玩偶姐姐

hello,
聽 聽 聽does anyone know if you can just do this online and print it out & whether this is acceptable to enter the Philippines? I can't get any sense out the people assigned to help with this in the Philippines. - @drumtones

From the Philippines e-travel FAQ:

Can I print my eTravel QR code instead of screenshot?

Yes. You may print your eTravel QR code as well.

People suggest you do that anyway in case your phone bat dies at immigration.

In our case, we think they just read our faceprint and knew who we were on the return trip from faceprint on the departure trip.. From there, they never asked for any QR code because it apparently was already in the system from pur online application. So, we just walked through.

@drumtones

yes you can do it online, download the app, you can register 3 days before your departure.聽 it wont let you register more than 3 days, there you will find all info you need to fill requirements. sorry for rush reply for i am to head out , i'll check back when i get more stable internet.聽 good luck friend xD

The Etravel is linked to your passport for immigration control and supposedly they scan it at Customs but I've been waved through twice in the past few months without any scan. Having a print out or screenshot seems advisable though

Thanks for the answers all.

It only toke 10 attempts to get help from the people assigned in the Philippines to help on this matter, but eventually Diane answered this query perfectly.

Salamat 馃槆

Thanks for the answers all.
It only toke 10 attempts to get help from the people assigned in the Philippines to help on this matter, but eventually Diane answered this query perfectly.
Salamat 馃槆 - @drumtones

You are very welcome. FYI, your question about bringing the QR code screenprint hard copy was perfectly answered on the e-travel website FAQ that most peole could look up, but. there is no problem having people on forums do that for you if you are not so familiar with the internet. That's what we are for, to assist in matters like this.

When completing the E travel PH does anybody actually list every address they are staying at when in the Philippines if there are multiple addresses/Resorts/Hotels? Just asking because I think I have only listed a couple on previous visits and skipped some and for my next trip in November I have 5 different accommodation bookings.

@Cherryann01

No just the 1st address - for me usually the airport hotel

@Cherryann01

next trip in November I have 5 different accommodation bookings.

You will be waking up in the middle of the night not aware of which hotel, city or country you are in CA.

Just remember to get the name right of the person laying next to you

@Cherryann01

The eGov app is a bit strange for me.聽 I sometimes take the San Antonio>Dallas>Doha>Cebu>Davo route to the PI, but if I enter the American Airlines flight as the first leg (SA>Dallas), it won't let me enter a valid flight number.聽 It only allows one that I have no idea where they are getting it from.聽 So I just use it instead and have not had any issues.聽 The three times I've flown here, I've only had it scanned once by customs.聽 The last time (I'm currently in Mati City as I type this), the customs lady just took a quick glance at it and waved me through.

On a side note, I got held up in Immigration this last time.聽 The officer started asking me a lot of questions ... Where will you be staying?聽 What is your purpose for coming here?聽 Who will you be seeing?聽 How long will you be staying?聽 Etc.聽 Before they would just stamp my passport and let me go.聽 I told my Filipina GF this and she said it was probably because I was just here back in March (i.e., less than a year).

@mati_steve

It was probably just an over zealous immigration officer. Some of them take the job too seriously and others not seriously enough. I have been arriving/departing every few months and they just yawn and wave me through 馃�濴ong may that attitude continue

@mati_steve

Hi bud,

聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Yeah the app is so glichy I wondered if it was a scam site; & it almost works properly with a Gmail email account.

Tourism is down by a lot in the Philippines & it stands to reason that the e travel is a contributing factor. + It was a convid measure & should now be scrapped.

聽 As for those sorts of people, they are aholes the world over 馃槄 I hate the impertinent questions they sometimes ask. They do a disservice to their country. Personally I would be as vague as possible, or even lie.

All the red tape there puts me off going; I suspect that is the desired affect.

Hope you had a good time anyway.

@mati_steve

The officer started asking me a lot of questions .

Who will I be seeing

None of her goddamned business. But as we always say on this Forum 鈥� When in Rome鈥�

Maybe she was jealous..

