ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
PhilippinesPackage stuck in customs

Back on October 1st I sent a package from Portland, Oregon USA to my wife in Montalban, Rizal, PI. I sent it using USPS and was told it would reach her in 6-10 business days. Well...here is it 47 days later and according to USPS, the package reached customs in Manila on November 4th. It's almost been 2 weeks since and I still haven't heard anything from USPS or customs. :angry:

Any ideas who I can call or what I have to do? Believe it or not, USPS said they didn't have a number I could call in the Philippines to get more information.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

(By the way...never again will I use USPS to send packages to PI!)

Been there, done that. I completely understand your frustration. However, you should be upset at Philippine postal service and NOT USPS.

When I sent packages before, using USPS Express Mail, I tracked the packages from U.S. to Philippines. They arrived in the Philippines within days. But from Manila to the respective provincial city/town, it literally take weeks...if not months, to arrive. Who is to blame? Definitely not USPS. USPS is an American federal office. They provide service to the destination country. Then the local postal service is supposed to deliver the package within the specified time period.

From experience, it is less stressful sending via FedEx or DHL. Packages will be delivered on time...not on Philippine time! :lol:

I sure hope you didn't send anything valuable. Customs will find any possible way to charge a tax on it.

Here's some contact information for you:

EXPRESS MAIL SERVICE OFFICE
Central Mail Exchange Center, Philippine Postal Corporation
Domestic Road, 1300 Pasay City
Metro Manila, Philippines
T +63 2 854 3580
F +63 2 854 4621
Email: ems.cs@philpost.gov.ph
ph.ems.cs@gmail.com
emso.philpost@gmail.com

Good luck with tracking it! And keep us posted!
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2011-11-17 18:59:00
PhilippinesBalikbayan box
Customs definitely check all boxes, either by xray or by physical examination. Technically, they can place an import charge on any merchandise brought into the country.
If it is of any value, they will do their best to place a tax on it. I'm speaking from years of experience.

However, if you're sending merchandise that appears to be in used condition, chances are you will not be taxed.

Edited by Markieboy, 23 February 2010 - 09:00 PM.

MarkieboyMalePhilippines2010-02-23 20:59:00
PhilippinesMEdical using the MNL case #

DO IT NOW!!

:yes:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2011-07-14 15:35:00
PhilippinesFEMALE PETIONER, MALE (FIANCE) RECEIPIENT
Here's another member. :D
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2011-06-20 09:47:00
PhilippinesBalikbayan Boxes

Hi guys,

I just wanted to know if it's safe sending balikbayan boxes to the PI. I was thinking of sending one to the family back home. Also I have just arrived in the US, so would I even qualify to be able to use one or do I need to go home first to be considered a balikbayan? My husband threw in another concern too and that is customs and applicable fees. How much would it cost to send one? Would it have a hard time going through customs?

Sorry guys. I am just not sure where to get the answers to my concerns. I have looked on some courier sites but nothing seemed specific.

Thanks a whole whole lot to any answers that come my way.

I've sent balikbayan boxes to Philippines many times. So far, it's very safe sending things. I usually send boxes through Forex. We never had to pay any customs fees or anything.

Try and call the following courier place in your area.

BTS
1601 N. Columbia Blvd.
Portland, Oregon 97127
Phone: (503) 285-1384
Fax: (503) 286-8704

Hope that helps.
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2010-04-06 21:49:00
PhilippinesNot sure if this is the correct place..

We bought a boatload of birth control pills in the Philippines with no prescription. Just go to the pharmacy. You can buy just about anything you want without a doctor's prescription, unlike the USA where the medical industry extortionists have gotten the government to require a doctor's prescription to buy anything worth having.

^^This. 100% accurate information. :yes:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-03-30 18:40:00
PhilippinesHow do we establish dual citizenship?

BTW, under Balikbayan rules, there is no advantage to becoming a dual citizen, other that to be able to vote in Filipino elections, or hold a public office in the Philippines, either of which would could cause a loss of US citizenship.

