Can anyone help me with information about immigrating to the Philippines but retaining US citizenship?

Usually it’s the other way around. 2 People from the Philippines trying to immigrate out. How long are you (are you the one going) looking to stay there? Have you ever been there before?

i'm trying to immigrate to the Phillipines to become the next president. I want a painting of myself like Marcos and GMA have...

It is the last resort to be with the woman I love. If all else fails, that is what I will do to be with her even if I have to give my life up here.

Wow. That's something. Personally I like PB's idea better but hey they say love can make you do some crazy things. Let me see though you have never met this girl in person before, right? Have you seen here picture at least? Not trying to make fun of your situation or anything but I am just a little skeptical about online romances.

Well, you can stay in the PI on a visitor's visa for a year. I figure by the third month though you'll figure out how much you really want to stay in the Philippines and how much you actually do love her.

I've known her for over 5 months. We talk on the phone, have webcam, talk online. We spend almost 8 hours a day talking to each other, most of the time we sleep less than 5 hours cuz we both work and I go to college as well,just so we can talk. I know her inside and out and she knows me just as well. I've never met anyone like her in my life. I know without a doubt that I love this woman and she loves me. I'd do anything to be with her. I believe love is the primary purpose of life and once you find that one person who you know you are meant to be with, nothing else in life even comes close, hardships you will have to face to be together included. We only live life once, and I believe in living it for love.

I really want to bring her to the USA. But I do not want her to lose her family and friends who she is very close to. So if she did move here, it would only be until I got my degree, then I'd move back with her so she could be with her family.

I would have to agree with item1702, a visitors visa would be the thing to get in order for you to accomplish your goal.

Wow, you have an interesting story there... I wish you luck, it looks very promising since you have the will to do it.

keep us updated!

Thanks Sure I will!

good for you!!! i bet youll have a great time, the food is something u might have to get used to, the weather, youll do fine with just english, and just because its a third world country doesnt mean its cheap, from what ive heard phils is pretty expensive. Good Luck!

So you met this girl online, and after five whole months of emails and video chats you have fallen madly in love with her. You are so madly in love with her that you are now willing to travel half way across the globe to some third world country to spend out the rest of your lives, living happily ever after. Sounds more like the plot to some romantic Hollywood movie, to me. Not saying such things can’t happen in real life but usually people find these kind story lines interesting because it’s something that usually doesn’thappen in real life.

Anyway, I imagine some people are going to tell you about all the great things that can happen. “There is nothing like true love.” “Who wouldn’t want to live on a tropical island?” Yada, yada, yada... That’s all good but I’m the kind of person who would rather hear the bad first so in case if anything were to happen you’d be more prepared.

Earlier I said it would take you three months to figure everything out and here is where I say why...*drum roll please*...

The first month you will most likely be in awe the whole time. Have you ever been to a third world country before? If you have lived all your life in America it truly is like another world. You will either be amazed or shocked by the things you see. People you meet will probably also be amazed of you. You will be like the new American toy. Either way $hit should be entertaining.

By the second month the awe will start to die down a little. Also having all that extra attention may start to get a little annoying. This is something most people take for granted, being able to blend in and to just be a person. Excuse me if I am wrong but you are white, correct? No matter what you do, you will never really fit in there you will always be “the white guy”. Anyway by now you will probably notice a lot of other things you have taken for granted while in America. Even some laws for example, like traffic laws, public safety laws, sanitation laws, etc. You have heard the story about the kids and the cassava, right? Do you think they are the only people who have died from food poisoning in the PI? If you are one of those people who like their steak rare you better get used to eating everything well done. Now you will either begin to notice these things slowly or some faithful event may happen to make you realize them all at once. Like when you end up getting a bad case of the runs and have to use a public rest room. Only to latter find out there is no paper in any of the stalls and on top of that you got no running water.

Now by the third month all of this will really start to sink in and you will either figure out if you can deal with the way things are or if you simply can’t. By then you should also begin to see how strong that love really is.