@Cherryann01
next trip in November I have 5 different accommodation bookings.
You will be waking up in the middle of the night not aware of which hotel, city or country you are in CA.
Just remember to get the name right of the person laying next to you - @Lotus Eater

No need to worry about getting the name of the woman I wake up to wrong since she is travelling with me for the whole journey. She is probably the first filipina I have met who plans ahead because when she started her new job at a friends Laundry Business, she had her sister trained on the job to cover for her when I next visited.

As for immigration asking any questions - I will just smile and answer them since I have nothing to hide and no reason to worry and I obviously have pictures of my girlfriend from when we met in May and many sent via WhatsApp and copies of all my hotel and resort bookings. Waking up in different hotels/resorts may lead to small problems like getting the breakfast times slightly wrong at first but nothing to worry about.

@mati_steve
The officer started asking me a lot of questions .
Who will I be seeing

None of her goddamned business. But as we always say on this Forum 鈥� When in Rome鈥�
Maybe she was jealous.. - @Lotus Eater

The Philippines is not alone in this. US immigration sometimes goes much further than that; they sometimes ask for smartphones and ask questions using social media to corroborate what you are saying, and more. You might not give them the password but then they don't let you in unless you are a US citizen. And if you are American, they must let you in but they hold your phone until they can crack it. And this is random, not targeted. Now, if you are at the country border about to be let in, immigration has much more power over you because you lack the constitutional rights of one who was admitted. I don't necessarily disagree with their doing this as we need to filter out enemies of our government and criminals but for sure, many people are showing they just don't want to come to the USA anymore with these dystopian policies. The Philippines and other countries just may just be copying the US but these countries cannot usually afford to lose tourism as the USA can.

@mati_steve
The officer started asking me a lot of questions .
Who will I be seeing

None of her goddamned business. But as we always say on this Forum 鈥� When in Rome鈥�
Maybe she was jealous.. - @Lotus Eater

"She" was actually a "he", but one never knows these days. 馃槀

@mati_steveThe officer started asking me a lot of questions .Who will I be seeingNone of her goddamned business. But as we always say on this Forum 鈥� When in Rome鈥橫aybe she was jealous.. - @Lotus Eater The Philippines is not alone in this. US immigration sometimes goes much further than that; they sometimes ask for smartphones and ask questions using social media to corroborate what you are saying, and more. You might not give them the password but then they don't let you in unless you are a US citizen. And if you are American, they must let you in but they hold your phone until they can crack it. And this is random, not targeted. Now, if you are at the country border about to be let in, immigration has much more power over you because you lack the constitutional rights of one who was admitted. I don't necessarily disagree with their doing this as we need to filter out enemies of our government and criminals but for sure, many people are showing they just don't want to come to the USA anymore with these dystopian policies. The Philippines and other countries just may just be copying the US but these countries cannot usually afford to lose tourism as the USA can. - @danfinn

I can definitely attest US immigration is very strict.聽 However, given the events of 9/11, etc, I'm not too surprised (not to say that it doesn't come with a lot of balance between comfortability and rights).聽 I went through the process of getting Global Entry, which makes it much easier to go through as a US citizen, but there is still a little bit of uneasiness that you could be pulled.聽 I was just pointing out the interesting difference I experienced with BI in the PI this time around compared to previous trips.聽 I find having to be searched periodically when going into malls, stores, etc, in the PI equally interesting, but at the same time it doesn't bother me as each county has their rules and customs for doing things based on past events.