...and own land in the Philippines.

A Balikbayan cannot, a Filipino citizen can. This may or may not be an advantage. :unsure:

What about buying land in the Philippines, or owning a business in the Philippines? :unsure:

:thumbs:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-03-31 13:35:00
Philippinesslec medical passed

so happy .. i feel so blessed by GOD... passing my medical without any problem.... others got sputum test even if theyre negative

Congratulations on a successful medical! Good luck with the rest of your journey! :thumbs:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-03-31 23:02:00
PhilippinesYeheyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!
Congratulations! Wonderful news! :thumbs:
May you all enjoy this Lenten season! Happy Easter! God bless! (F)
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-04-03 16:15:00
PhilippinesNVC Requirements

Hi Guys,

I already read some topics about Police Clearance and NBI but I'm still confused. Sorry :huh:

We just received our NOA2. I was reading the requirements to send to the NVC it was mentioned about Police Clearance, I already acquired one in my married name.

Do I need to also send an NBI clearance to the NVC or NBI is just needed on the USEM interview.

Please enlighten me.

Thanks in advance :)

You need to send an original NBI clearance (plus photocopies) to NVC for applicants 16 years and older. Theoretically, NVC forwards ALL documents to USEM before your interview. However, it is highly advisable to secure an additional original NBI clearance. On many occasions, USEM officers have asked for original government documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, NBI clearances), which were previously submitted.

I hope this helps you some. Good luck with your journey! :thumbs:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2011-03-08 11:31:00
PhilippinesTravel Tax, Terminal Fee, PDOS

After so many years of waiting, our petition has been approved, and we already got our visas,
and had our flight book already. Sadly, and I know many will agree on how much our government
is taking advantage of every traveling Filipino, every traveling filipino is required to pay
the TRAVEL TAX, a TERMINAL FEE and have to attend a PDOS (Pre-departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) or the Peer Counseling Seminar)...


I understand your frustration. Believe me, I do.

Philippines has a tax for everything under the sun...including travel. I've been to other countries in Asia...and only the Philippines has this tax. And you know? I wouldn't mind it so much, if I see where this tax is going. If it does actually improve the various sectors of the government...I'm all for it. The only people benefiting from this tax are the politicians.

Having said that, it is one of those things that are easier to accept than to change. Corruption is part of Filipino culture. The sooner you realize it, the better.

BTW, congratulations on your approved petition! Best wishes! :thumbs:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-04-03 16:27:00
PhilippinesNew Addition to Our Family
Precious. Congratulations to both of you! (F)
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-04-07 18:42:00
PhilippinesTHANK YOU LORD! ALL IS WELL!
Wonderful news! Congratulations! :thumbs:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-04-12 10:02:00
PhilippinesPreparing Papers for Interview in Manila
Very nice and well-organized! :thumbs:
I also agree with the previous comment...send it via FedEx or UPS. You will pay more, but it is worth your piece of mind.

Good luck with your interview! Keep us posted!
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-04-14 21:13:00
PhilippinesInterview on April 16th 2012
Congratulations and best wishes! :thumbs:
We'll be keeping her in our thoughts and prayers.
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-04-14 21:05:00
Philippinesmy interview today
Congratulations! Wonderful news! :thumbs:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-04-27 20:25:00
PhilippinesLocal Woman Shots Attacker
Great story! .357 magnum...wonderful choice! :D
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-04-27 20:27:00
PhilippinesHow TO REPORT Corruption at St Luke's?

Paul...

To clear up your lingering confusion:

1. She had sex.
2. She could have been pregnant.
3. Taking the pill is not a 100% guarantee against pregnancy.
4. Ovulation tests don't work the way you think they do.
5. The vaccinations she could have gotten at St. Lukes are contraindicated for pregnancy.
6. The nurses had nothing to do with you not keeping your ####### in your pants.

Any questions?

