Flying from Manila Airport to Germany

Here we go ... here we go ... here we go!!! Take a deep breath and here we go!

With international flight, it is ideal that you show up 3 hours before your flight or earlier. Hey, your tickets does not come in cheap... so be on time! The worst that can ever happen is that the check-in counter closes on you and that you need to buy new tickets on your expense. Ouch! 

My flight was through NAIA terminal 1 in Manila. I showed up 5 hours ahead of my schedule flight. It was an afternoon flight and the airport is packed with many passengers. After subjecting to security check up, I realized that my airline-of-choice has not open a check-in counter yet. That's alright and I rather be stuck waiting inside the airport lobby than stuck in a traffic jam. Along with other passengers of the same airline, I waited patiently.

I wore jogging pants with a 3/4 long sleeves shirt with a comfortable rubbershoes. I have a thick hoody in my check-in trolley bag. (Please check your airline-of-choice's measurement of the check-in bags and allowable weight as they are very strict regarding this). Remember that COMFORT is more important than fashion.

There are 2 things I needed to pay:

1. Travel Tax
This you can pay at the MIAA (Manila International Airport Authority) counter located at the airport lobby with the following rates:
       
a. 1,620php for Filipinos who are not permanent residents abroad. This is what I payed.
b.  810php for Filipinos aged 2 - 12 years old who are not permanent residents abroad.
c.  200php for Infants below 2 years old & for Filipinos permanent residents abroad.

You can also check the MIAA official website for more information.


2. Terminal Fee of 550php
This new fee started only this February 1, 2012 but may increase again soon according to the local media. The previous fee is 750php. Better bring more money, just in case.


Another long line awaits you at the Immigration Counter. They will check on your passport for the valid visa & CFO stickers. They will also take a look at your plane ticket & maybe interview you a little. When you are cleared, the officer will stamp & sign your passport. You can go ahead now to your assigned gate number (also printed on your boarding pass). You can go shopping too if you like at the duty free area, though I felt they are only limited selections.

You should be fine from here. Have a good journey ahead of you!!!

Clothing to Bring

My sincere apology for the delay. As you may guess, I am now in Germany & have been busy. What's my experiences during the trip is a story I will post in another time. Stay tuned! At the moment, I would like to discuss ''clothing''. What you should bring with you.

1. Jacket
-- at least bring one (1) that you felt is thick enough for the cold weather. Even on a sunny day, the wind is still somewhat cold.
-- light jackets can be useful for spring and autumn seasons. Bring two (2) or more as you wish.

2. Top
-- forget about the shirt or blouse made of thin materials. Chances of being able to use them is slim.
-- do bring several long sleeves, turtle necks, knitted wears, hoodies or T shirts that suits your taste.

3. Bottom
-- do bring several jeans, jogging pants, and the likes with you.
-- skirts of thick material is optional.
-- if you are used to wear shorts at home, you can bring some with you.

4. Shoes
-- do bring sport shoes or sneakers with you. You can wear them on the day you fly to Germany. Make sure that your toes can move inside your shoes.
-- if you are a flipflop lover like myself: at most, bring only one (1) flipflop for the summer seasons. Let's be practical.
-- other close shoes you can't simply leave behind. Hey, I'm a girl too and can understand you! But don't over do it and you can still buy some pairs in Germany too.

5. Others
-- undergarments or underwears. Bring several.
-- socks. Bring at least six (6) pairs of sport socks (the very thick ones) and 6 (six) pairs of normal socks. Bring more esp. if you are not used to cool climates. Knee-high socks are optional.
-- gloves and earmuffs are optional esp. if you are arriving on autumn or spring seasons.
-- caps, hats and beanies. Bring some if you have. This is also optional.

Please take note that you just need to make sure that all your clothing can last upto a week. Either way, you will go shopping for your other necessities when you come here in Germany.

Enjoy packing!

My Pre-Departure To Do List

You got your passport with valid visa & tickets ready, Congrats! 2 of the most common advises you probably heard by now are: (1) enjoy your remaining stay with your family & (2) eat as many of your favorite filipino dishes (because chances are, they are not available or taste differently).

 Here is my list of things I tackled before leaving the country:

1. Identification Cards
-- I decided not to change my surname yet in all on my documents. If ever, they normally just ask for a photocopy of your NSO marriage license. Things to change will include: Driver's License, SSS, BIR, bank accounts & the likes.

2. Credit Card(s)
-- To keep or not to keep is totally up to you. Call your Credit Card Company for payment options or special instructions while living abroad to be able to determine if you should maintain a PH credit card or not.

3. Communication options
-- You know you will miss your family, so, take the time to determine on how to contact them once you reach your destination. Sure, internet is just there -- but, people like my mom, who is zero knowledge in using a PC & refuses to learn it ... well, that is not so easy now, isn't it?
-- If you have a cellphone company line & do not want to maintain it anymore, you need to have this cut. Or if you wanted to maintain a prepaid PH sim, then its time to get one if you haven't yet. With me, I decided to keep a PH prepaid sim card.

4. Documents
-- Bring with you documents that you felt you might need there. I have my NSO birth certificate, NSO marriage license, Deutsch A1 Certificate, University Diploma, Transcript of Records & the likes with me.
-- I had my marriage license translated to German recently, the charge is: 1,400php.

5. Clothing
-- I will list down what I have in my bag in a different blog topic, mainly, because its a long topic. lol.

6.Other items you want to bring with you
-- okey, let's face it: we have tons of stuff we wanted to bring. But we have to bear in mind that there are a certain weight allotment given to us. Best to check it with your airlines... read the fine prints! It will be costly for us if we went over the said allotment. What to do? sort your items. Bring the stuffs you MUST bring now on this trip or set aside the things you can bring with you next time. On your next visit maybe? -- You have an option to 'Balikbayan box' the other stuffs. Just bear in mind that it takes around 1-3 months to get there. Time for you to do a research on this!


