I obtained a visit visa from my family. But despite complete documents, the Philippine Immigration Officer tried to stopped me from travelling. At first, he checked all my documents. I made sure I carried the complete documents. When he couldn't find any fault, he scanned my old passport and my new passport. He checked every page and noted all my travels (whew! what is that for btw?). He scrutinized all my previous travels and has seen that I have been flying quite a lot..When he couldn't find any fault, he then instructed me to go to the Immigration Office in the secluded corner of the airport. I sat there with 2 other passengers. I can hear the immigration officers in loud voices saying, (probably directing at us): Do you think you can fool us? what a bunch of liars.. When it was my turn to go inside, they asked for the passport number and the birthdate of my sponsor. After some verification, they instructed me to go back to the Immigration Officer who sent me to their office. I qeued in again and its a loooong line, I tell you.. When the Immigration Officer saw me again, he really looked surprised. He gave me a long, puzzled look. I told him that the officers inside the office asked me to go back to him. With much disapproval in his face, he asked me if I know anybody "inside" (he meant the Immigration Office). I said, "No. They just instructed me to go back to you." he gave a few deep sighs said, "okay, if they allowed you to pass, its not my problem anymore. Its not my fault if there are problems. Keep the paper they gave you just in case." He was referring to the small scratch paper with a handwritten note of my sponsor's OEC (Oversease Exit Clearance) OR number the immigration officer in the office gave me. After lots of hassle and qeueing in, I travelled to Qatar. You see? Despite having valid documents, I had to go through that. At that time, I thought at how much more stress the other Filipinos had experienced with the Immigration. If it was my first time to travel, I could've cried there. Even with complete documents, I was really thinking at what part could I have done wrong. Or I was confused if the papers I brought were complete or not. Bottomline: A stressful travel experience.
I obtained a visit visa from my family. But despite complete documents, the Philippine Immigration Officer tried to stopped me from travelling. At first, he checked all my documents. I made sure I carried the complete documents. When he couldn't find any fault, he scanned my old passport and my new passport. He checked every page and noted all my travels (whew! what is that for btw?). He scrutinized all my previous travels and has seen that I have been flying quite a lot..When he couldn't find any fault, he then instructed me to go to the Immigration Office in the secluded corner of the airport. I sat there with 2 other passengers. I can hear the immigration officers in loud voices saying, (probably directing at us): Do you think you can fool us? what a bunch of liars.. When it was my turn to go inside, they asked for the passport number and the birthdate of my sponsor. After some verification, they instructed me to go back to the Immigration Officer who sent me to their office. I qeued in again and its a loooong line, I tell you.. When the Immigration Officer saw me again, he really looked surprised. He gave me a long, puzzled look. I told him that the officers inside the office asked me to go back to him. With much disapproval in his face, he asked me if I know anybody "inside" (he meant the Immigration Office). I said, "No. They just instructed me to go back to you." he gave a few deep sighs said, "okay, if they allowed you to pass, its not my problem anymore. Its not my fault if there are problems. Keep the paper they gave you just in case." He was referring to the small scratch paper with a handwritten note of my sponsor's OEC (Oversease Exit Clearance) OR number the immigration officer in the office gave me. After lots of hassle and qeueing in, I travelled to Qatar. You see? Despite having valid documents, I had to go through that. At that time, I thought at how much more stress the other Filipinos had experienced with the Immigration. If it was my first time to travel, I could've cried there. Even with complete documents, I was really thinking at what part could I have done wrong. Or I was confused if the papers I brought were complete or not. Bottomline: A stressful travel experience.