adventure of challenging airport and border immigration interrogation for Pinoy global dream
Very Less-traveled by Pinoys; Republic of Georgia (Tbilisi) Visa-on Arrival (Jan. 2014)
Revisiting Japan for 3 Consecutive Year (May 2013, Aug. 2014, Feb. 2015)
1st Europe Solo Trip; Arriving in Paris, France (Oct. 2013), Departing in Rome, Italy (Nov. 2013)
Visiting United Kingdom using the same Multiple Entry Visa in 3 seasons (Jun. 2014, Oct. 2014, Dec. 2014)
3rd Europe Solo Trip; 14 Countries in 23 Days including non-Euro members (2015)
NOTE: Tips on how to react properly in dealing with Airport and Crossborder Immigration Officers abroad (based on my more than 50 airports and crossborders combined visit). This pointers are essential especially if its your first time doing leisure travel outside Philippines. Please read also query comments of our Kababayan's case experience (very important!).
The following are my personal rate of experience (solo travels mostly) on Immigration Officer encounters in airports and crossborder checkpoints abroad. I rate it on scale of 1 to 5, [1 - VERY RELAX (typical inspection & zero interrogation) to 5 - STRICTEST (rigid inspection & extensive interrogation)]: All Southeast Asian Nations are very relax so far [Singapore(2011), Malaysia border(2011), Ho Chi Minh(2011), Cambodia border(2011), Laos border(2011), Kota Kinabalu(2013), Yangon(2014)-1, Bangkok(2014), Bali(2014), Kuala Lumpur(2015), Bandar Seri Begawan(2016)];-1 Incheon(2011)-1; New Delhi(2012)-1; Beirut(2012)-1; Cairo(2012)-1; Yerevan(2013)-1, Shanghai,Hongkong(2013)-1; Osaka(2013)-1; Czech Republic border(2013)-1; Rome(2013)-1; Tbilisi(2014)-1; Colombo(2014)-1; Marrakesh(2014)-1; Istanbul(2014)-1; Nairobi(2014)-1; Tanzania border(2014)-1; Nagoya(2014)-1; Beijing(2015)-1; Ulaanbaatar(2015)-1; Croatia border(2015)-1; Bulgaria border(2015)-1; Copenhagen(2015)-1; Kathmandu(2015)-1; London(2014)-2; Dubai(2013)-2; Slovenia border(2015)-2; Paris(2013)-3; Palestine border(2013)-3; Gibraltar(2014)-3; Male(2014)-4; Manila(2014)-4; Frankfurt(2015)-4; Hungary border(2015)-4; Iran border(2015)-4; Switzerland border(2013)-4.5; Tel-Aviv(2013)-5.
Immigration Officers, IO's (known also as Passport Control Officers) play an extremely important role in the security and safety of any countries. At all times, he/she may arrest any person that he has a reasonable suspicion of committing an indictable offense using the "any person powers" (also known as citizen's arrest). In Philippines, many Filipino's today are open-minded in terms of leisure travel. All are dreaming of going abroad just to tour and experience of being there. Therefore, planning how to go is vital especially if travelling on tight budget basis. One of the process along the way is having interviewed by an Immigration Officer. The role of Immigration Officers are to ensure that immigration legislation is enforced. This can cover the rules of entry for Visa applicants, foreign nationals, those seeking asylum or pursuing those in breach of immigration and criminal laws.
South East Asia visa-on-arrival (VOA) stamps (2010-2011)
Myanmar visa-on-arrival stamps (Feb. 2014)
Visa on Arrival Sticker and Stamp in Nepal (left) and Iran (right) (2015)
As for me, when I did my first international get-away, I did not research anything about this immigration process. It's because I know truthfully I didn't commit any mistake that might produce doubt to enter their airport. As an example, the following were the actual encounters how I dealt with Immigration Officers both locally and in abroad.
3rd Solo Backpacking; THAILAND (June 2010)
NAIA Terminal 3, Pasay City, Philippines
- This trip served as my 1st trip abroad. I was interviewed by a female Immigration Officer and fortunately she didn't say any single word before she handed-over my immigration documents that includes renewed passport, terminal fee receipt, airport tax receipt and the completely filled-up boarding pass (instructions how to fill this small piece of paper is posted in the area before the immigration desk).
Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand
- arrived 0130H, this airport is outside Bangkok City. Fall in-line, then subject to thermal scanner after handling-over my docs to a male IO. After around 5 minutes, I am in the country of Thailand legally.
8th Solo Backpacking; SINGAPORE - MALAYSIA (January 2011)
NAIA Terminal 3, Pasay City, Philippines
- This trip served as my 1st land crossborder travel between countries abroad. I randomly chose a female immigration officer, and this time she asked, "what day will you go back?". There was a moment of silence before I replied and it was wrong. I verified again my e-ticket and replied again the correct one. She gave me a sharp stare after handling-over my docs and told me next time be attentive on the questions they will asked. My action was just natural due to mixed nervousness and excitement but the IO was right on her advise. And so far, this was the only delayed encounter that an IO spoke to me.
Changi Low-Cost Terminal Airport, Singapore (Arrival)
- same case with Thailand, no questions asked. the female IO just stared at me as observation on my face against the passport i handed. after almost 5 minutes, there I am, inside Singapore.
Malaysia Border Checkpoint (Arrival)
- land crossborder checkpoint from Singapore to Malaysia via public bus on overnight journey. The bus stopped here around 0200H, the only stop-over on night bus trip. Only one Immigration Officer duty that time, handed my documents and incidentally, I attached my printed itinerary with full of scratch notes. On that moment and as I expected, IO inspected this paper also. She asked for my e-ticket after that, then verified the visa stamps on my passport against the schedule on my e-ticket. Even though there was nothing happened, it prolonged the process and created suspicion. Matter of minutes, I'm in the Malaysian border.
