Last Dance in Manila

I am officially out of the Philippines now. Though not without some frustration; a wonderful experience just to wrap it all up.

I was reviewing my papers and repacking the load when I came across a note in my passport just below my Philippines (special non-immigrant) visa. Shock oh shock it said something like "get the emigration clearance certificate". Hmmm what is that?

I went by the office and asked the clerk if she had ever heard of such a thing. A quick phone call to our "fixer" at the immigration office and we got the news: I needed to surrender my Alien Certificate and through that process get an Emigration Clearance Certificate (EEC). Bummer. You see¡­the complicating factor is that my visa is EXPIRED by a mere 4 days and I thought I could just sneak it by the emigration officials at the airport¡­.

So this is the day before my 0800 hrs flight to HK. What to do? I wangle a ride to the Immigration office in downtown Manila (Intramuros) and ask around. Yup, everyone says, it just can¡¯t be done today. Too bad. Maybe you should stick around a bit¡­. I am just about to leave for home and forget this hassle when I think about another angle. That too fails. Then I fall into step and get the ball rolling on my visa anyways. I want to be clear of the Philippines so badly that I am willing to make the effort to ensure my papers are correct so there will be no way them bastards can keep me in this country one minute longer. It is more like some divine inspiration leads me down the slippery slope to correct paperness.

You see, due to the expired visa and the nature of my non-immigrant visa, I need to renew my visa through special (of course) process called ¡®downgrading¡¯ to get to tourist status. Then after I have a valid visa, then I can properly ¡®forfeit the Alien Certificate¡¯. What follows (beginning at 1400 hrs, Friday afternoon) is a list of every step I made in undertaking this crusade. Note that building A is the CCPF Bldg, building B is the main Bureau of Immigration and building C is the sub office of the BoI in a separate location. Bldg D is in building A but access to the third floor is via the parking lot (???).

Bldg A - information and redirection
Bldg C - go to visit the Commissioner
B - move over to window 202 and get redirected
C - window 27 get info on EEC and copy of EEC form, still must downgrade first
B - room 103 to get info on visa downgrading. Seven point list.
Parking lot - have notary public draft and sign letter requesting downgrading from tailgate and 30 year old typewriter.
Photo station - have 6 passport photos and 2 photocopies of 2 passport pages and letter
B - room 103 submit downgrading package, eventually receive bill for services
C - cashier room. Stuffy bloody hot with hundreds of folks waiting in line. Collect number 43 only 82 folks ahead of me.
B - room 103 look for payment options. Hire ¡°fixer¡± to handle payment. Cost 30 pesos
B - room 102 (concurrent activity with above) have package (now approved) certified and verified.
B - room 103 return verified package and proof of payment.
A - stop by ATM not working
ATM #2 not working next block down
ATM #3 another block away, success!!!
B - 103 Receive stamp on visa.
B - photocopier copies of payment
A - Window 27 deliver package for EEC (includes passport photos)
B - photocopier for copies of passport and new visa
A - window 27 deliver package for EEC, receive many rubber stamps and bill for service
C - cashier to pay for EEC work. Maximum lineup and late hour leads to confusion. Sneak into open window and make payment. Fight breaks out as the number giver-outer is out of numbers!!
A - window 27 with proof of payment.
A - window 27 redirects my latest package to a desk in the corner for verification. Lines no longer exist¡­.
D - table 1 given directions
D - table 2 redirected
D - table 3 provided 2 NEW blank forms requiring staff to type on ¡®em
D - table 4 looking for Charlie to type my forms, no show
D - table 5 get the help from a haggard lady
D - table 6 Irene must check the typing and confirm.
D - table 7 Mr Fernandez gives all the papers a final check.
D - table 8 Bored woman glues the two extra photos onto the two boxes found on the two latest forms (post-typing). Separates everything into two piles; fires one pile at me and says, "yer finished". What? I say??? Is this true?

Finish 1640 hrs.

Costs:
Letter 150 pesos
Photos 100
Photocopies 16
Downgrading visa fee 1510
Cashier fixer 30
EEC 1720

Great way to spend the final day in Manila hun?

But this is not the end to the hassle. I go to the airport early so I can be assured of making it through immigration without problem or incarceration. The piece of paper which bounced off my chest at the BoI office when I was officially "finished" was supposed to be surrendered, as proof of completing all the visa requirements, to the airport official in charge of stamping my exit visa. Seems somebody didn't tell her I needed to do all these things afterall....