"Perhaps the Philippines have changed their visa rules"

You could be right about that -- I was referencing the situation from around 10 to 15 years ago.

However, I had dinner with a Brit here recently who resides in Manila and has a biz there. When I asked him about the current Imm. regs, he pulled out a credit-card type of ID with his photo on it and said it was good for two years. He said when it needs to be renewed, he sends one of his employees to Imm. to take care of it.

I can't vouch for the accuracy of that information, but that's what he told me. Possibly a difference between a biz visa and a personal visa.

.

.

"Now, if you had said annoying or inconvenient, okay"

OK, you're right -- I got it! I exaggerated.

Maybe a little bit more annoying in a wheel-chair or a hospital bed or a critical-care unit, but nevertheless annoying . . .

.

.

"every company i have worked for in thailand has an agent who did this for us. once a year we show our faces when the visa is renewed"

Sounds like you're talking about working for a company that has authorization to obtain Visas with work-permits -- much different than an independent Expat who has to fend for himself.

I have a doctor friend from the States in BKK who teaches at Mahidol and has been here for 20 years. He's never stepped foot into an immigration office and doesn't even know where it's located. Everything is taken care of for him by Mahidol.

There are those fortunate people and then there are the rest of us.

.

there are people with money and/or connections and the rest...................

Perhaps the Philippines have changed their visa rules. I had a friend who lived in Cebu and he had to leave the country once a year. He always came to Thailand so he really didn't mind it.

A few thousands peso should sort out any visa problems you may have in the Philipines.