Singapore Border Checkpoint (Departure)
- land crossborder checkpoint from Malaysia to Singapore via afternoon public bus. I arrived around 2200H, last stop-over of afternoon double-decker bus. Lots of tourist entering that time, handed my docs to a male IO and after less than 3 minutes, entered again Singapore, one of the fastest service I had.
Changi Low-Cost Terminal Airport, Singapore (Departure)
- arrived here around 2230H via last trip of metro train. IO lane was as easy as I did not even noticed that they have the right to reject me out. With no questions asked, I'm already in the boarding gate after couple of minutes.
11th Solo Backpacking; VIETNAM - CAMBODIA - LAOS (August 2011)
NAIA Terminal 3, Pasay City, Philippines
- this trip served as my 1st multiple land crossborder between countries abroad. I arrived in NAIA Terminal 3 around 2100H, paid PhP1,620 for travel tax and PhP750 for terminal fee, a whooping total of PhP2,370 every time any single Filipino will pay to travel abroad on leisure, what a budget mess. In regards to Immigration Officer, they asked questions every Filipino's should be attentively replied.
* when will you be backed (kelan ang balik mo)?
* what are you going to do there (anong gagawin mo dun)?
* what is your work (anong trabaho mo)?
Vietnam - Cambodia Crossborder Immigration
- bus conductor will collect all passengers' passports. He will be the one to process the visa stamps to Vietnam Immigration Officer free of charge. Then, entered the immigration building together with our bags and waited for our names to be called. No interviews conducted from IO's. Cambodia border issued an arrival/departure card that will be filled-up completely, arrival card to submit to Immigration Officer. Again, no interview occurred, they just stamp it right away. In less than 5 minutes, with no queuing, I was already inside the Cambodia territory. I left my bag in the bus, and brought a ball-pen during the visa stamping process.
Cambodia - Laos Crossborder Immigration
- this time there was service charge costs $1 for bus conductor visa assistance wherein he will ask you to pay him $5 for visa fee ($2 for Cambodia border exit, $2 for Laos border entry and $1 for him). He will tell only the passengers to sit down and wait for him to be backed in the bus. I processed my visa stamps by myself. Most probably I will grab the bus conductor's service also if I have enough money to spare. No interrogation occurred by the two IO borders as I did personally apply the visa stamping. Immigration approached was similar also as on how they approached the bus conductor. Just around 10 mins I have already my passport with stamps needed, entering the 3rd country to visit on 3rd day of my week-long escapade.
Vietnam's Tan Son Nhat International Airport Immigration lane (2011)
Hongkong International Airport Immigration lane (2013)
London's Heathrow International Airport Arrival Lobby (2014)
Based on my experiences I conclude the following;
(since became Solo Backpacker in 2010-2016 with 58 different countries visited)
(1) Philippines' Passport Control Officers (NAIA Terminal 1 and 3) are much stricter to Philippine passport holders (Filipino travelers) comparing to any of the IO's I encountered in all the countries I have visited (aside of course in State of Israel, European countries and USA).
(2) Arrival / departure (embarkation / disembarkation) card must be filled-up properly, completely and neatly. As much as possible, put N/A if items not intended for you.
(3) While on queuing lane, observe how others are facilitated. This will help you assess how specific nationalities are treated, racial profiling is sometimes inevitable especially in Western Countries like Europe. VERY IMPORTANT; do not use your mobile phone's camera while on queue.
(4) Hand-over your passport, boarding pass and embarkation/disembarkation card (as applicable) completely and nicely. Greet them and look into their eyes then smile a bit. Just include only what's needed (only the usual three; passport, boarding pass and arrival/departure card) unless there are other specific documents posted on IO's window. VERY IMPORTANT; don't attached any documents (i.e. e-tickets, bookings, itineraries, etc) unless asked, this might create set of interrogation.
(5) As much as possible, memorize your nature of work, flight arrival/departure, no. of days to stay, hotel name and address, itinerary and purpose of travel. If the Officer queried for something, respond politely and directly what he/she wants to know exactly. Do not provide any kind of follow-up stories. VERY IMPORTANT; Immigration Officer is observative and keen on the consistency and delivery of your response.
(6) Be assertive and vigilant on whatever you tell them. Speak with conviction, do not be intimidated IF you think you are telling the truth. Do not interrupt/talk while your travel documents are under observation; just wait, relax and focus. VERY IMPORTANT; don't provide any kind of additional information unless asked, this might create a follow-up and provide another set of questions. Your ultimate goal is to let down the suspicion of Immigration Officers by avoiding suspicious behaviors such as nervousness, rattle communication and absent-mindedness.
(7) Be patient, sometimes they just scan your documents more than twice and glimpse at you again and again. Never argue with them, your behavior is under observation at all times. Say thanks afterwards and you can now breathe normally. VERY IMPORTANT; immediately pick-up your passport and other documents, check the completeness, leave the IO booth then walk towards the exit lane.
(8) While walking out the immigration lane and towards the arrival lobby, check your passport; search the visa stamp's clarity and validity date (compare against your departure date). VERY IMPORTANT; if you think the visa is unclear or with unreadable validity date, clarify it with other Officers roaming around.
(9) Rejoice! you are now a legal foreigner/tourist on that country. You should cherish the moments you have and the life you live while still inside their territory. Observe proper etiquette and appropriate behavior. Avoid the drama and problems for the meantime. Enjoy every little bit of experience! Happy Traveling po! ^_^
Countries Not Requiring a Pre-Arranged Visa for Filipino Travelers
Visa-on-Arrival (VOA) Pinoy Backpacker Encounters
Visa-on-Arrival Experience in Israel Ben Gurion Airport (Nov. 2013)