The Immigration Departure Card: Philippines
This card is not a travel irritant nor an issue. But when you are a 'process review expert by profession', and you get to have lulls (a.k.a. tunganga time) during travel, nothing seems to go unnoticed. So now, it's the Immigration Departure Card of our very own country - the Philippines, that caught my curiosity!
Here we go...
01. Where do we get Immigration Cards?
Commonly, these are laid out at departure check-in counters. Airline (and immigration) staff assume that you know what this card is and you know that you need it, and that you will grab one. The truth is: not many passengers are in that frame of mind during check-in. They're busier contemplating on how to defend their overweight handcarry or check-in baggage, so they don't have to pay the fees. Palusot!
Tandaan: you can find (and get) immigration cards at your check-in counter.
In my case, I am usually more mindful of what seat I'll be able to get this time, than think of any forms (required or not) that I may need to fill, and when. It's only because I'm a frequent traveler, that I know, I can have that Immigration Card later at the immigration area and fill it out there - didto ni beauty ba!
Tandaan: there are immigration cards at the entry to immigration area, and you fill them out there.
At other times, your check-in agent will give you that card during the conversation, and tell you to fill it up before going through immigration. But, since you were given that form, you frantically try to be able to fill that form "ora mismo". Relaaaks, did the check-in agent say "now"? Wag aligaga, chillax ka lang!
By a passenger writing on that form while checking-in, the activty slows down. What multitasking? Eh, tatanungin ilan ang bagahe, ang tagal sumagot, busy sa immigration card. Sasabihan ilagay ang bags sa weighing skill, ayaw gumalaw, busy sa pesteng immigration card. Paano naman kami sa likod mo?
At times though, the check-in agent just tucks it into your passport, together with your boarding pass after check-in (without saying anything about the immigration card). Although it is wrong, sana ganito always! So we passengers immediately move away from the check-in counters. Mahaba ang pila 'no?!
The most proper and pertinent place to write on that immigration card is just before you join the line to the immigration counters. Didto ni Beauty ba! You will notice there is a desk (maliit nga lang in the case of MCIA), with a stack of immigration cards waiting for you. At times there's even a pen or two!
Pen! Maghahanap ka ngayon ng ballpen! Punyitera tayong lahat (yes include me)! How many of us do actually bring pens in our pockets during travels? Aber? Weh, I know it is an important "tool", but either I always forget or I just don't like putting sharp and/or pointed materials in my pockets or handcarried items! Thus, I usually don't carry a pen! To think that I even teach that a pen is an important travel tool!
The ladies win in this arena. Especially those whose handbags are always as heavy as 10kgs whether going to the office, carwash or church? Yun mga "nasa bag ang buong bahay"? Surely, me ballpen yan!
Hey, did you know that travel agencies and/or airline offices do have immigration cards? Yes, many of them have these cards on a rack or stacked/stocked at their back offices. The good ones would insert an immigration card in each passport, though in most cases not particularly explained nor mentioned.
Plus, and in fact, how many of us now still visit travel agencies or airline ticket offices? We mainly buy tickets online, right? Wouldn't it be cool if we can also fill that needed immigration information online? Eh, even many beggars in China already use QR Codes for people to 'donate' money, and they use the same phone app to purchase things! Immigrations should also step up with advances in technology!
02. Where is it needed?
Come to think of it, there are soooo many passengers who don't know (or don't remember) where they will need to present that already-filled-up 'departure card'. Well, not that many people travel repeatedly 'internationally' in a month or even a year, right? So it is fair to say that many of us forget the process!
Important Reminder: You present the already filled Immigration Card at the Immigration Counter.
Government authorities with the support of travel industry service providers should lead an effort for the strict use of the phrase "Immigration Card". Not "Departure Card" and/or "Arrival Card. It should be called "Immigration Card" as I have been attempting above. It does not really matter kung "Departure" o "Arrival" since obvious naman kung nasaan si passenger. That way, we will remember "Immigration".
Did you know? Some passengers only start writing on their immigration cards when already lined up at Immigration counters. I think that's cool. I've started doing it too! Magaling pang-alis bagot sa haba ng pila! Take note: habang nasa pila, not when you're already in front of a cranky immigration officer!
Just make sure you have a pen!
