There is safe places in Mindanao too...Just stay away from muslim areas there like Zamboanga and Cotabato... Davao city is for example the safest city in the country

You can still get kidnapped in Davao or Cebu if you're unlucky.

sure and some years ago few foreigners got kidnapped in resort at samal island(which tecnically isnt part of Davao city even though just few minutes boat ride away)... But you need to be extremely unlucky this to happen especially in Davao. And cebu isnt part of Mindanao. But there are many surveys that constantly rank safety of cities and Davao is ranked constantly very safe(safest at Philippines at least) and Mindanao is very big island... So even if there are few spot that are said to be unsafe... Most of it is still relative safe.

BUMP
yes there are safe place in the crappy places. just rather stay safe and not visit the bottom muslim islands where they could be. my filipino wife is from iligan city. told her i was never going to her island lol. of course i was told also manila was dangerous for Americans at night by an old filipino roommate. However I walked all over 2-3 o clock in the morning. No one ever bothered me. I was told because of my tattoos, either I was an American soldier, (which I am a vet) or I was a gangster. I did however get cat calls calls from filipinas. So all in all safe most places. Just want to be extra careful as an expat in a foreign land. That is my advise if leaving your home for the first time. Don't put your self in precarious positions.

So I see I am the last post. I am now looking for information from the grinders that may still be in Philippines. How has things changed. Thread started 10 years ago or more. Thailand I was planning on a long move but after research the visa stuff is more then a little issue. Constant runs etc.. I have friends in Philippines. Are all sites avail. in Philippines. I didnt grind went I visited. Banking options. I still probably visit Thailand one last time, cut some ties with some woman. Just visit once and thats it. I need a place to post. I can still visit other places every couple months. But looking for a place with the easiest visa renewal laws. I think in Vietnam and Cambodia you dont have to leave where as Thailand you do every 2 months even with a 6 month visa. So I think best thing is to find a place I dont have to keep leaving except when I wan to travel somewhere for a week or two with my laptop but leave my things at home, which whatever country makes sense. I am trying to make this minimum 6 month trip. But there is no cap. I only go home if I bust and cant make it online. Or if cant find a live game after Covid. I played at Solare in Pasay. It was great. Chinese just giving money away. I would like to see other parts of the Philippines. North, or cebu. No experience there. Is this a place you can easily make a long stay or same as Thailand always leaving to do visa runs every coulple months.? How does everyone do it. Do you leave your things. Or pack so light you can just up and move.? I have a tv monitor. Clothes etc.. How do people do it. I m all for packing and living light, but how light? Please I have 2 months to figure this out. I hear some of Asia might be able to get a visa even during Covid w permission. At least Thailand I hear. So maybe Thailand just to get set up. But I need a more stable longer stay somewhere. I like traveling. But if trying to make a living still would like to stay somewhere for awhile then every couple or few months vacation from my permanent vacation. I know filipinas love americans but so does every Asian country. I had no issues in Thailand so not really worried about that. Please help.

PH is good, i chose this over thailand. That being said i dont think will be so easy getting in this year due to covid.
Regarding easyness of visa PH is probably the no1 spot in SEA (during normal times).

Written Thai has no spaces or paragraphs.
You'll fit right in

But seriously, I think Philippines has the easiest visas.
The place is a dump but visas seem like the best, English is prevalent and it seems like the internet is decent these days

Highly dependant where you live. I dont think places like BGC or Rockwell even exist anywhere in Europe and i wouldnt call those "dumps". Moar like anti dump if anything.

Obviously if you decide to lowball in tondo for 250usd/month you paid for dump and youll get a dump

He’d fit good in china too

I thought Cambodia was the easiest to get as you can stay indefinite on a business visa and you dont have to leave. Philippines do you have to leave when you have to reup, or can you stay while during visa extension.? Is there a max time you can stay in Philippines or like Cambodia can you just keep going. I have a decent chance of busting so prolly doesnt matter either way actually. Honestly I venture to Quezon or way north. I have many friends in Queszon and up north my co worker here in states has a house she said I can stay for free. It is in middle of a province. So not sure I want to anyway more then like a week to get fresh air. See what happens next month as all rules are changing. Vietnam coming up with a tourist package to help the economy so might actually be cheaper there. I had a filipino wife. I know about the Philippines a little. Not that I need tagalog as everyone speaks decent english, I do know alittle. My wife was from south. So she spoke tagalog and visayan. Please shoot me message if visa rules change in coming weeks. You can PM here right? Im new to forum, well really any forum as only member of a Mazda forum a long time ago. I only posted to help people with diag and point in right direction. One last thing, If have a script for adderall, ritalin etc...is it possible to get here? Can you see a local to a local script.? etc...

