13 A VISA │ PHILIPPINES

Everything you need to know about the Bureau of Immigration’s “Joint Affidavit” requirements

1. What the 13 A visa is—and why joint affidavits matter

The 13 A is a non-quota immigrant visa granted to the foreign spouse (and qualifying children) of a Filipino citizen under §13 (a) of the Philippine Immigration Act (Commonwealth Act 613). Because the visa is premised on marriage and the foreigner’s ability not to become a public charge, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) asks the couple to execute several jointly-sworn affidavits to establish (a) the legitimacy of the relationship, (b) continuous cohabitation, and (c) financial capacity/support.

2. Statutory & administrative foundations

Commonwealth Act 613, §13 (a) – enabling law.
BI Operations Order SBM-2014-059-A – medical-clearance annex that also governs sworn statements.
BI Citizen’s Charter 2025 / district-office checklists – the latest field-level instruction sets that expressly list the “Joint Letter Request” and the “Joint Affidavit of Continuous Cohabitation” as mandatory attachments. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)

3. The three core joint affidavits

Affidavit	Purpose	Timing	Key contents
*A. Joint Letter-Affidavit (sometimes called Joint Letter Request)*	Petitions the BI Commissioner to convert the foreigner’s status to 13 A (probationary) or to amend it to permanent after 1 year	Filed with every 13 A petition	Full civil particulars of both spouses; marriage details; list of enclosures; prayer for approval (Scribd)
B. Joint Affidavit of Continuous Cohabitation	Shows the marriage is genuine and subsisting at the time of application for permanent 13 A or renewal	Usually required when upgrading from probationary to permanent; some BI district offices also ask for it even at first filing	Date the couple began living together; statement that they still cohabit “as husband and wife”; declaration of no legal impediment, etc. (Scribd, Scribd)
C. Joint Affidavit of Support / Guarantee (a.k.a. Financial Capacity)	Assures BI that the Filipino spouse can maintain the foreign spouse so he/she will not become a public burden	Submitted with initial petition and occasionally upon upgrade if financial circumstances changed	Affirmation of steady income/assets; guarantee that the applicant “shall not become a ward of the Philippine State”	(RESPICIO & CO., Scribd, RESPICIO & CO.)

Other supplemental joint affidavits encountered in practice include:

Joint Affidavit of Undertaking (authenticity of documents) and
Joint Affidavit for Cancellation of Alien Registry by Marriage (when converting from earlier ACR-registration). (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)

4. Documentary and formal requirements

Requirement	Rule & best practice
Originals & notarisation	BI requires original, notarised copies. If executed abroad, have them apostilled or consularised.
Paper & format	Legal-size (8½ × 13 or 14 in), in English, block capitals per BI Form V-I-002 Rev 1 instructions.
Affiants	Always both spouses; add a third co-affiant only when the Filipino spouse lacks independent income (to strengthen the Support/Guarantee). (Respicio & Co.)
Identification	Photocopies of each affiant’s valid I.D. or passport bio-page must be stapled behind the affidavit.
Documentary Stamp Tax (DST)	₱30 DST for each original, paid through adhesive tax stamps before notarisation.
Number of sets	Two notarised originals (one for visa file, one for the ACR I-Card folder). Some field offices ask for a third copy for the records section.

5. Where and when to file

Probationary 13 A (initial conversion) – Submit all three affidavits to the BI Main Office or an authorised district/sub-port office together with the Consolidated General Application Form (CGAF), clearances, medical certificate (if applicable) and fees.
Permanent 13 A (after 12 months) – File a new Joint Letter-Affidavit plus an updated Affidavit of Continuous Cohabitation and (if finances changed) Support/Guarantee.
Renewals / re-issuance – Some offices waive the Support/Guarantee once permanent status is granted, but always keep an updated Cohabitation affidavit at hand; visa officers routinely ask for it at interview.

Tip: Affidavits should be dated within 30 days of filing to avoid questions about staleness.

6. Common mistakes that trigger a Notice to Comply

Using the wrong title – e.g., calling the Joint Letter an “application form”.
Mismatch of addresses between affidavit and CGAF.
Failure to attach IDs or pay DST.
Signing before a foreign notary without apostille/consular authentication.
Out-of-date financial figures in the Support/Guarantee.

7. Costs (estimate, 2025)

Notarial fee in Metro Manila: ₱200 – ₱500 per affidavit (plus ₱30 DST).
Consular authentication abroad: USD 25 – 35 per document.
13 A application government fees: ₱8,620 (principal) + ACR I-Card USD 50 (1-yr validity); fees adjust periodically—always check BI’s latest schedule. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)

8. Recent developments & digitalisation (2024-2025)

Updated CGAF Rev 2 and streamlined “paperless” queueing introduced in January 2024—old CGAFs are no longer accepted.
Some district offices (e.g., Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro) explicitly list the Affidavit of Continuous Cohabitation in their 2025 checklists; Metro Manila main office still treats it as “standard practice” even if not on the central website. (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)
Remote online notarisation remains unrecognised by BI; only in-person notarisation or apostille/consularisation is accepted.

9. FAQ

Question	Short answer
Can we prepare the affidavits abroad?	Yes, but sign them before a Philippine consular officer or have them apostilled.
Do we need witnesses?	Not required, but adding one credible Filipino witness can help if your marriage is recent.
How long are the affidavits valid?	BI prefers they be less than 30 days old at filing; older affidavits may be accepted if re-sworn.
Is a single Support/Guarantee enough if the Filipino spouse has no income?	Provide a co-guarantor (e.g., Filipino in-laws) or documented assets; otherwise the visa may be denied.

10. Key take-aways

Three joint affidavits—Letter-Affidavit, Continuous Cohabitation, and Support/Guarantee—form the backbone of evidence for a 13 A visa.
Follow the BI checklist format meticulously: originals, legal-size, notarised, DST-paid.
Keep affidavits fresh and consistent with all other submissions; discrepancies are the top cause of “Notice to Comply”.
Requirements evolve—verify the district office’s current checklist before every filing cycle.

This article is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration rules change; consult the Bureau of Immigration website or a Philippine immigration lawyer for case-specific counsel.