AboutBill and Lorna Collings Expertise Feel FREE to ask us about traveling, living, relocating, retiring and investing in the Philippines. Guests from 83 countries make our place in Manila an incredible meeting place for world travelers who exchange travel stories and information. We understand both the joys and the hardships of living and traveling in the Philippines.
Experience I arrived in the Philippines in January 1980 to travel for 2 months; I stayed 4 months before reluctantly leaving. I met my Filipina wife, Lorna. an incredible stellar, "one in a million" individual in 1983 in Seoul and we moved to the Philippines in 1986 and opened our 3BR house to world travelers on a budget. After welcoming thousands of guests from 83 nations our place has grown to 30 bedrooms but will never lose its "Home away from Home" atmosphere. Almost everyday at The Townhouse Hotel there's a party-like social scene with vibrant, almost magical energetic conversations between our guests who have the pleasure to meet each other and share their life's many experiences. Sometimes. three groups with conversations in different langauges are going on at the same time.
So we've been exposed to every kind of person from all over the world and shared their experiences.
Publications Suite101.com, eDreams.com, expertcentral.com ( who asked me to apply with allexperts.com since About.com has bought both companies and are in the process of integrating them)
Education/Credentials some college 2-1/2 years - no degree - I've been traveling since I was 18, almost 30 years.
Awards and Honors Luckily, my wife and I have been semi-retired since we were 30 years old, more than 15 years.
Question Hi Bill and Lorna, I will be applying for a SRRV since I am now 50 years old. I am not sure if "Police Clearance is the correct term rather an NBI clearance. I do not have convictions only a false arrest over 25 years ago that never made it to court.
I am not sure what actions I need to take to aid in the NBI check needed for my SRRV. Will the Philippine authorites conduct the background check or do I need to be proactive and obtain a document at my local police station before I leave the USA. Also do you think the arrest will cause me problems?
Thank You!
Doug
Answer RELAX Doug, No Worries go ahead and get a police clearance from the States if that's what's required for the SRRV and I doubt whether the Philippines government / immigration has the budget to spend on any extensive investigation costs regarding foreign expats wishing to retire in the Philippines. There are MANY foreign expats living in the Philippines with former arrest records so RELAX and don't obsess with such things. I was tempted to apply for the SRRV until I noticed the yearly maintenance fees almost equal to tourist visa extensions so changed my mind. I choose the extending my tourist visa up to 2 years a or using the Balikbayan visa good for one year 21 days and also can be extended another year as I LOVE to keep moving and travel. But for those who prefer to stay in the Philippines for over 2 year periods then the SRRV is the best chocie; different strokes for different folks, Bill