@mati_steve
Hi bud,
聽 聽 聽 聽 Yeah the app is so glichy I wondered if it was a scam site; & it almost works properly with a Gmail email account.
Tourism is down by a lot in the Philippines & it stands to reason that the e travel is a contributing factor. + It was a convid measure & should now be scrapped.
As for those sorts of people, they are aholes the world over 馃槄 I hate the impertinent questions they sometimes ask. They do a disservice to their country. Personally I would be as vague as possible, or even lie.
All the red tape there puts me off going; I suspect that is the desired affect.
Hope you had a good time anyway. - @drumtones

I actually don't mind.聽 It would be good if they were a little consistent and/or forthcoming, but again not a big deal.聽 I'm actually an easy-going person and don't take too much offense at things like this.聽 In fact, my Filipina GF and I went to a local BPI branch to inquire about a loan.聽 My GF got up to go to the restroom, and I asked the service person a few questions about banking, etc.聽 It was a very good conversation and afterward he kept complimenting me on my professional demeanor and personality - saying that many expats come in with a "higher than thou", narcisistic attitude, expecting the bank to bend over backwards to appease them.聽 I've heard this from others, and I heop I never run into one of these a-holes.

@danfinn

I've witnessed US immigration be unprofessional in their rudeness and hostility, not to me but to others and there's never any call for that. Passengers are powerless and even the bad ones should be treated politely and with respect. It's a very bad sign that any public service organisation allows frontline staff to behave like that and it's no wonder US tourism is in the doldrums as hundreds of thousands of perfectly law-abiding people who pose no risk to America choose to holiday elsewhere. That's the damage these morons in ICE are doing. On the other hand, I've have only been treated courteously by Philippines immigration staff

@danfinnI've witnessed US immigration be unprofessional in their rudeness and hostility, not to me but to others and there's never any call for that. Passengers are powerless and even the bad ones should be treated politely and with respect. It's a very bad sign that any public service organisation allows frontline staff to behave like that and it's no wonder US tourism is in the doldrums as hundreds of thousands of perfectly law-abiding people who pose no risk to America choose to holiday elsewhere. That's the damage these morons in ICE are doing. On the other hand, I've have only been treated courteously by Philippines immigration staff - @Brojeslov

I didn't intend to start a race to the bottom as to which country has the worst immigration agents. All countries are about the same as far as the people are concerned. Some are respectful, others are not whether in the Philippines, Canada (where J personally have had my worst experiences) or in the US. I was talking more about the policies that are being implemented. Currently, the USA had become quite strict, possibly a reaction to an intolerable and possibly criminal 4 years of liberal democrats trying to increase their voter base, treasonously letting in any and and all illegal aliens of any criminal stripe (drug and human smugglers, gangs) waltz into the country unhindered.聽 I think when Canada sees our policies, they reciprocate on the US and I think the Philippines copies us to some extent, even finding people they originally admitted and deporting them later after learning their moral turpitude background. I am quite sure your country has the same cross-section of good and bad personalities amongst your immigration personnel. What would be different would be the current policies being followed amongst countries. As a US citizen I am not opposed to our current policies simply because, prior to Trump, it was so easy for undesirables to enter, people who actually hate the US, to come in and abuse the privileges of visitation of a host country, vandalizing campuses and supporting terrorist groups. I would say, if you hate or dislike the US, stay away, perhaps go to another C, ANZ or EU place because you will now have problems here, actually for the first time. Not only that but I fully support Philippines BIR in their attempts to filter for more desirable guests. But people being the way they are are bound to create inconsistencies and examples of unfair treatment in all countries' entry points.

聽 聽 聽 聽 聽Noticed a lot of Canadians who have a history of visiting or snow birding in the USA are no longer showing up.聽 Do not think how they were treated by US immigration officers has anything to do with it.

聽 聽 Noticed a lot of Canadians who have a history of visiting or snow birding in the USA are no longer showing up. Do not think how they were treated by US immigration officers has anything to do with it. - @mugtech

Mugtech, I have found that both sides seem to be in competition with each other as to which side can be the most obnoxious. That is, both Canadian and American immigration treats Americans like crap and probably the same with Canadians. In the sixties from my home at UW Madison Wisconsin we would cross the Canadian border for fishing and camping trips, just showing our driver's license and saying we had no Cuban cigars (into USA) when asked. Then they waved us on at both sides. Now they often have you take your car to an inspection area and do a complete document and vehicle inspection with not-so-friendly customs officials. They say 9/11 changed things but that's what they say about all government overreach.

danfinn said . . . . 聽 In the sixties from my home at UW Madison Wisconsin we would cross the Canadian border for fishing and camping trips, just showing our driver's license and saying we had no Cuban cigars (into USA) when asked.