Usually at the start of every relationship things are "so great". Of course! It’s because you haven’t run in to any hard times yet nor have you spent enough time together to really get on each other's nerves. (I'm talking about physically being together, not online.) It takes time before you start noticing all those little annoying things about that other person. In a normal relationship probably by the sixth month you would really begin to notice all those things. But in your relationship things will be on hyper drive. Yes there may be times you can get by on your own but more often than not during those first three months it’s gonna be like you are 5 years old again and your girlfriend has become a new mommy. You’ll be so dependant on her for just about everything. This kind of thing puts stress on a relationship really fast.

By the way, what will you do for money while you are out there? Is she going to take you into her home? Talk about a relationship breaker. Or are you going to try to work to for some US company that can set you up in the PI? I hope you don’t plan on going there and then go looking for a job. Though most things are actually cheap, on the salary of an average Filipino you are not going to be able to get much. Plus you got about 80 million other Filipinos out there trying to find jobs without much success.

Dreaming about all the great things that could happen is nice but you have a lot of other things to consider. Anyways you plan on going there after you graduate, right. That gives you plenty of time to think it over. And who knows by then maybe some things will have changed to help you make that decision... or not.

Well whatever it is that you do, good luck.

How do you know hes White?

I'm not quite sure but I am assuming this from another thread. DP, correct me if I am wrong on this.

item...you seem knowledgeable about being a 'foreigner' in the Philippines...is Dreaming-Philosopher following someones footsteps?


kiddin'! well when someone's in love I guess the most drastic action will always be chosen, not even considering any plan b if it fails. Emotions overwhelms logic...hey I guess whatever it takes to get ur love one..

2 Yeah, some of it is from experience but no I would never dream of doing what DP is thinking of. I’m too much of a realist. By the way don’t think all of this only applies to the foolish in love or only “white America”. I would say much of the same things to Americanized Filipinos who have a similar idea as well.

to item's long post, man some of us are realist, people who would rather not have experienced the bad, I'll be honest, i wouldn't do something like that if i was a born and raised American, especially of a different race, and haven't seen nothing close to the 3rd world country.

lucky you did, but unfortunately didn't like all that experience.

but i think it's a experience of a lifetime for this kid, i mean good or bad. it'd be a vacation, some change of air, and maybe get to meet real love. i don't know.

to me though it seems like i'd rather he go there and get disappointed, or if he's lucky enjoy the experience, than not go there and kill himself for the rest of his life for passing up on something that could have been good.

Hey to each their own.

I'm sure it will definitely be an experience in one way or the other but I’m just being real here. Besides how much of what I am saying is really any different from those who “you will have such a great time” or “you love it”. You can’t be sure of anything it’s all only possibilities. I just think it is best to come to a grip with the down side of things as well as the good. This way you will be better prepared for the things that can go wrong and if you can truly accept those things the more power to you. But I would just think it would be foolish to not look at both sides of a situation like this.

Edit: Also I didn’t say he shouldn’t go. After all, I was saying by the third month of being there he would figure things out.

I would just like to say something. Didn't realize there was so much commotion on this thread since I was gone.

I'll be honest. I might be an American and white and so on and so fourth, but at heart, I don't go my nationality or race or any of that. As my name implies I love philosophy. I view the world from a much bigger picture than most people. I rarely if ever concentrate on my specific daily life.

I do not deserve the life I have. I only have it because I was accidently born into a place that happened to be wealthy enough to where I was afforded all of the things I've taken for granted my entire life. Clean safe food, clean water, plumbing, heat, civil services. I could of just as easily been born into a 3rd world country and had none of that. It was all a matter of where my soul happened to land.

The reason that rich countries are rich is because they exploited other countries to get that way. Humanity is like a field of wheat, and a tornado represents those humans who rise above the rest in a way that is not going to aid anyone, just exploit them. The tornado(exploitive upperclasses of the world) grows stronger as it devistates the field of wheat(humanity) with nothing but flat plains in its path ensuring it will not be destroyed by any unnatural structures. Those who resist and realize the devistation caused by the tornado are like mighy oak's standing in the presence of the onslaught. They are capable of destroying tornados and remaining intact.

