...What else do I need to know? There is a lady I found that I might possibly marry.

I am only 25 young. I am currently on my way to get a degree in college education.

What advice can you give me so I won’t feel so afraid. I am willing. She lives 2 hrs north of metro manila…What else do I need to know?

]]> By: Michael http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/07/working-in-the-philippines-if-you%e2%80%99re-a-foreigner/comment-page-1/#comment-12179 Michael Mon, 08 Nov 2010 08:01:53 +0000 http://americanindavao.com/blog/?p=956#comment-12179 Hey guys! An American here who has been here since 2003. You guys are having a good discussion here and I enjoyed reading it. If I may, could I put in my 2 cents?.... I have come to learn/experience a lot here and this is why I say the following....FORGET IT. I mean yes you both bring up both points and I can attest to the correctness of what you said...BUT....the culture is just to different and unchangeable to keep on thinking as we westerners do. I am sorry but the ONLY way to survive here is to either start with a pile of cash and pay everyone off as you go. or 2, go native and under the radar. Work without permits, licenses, etc...I mean can you say with certainly that those permits, titles, are worth anything but mere paper and ink if a greedy lawyer or cop or neighbor wants to squeeze you as you prosper? NO YOU CAN'T. And, as far as trusting your local wife.... your missing the point....it is the custom to cheat foreigners.... Now wait. I am not one of those grumpy old guys who complains about everything here, it is just that I have learned how to adapt. Like electricity, I take the path of least resistance. In the long run, you will be happier and longer lasting if you will lean toward this way of thinking. Stop swimming up stream and float like the locals. They get by on P4000 a month and are perfectly happy. If we do that, we will be happier too. Plus we have the advantage of experience that the locals do not have, so it makes it easier for us. By all means start your own business, but stay small unless you want to eventually fight Goliath. Hey guys! An American here who has been here since 2003. You guys are having a good discussion here and I enjoyed reading it. If I may, could I put in my 2 cents?….
I have come to learn/experience a lot here and this is why I say the following….FORGET IT. I mean yes you both bring up both points and I can attest to the correctness of what you said…BUT….the culture is just to different and unchangeable to keep on thinking as we westerners do. I am sorry but the ONLY way to survive here is to either start with a pile of cash and pay everyone off as you go. or 2, go native and under the radar. Work without permits, licenses, etc…I mean can you say with certainly that those permits, titles, are worth anything but mere paper and ink if a greedy lawyer or cop or neighbor wants to squeeze you as you prosper? NO YOU CAN’T. And, as far as trusting your local wife…. your missing the point….it is the custom to cheat foreigners…. Now wait. I am not one of those grumpy old guys who complains about everything here, it is just that I have learned how to adapt. Like electricity, I take the path of least resistance. In the long run, you will be happier and longer lasting if you will lean toward this way of thinking. Stop swimming up stream and float like the locals. They get by on P4000 a month and are perfectly happy. If we do that, we will be happier too. Plus we have the advantage of experience that the locals do not have, so it makes it easier for us. By all means start your own business, but stay small unless you want to eventually fight Goliath.

]]> By: Bruce http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/07/working-in-the-philippines-if-you%e2%80%99re-a-foreigner/comment-page-1/#comment-9164 Bruce Wed, 19 May 2010 22:19:19 +0000 http://americanindavao.com/blog/?p=956#comment-9164 Rhena, For an American to get a work permit the employer has to go to DOLE and prove the foreigner is needed and the position cannot be filled by a Filipino. The law is that no immigrant can take a job that could be filled by a Filipino. Rhena,
For an American to get a work permit the employer has to go to DOLE and prove the foreigner is needed and the position cannot be filled by a Filipino. The law is that no immigrant can take a job that could be filled by a Filipino.

]]> By: rhena http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/07/working-in-the-philippines-if-you%e2%80%99re-a-foreigner/comment-page-1/#comment-9152 rhena Wed, 19 May 2010 12:21:12 +0000 http://americanindavao.com/blog/?p=956#comment-9152 hi, just wanna ask if how can american apply for working permit if he is married to a filipina, thanks hi, just wanna ask if how can american apply for working permit if he is married to a filipina, thanks

]]> By: Bruce http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/07/working-in-the-philippines-if-you%e2%80%99re-a-foreigner/comment-page-1/#comment-4402 Bruce Sat, 19 Sep 2009 10:33:44 +0000 http://americanindavao.com/blog/?p=956#comment-4402 Jay, I do not have a lot of hard facts. <a href="http://www.chanrobles.com/legal1.htm" rel="nofollow">Chan Robles </a> is a good resource. Also look into Foreign investment businesses. I know of a person who started a business and had the corporation hire him on paper for him to get a work visa. If your franchise is in Davao and need a manager, call on me. :-) Jay,
I do not have a lot of hard facts. Chan Robles is a good resource. Also look into Foreign investment businesses.
I know of a person who started a business and had the corporation hire him on paper for him to get a work visa. If your franchise is in Davao and need a manager, call on me. :-)

