Immigration officers, how to deal

[coldsiren]

@pulsenotfound, pag solo traveler kasi tapos sa travel agency mag book ng tour mas mahal yung rate. kasi mag isa ka lang sa hotel room. subukan mo kaya mag walk in sa mga travel agencies sa mall or sa neighborhood nyo para matanong mo sa kanila yung mga naiisip mong tanong. 

san ka ba mas comfortable mag travel alone or may kasama ka? kasi kung tingin mo ay kakabahan ka ng todo sa 1st trip mo, better travel with another person in my opinion.

don't think about negative things that could happen. think about the good things that will happen on your trip. try to be confident. most likely wala naman may kilala syo dun, it's a good opportunity to reinvent yourself and be confident.

off topic: vietnam is a nice place to be a tourist. ingat ka lang kasi minsan sobrang minamahalan ng vendors yung price nila like 10x ng talagang rate. may parang zesto gang din dun. gaya nung ginawa sa friend ko, binentahan sya ng buko juice na nasa buko shell pa, wala na syang magawa kung hindi bilhin yun kasi binuksan na nung vendor. tapos siningil pa sya ng 10x na price. nalaman namin na 10x yung price kasi kumain kami sa market after that.

[missywitchy]

^meron ba solo package tour sa agency? honestly po.. kabahin tao talaga ako.. kahit wala ako gingawa masama my ganung tendency ako hihih.. yup plain tour lang po talga ako.. first time ko kasi and hindi ko din alam what airline ang sasakyan ko. naguguluhan ako kasi pag naooffload ka sa PAL upgrade to business class or totAlly offloaded ka talga..

sa cebu naman marami offloaded cases... di ko na alam what airline piliin ko.. pero mg pabook ako hotel for my 3days stay.. at return ticket.

better go with a packaged tour from a reputable travel agency. Sabi mo kasi kabahin ka, at least kung packaged tour, pag-landing mo sigurado ka na me hotel ka ng pupuntahan, me susundo at maghahatid sa iyo from airport to hotel and during tours. Yup it's more expensive, but less stress for you and safer too!

[ysarte_posh]

If you're telling the truth that your vacation is purely for tourism/leisure, no need to worry about a thing.

If you plan to work or study abroad, there's an appropriate visa and requirements that you should comply.

Now, if you are planning to a "tourist worker" definitely the officers will profile you as tourist who plans to work abroad without the appropriate visa/documents and will be a reason that you'll be offloaded.

[pulsenotfound]

haayy thanks po sa advice. nakagawa na ko business card. yehey!! yup dapat think positive! wala naman ako hidden agenda so wala dapat ikatakot! august 4 na flight ko. cebu pacific na lang pinili ko..  il prepare all the necessary documents. pero bigay ko lang what is asked di ba?

hay thanks talaga. medyo confident na ako now

[coldsiren]

yes, bigay mo lang what is asked. pero dapat yung plane ticket and hotel reservation madali lang kunin or ready ka na ibigay in case hingin sa iyo. enjoy your trip.

[pulsenotfound]

^passport lang ba binibigay dun? akala ko kasi pag abot mo passport naka ipit na dun yung plane ticket mo. paki review lang po ulit?? pwede pa? plsss eto po documents ko, RT Ticket, hotel bookings with airport transfer, DIY itinerary ng tour ko, showmoney, id ng business namen, business card and showmoney 700usd. ok na po ba yan?

excited na ko! bakit kasi ang dami illegal yan tuloy yung gusto mag travel for leisure lang talaga eh naaapektuhan. anyway ganun na nga talaga satin.. "crab mentality" so sad..

[coldsiren]

initially, passport lang binibigay. pag hiningi yung plane ticket or hotel voucher mo ibigay mo agad. so dapat hawak mo na din yang mga yan.

based sa experience ko, kahit pa isama ko pa yung plane ticket sa passport ko ay inaalis din nila yung plane ticket. hinihingi na lang nila yung plane ticket at hotel voucher after nila makita yung passport.

yung DIY itinerary mo, isaulo mo na lang. never pa naman nahingi sa akin ang itinerary ko ng immigration officer dito. pag tinanong ka san ka pupunta, ienumerate mo na lang. pero pwede mo din naman ipakita kung gusto mo.

once lang ako nagpakita ng itinerary, yun ay nung nasa Japan kami ng friends ko. may kumausap sa aming airport official after kami matanong ng immigration officer nila. tinanong kami kung saan kami pupunta dun at bakit kami nandun. part kami ng tour group nun kaya pinakita ko na lang yung itinerary namin at lahat ng documents na binigay ng travel agent namin. nagchecheck lang siguro yun kami 3 girls kami na magkasama noon kasi di pa namin kilala yung mga kasama namin sa tour na mga Pinoy din.

email mo yung hotel kung saan ka naka book, iconfirm mo yung reservation mo with airport transfer to be sure na may susundo syo. tapos iprint mo din yung confirmation nila sa email syo.

never pa ako nag pakita ng showmoney sa immigration officer. sa isang form mo lang naman idedeclare kung magkano yung dala mong pera. pero tama na yung $700.00 na pocket money mo. sobra na yan for Vietnam. in case may dala kang pesos, 10,000 pesos lang ang allowed ilabas ng Pilipinas. US$10,000.00 naman ang pwedeng ilabas at ipasok sa Pilipinas.

dapat ready na ang RT Ticket, hotel bookings with airport transfer, DIY itinerary ng tour mo, id ng business nyo, and business card once pumila ka sa immigration.  as in pag hinanap nila yan ay maiaabot mo agad para di na maghintay yung immigration officer.

