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How hard is it for an American to move to the Philippines? How much money is needed and is it easy to find a Filipino wife?
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Americans are generally well received in the Philippines because of the goodwill generated by the American soldiers who liberated the Philippines during the Second World War and also the contribution of Previous American colonial government in introducing the English education system during the 50 years of American rule. So, it won’t be difficult for you to find a wife. But it depends on what you are looking for. There are Filipino women who are from poorer families and wouldn’t hesitate to marry a foreign for financial reasons and a foreign passport. But if you are looking for a good and educated woman who really love you and not just for material reason, then you need to spend more time to find such a woman. I know of a number of foreigners who married Filipino wives and are very happy with their marriage, particularly Filipinos are generally good natured, loyal and support their spouses. They are not as assertive as the women in the west who demand total equality. One thing you need to be aware of is the fact that if you marry a Filipino woman, you are marrying into her family. It is possible that if the woman is from a less well off family, you may need to support her parents and her siblings. On the other hand, they will treat you like a king and will support you. Living in Philippines is relatively inexpensive . I think $1,000 per month will be sufficient to give you a good but not luxurious life. Living in smaller cities or towns would stretch your dollar further. One way to Obtain residence status in the Philippines for a foreigner is through the Special Retiree Visa. Under this program, an American, 35 years and above, may apply for a Special Retiree Resident Visa. To qualify applicants between 35 and 49 years old must open a bank account for a term no less than six (6) months with a minimum amount of $75,000.00 USD; applicants 50 years old and above must deposit a minimum amount of $50,000.00 USD.
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I'm not an American, but a Canadian that has made the move to the Philippines. How much money is needed? That's hard to say because lifestyles can vary, and if you want to maintain a certain lifestyle, it could cost more; also, depending on where you decide to settle, it could cost more to live in the big cities as opposed to living in the provinces. Costs can differ depending on your comfort levels and how far you're willing to live in total or moderate comfort. This also depends on whether or not you will be hiring help like a maid, cook, driver, etc. However, to give you some idea, I live in Southern Leyte and live rather comfortably on roughly PHP20,000/month. Then again, I don't pay rent, and I rarely use AC. I do live in a large home (owned by my family) and I have Internet access. I don't watch cable, instead I just watch Netflix. It's good enough for me. I also own my own motorcycle and car. But I rarely use either because I choose to walk. Even on road trips, I'll use my bike because it is cheaper on gas. Do note that you cannot own land here, so you'll either be renting or you can purchase a condo. Again, rents can be cheap or costly depending on your preferences, lifestyle, comfort, and amenities. Likewise, the cost of a condo varies. Is it easy to find a Filipina wife? It depends on what you're looking for or how willing or quick you want to settle. I'm still single here because I'm a picky son of a bitch. I want to be with someone who is not looking for a free ticket and financial support. I'm looking for someone who loves me, not my money. Many women here, in the age group I'm interested in, already have one or more children. Most, if not all, are looking for some form of financial support not only for her and her children, but for her family, as well. For me, that's a big no. Now, I'm not old. But I have witnessed many elderly foreigners with young girls at their side. To me, that's not love, that's love for the financial security the foreigner represents. Sure, my friends and family here have told me that I could have any girl I wanted if I just started carrying and waving my money around. But then I'll be attracting the wrong kinds of women. I know what I'm looking for and I'm not willing to lower my standards. I'm perfectly ok to remain single than to be with someone who's just in it for the money.