In the Canadian duty free shop in Niagara Falls, they sell Havana Cigars but caution they are not legal in the states.

You place your order and pay in the shop. You pick up your purchase at a drive in window. You cannot exit back into Canada as the road is the crossing ramp to the Rainbow Bridge.

@danfinn

In Australia border control officers are required by law to treat people with respect and courtesy and if they don't and there is a complaint it will be investigated and they can be punished. Of course no system is perfect but the behaviour I have witnessed from ICE in America is officers behaving poorly with impunity, disgraceful behaviour performed in full public view. These bullies show no fear of punishment because, I strongly suspect, their bosses don't care how badly travellers are treated. International tourism to the US is in the doldrums right now, I don't think that's a coincidence

@danfinn
In Australia border control officers are required by law to treat people with respect and courtesy and if they don't and there is a complaint it will be investigated and they can be punished. Of course no system is perfect but the behaviour I have witnessed from ICE in America is officers behaving poorly with impunity, disgraceful behaviour performed in full public view. These bullies show no fear of punishment because, I strongly suspect, their bosses don't care how badly travellers are treated. International tourism to the US is in the doldrums right now, I don't think that's a coincidence - @Brojeslov

That is fantastic, i.e that travelers to Australia have a venue to complain of any mistreatment. This is probably reflected in tourists positive perceptions of Australia as being a great destination, at least as long as there is no covid pandemic to worry about, in which case nobody could go through Australian immigration in either direction, even blocking their own citizens from re-entering (I think that violated international law).; all the while the US remained open for international travelers albeit eith the possibility of ornery immigration personnel.

As a matter of correction, (and please correction me if I am wrong), J highly suspect you never encountered ICE agents while in the US as you don't fit the profile of a US illegal alien. At the border you would have encountered CBP agents.

FYI:

- ICE operates inside the U.S., not at the border

- Focuses on immigration enforcement, investigations, and deportations after entry

- Includes divisions like Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO)

So unless there鈥檚 a specific enforcement action underway (e.g., a targeted arrest or investigation), travelers won鈥檛 interact with ICE agents at the border. It鈥檚 CBP officers who handle entry screening.

Actually I would by happy knowing that travel to the US, by people that ICE is interested in, (illegal entrants, smugglers, human traffickers, fentanyl traffickers etc.) is in the doldrums as you say. US tourism may also be impacted but not, for example, as badly as Philippines tourism is affected today.聽 And wow, look at Thailand, down 7% after they re-criminalized cannabis. And it is probably correct to say Canadian tourism is down in the US but that is due to a trade war which is something US CBP cannot control.

@danfinn

Thanks for the info re: ICE v CBP. Yes, I've only ever interacted with them at the border so that would be CBP. There is a saying in professional standards, "if you unleash the dog it bites everybody" meaning if you tolerate staff choosing who they will be professional with they end up being unprofessional with everybody, not just the bad guys you thought they were going to be mean to. The media in Australia are regularly running stories on travellers being deported or detained in America for trivial reasons. In some cases, these are people who have visited without incident for many years but all of a sudden are treated little better than criminals. It's very high profile here, in response the Australian government has even issued a caution. I know three people who have decided to travel elsewhere and two others who would have done except their trips were already booked and not changeable.