[pulsenotfound]

^ Terminal 3 po ba yang experience nyo? nag pabook ako kahapon sa travel agency ng flight cebu pacific 10pm ang departure time nag karon kami ng prob kasi yun hotel na pinabook ko parang 1 1/2 days lang ako magstay tapos 8,000php pa yung hinihingi saken. kaya nag switch ako sa PAL which is 7am ang departure time.

ang kaso kasi sa cebu 10pm ang departure tapos around 1AM ang arrival. naiinis ako sa agent kasi di nya alam kung pano ang counting nung Days. tapos pabalik naman manila 6AM alis ko sa ho chi minh parang luge lang ako sa stay at babayaran ko if ever.

kaya nag PAL nalang ako, at cancel ko hotel bookings ko. Nag book nlng ako Hotel online. ok na ba un print ko na lang un details? and hindi available ang airport transfer ok lang kaya yun? sa Agency pa din ako bumili ng Ticket kaya medyo mataas price nya pero with philippine travel tax na naman yun.

5hours pa naman ako naghintay dun tapos di nila kaya ayusin, parang napaka unprofessional well known pa naman agency nila.....

thanks Coldsiren:)

[coldsiren]

^kahit anong terminal di nila agad kinukuha yug plane ticket ko. pero yung Japan experience ay sa Narita Airport sa Japan yun. Madami kasing Pinoy sa Japan kya siguro kami tinanong.

ang experience ko sa terminal 3 ay palaging ang daming tanong ng immigration officer. pag sa ibang terminal naman, tinitignan lang yung passport at plane ticket ko tapos no questions asked.

ang lagi ko kasing ginagawa pag nagbobook ako ng hotel online ay nag eemail ako sa hotel to confirm my online booking. nagsisigurado lang ako na may room ako pag dating ko. gusto ko lang na may proof ako na naka pag book ako at nag email ako sa kanila kaya lahat yun dinadala ko for the immigration officer and the hotel staff to see.

ok lang naman na walang airport transfer service. basta alam mo kung paano ka mag commute. you may ask the hotel how to commute from the airport to the hotel. ask them an estimate on how much should you pay for the taxi.

mag ingat ka sa mga taxi sa airport ng vietnam, parang taxi drivers lang din sila sa manila na gusto mataas ang bayad ay ayaw mag metro. nung dumating kami dati sa vietnam ay late na or madaling araw na, yung mga taxi drivers nakikipag bargain ng higher rate at ayaw mag metro. buti na lang may nakuha kami na pumayag na gamitin ang meter nya.

sa loob kami ng airport nagpapalit ng pera para pangbayad ng taxi. pero tignan mo yung rates nila, piliin mo na lang yung pinaka magandang rate dun. yung enough lang pang taxi yung ipapalit mo sa airport at mababa yung exchange rate dun.

kung saan kami nag papalit ng dollars, tinanungan na din namin kung reasonable ba yung rates na sinasabi ng taxi drivers sa amin. kasi wala kaming idea kung magkano ba yung rate ng taxi at kung malayo yung hotel namin. di kasi naka sama yung nag arrange ng trip due to an emergency.

[pulsenotfound]

^hmmm saan ka ngbook ng hotel online? booking.com ba? pano ko naman sila email if no reply yung send nila saken. hirap din pala mag solo travel. wala kasi my guts sa family ko mag solo travel ako pa lang hehe.

so ayun na nga? need ko pa magpapalit ng dongs sa airport para pangbayad sa taxi? di ba sila accept ng dollars? gusto ko kasi sa district 1 area lang yung hotel ko eh wala naman sa agency kaya pina cancel ko na. super elegant pa nung hotel ako lang naman mag isa haha.

pa guide lang po ha? pasensya na if sobra makulit ako. gusto ko lang maging ok lahat before ako umalis hehe. first time ko actually.

pag PAL terminal fee nalang yung bayaran ko. diba?  hirap ng time sa cebu pac kaya di ko tinanggap.

anyways thanks ulit. sundin ko yung lahat ng sinabi mo. para kasing tinakot pa ko sa agency regarding sa immigration eh.. kakainis lang hehe...

thanks coldsiren! 

