Offloaded in NAIA: Just Another Story

Is your first time to travel abroad? Have you experienced being offloaded by the Immigration Officer because they think you're not capable to travel? Is there a chance for you to travel at second attempt after being offloaded?

If you live here in the Philippines, that is mostly the case. Immigration Officers are one of the most difficult people to deal with. I heard a lot of stories wherein people were not able to go because BI Officer did not let them--- simply because they think they're just not capable to travel abroad. This is sick. So does it really take someone so rich to pass at Bureau of Immigration? But how would they know anyway? If they based it on your looks, job, or personality, then one must be a good con artist to be able to travel abroad.

I know someone who doesn't have a job here. His supposedly stay in Singapore was a gift. Unfortunately, the Immigration Officer stopped him from leaving because he didn't have a decent job here. He said he had his ATM and the Immigration Officer asked this person to check his balance and return to the line with a receipt. This is rubbish! The end of the story was, he wasn't able to go, the flight ticket was non refundable and so was his supposedly 3 day stay in a hotel.

I was offloaded once. I had a supposedly trip to Thailand for three days but they did not let me for three reasons; I didn't have a hotel booked. Second, I'm married and I would travel alone. I have baby I would leave home for that vacation.  Thirdly, I didn't have a return ticket so they thought I'd apply a job there. Well, their reasons were quite valid for not having a roundtrip ticket and a hotel. But their advice to me not to go on a vacation because I have a baby (even if I explained she had her nanny) and when they questioned me why my husband was not with me on this vacation was none of their business.Well, I was pissed off. My ticket was non refundable. About booking a hotel, I explained to them I had enough money to look for hotel when I got there. Still, they did not let me. The officer even asked my Diploma, educational background, and a lot of questions I did not suppose to answer because as far as I was concerned, it was not a job interview. Secondly, bringing my Diploma and any proof of my credentials was not necessary since I was taking my vacation. End of story: I was offloaded.

A month after that, I was afraid that I was blacklisted already. The officer left a note on their system that I was offloaded and according to the crew who helped me pick up my luggage, my record would stay on their file in the next six months or so.

So despite of all the risks, I booked again exactly a month after that offloading incident.  This time, I was with my husband. We had a round trip ticket, hotel voucher, so nothing should go wrong. Aside from one point which is; they saw my record being offloaded exactly a month ago.

So what did I do this time that made me pass on the BI Officer?

1. Outfit Matters--- but Personality Stands Out. I'd still advise you to wear a smart casual... not too casual. The first time I tried to be a tourist in Thailand, I was wearing a sweater, pants, and slippers. I was not confident at all because it was my first time to travel abroad. I felt like I had that invisible signboard hanged on my neck saying "Bully Me".  Yeah, it was such an embarrassing moment I couldn't forget. I was trying to be really polite but I guess I was too polite that I wasn't even able to justify my capability of travelling abroad. The ticket I had from PAL (Philippine Air Line) was non refundable and I ended up losing about $500 on my first try. So aside from dressing smart casual, make sure you wear something that makes you feel comfortable... that will make you feel good about yourself because it's easier to believe in someone who looks like he knows what he's saying. And don't forget to be very polite with them. I mean it. If they feel you are sarcastic, they would make everything difficult for you. So the second time around, I was wearing a simple white polo, jeans and flat decent shoes. I had my pearls as for my accessories, and guess what? They let me go even if I had a record of being offloaded on their system.

2. Make your Papers Ready--- Passport, Roundtrip Ticket, and Hotel Voucher.  These are the things you should prepare when travelling as a "tourist" in some Asian countries that don't require you a visa like Thailand, Hongkong, Singapore (and lately I heard Japan). Just give your passport and round trip ticket to the Immigration Officer, and only show the hotel Voucher if asked. The more you suffocate them with papers, the more they'd think you are so defensive. 

For Employed/ Self- Employed.
In case they ask about your work, be confident. Make it sound as if your salary is decent enough. In case they asked about how much money you have in cash, tell them so. Tell them you have your credit card with you and your ATM. They'd probably ask about your company ID; show them. If they asked about your Certificate of Employment (it's good to have it though I don't really think it is necessary) and they'd probably ask a proof of leave (this applies mostly for government employees), be sure you get one from your employer. They'd ask about your  educational background too and sometimes ask for your Diploma. Yes, this is too much (well, it depends on the BI interviewing you and how good you are at answering their questions). But in case you don't have your COE, Proof of Leave, or even School Diploma, they will still allow you to go as long as you have your company ID. If they insist that you should have your Diploma, COE and proof of leave from work, tell them you didn't bring them because it wasn't mentioned on their websites that it is a requirement for travelling to Thailand. Make your point that you would not go there to look for a job that's why you didn't bring your credentials. 

For Self Employed, just prepare a copy of business permit, ITR (if you have; if it's still new, just tell them so), just for your proof of income. The reason for them for asking these papers is because they wanna make sure you have a decent job here and you won't apply there.

For Unemployed
My husband had been 7 months here in the Philippines (he was an OFW) and I told them I'm a housewife so they saw that we didn't have a source of income. We were almost offloaded but we were able to convince them that it would be our first honeymoon. We told them the money we would spend was from our savings we earned when my husband was still working abroad as an OFW (we showed his passport). We had enough pocket money too. We had a roundtrip ticket and hotel voucher which was the only requirements we saw online through their website. End of story: they let us go.

3. It's not you're answer--- It's How You Answer. Calling them "Ma'am", "Boss," "Sir" before answering or asking a question would really help. I don't know. I'm used with first name basis because I had a very informal working environment as my previous bosses were Americans. But not when you are in the Philippines. For some reasons, they love it when you seem like patronizing them. Remember to sound casual... but polite. Once you're nervous, they'd think you are hiding something and it's gonna be so easy for them to ask you more questions that could make you feel even more nervous. Less talk, less mistake. Don't feed them with information that you think are unnecessary. It is important too to impress them. Projection. But not too much--- just convince them three things: you are capable, you know what you're doing, there's no reason for them to hold you're departure.

4. Reason out--- in a Most Humble Manner. When you think that they are being unreasonable, it's ok to reason out. But don't be rude. If they ask you about your Diploma, simply tell them you didn't know it was needed that's why you didn't bring one. If you feel like the question is foul or they are getting too personal, answer them in a professional way.

So here are the tips I can tell you guys on how to pass on Bureau of Immigration here in the Philippines if you are planning to on vacation in some Asian Countries that do not require a visa. So if you landed on this page because you're planning on travelling in the next few days and it's your first time, good luck. I know you can do it. If you were offloaded before, don't think it's a hopeless case for you. Try it again. Tell me your story here, leave a comment and I'll respond as soon as I can.

If you have any questions, suggestions, or stories you want to share, please leave a comment here. I'd love to hear from you and respond to you as soon as possible. You may also follow me on twitter, I follow back :)

So there you go! Hope this helps.

To God, to God, to God be the glory. :)