聽 Noticed a lot of Canadians who have a history of visiting or snow birding in the USA are no longer showing up. Do not think how they were treated by US immigration officers has anything to do with it. - @mugtech
Mugtech, I have found that both sides seem to be in competition with each other as to which side can be the most obnoxious. That is, both Canadian and American immigration treats Americans like crap and probably the same with Canadians. In the sixties from my home at UW Madison Wisconsin we would cross the Canadian border for fishing and camping trips, just showing our driver's license and saying we had no Cuban cigars (into USA) when asked. Then they waved us on at both sides. Now they often have you take your car to an inspection area and do a complete document and vehicle inspection with not-so-friendly customs officials. They say 9/11 changed things but that's what they say about all government overreach.
- @danfinn

Llast weekend here in the Georgian city of Bath we celebrated the 250th anniversary of Jane Austens birth with 18th century costume parades around the city. My cousin from London stayed with me for a couple of nights as she was visiting an old school friend from Montr茅al where she lived for 4 years. Her english speaking friend was in the UK with her French Canadian husband doing the sights. Charming couple.

We all went for a mid morning coffee on the Saturday and the girls exchanged their school memories while I chatted with Andr茅. It was interesting to hear his take on the recent political events in North America that have been unfolding between the two countries. He is not a political animal and like myself takes politics at arms length but the animation that Mr Trump has ignited in his neighbours next door is really quite intense. Canadians are quite laid back and equable in their temperament. I actually spent 3 months learning the French language at Quebec University in the 90's

I do agree with Trump on his immigration policy. Immigration needs to be tempered and controlled but certainly not eliminated. We have the same issues in the UK.聽 There are several ways to skin the proverbial cat and he does it in a polarising way that divides the country in an unhealthy way. The president effectively is the USA's top diplomat and its not necessarily what he says but the way he says it. Imagine Mr T's reaction if the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated it would be nice to annexe the state of Alaska.

Andr茅 commented on a number of Canadians (yes some still cross the border to visit relatives) and international聽 visitors who are being asked to hand over their mobile phones at immigration which are inspected for anti Trump views. No you could not make it up if you tried.

It's stating the bloody obvious but a first time visitors initial contact with a country is the immigration official. Surely its a common courtesy to be treated with respect.

聽 聽 Noticed a lot of Canadians who have a history of visiting or snow birding in the USA are no longer showing up. Do not think how they were treated by US immigration officers has anything to do with it. - @mugtech

I agree that the reason they are not coming is not related to treatment at US immigration. It probably has much to do with the recent trade war and perhaps Canadian nationalism ignited by Trump and continued by both sides. I would venture to say it is a boycott against all things US.聽 聽 Previously there had been a strong WEXIT movement in the West with strong sentiment for Alberta, Sask and possibly Manit. to secede and possibly join the USA but Trump inflamed their nationalism to the point where conservatives there voted in a very liberal PM to replace Trudeau.聽 I have not heard that the consequences of the Canadian travel and product boycott have had much effect on the USA, however. We will see but for now, the WEXIT movement seems dead as our Maple Leaf brothers remain patriotic to Canada and the Crown.

. I have not heard that the consequences of the Canadian travel and product boycott have had much effect on the USA, however. We will see but for now, the WEXIT movement seems dead as our Maple Leaf brothers remain patriotic to Canada and the Crown.
- @danfinn

聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Noticed in Las Vegas, Florida, and New England.

I got this from an article on Newsweek from a few days ago: 鈥淎ccording to estimates by the World Travel & Tourism Council, international visitor spending in the U.S. is expected to fall below $169 billion this year, down from $181 billion last year.鈥� I accept there will be more than one reason for the decline and, of course, many 鈥渧isitors鈥� are there for business, education or family reasons and will continue to travel even if concerned by CBP or politics generally. It鈥檚 a shame because the US is a fantastic tourist destination and when you鈥檙e there the locals are in the main courteous and friendly. I think CBP ought to adopt that approach, being nice doesn鈥檛 stop them from detaining and deporting people

mugtech said . . . . Noticed a lot of Canadians who have a history of visiting or snow birding in the USA are no longer showing up. Do not think how they were treated by US immigration officers has anything to do with it.

Canadians & Mexicans are the biggest visitors to the US. The value of their currency has fallen compared to the stronger US dollar. As far as the treatment of Canadian & Mexican visitors by immigration is really a non issue.