Can any expat explain to me what are the advantages of getting an SRRV verses just extending my tourist visa up to 36 months and leaving the country only to return the next day if i choose? I just returned to the Phil. from an 11 day vacation in Guam after leaving the country because of the 36 month requirement to leave. All told, i spent about 1,500 USD's on my trip and had a great time. The funds i used for the trip came from interest from my US dollar time deposit savings accounts at a number of different Phil. banks paying 2% interest over the past 36 months netting me a bit over 1,500 USD's. Now to the SRRV. It's my understanding i need to hand over 10,000 USD's to a Phil. government agency that i receive 0 interest on and can not touch except to buy a condo over 50,000 USD's, an application fee of about 1,500 USD's, Pay a yearly renewal fee of about 360.00 USD's and get a clean bill of health from a Phil. Doc. Plus any other expenses and time qualifying for an SRRV. I figure i spend on average about 1,500 php's per month to renew my tourist visa up to the 36 month limit. But no other out of pocket expenses. So what are any advantages of applying for an SRRV? I also believe it will not be an easy task trying to get your 10,000 USD's back from the Phil. government if you decide to go back to your country and leave the SRRV program. I would appreciate any feed back.