In this world there is so much suffering, and it is caused by so few people who wield so much power over the majority of the 3rd world, without having a clue as to what kind of suffering any of them go through and not giving it a second thought.

You might be a realist item and you are right most of the time in that aspect of thinking, but without idealists, humanity could never rise above what it previously thought itself incapable of challenging. This life is about overcoming, understanding, and benig true to ourselves. Do I expect it to be anything like here if I should have to go? No. do I think it will be hard? Yes. Do I really have a clue what it's like over? Probably not. Reading about and experiencing something are like night and day. Even with the way I think, I'm in for a rude awakening if I end up having to go there. But there is no doubt in my mind that I can adapt and learn to love what I have infront of me. Because when you have less, you come to realize the true value of things in life.

good luck in your journey.

everything Item said can happen... or of course, there is the other side of the coin...
there are also places in the Philippines where there is always running water and toilet paper... depends on where you plan to stay... but of course you have to always deal with the traffic and the food...

foreigners are not that much of a novelty in the Philippines... unless your girlfriend is from a really remote barangay... or barrio, DP. Though it is true that you will be gaped at during your initial months of stay, eventually, though, you'll be just another "hey joe!"

And yeah, better heed item's advice on the job or source of income... Filipino always though that foreigners are rich, and will expect you to be extravagant... like buying gifts for the whole clan... or bringing them along on an all expense paid trip to a local tourist destination (when all you have in mind is a cozy trip with your girl...) hehehe

if you plan to stay in the Philippines and yet retain your American citizenship, you can always apply for a dual citizenship... just contact the Philippine Embassy there... and inquire.

While your there be sure to ask around for MILF...and get lost..tanginang kano 'to...hanggang tae ka na lang

jk i dont wanna be mean im just messing pls dont be mad.... i'm just trying to give you hard times.... </3

DP your little analogy of the oak tree standing up to the hurricane reminds me of a one of my favorite Aesop’s fables, The Oak and The Reeds. However I don’t think things went as well for the oak in the fable.

Again I don’t know exactly what it is you got against rich people. Andrew Carnegie one of the richest men in the world during his time offered $20 million to the Philippine government so that they may buy their freedom from the US, who themselves purchased the islands for $20 million from the Spanish. Kind of a nice gesture don’t you think. But if you are looking for an example where the wealthy exploit the poor, well then the Philippines would be the perfect place.

From the things you say DP, you definitely sound like the idealistic dreamer. Anyway, I do believe being true to your self will determine how things go in the end.

Another thing, I think it is really only those who loose what they have in life, who are then able to realize the true value of things.


maogmang aki, a place where there is always running water and toilet paper? Now I expect you are going to tell me there is a place where there is always electricity. 2 I’m just kidding with you.

Oh, and “Hey Joe” is a.k.a for “hey white guy”.


Yeah go around saying this “tanginang kano 'to...hanggang tae ka na lang” and if you are able to make it through alive what will happen to you next, maybe you will be able to do alright in the PI.

yap i know...Kuya item! Try Dasmariñas Village in Makati and Forbes Park and the malls in Makati, sosyal ang mga banyo... sa Shangri-La Shaw lang nga eh... kaso me bayad...
but try it here in Naga City, hehehe sometimes, wala kahit banyo, LOL... sa ibang mall diumano...
pag sa bukid o bundok ka na, malawak ang palikuran! 2

at yong Hey Joe, sometimes, kids will shout it out even if the foreigner is a woman... hahaha

but there is this story of those Later day saints people, says one local guy to a passing foreign missionary (of course who is with his Filipino counterpart): "Hey Joe! Bugbugan tayo!" (hey joe, wanna fight?!)
says the missionary in the local dialect: tara! subukan mo! (come on! just try it!)

the oak and the reeds? what i've heard is the local version, the bamboo and the Santol Tree... and indeed it was not in the santol tree's favor...

Ok, there may be some places that may have toilet paper and water pretty much all the time. If you are rich. Or live in the country side. I wouldn’t trust all the malls in Makati, though. I’ve been to the SM Mega Mall in Makati and I didn’t see any toilet paper in the CR. I saw facets but none of them worked. Some advice DP, always carry your own toilet paper and never visit Naga City with an upset stomach.