[pulsenotfound]

and ask ko lang since its a family business and assistant manager ako dun. meron kami id ng commercial center na inuupahan namen. ok lang ba dalhin ko un? and if i asked ano work ko? self employed ba sabihin ko? or directly sabihn ko asst. manager? ako kasi ng mamanage ngayon since the owner which is my tita have a chronic disease.

lapit na flight ko hehe goodluck saken:) kaya ko to! aja!:)

[coldsiren]

^ nag google ako ng address, email, phone number ng hotel. sa agoda and booking.com ako usually nag book. nakukuha ko yung contact info ng hotel sa website talaga ng hotel. sa experience ko, nag rereply namna agad yung mga hotel sa email ko. mas confident kasi ako pag naassure ako ng hotel mismo na nakabook nga kami.

tell them your an assistant manager na lang. yung id ba na sinasabi mo ay yung mga id na binibigay sa mga tenants ng malls? kung nasa name mo yung id, pwede mong dalhin. wag kang magdala ng id ng ibang tao kasi pag nakita nila yun, lalo kang paghinalaan ng masama.

as for the fees, i'm not sure. last feb 2012 pa last international trip ko. di ko maalala. pero may binayaran ako sa airport, i just don't remember what.

yup, kailangan mo magpapalit ng dollars for the taxi. baka kasi lokohin ka lang if dollars ang ipangbayad mo.

[pulsenotfound]

^ parang ganun na nga. yes, meron ako id nung commercial center sa baclaran at meron din kami id with RFcard kasi meron kami small office at gawaan ng slippers dito sa my laguna. gumawa na din ako ng business card ko.

sabi kasi saken nung agent eh terminal fee na lang bayaran ko kasi PAL [textspeak!] nabooked ko eh.

ok sige confirm ko na lang din yung booking ko para sa immigration pati ba yung email sent message mo ay pnirint mo?

sana di na masyado marami tanong sa immigration sa PAL. anyway, complete naman na yung requirements ko. ill print na din yung memorandum ng BID for tourist para guidelines. i have the right to travel naman siguro no? next country pa naman na gusto ko puntahan eh korea!

hehe thanks so much ColdSiren super big help itong mga advice dito sa forum na to

[coldsiren]

^ pag ako kasi yung email ko at reply ng hotel ipriniprint ko. para in case may aberya mapapakita ko sa hotel na nag email ako sa kanila at nag confirm sila na may reservation ako with them. gusto ko lang na siguradong may titirahan kami at mapapaglaban ko yung nabook ko.

[pulsenotfound]

^ginawa ko yung ginawa mo. and nagreply na sila. iprint ko na lang lahat hehe.. ready na siguro ako no? what do you think? sana, minsan mangyari na yung dito sa thread na to lahat nag popost ay maisipan mag out of the country ng sama sama hehe..

ang kulit nun!! thanks ulit coldsiren

[shockaq]

pagpasok po ba sa dmia eh,, mas mahigpit ang security doon,,, kinakalkal ba nila isaisa ang gmit???

[little_princess]

if you have nothing to hide them it won't be a problem. i've been through different countries and what i have always noticed is that -

1. be calm - they will know if kinakabahan ka and that will be something that they will look out for
2. be confident in your replies - if you pause so much and think, magdududa sila that you are not sure
3. have all your documents ready - at first submit your passport with the immigration form but you should also have in hand your return ticket, hotel bookings, itinerary and invitation letter if you have it
4. never lie - they will know if you do and that will be additional suspicion for them if they caught you lying
5. if you are traveling with family, have all your passports together vs going to the counter by yourself

[coldsiren]

^question, there was a time when I went with my sister to Malaysia and tried to go as a pair in the immigration line. the immigration officer insisted in talking to us separately. is that normal? i ended up being interviewed by another immigration officer because the one interviewing my sister was taking his time.

When I went to Mexico and we were trying to enter the US, my mom and other sister and I talked to just one immigration officer. As in 3 kaming kinakausap  kahit pa iba iba kami ng visa at citizenship. Unlike nung sa Malaysia na pinaghiwalay kami ng isa ko pang sister.  kahit na sinabi naming siblings kami.

Di ko tuloy alam kung sa next travel namin ng dad and sister ko ay isa isa kaming iinterviehin ng immigration officer.

ano ba yung rule sa travelling with your family when it comes to dealing with immigration officers? may age limit ba yun? meaning kung adult na kyo ng siblings mo dapat kanya kanya nang punta ng counter?

[phurple0515]

there is actually a memo sent out by our company travel agency, need na daw i-print ang ticket (return) if ever pupunta ng Pinas.  don't know if this one is for this thread pero FYI na rin ng lahat.  e pano yan, usually karamihan abroad, check in paper na lang tinitignan kasi nga karamihan web check in na:

Philippines requirement for printed return ticket
19 July, 2012

Please be informed with immediate effect visitors travelling to Philippines must hold a printed copy (hard copy) of the return/onward e-ticket to prevent refused entry into the country.
Ticket copies presented on electronic devices (smartphone, laptop, etc) are NOT acceptable.
 
Please disseminate to the following information to all relevant personnel.

[stebsy]

I make it a point to fall in line ng male immigration officer since they are less meticulous. They just check your passport and itinerary and off you go. While with the females madami tanong like who is with you, what's your work, show I'd, where you staying etc...

I also noticed if you have a lot of tatak na sa passport mo wala na sila masyado tanong so I bring with me my old passport hehe