One of the traveller's biggest nightmare is to be denied to board the plane by the Immigration officers. Just imagine the excitement, the months of preparation and the efforts of packing your bags will all be put to waste just because you were offloaded. Everyday around 40 people are offloaded at NAIA terminal 1 alone. We can't blame the Immigration officers for this because they are just doing their job. They have to make sure that no one who's seeking employment in their destination country without proper documents can get through and believe it or not, they also care about your welfare too. They have to make sure that the traveller have enough money to finance his/her travel so you will not end up on the streets or to the Philippine embassy begging for help.
Based on my experience, it is indeed nerve-wracking to face the I.O's I was so anxious about the questions and the documents that they will be asking from me. A month before my trip to Taipei, I already prepared my documents like:
1. Roundtrip plane ticket
2. Hotel accommodation
3. Visa (if needed)
4. and of course my passport
5. Company ID/ COE
6. itinerary (CLICK HERE if you need help on organizing your itinerary)
Basically these are the only documents that you need to present to the I.O's. They will just ask for additional documents if necessary. In my case, I'm still a student and I am also working as a freelancer (meaning I don't have a company ID). They asked for additional papers such as my school ID, School registration and a copy of my certificate of employment (COE). I was able to convince the I.O that my main reason for travelling is just for sightseeing. That was the longest 15 minutes of my life.
Here are some tips for first time travellers on how you can breeze your way through the Immigration.
1. Prepare your papers.
According to the website of the Bureau of Immigration "At a minimum, a traveler intending to go abroad shall be required to present a passport valid for at least six (6) months, visa when required and a round trip ticket during the primary inspection."
A secondary inspection will be conducted if deemed necessary.
2. Don't be nervous, Be confident
If you are telling the truth, there's nothing to worry about. Maintain eye contact. Just give them what they ask and answer only the questions that they are asking. The last thing that you want to happen is to appearing like you are lying even though you are telling the truth.
The common questions are:
1. What's your job?
2. Where will you be staying?
3. How long will you stay there?
3. Dress decently
Yes, you have to. It's sad to say but sometimes profiling happens. They look at you from a far and judge your financial status by the way you dress.
You don't need to be rich to travel, you just need to afford it. It rarely happens that an I.O will ask for a show money. Just in case bring the following:
a bank certification
your latest income tax return (ITR)
proof of property, etc.
If you are employed:
certificate of employment (COE) and an approved leave of absence (LOA).
4. You will need to present additional documents if:
1. You are not financially capable to travel you will need to provide an authenticated affidavit of support or letter of invitation from a relative within the 4th civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.
2. You are a minor traveling alone or with a person other than a parent will need to provide a travel clearance from the DSWD.
3. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) will need to show their contract and OEC from the POEA.
4. Partners and spouses of foreign nationals who intend to meet/marry their partner/spouse abroad will need to present a guidance and counseling certificate(GCC) from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO)
Remember it is better to over prepared than under prepared for your journey. The last thing that you would like to happen is to end your plans just before it starts.
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