Trivia: during the '80s, many people in the travel industry called it "Blue Card" (Departure Card)
Tsismis: there was a time (last month lang), we were next in line at the "bag drop" counter. I could see and hear the check-in agent stood up and was saying (to the passenger in front of me) "Ma'am, these are your baggage claim stubs for..." biglang sumagot yung matanda.., "teka lang, I am still writing, ano nga flight number ito"?! Awr! Ginusto ko magwala, kaso it was a lola writing on her Immigration Card!
03. What personal data do you need to write on that Immigration Card?
Aha, eto ang maganda! Let us even philosophize on some parts - if only to help our government! They need to revisit this business of asking passengers to fill immigration cards. 21st century na ngayon. Things are evolving fast. They have to keep in step.
Let's talk about those blanks on the form one-by-one, just for fun and realization!
Look at the picture above. It's easy to understand. The boxes are numbered and even have a red color at the edge, where the numbers are - meaning it is important (a must) that you write on those boxes.
You of course know your Last Name, First Name and Middle Name. Those are boxes number 1, 2 and 3. Take note (especially those who have fake passports hehehe), whatever you write in those 3 boxes must be the same as what is printed in your passport. Kaya kayong mga illegal dyan, tandaan, marami nang natimbog na 'fakers' dahil lang sa pagkakamali dyan. Umayos na lang kasi kayo! Pag-tarung ba!
Box Number 4 is a bit tricky to fill out. You are being asked to write your CONTACT NUMBER AND/OR EMAIL ADDRESS - all in just 21 character boxes! Kung cellphone number, okay lang. But, what if your email is like mariaregina_agpalasin@yahoo.co.uk? Kulang ang boxes! Gawa ka bagong email ahihihi!
My first instinct is to say, wag na lang boxes kasi, just one big blank na lang! Ang kaso.., these folks at immigration won't be able to read or decipher many of the emails written, if they do not provide boxes. Why? Because, many of us earthlings, mas pangit pa sa manok, itik or pato ang sulat-kamay hahaha!
Trivia: 'sulat-kamay' or 'handwriting' pala is also called "penmanship". I just learned from my driver!
How about Box Number 6 (COUNTRY OF DESTINATION)? What do they (Immigration) really want you to write there? It is your final destination on this trip. Example: I was taking this afternoon flight from Cebu to Singapore, then on to another flight from Singapore to Denpasar (Bali), so I wrote Indonesia.
If you have a series of connecting flights it's the last (final) country on the trip that you should write on that box. That's for the immigration officer to know and check if you're eligible, or will be safe going to that final country. Example, don't write France if next day you're flying Paris to Beirut. Write Lebanon.
By the way, it says country, not the city! So, it's Taiwan not Taipei, Palau not Koror, Tanzania not Dar Es Salaam, Maldives not Male, ganun! Don't worry, hindi lang tayo ang mga jologs dyan! I once saw one 'kano', ang nakasulat sa Box Number 6 ay.., Delaware! Tapos nakasulat sa Box Number 7, Santander!
Ay'na mo'g saba kay bisdak na nang animal natong 'migo! Masakpan 'nya ko hehe!
About Box Number 8 (OCCUPATION) parang nagdududa ako. Why do I need to write it down? What if I do not have any? Parang napakasakit naman isulat pa ang UNEMPLOYED sa mga boxes na yan, diba? If naman, I write "businessman" when in fact ang raket ko eh illegal business, they might ask about it!
Take note, an unemployed person has the right to travel too. He'll just need to prove he has the money to spend while abroad. Even those with alleged illegal raket also have the right to travel - unless there is a hold order from the judicial courts! Now I'm curious, ano ang isinusulat nung mga nagpapa 5-6!
On Box Number 10 (PURPOSE OF TRAVEL), I think the (check one only) is already outdated and most of the time misleading na! In most cases, it will not be accurate because, most of the time, we have 2 or 3 reasons! It should be (check as many as applicable)! Mas maka-totohanan pa kung ganun, diba?
Tsismis: on Box Number 8, I wrote RAMP MODEL, on Box Number 10, I checked OTHERS, then wrote SHOOT. Oh ha? The Immigration Officer kept looking at me more than officially necessary! Sosy di ba? ['Wag tularan! Part-truth and part-lie yun. If they asked me, I had proof. Pero ang totoo, lamyerda lang]
Let's see if I have anything to say on the Immigration Arrival Card. Pagbalik ko!
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