Always check for new advisories and restriction of what you can or cannot bring with you. This will save you alot of trouble.

Happy packing!!!

Claiming my CFO Sticker

Congratulation & your most awaited Passport with Visa is in your hands. It's time to get your CFO sticker! What is CFO? What were my experience in attending the CFO seminar? Just click on the questions for the link.

As reminder, do research on the topics I wrote in this blog, before heading to the respective agencies out there. For one, there might be new updates might need or no longer need requirements and the likes. A good example right now is about the CFO being just beside the DFA office in Cebu as I mention in my previous blog. Yes, I went back to Cebu for the sticker. Just recently, the DFA moved to a different address already, although the CFO still at the same location.

Anyway, going back -- This is what you need to bring with you:

1. your passport with Visa
-- photocopy your Identification page in your passport (the one with picture) & your visa page.

2. Ballpen
-- they will ask you to fill up a form. Information needed are similar to what the CFO seminar ask for.

3. Your green copy CFO certificate
-- they will attach this to your passport.

Just wait for them to process it and viola! You now have your CFO sticker affixed to your passport.

Do double check the name printed on the sticker.

Happy weekend!!!

My Visa Approval part 2

The German Embassy Manila contacted me through email though I heard some got theirs via phone call or snail mail. It must be case-to-case basis again.  I was ask to submit the following:

1. Printed copy of the email

2. Valid Passport

3. Planned date of arrival in Germany
-- I just wrote an informal letter informing them my arrival date in Germany. They did not demand any e-ticket copy from me.

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I was given 2 choices on how to submit the documents:

1. Personally show up at the German Embassy during office hours.

2. Call the call center of the Embassy and request for courier pick up.
-- You can actually send the required documents through your choice of courier, however, the Embassy do not guarantee the timely printing & releasing of your visa.

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I choose to call the Embassy's call center. They gave me instructions on what to do & gave me a pick up date of my documents. Including the day it was picked up from me until the day I received my passport with Visa print in it -- it took only 5 working days in total. Fast service indeed!

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Other Facts:
-- the official courier of the German Embassy is Air 21.
-- Fee for round ticket of document (to-&-fro German Embassy) costs 320php and is payable upon pick up of your required documents.
-- Fee for one way (from German Embassy) to your place is 160php and must be paid upon delivery.

Hope it helps!

Happy Leap Year!!!

Visiting the Philippines & Extension of Stay

If your friend(s), partner or yourself is planning to visit & experience the Philippines: Mabuhay!!! Bonus to those who are coming from the Europe Union, USA or countries such as Japan, Canada, Saudi Arabia and the likes -- great news & you do not need to apply for visa if you are staying for 21 days or less. That's right! You don't need to get a visa!

Just bring your travel passport with you & upon reaching the Philippines, the Immigration Officer will give you a Visa-upon-Arrival by stamping on it. This is good for 21 days. So cool, huh? But maybe you would want to know: what to do if you wanted to stay longer than 21 days? where to go?

You can go to the Bureau of Immigration offices to apply for an extension good for another 38 days.  The good news is that their offices are not limited to Metro Manila only & they have a list of subport offices that is nationwide!

You just need to bring the following:

1. Passport
-- Photocopy the information page (where your picture is located) & the last arrival stamp page.

2. Fee amounting to 3,030php
-- This is a "one-pay-fits-all" thing. Irregardless if you use up the entire 38 days or not, this is the standard amount to pay. On our case, my husband only used up 2 days out of the 38 days extension time.

The Alien Control Officer will stamp & signed your passport & will give you a receipt. It is important that you bring the receipt with you when you are about to leave the Philippines to avoid paying further fines/penalties. You can also visit The Bureau of Immigration of the Philippines official website for further information.

So yes, enjoy your stay here. Its more fun in the Philippines!***

*** Current slogan of the Philippine to boost tourism.


UPDATE:
Good news & instead of the ''21 days'' allowable stay in the Philippines without a visa, they now extend this for 30 days! You just need to make sure that your friend have: (1) valid tickets for their return journey to port of origin or to the next port of destination, and (2) passport valid for 6 months beyond the contemplated period of stay in the Philippines. Happy planning!!!

My Visa Approval

My apologies for the delay of posting & I was stunned at the wonderful news (still am actually). I was contacted by the German Embassy Manila, Visa division via e-mail. They instruct me to send my passport, date-of-arrival to Germany & an option on how to send my passport to their office for the visa printing. I have not done any of those yet as my husband & I are still planning on our trip. I will write another post regarding how I send mine.

My visa was approved within a month since I applied & had my interview at the embassy. My husband did not follow up the Alien office at all as on the letter they send him, it was written that they prefer you do not make any follow up. Well, yes, you can but then you just get to hamper their work by needing to explain things for you and so on. They did send my husband a letter explaining that they have already "decided" on my case & have send back my documents to the German Embassy in Manila. However, due to their policies, they cannot reveal their answer: if yes or no. Simply put that not necessary mean they send their approval that the Embassy in Manila will no longer ask for additional documents. Yes, this do happens in certain cases.

In my case, I would consider myself lucky as there were no additional documents that were ask of me, nor did I undergo any "document checking". Most cases that I learn from my acquaintances that they were required for document checking: Some were already asked of this when their husband were getting their Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage document. While the others were ask of this after applying for their visas. I would think it is best to assume still that everyone is required to have their documents checked, so not to raise false hope.

Wishing the people who are waiting for their visas good luck & a speedy process.

And for those who are jumping in joy in learning their visas are already approved... Congratulation!!! Happy planning!