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No problem at all that I've heard of. It's just stamps on a passport. Relax and enjoy your trip.

The necessary RETURN Ticket is required by you to show that you will Leave the Philippines within 30 days of being back. She will not need a Return Ticket. Be sure to have extensive proof of your relationship so that she does not get Offloaded by Philippines Immigration cuz they think you are Trafficking her. And, I am sure that you have your Visa for Vietnam. She won't need that either.

@Larry Fisher

Many thanks

Appreciate your fast reply.

@talamban

Thank you

Yes I have heard horror stories about off loading but we have been living together in Manila for over a year now and 'together' for 4 years before that so hopefully no problem.

@C D87

Irrelevant. Is this your first trip outside the Philippines together? Is this your partners first trip outside the country?

At immigration prepare for a grilling . More than likely your partner will be interviewed in a separate room. Both your stories have to align.

Make sure you bring documentary evidence of your 4 year relationship including photographs.

@Lotus Eater

OH NO!

Yes our first trip TOGETHER outside Phil and just once many years ago she went to Singapore for a job.

I am from the UK and have been here at least 20 times over the years before retiring here last year.

So it looks like it is her that will get the grilling. I will arm her with all possible documents and proofs of our longterm relationship and hope no unforseen problems.

@C D87

Here is how it will play out CD87. If your Filipina partner is in her fifties and ( no offence intended) looks like the back end of a London no 9 bus I'm sure you will sail through immigration without the blink of an eyelid from the

Immigration officer.

If your GF is in her twenties tottering on 3 inch heels wearing a low cut top (yeah there is always one at the check-in queues at either Suvarnabhumi or NAIA airports) with no knickers (Filipina's refer to them as panties) and a short skirt then I guess you won't be boarding the flight. Somewhere in between you have to do your homework. Good luck.

@Lotus Eater

LOL..certainly NOT a tart so all should be well.....

I would just make sure that your girl dresses conservatively for the flight (maybe a pair of comfy leggings instead of shorts and some trainers and a not too revealing top). Also like somebody else said, have all your documentation in order and proof of your relationship. Practice answers to questions you anticipate and I guess it would not be a bad idea for your girl to have proof that she has enough cash in her bank account to fund and emergency situation and a bit of cash on her person.

Good idea to book hotels with cancellation included should the worst happen.

@Cherryann01

Thanks. Useful advice especially about rehearsing possible questions.

Would it be possible to get a letter from the Barangay Captain in your area?  Not sure you can and if he or she would be willing to write one but if you or your girl have had dealings with them. If the letter were to say how long you have known each other and there have been no problems, you are a good egg, that sort of thing - maybe it could help.

    @C D87
Here is how it will play out CD87. If your Filipina partner is in her fifties and ( no offence intended) looks like the back end of a London no 9 bus I'm sure you will sail through immigration without the blink of an eyelid from the
Immigration officer.
If your GF is in her twenties tottering on 3 inch heels wearing a low cut top (yeah there is always one at the check-in queues at either Suvarnabhumi or NAIA airports) with no knickers (Filipina's refer to them as panties) and a short skirt then I guess you won't be boarding the flight. Somewhere in between you have to do your homework. Good luck.
   

    -@Lotus Eater

This is probably the most accurate.

My honey and I went to Thailand for 4 days in March. No questions were asked. She had to pay the exit fee, but that's it. This was in Cebu. And she's 54.

The whole point is to prevent human trafficking. Understandable as it's bad. So obviously looking as clean cut and respectable as possible and looking like a couple for a long time is advisable.

*I'm so glad I didn't chase after a youngin. Fun, but not worth the longer term hassles!

@Cherryann01

Certainly a possibility.

Thanks for the suggestion.

        @C D87Here is how it will play out CD87. If your Filipina partner is in her fifties and ( no offence intended) looks like the back end of a London no 9 bus I'm sure you will sail through immigration without the blink of an eyelid from the Immigration officer. If your GF is in her twenties tottering on 3 inch heels wearing a low cut top (yeah there is always one at the check-in queues at either Suvarnabhumi or NAIA airports) with no knickers (Filipina's refer to them as panties) and a short skirt then I guess you won't be boarding the flight. Somewhere in between you have to do your homework. Good luck.        -@Lotus Eater

This is probably the most accurate.

My honey and I went to Thailand for 4 days in March. No questions were asked. She had to pay the exit fee, but that's it. This was in Cebu. And she's 54.

The whole point is to prevent human trafficking. Understandable as it's bad. So obviously looking as clean cut and respectable as possible and looking like a couple for a long time is advisable.

*I'm so glad I didn't chase after a youngin. Fun, but not worth the longer term hassles! -@Larry Fisher

Yes

On the face of it looks like they are making exiting Phil so difficult for a young female, but I completely understand the reasoning.

My GF was 36 when I first took her to Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. She looked younger, but dresses conservatively. We had already been living together for a few years in Cebu, so had tons of pics and shared history. I anticipated the hassle so had also brought some paperwork with my name on it, like condo agreement and a utility bill. They questioned us separately for about 20 min, then we were good to go. Definitely allow enough time.

