13A Visa Question : What will visa status be if my Filipina wife predeceases me

Some of the people with actual experience can confirm or deny what my research has picked up, hopefully.

If it happens in the probationary period (one year), there could be problems until you get permanent residence status, which you have to apply for.

I would think you would drop back to tourist visa in probation period since your wife has died. At that point you would apply SRRV if applicable for your situation.

I can't if you'll automatically drop to a tourist visa or if there's a grace period on your 13A to apply for another type of visa, but the 13A WILL be invalid at some point. That's one of the reasons I just went with the SRRV.

This is answer

If your wife precedes you you will loose the 13a because it's her that requests the visa on your behalf. You will automatically revert to a tourist. If you have filipino children under the age of 18 they can again request a 13a, I don't know if it would be a continuation or whole new application.

chazFricke said:

the 13A WILL be invalid at some point.

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Only if you didn't have kids. And even then, just because the BI can do it doesn't mean they will.

R&D said:

I found very little on this topic in my internet searches.
Since this is a possibility, I would like to know how this would affect me before deciding on the type of Visa to apply for before relocation.

Thanks for any help on this.

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That's a good question. My Filipino wife and I were just setting up a long-term lease for me on our property in case she would before me, her family couldn't take over our property and run me off.

I am so glad I don't have the evil family issue with my wife's family. They would never try and run me off. Mostly because the house and land are not worth more than I am alive.
But having a child here would keep me firmly instilled in the house and he will get all the property because I will give any share I have to him too.
But the laws for expats are rough here when it comes to rights over citizens.

I agree that getting as much of the marital life in the expats name is good. While the husband expat can inherit the property he can't keep it. Of course the kids get a share too.

But based on my experiences with the BI I would not delay getting to them and dealing with the conversion of the 13A else they could come up with some reason to deport you. You will need the tourist visa to do other things, so you stay in the country. I would try and get the utilities in your name too.

amcan13 said:

But having a child here would keep me firmly instilled in the house and he will get all the property because I will give any share I have to him too. But the laws for expats are rough here when it comes to rights over citizens. I agree that getting as much of the marital life in the expats name is good. While the husband expat can inherit the property he can't keep it. Of course the kids get a share too.

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No need to deal with shares or inheritance laws if you already put everything in your kid's name once they're 18...

People mentioned tourist visas. Tourist visas have a maximum duration period. Last I checked it was 3 years. You can't just keep renewing a tourist visa forever. (I know cuz I tried) At some point you need an SRRV or a spousal visa. The SRRV is independent of your current marriage status. Veterans should look into SRRVs. There's breaks for vets.

R&D said:

I found very little on this topic in my internet searches.
Since this is a possibility, I would like to know how this would affect me before deciding on the type of Visa to apply for before relocation.

Thanks for any help on this.

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If your wife dies, you will be forced to marry your mother in law, or go to jail.

How good does she look ?

I'm sorry. I was referring to the Classic SRRV with Pension when I wrote "The SRRV is independent of your current marriage status. "

I retired here on a tourist visa for 3 years and then BI told me the tourist visa couldn't be renewed anymore. But then another BI employee (a neighbor) told me "Expired visa? Relax! You're an American." So I did (relax). And then came covid. Pause for a moment of silence. When I finally decided to straighten out my visa I decided an SRRV Classic with Pension was the best choice for me and my circumstances. But by that point I had overstayed my visa almost 3 years, so I could easily have been deported. But James Biron took care of it in 2024. I've renewed the SRRV visa once (through James). Piece of cake.

I googled it but no dice. Who is James Biron? Thanks.

boracaypat said:

I retired here on a tourist visa for 3 years and then BI told me the tourist visa couldn't be renewed anymore.

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It eventually happens to everyone.

boracaypat said:

by that point I had overstayed my visa almost 3 years, so I could easily have been deported. But James Biron took care of it in 2024.

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You left out the best part; how was it taken care of and how much did it cost you?

He works for the PRA. The Philippine Retirement Authority. He's an attorney handling SRRV visas. [email protected]. 927-784-1111 He's an authority on expats retiring in the Philippines. Getting a visa and moving and retiring, even under the best of circumstances, are stressful events. James Biron walks you through it step by step, handling so many of the details. He's good.

See, that's where I am confused. You say he works for the PRA, you said he charges (not legal, PRA pays consultants direct) but not just a consultant but actually works for PRA but also is a lawyer handling PRA visas? I also disagree that getting an SRRV is stressful although he probably makes money if you think it will be stressful. In fact we made a vacation out if it, flying to Manila staying in Makati, working with Mary Rose's team, paying one of her people 500php per day as both a guide and a person getting us to the front of the line for each agency we had to visit including NBI, DFA, BDO for deposit, medical Lab and also US Embassy plus PRA itself at the citibank building . Because of traffic we limited the no. of agencies per day. At night we visited the restaurants in Makati, the malls and casinos in Metro Manila. Far from being stressful it was a fine 5 day mini-vacation. It all depends on perspective but I just wanted to say that the SRRV experience does not gave to be stressful if you have a great marketer like Mary Rose.

Personally, when I come to apply, I'll use a recommended consultant, lawyer, or marketer to help me navigate the process. Anything that might smooth the process is fine by me, although pretty sure plenty are successful with DIY. Still considering whether to go for the 13A/military SRRV....

James Biron is on the accredited Marketers PRA list.
As is Mary Rose (Van Ingen Management) Retirement Visa in the Philippines

Please , if you were to go DIY, although in your case you are not, others should realize that once the applicant submits his own application, PRA will no longer compensate a marketer, thus no free marketer would likely work with you. You are on your own or require a paid agent. I suspect the paid lawyer agent wouldn't care but most marketers are free and paid by PRA, not the client. I would like to put in a plug for Mary Rose whose team does an awesome service, free to the client. You don't really need an attorney in most cases, unless you overstayed 3 years as in the example. Normally it is straightforward and the PRA can work alongside you in getting it done.

So what about the 13A then folks ?

I was told if the holder of a 13A visa's spouse died they could remain under the 13A if there were children. True? Who knows but it's easy enough to ask BOI.

If, as me, you might be contract working remotely from the Philippines to the UK, then 13A might be much easier as it grants rights to work. The SRRV, being a retirement visa, is apparently more complicated for remote workers. Best to talk to the authorities, perhaps.

Quezon Expat said:

I was told if the holder of a 13A visa's spouse died they could remain under the 13A if there were children.

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True. And even if there aren't children, they don't automatically downgrade you to a tourist unless you give them a reason to.

James Biron is a PRA marketer.
A PRA marketer is allowed to charge fees

James is so good at his job, he has plenty of customers.

The PRA website has a list of PRA marketers to choose from to help foreigners get the SRRV. Some may be free, and some may charge a fee