Would you happen to know....I was checking traveling sites. Philippines has exceptions to enter. One being if you are married to a filipino. I am. I dont see my wife, not in 2 years. She might be in states, but more then likely she went home. Her green card ended May this year. I have my marriage license and certificate. We also put paperwork in to Philippine consulate that we were married. She has 2 passports. Maiden and married name. What are the steps for using this resource if possible. We did not divorce. Didnt really care as I was not re marrying anytime soon.

You can stay like 3years witthout need to leave the country even with no visa(will be changed to tourist visa at your first extension)... just go to immigration every two months or so.
Well what i understand they did it make it bit more difficult in cambodia also... But loop holes were discovered almost right away. It was Cheaper in Cambodia.
Im not sure but i think you need to arrive Philippines with your wife to apply that one year visa thing... I doubt that marriage certificate would be enough.
This was obv before covid

I havent seen my wife in 2 years. Philippines consulate page says with or with out. Dont think that part matters. Specifically says if can prove marriage ie: certificate which I have. I did however talk to my filipino co worker who offered her house to stay as long as I like and mingle with here fam. drive her car, she says even if that did work you will be stuck in city and can not travel to most places as many provinces are blocked. Including hers. She lives way up north past Angles. Her province does not allow people from city. I will speak with visa service to see if this is possible. Just if other borders not open at least this might get me to SEA. Then when borders open short flight to any neighboring country. If did work I would still get a 3 mon visa min before arriving just to make sure I get past border and security etc.. In this case probably need onward flight. So dummy flight to where ever asia. Give me an opportunity to try and set up stars etc.. take my time adj. life. Ill be looking into next couple of weeks see if a real possibility. If works where are you? Be nice to meet some community members for a drink assuming can. I hear most bars shut down. Girl bars shut down etc...

Hi, what about in Manila, is safer than Davao or Cebu regarding safety and kidnapping?

And thank you for the information.

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IMO Manila is perfectly fine. I have not heard of any crime like that in metro Manila. I feel safer when there are tons of people around. When I was there I did not see any other Americans. I did see a few Europeans of some kind. Not sure from where. I walked all over at 2-4am no one ever bothered me. There was not a time where I felt unsafe to be there. Now I'm going to walk down dark alleys or anything. I stayed the beaten paths, sidewalk and under street lights. You will be fine.

kidnapping should be fairly rare i recon

But Manila is big. There are 5 cities with several sub districts. Where I live it's definitely safer than in any Europe or US city.
Then there are other areas where I would be very cautious if going around at night on my own.
Day and night is also big difference. While daytime I consider fairly safe everywhere at nighttime some areas get very sketchy and even in the safe areas crime and scams go up alot especially in subsections where there is nightlife/bars/clubs.

Overall the reputation of Manila is ALOT worse than it is in reality.

Hey Border open to tourist or its only airport transit ?

No foreigners unless married to pinay get in. Id dont expect this will change anytime soon

Covid cases currently at around 36k in PH (official numbers). Prepared for another hard lockdown, thinking it will get started soon.

Im currently in Davao and it is very boring here(liquor ban has lasted many months allready)... Though much less cases here than in Cebu or Manila.
I have tickets booked for September to Manila and then after few days to vietnam(I booked them early before epidemic) and was planning to spent few weeks there and then cross land border to Cambodia and spend one month there. Then fly PP to Singapore for one week. After that i had direct flight from Singapore to Davao.
Was really looking forward to this trip... But yea looking quite unlikely now... But it is probably hard to get back to Davao from Singapore(im not married here)?
Offcourse im following the situation

Is the liquor ban strongly enforced or is it pretty easy to find booze?

Nobody knows how situation develops but at this point i wouldnt be surprised if they not let any foreigners in 2020. Obviously just speculation... i have pretty good visa w srrv and i expect them to roll out entry gradually and id expect tourist visas the last one on the list...

Here in Davao it is pretty strict, offcourse you still could if you really want to... But need some connections and/or pay more... Like all supermarkets and 7/11 have had their liquor sections closed for many months allready... Much easier in other parts in Philippines and i quess it has been lifted in many places allready... But here in Davao they keep extending it.

Haven't renewed visa for a month or so, anyone knows if there is more consequences than a small fine if renewing multiple months late due to this situation?