Bye the way maogmang aki it might be me who should be saying “ate”. But either way it is cool with me. 2

Toilet paper is on sale this week at stop & shop *thinks to himself, one suitcase for my clothes, one suitcase for my toilet paper*

2 You wouldn’t be the fist. I know plenty of Filipinos who have packed rolls of toilet tissue to bring back with them to the PI.

Stop lying to yourself, your old... kuya 2



Curious, who are you talking about?

DP, good luck with whatever you choose to do. I think you should go there just for the experience alone. If that love thing works out, all the better, eh?

2 You a funny man.


You know I had to think about this. 2 I wasn't even thinking about that guy but I think I know who you are talking about. Well as for that guy, to me it honestly seems like a different situation don't you think? To me DP sounds like he is caught up in some fantasy love story, no offense. That guy seems like he is going shopping. 2 For some reason I do feel like I have more respect for that guy. Maybe cause I'm not in to those sappy love stories and I'm more unemotinal or cold hearted, take your pic. 2 Or maybe it's because I just have to be more respectful cause that guy is really the older one. 2

Anyway, shouldn't you be leaving now? Hey get me something from there. How about a little helper that can do my laundry? Just put him/her in your suitcase on the way back. 2 Say hi to your family for me.

One more thing that guy's life would be totally different. That guy would kind of have it easy I think. He'd be totally spoiled. 2

2

see! tama ako! niweys kuya item, in case, somebody get to Naga City, try Ateneo de Naga University, we have restrooms per building, and running water... as for toilet paper? do carry your own pack of Tisyu... yep that's a brand name of toilet paper here in the Philippines, hehehehe

Ok. I'll stop. Time to come clean with the truth about my self. Here's a pic of me and my wife.



She came really cheap, just 4 coconuts and a goat.

you didnt need the coconuts and the baby goat...you have the suave communist look! I say you look like a Don Juan ala Joseph Stalin...any Pinays would fall for you

damn, I offered this Pinay 4 little piglets and 12 chicken chicks and some 4 dozen bibingka and she still didnt wanna go in a date she said I offer like a capitalist

Grow a mustache it helps. Chics dig it.
And thanks for the compliment.

nagbulahan na po ang mga kuya at lolo ko!

kuya item, lolo jmac, cheapangga nga, i know 1 gal who was good for 7 fully grown hogs! 2 hihihihi

kidding aside, and my older brother was required by the girl's parents to bring 2 carabaos or cows just so makapamanhikan sya! nag-backout nga! hahaha hayun, hanggang ngayon, walang asawa! hwehehehe

lolz

^ o bakit? totoo yon! hahaha

grow a beard? I dont think I can wait 10 years to fully have a suave goatee

I still stand by my noble offers of 4 little piglets and 12 chicken chicks and some 4 dozen bibingka.


hehe cheap ba ako? ano naman ang mga Pinay ngayon?! all they want is big cows and carabaos... I guess I can only afford to be a priest

Hoy, is that how you should talk of your kuya and lolo?

And look what you did. Don’t worry JMAC I think your offer of 4 little piglets, 12 chicken chicks and some 4 dozen bibingka is plenty good.

2 cows?! That's too much! If I were to give away my 2 cows, then my new wife and I would have no milk to drink. How can I afford to buy new cows when I make less than 100 pesos a day?

hahaha... sowee po kuya, sowee po lolo!

basically, my bro said that it was just so you can show the girl's family that you can afford to provide for her... pag may kalabaw ka nga naman o baka, ibig sabihin, may bukid ka o kaya mong magbanat ng buto para sa pamilya mo... eh kung chicks and piglets, what will you do if these happen to get sick and die? saan kayo pupulutin nyan!?

at saka yong cows or carabaos sa Southern Tagalog region yon... so wag na lang kayo doon maghanap ng makaka-isang dibdib... bwahahaha 2


at lolo Jmac, may alam akong priest na may babuyan sa likod ng kumbento... bakit kaya?