]]> By: Jay http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/07/working-in-the-philippines-if-you%e2%80%99re-a-foreigner/comment-page-1/#comment-4397 Jay Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:17:38 +0000 http://americanindavao.com/blog/?p=956#comment-4397 Bruce, You seem to know quite a bit about relocating to the Philippines, and I've been trying to do some research of my own. Unfortunately the only answers I find to my questions are located in forums like this. Do you know where I can find the hard facts and laws regarding relocation to the Philippines? Here's a little more about myself, I am a 28 yr. old single American who would like to relocate to the Philippines with hopes of operating a franchise business. I have been working in Kuwait for the past 3 years and plan on working here for another 5 years to earn more investment capital. Do you or anyone else have any helpful advise? Bruce,

You seem to know quite a bit about relocating to the Philippines, and I’ve been trying to do some research of my own. Unfortunately the only answers I find to my questions are located in forums like this. Do you know where I can find the hard facts and laws regarding relocation to the Philippines? Here’s a little more about myself, I am a 28 yr. old single American who would like to relocate to the Philippines with hopes of operating a franchise business. I have been working in Kuwait for the past 3 years and plan on working here for another 5 years to earn more investment capital. Do you or anyone else have any helpful advise?

]]> By: Bruce http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/07/working-in-the-philippines-if-you%e2%80%99re-a-foreigner/comment-page-1/#comment-3770 Bruce Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:20:45 +0000 http://americanindavao.com/blog/?p=956#comment-3770 Tom, I am not sure who the "we" is. All I can say, if your planing to move here and you do not have good investments and pensions, do not plan to be able to survive working here unless 10,000 Php a month working graveyard in a call center is good enough. Tom,
I am not sure who the “we” is. All I can say, if your planing to move here and you do not have good investments and pensions, do not plan to be able to survive working here unless 10,000 Php a month working graveyard in a call center is good enough.

]]> By: Tom http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/07/working-in-the-philippines-if-you%e2%80%99re-a-foreigner/comment-page-1/#comment-3760 Tom Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:49:36 +0000 http://americanindavao.com/blog/?p=956#comment-3760 The root of the problem is we sold our means to make money offshore for a few dollars for a few people and now we are living off the fat. When that is gone we have no means to make more. Unfortunately unless a lot of people wise up fast and realize what has been done the future does indeed look very bleak. The root of the problem is we sold our means to make money offshore for a few dollars for a few people and now we are living off the fat. When that is gone we have no means to make more. Unfortunately unless a lot of people wise up fast and realize what has been done the future does indeed look very bleak.

]]> By: Bruce http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/07/working-in-the-philippines-if-you%e2%80%99re-a-foreigner/comment-page-1/#comment-3586 Bruce Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:13:21 +0000 http://americanindavao.com/blog/?p=956#comment-3586 David S, Thanks for adding this information. David S,
Thanks for adding this information.

]]> By: david S. http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/07/working-in-the-philippines-if-you%e2%80%99re-a-foreigner/comment-page-1/#comment-3568 david S. Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:52:50 +0000 http://americanindavao.com/blog/?p=956#comment-3568 Note: According to the Philippine Retirement Authority an SRRV visa will allow one to legally work in the Philippines. http://www.pra.gov.ph/main/srrv_program2/2?page=1 Once you are an SRRV Visa holder, it opens the door to vast opportunities and benefits. These include: 1. Option to Retire Permanently • You may live, work and study in the Philippines 2. Multiple Entry Privileges • You may travel outside the Philippines and re-enter anytime 3. Exemptions from: • Income tax over your pension and annuities; • Exit and re-entry permits of the Bureau of Immigration; • Annual registration requirement of the Bureau of Immigration; • Customs Duties and Taxes with regard to the importation of household goods and personal effects up to US$7,000.00; • Travel tax, if you stay in the Philippines is less than one year from the last entry date; and • I-Card Note: According to the Philippine Retirement Authority an SRRV visa will allow one to legally work in the Philippines.

http://www.pra.gov.ph/main/srrv_program2/2?page=1

Once you are an SRRV Visa holder, it opens the door to vast opportunities and benefits. These include:

1. Option to Retire Permanently

• You may live, work and study in the Philippines

2. Multiple Entry Privileges

• You may travel outside the Philippines and re-enter anytime

3. Exemptions from:

• Income tax over your pension and annuities;
• Exit and re-entry permits of the Bureau of Immigration;
• Annual registration requirement of the Bureau of Immigration;
• Customs Duties and Taxes with regard to the importation of household goods and personal effects up to US$7,000.00;
• Travel tax, if you stay in the Philippines is less than one year from the last entry date; and
• I-Card

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