@Cherryann01
Thanks. Useful advice especially about rehearsing possible questions.
        -@C D87

My advice to you is to not rehearse the answers to any anticipated questions.

Better that you both simply answer any questions with honest truth.

@Aidan in HCMC

My advice to you is to not rehearse the answers to any anticipated questions

Really? Comparable to a theatre production without the rehearsals? Of course 1st night always goes smoothly..

My advice to you is to not rehearse the answers to any anticipated questions. Better that you both simply answer any questions with honest truth.    -@Aidan in HCMC

Really? Comparable to a theatre production without the rehearsals? Of course 1st night always goes smoothly..        -@Lotus Eater

I'm thinking for fear of the answers being so strikingly similar that the answers would appear obviously rehearsed.

It's not performance art. It is a genuine interview conducted by immigration officials to determine legitimacy.

They can sense honesty, and they can smell a performance.

@Aidan in HCMC

I’m not for one moment advocating dishonest answers.

The OP’s other half will be nervous. The immigration officers will certainly ’smell’ that.

Ironically Filipinos relish a good performance. Thats why they elected a movie star Joseph Estrada as their President in 1998.

@ Lotus Eater

As well as all the other crap that goes on here, I hide in a cupboard most times and let the better half sort the problems out. He seems good at that most times.

I remember when he and remember he/him came to Australia on a simple visitor visa 12 years ago and to gain that had to do the proverbial sit in a classroom and swallow all the crap so he could get on a flight for 4/5 hours. Gainfully employed with the Philippines National railway in treasury, a permanent address, maybe things have changed as they should.

He wasn't going to Iran but a simple helpless country called Australia, regardless I live here now full time and see the idiosyncrasies and then some and that's why most times I advise but keep my head in the cupboard.

OMO.

Cheers, Steve.

I still say practice your answers and try to anticipate the questions. Good advise from pnycyclist also about bringing paperwork with you.

The way I see it is that the questions will be in 3 parts

1. Personal details - So details about each other like full name, date of birth, the place you were born, have you been married before, do you have kids, etc.
2. How you met and how your relationship developed.
3. Your planned trip - so they could ask why you choose your destinations, where you will be staying and what you plan to do whilst there (What sights will you see/ trips you take).

A lot of the answers your girl will be asked will be on your paperwork and I imagine they will ask for your passport and travel papers so they can use them to check the answers your girl gives when she is questioned separately. Your full name, place of birth, date of birth are all in your passport plus more information and your travel papers will show hotel details and you may have documentation for any pre booked excursions.

The second line of questioning regarding your relationship should be easy and this will be the part where your girl can elaborate and go into detail. So if for example they ask her how you met - she could say you first met on (name of dating site), chatted on there for two months then when comfortable she gave you her social media contact details and you moved to that platform and started chatting and video calling on a daily basis. Then after 6 months you went to the Philippines and met for the first time. She could then say you have been visiting on a regular basis ever since and have made X number of trips. She can tell them where you stayed and some of the places you visited and things you have done on your visits.

The  part about your trip - just let her see the documents so she knows what hotels you will be staying in and knows how many days in each and also knows what you plan to do when there and the date and time of her return flight home.

One more thing they may ask is about your plans for the future so be prepared for that one.

I would imagine that they run through a set of pre- planned questions and will only ask additional questions if the answers they receive do not tally.

Simples

@Cherryann01

A lot to think about in your advice and that of others here.

She is good at talking and very sincere so if we both answer any questions honestly all will go well hopefully. We don't travel until mid January. After that I will     post an update here with anything that might help.

    @Cherryann01
A lot to think about in your advice and that of others here.
She is good at talking and very sincere so if we both answer any questions honestly all will go well hopefully. We don't travel until mid January. After that I will     post an update here with anything that might help.
   

    -@C D87

Thank you for that. May I ask where you intend to visit in Vietnam? I have been in HCMC and Da Nang in the last two years. Egg coffee in HCMC and Coconut coffee in Da Nang are excellent. Hard to stay on the footpaths in HCMC with all the bikes and scooters parked there and they drive on the pavements to avoid traffic lights at the busy junctions.

One last thing - In my opinion you should also check both your social media accounts. For example - if one says in a relationship and the other still has their status down as single, then there may be questions. Also check the comments and posts and remove anything that may go against you. An example of this would be if your girl posted a picture and you commented saying "Wow so so sexy, any man would want you". The any man reference could be taken the wrong way by immigration and they may read more into the comment than you meant.

Still at the planning stage

Starting in Hanoi and heading south but probably not as far as HCMC.
        @Cherryann01A lot to think about in your advice and that of others here.She is good at talking and very sincere so if we both answer any questions honestly all will go well hopefully. We don't travel until mid January. After that I will     post an update here with anything that might help.        -@C D87

Thank you for that. May I ask where you intend to visit in Vietnam? I have been in HCMC and Da Nang in the last two years. Egg coffee in HCMC and Coconut coffee in Da Nang are excellent. Hard to stay on the footpaths in HCMC with all the bikes and scooters parked there and they drive on the pavements to avoid traffic lights at the busy junctions.
   
    -@Cherryann01