Netizen submission:
This experience of renewing my work visa is indescribably difficult. As a law-abiding citizen, just renewing my work visa turned into such an ordeal.
My friend applied for a work visa smoothly, and I thought the process would only take a few months.
But once submitted, nearly a year passed, and it was like throwing a stone into the sea. I couldn't help but ask the immigration office, only to be told: "Your work visa needs to be downgraded and reprocessed." Although I was upset, I thought, well, let's downgrade it then.
As soon as it was downgraded, bam, they slapped me with an OTL, an exit order! Looking at the date, the exit order was issued in June, and now it's October. The validity of the exit order was only 15 days, this is clearly nitpicking!
I hurried to ask what to do, and they were calm, suggesting I spend some money to get an MR, 135,000 pesos, 30,000 per head for four managers. This scheme is really deep.
Having no choice, after paying the money, the efficiency indeed skyrocketed, and it was settled in just over a week, giving me a 60-day tourist visa and telling me to hurry and apply for a work visa. I thought this time it should be stable, but when I went to the labor department to get a labor card, I happened to hit the Christmas season in November. One holiday after another, by the time I got the card and submitted it back, they said: "Your tourist visa is less than 60 days, you can't apply for a work visa."
I was so angry I wanted to hit a wall! I could only apply for an extension, but they said it had already been extended once, and this time I needed to provide proof, so I had to get a lawyer for notarization and prepare the company materials again, and another half a year passed.
Asking the immigration office again, they still looked innocent: "Now Manila is checking very strictly." I really broke out in a cold sweat and could only endure waiting for a few months, only to receive another OTL. I was furious, saying, "Didn't I already pay?" They were still not in a hurry, "The policy has changed, pay again." Well, this time they gave me a discount, 120,000 to settle it.
Learning from the last lesson, I urged them every day, and finally, it was approved, but they only gave me 30 days. Speechless, really speechless.
Having no choice, 30 days wasn't enough so I had to add more, making up 60 days, then took the labor card and materials to submit. On the day of the interview, the interviewer even hinted, "You know what I mean," 10,000 for the hint, plus 5,000 for stamping, a total of 15,000.
I painfully paid the money, and after calming down, I thought, might as well get married, just find any Filipino girl, 100,000 pesos for a one-stop service from marriage to church to city hall, vanish after the wedding, and even get a 13A, mixing up a half-Filipino identity, no one can kick me out then.
Looking at my Indian buddies around, each living freely, I truly admire their wisdom.
In the Philippines, getting things done really isn't about what rules and regulations or whether you abide by the law, it's all about luck. Destroying you, what does it have to do with you?
As for the director, he's still a friend's acquaintance, he frankly admitted he was powerless because now the power has been taken by Manila, to get things done, you still have to pay money.