Truth. :yes:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-05-04 10:24:00
PhilippinesReceived our IR-1 Visa
Congratulations! Wonderful news! :thumbs:
Good luck and best wishes with the rest of your journey!
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-04-18 11:05:00
PhilippinesPassed Interview
Congratulations! Best wishes to both of you! :dance:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-04-29 14:40:00
PhilippinesVisa Approved!!!
Congratulations! Excellent news! :dance:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-05-04 08:09:00
PhilippinesAny N-600 filers? US Citizenship for my Filipina Stepdaughter

Just file for a US passport(once the spouse obtains her citizenship).


If she is then once your wife has her naturalization certificate simply use that and her birth certificate to get your step-daughter a US Passport as that is proof of Citizenship.


:thumbs: This would be the route I would take, IMHO.
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-04-14 21:09:00
PhilippinesBalikbayan Boxes

We live in Kentucky and having a hard time finding a shipper. does anyone use a shipper in this area?

Hi Joe,

You may want to contact Ben. His email address is listed on his website. He and his wife offer balikbayan box delivery services.
I'm not sure how near they are to you, but at least it's within your state. Hope this helps some.

Edited by Markieboy, 16 May 2010 - 03:10 PM.

MarkieboyMalePhilippines2010-05-16 15:09:00
Philippinesfood likes and hates

All Pinays want to hit him. :bonk:

It's a tribal thing. :yes:

:rofl: I remember his original post regarding tribal thing. Too funny! :rofl:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-05-21 17:33:00
PhilippinesTB in PI not related to immigration

I'd like to know what the standard procedure is in PI. if a person is diagnosed with active TB. and they don't have money for treatment.

Does the goverment supply the drugs free of charge?

There really is no standard procedure in the Philippines. Some government hospitals may offer TB treatment free of charge, others may not.

When I was rotating at San Lazaro hospital, in Sta. Cruz, they offered DOTS TB treatment...free to their patients. Patients would not be given drugs to take home. Rather, they would go to the hospital/rural health clinic and be given directly observed therapy, short course (DOTS). Other rural health centers offer the same. Some private hospitals may offer free treatment...but this is usually reserved for indigent/charity cases.

Hope this helps! :thumbs:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-05-21 20:09:00
Philippinesfinally
Congratulations and welcome to the USA! As Leatherneck mentioned, enjoy your first Memorial Day! We celebrate and honor all those men and women who have sacrificed and are still sacrificing their lives for this great country! All the liberties that we often take for granted is due to their selfless service to protect and preserve them.
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-05-26 12:14:00
Philippinespetitioner's birth certificate
Bring any and all relevant documents. It's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.
Good luck with your interview! :thumbs:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-05-27 19:36:00
PhilippinesNOA2!!!
Congratulations! Good luck with the rest of your journey! :thumbs!
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-05-26 12:00:00
PhilippinesHow needy you are to have Filipino friends in your area?
My wife does not feel the need to have Filipino friends. Using your logic, if she does meet Filipinos...fine. But she doesn't feel the necessity of befriending another Kababayan.

However, she prefers not to mingle with other Filipinos. Most, if not all, the Filipinos we met here are somewhat strange. What I mean by that is: some like to brag about everything they have, some have a feeling of entitlement, some are just tsismosa...and most have this crab mentality. :whistle: I'm not saying that everyone is like this. In our experience, this was the case.

My wife and I are definitely homebodies. We love spending time with each other. Our mutual friends are a select few. And it doesn't bother us one bit. :yes:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-05-21 17:28:00
Philippinesfamily history..........

Is there a possibility that they will require me to undergo sputum test (for 8 weeks) just because of family history?

No, not from family history. A suspicious chest x-ray will warrant a sputum test.
I agree with the other comments suggesting not bringing your own x-ray and TB skin test results.

Good luck with your medical! Best wishes! :thumbs:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-06-05 18:18:00
PhilippinesDoes your wife know how to swim?
Funny thread...but true.
No, my wife does NOT know how to swim. She doesn't know how to ride a bicycle, either.

