"Offload" is a term in the Philippines when immigration does not allow a passenger to leave the country. For those traveling abroad for the first time, after we check-in at the airlines, we proceed directly to Immigration before we can board the plane. In the Philippine Immigration (BI) the inspection will happen. Meaning, there is an immigration officer (IO) to inspect every passenger who leaves the country. They will check our travel documents, and they will ask a few questions about us and about our travel.

Common Reasons for Offload

1) Lack of Documents - when the immigration officer looks for documents and then we have nothing to show.
2) Travel documents are FAKE - many have experienced this, passengers carrying fake documents, like passports, fake owwa certificates, fake cfo certificate, and etc.
3) Human Trafficking - when they confirm that you will be a victim of human trafficking.
4) No proof of Financial Capacity - when your funds are not enough, or you have not shown proof of financial capacity to travel.

General Travel Requirements

1) Passport - must be valid over 6 months
2) Visa - if applicable
3) Overseas Employment Certificate (OWWA) & Contract - for working visa holder / OFW
4) Return Ticket - proof of flight back to the Philippines, must be a confirmed ticket. For short stay visa holder, tourist or visit. You can book your ticket here.
5) Hotel Booking - proof of accommodation for short stay visa holder, tourist or visit. You can book your hotel here.
6) Travel Insurance - for short stay visa holder,tourist or visit; not necessary but advisable to have one. You can get travel medical insurance here.

Supporting Documents

1) Proof of Financial Capacity - bank statements and/or bank certificate (to show that we have enough money for travel).
2) Proof of Rootedness - to prove that we have strong ties in the Philippines to return to, and that we will not overstay in other countries.
3) Proof of Sponsorship - if unemployed, it is necessary to have a family member or relative who can support our travel. These are the documents that can be presented:
a) Invitation/Sponsorship Letter - a letter from the sponsor indicating that they are inviting us and they will support our travel financially with sponsor's signature.
b) Affidavit of Support & Guarantee - must be authenticated at the Philippine embassy/consulate in the country where the sponsor is.
c) Proof of relationship to the sponsor- proof of your relationship with the sponsor. These are the documents that can be presented as proof of relationship:
* pictures together
* chat conversation
* E-mails
4) CFO Certificate - when we have a foreign national partner/fiance/spouse who meets or reunites in another country, we need a CFO Guidance and Counseling Certificate. When we are immigrant visa holders, permanent residents in another country, we need to attend the CFO's PDOS to get a certificate.

In immigration there is 1st inspection and secondary inspection. In the first inspection, the immigration officer has a limit to inspect us upto 45 seconds. When they find something strange in our documents, our answers are suspicious, the answers do not match the travel documents we have with us, and if we are prone to human trafficking, the immigration officer will proceed us to the secondary inspection. Where there in the secondary inspection other immigration officer (IO) will ask us again a few more questions regarding our travel. They will look for various supporting documents until they are satisfied. Once they are NOT satisfied, they will give us a slip with the list of documents written there that we must comply so they can allow us to leave the country on our next flight. If that happens to you, it means you're offloaded.

Is it really possible to leave again after complying with the requirements asked by immigration during offload?
Yes, of course! That's what happened to me before when I got offloaded. The immigration officer gave me a slip (see the picture above) and it says that I need to comply CFO Guidance and Counseling Certificate so that they will allow me to leave the country to meet my German partner. When I fulfilled those requirements, I have successfully flew to Maldives.

You can read my full "OFFLOAD STORY" here.

Common Questions on Philippine Immigration

* Where are you going? - Saan ang destination mo?
* What will you do there? - Ano ang gagawin mo sa bansang pupuntahan?
* When will you return to the Philippines? - Kailan ang balik mo sa Pilipinas?
* What is your occupation here in the Philippines? - Ano ang trabaho mo dito sa Pilipinas?
* Can I see your return ticket? - May return ticket ka ba?
* Do you have travel insurance? - May travel insurance ka ba?
* Is this your first time traveling abroad? - First time mo ba ito mag travel abroad?
* Are you traveling alone? - Mag isa ka bang mag travel?
* Who bought your ticket? - Sino bumili ng ticket mo?
* Where will you stay there? - Saan ka mag iistay sa ibang bansa?
* How many days will you stay there? - Ilang araw ka doon?

The follow up questions will depend on your answers. So for example if you are not the one who bought your ticket, immigration may ask who bought it. It is also possible that immigration will look for proof of your relationship to your sponsor. It's the same when you stay with acquaintances or relatives in another country. When you travel with someone, the immigration will also ask who you are traveling with. So be ready for possible follow up questions.

IMPORTANT TIPS

1)  Be honest and answer them directly to the point. Do not hesitate and it is better that you answer only what was asked of you. "Isang tanong, isang sagot" is the key. :))

2) Go to the airport 5-6 hours before your flight because you are not the only one passenger to board the plane, especially in Manila Airport the check-in queue is always full, and the fact that there is also a queue at the Philippine Immigration which is longer. So, if ever if you proceed to the immigration's secondary inspection, you can still reach the boarding time and you still have extra time to catch your breath normal before boarding the plane and eat when hungry after the inspection. Because to be honest, in my experiences every flight, it's debilitating after the immigration inspection because of the nervousness and I feel so afraid that I might be offloaded.

3) Keep calm so that we can properly answer the immigration officer's questions.

4) Organize your documents so you don't get confused when searching during the inspection.