Need to teach her before summer. :whistle:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-04-07 18:45:00
PhilippinesWoo hoo!!! NOA2
Congratulations! Great stuff! :thumbs:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-06-05 18:09:00
PhilippinesHow Long are you Visiting Earth ?

I never have found good coffee in all my trips over there. I've just settled on instant when I'm there.

What a shame... Have you ever made a trip to Baguio? If not, I highly suggest going.
Since I was a little kid, my family has been buying from Garcia's coffee. At ~P300/kilo...you can't go wrong. My personal favorite is their Benguet blend.

It sure beats the ####### outta instant. :yes:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-06-11 14:35:00
PhilippinesHow Long are you Visiting Earth ?

My Fiance has a strange preference for food. For example, at Breakfast He only

wants to eat Pancakes, or French Toast, etc. I ask him before if he wants fish

and He told me ... " No, Fish is not for breakfast " ...


Is this normal of an American Guy ? Why he dont want Fish for breakfast ?

What planet is he from ?

One of the best foods for breakfast is...fried boneless (bonuan) bangus. With garlic fried rice and camatis and bagoong? Forget about it! That is the breakfast of champions! :thumbs:
It beats pancakes and french toast any day of the week, IMHO! :yes:

It really just depends on what you're used to. I grew up eating fish for breakfast, lunch and dinner. So it really doesn't bother me. Some people cringe at the thought of eating any seafood.

YMMV :whistle:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-06-03 23:15:00
PhilippinesMiddle name
Being of mixed ethnicity myself, I find it odd that all Filipino children have the same middle name. But that is Filipino/Spanish culture.
My wife says that all our (future) children will have her maiden name as their middle names. I will comply. :lol:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-05-21 17:32:00
Philippinesmedical done in one day!
Wow...congratulations! :thumbs:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-06-12 17:13:00
PhilippinesVacation

Sorry for leaving out those details, I am the USC and Monreal is going with me. We are going to visit family. So as long as Monreal is with me i will not need to sign anything? or does a form still need filled out? Sorry for the slight confusion.

That is correct, sir.

As long as Monreal, a Filipino citizen, is with you...no form to sign...no fee to be paid.
You guys will need her Philippine passport, as well as your marriage certificate. Remember, she needs to say that you're both Balikbayan. The immigration officers will not assume and give you the Balikbayan stamp automatically.

Have a safe trip! :thumbs:

John...they think ur a gurl... :hehe:

His masculinity was never in question. :lol:

Go with her through immigration, request the balikbayan stamp when entering. Double check they gave you one year on the stamp. She must use her Philippine passport on entering, or have proof she was born in the Philippines, such as her birth certificate or an expired passport.

:thumbs:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-06-18 16:04:00
PhilippinesVacation

Marc...Good point. :thumbs:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the U.S. citizen must be accompanied by their Filipino spouse in order for the U.S. citizen to use the balikbayan privilege.

Paramedic(918)...Are you the U.S. citizen? Are you the one going to the Philippines? Will your Filipino spouse be traveling with you?

You're correct, Tahoma!

Some of the details were lacking. If the plane tickets were for her, her husband or both of them. The Filipino citizen doesn't require a visa, the U.S. citizen (if travelling alone) can stay up to 21 days without a visa. However, if they're travelling together, the Filipino citizen can invoke the Balikbayan privilege, which extends to his/her spouse and children.

Thanks for the correction, Tahoma! :thumbs:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-06-18 13:11:00
PhilippinesVacation

I have plan tickets for October 19th through November 15th. Do i need a pass in order to stay that long? If so, how do i go about getting one?

I'm sorry, I'm not following. Is the visa for you or your husband?
Filipino citizens do not need a visa. Spouses and children of Filipinos are considered Balikbayan. Balikbayans may use their privilege of staying up to a year in the Philippines. Also, this visa is free.

Hope this helps. :thumbs:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-06-18 08:10:00
Philippinescooking

How's that working out for you? :pop:

And...the saga continues... :pop:
MarkieboyMalePhilippines2012-06-16 10:48:00