The decision.SRRV vs the 13A marriage visa
Married to a Philippine citizen? Compare the SRRV and 13A requirements, deposits, ongoing obligations and the evidence each agency needs.
The short answer
SRRV or the 13A marriage visa?
Marriage to a Philippine citizen makes the 13A worth reviewing alongside the SRRV. Each route has separate eligibility and document requirements. The 13A has no deposit but runs through a probationary year and annual reporting; the SRRV stands on your own qualification and is exempt from annual reporting. Which one wins depends on budget, timeline, and how much administration you want.
Two real options
The Non-Quota Immigrant Visa by Marriage, the 13A, is the Bureau of Immigration’s residency route for foreigners with a valid marriage to a Philippine citizen. The SRRV, the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa, is the Philippine Retirement Authority’s residency route built on age and a bank deposit. A married US veteran may need to compare both, subject to each agency’s eligibility and documentation requirements. The decision depends on money, timeline, and how much administration you want in your life, not on which product a website happens to sell. If the principal applicant is a former Philippine citizen who has not reacquired citizenship, a separate Courtesy deposit table may apply; former Filipinos pay less, here is the rule.
Source review October 24, 2026Reviewed by Adam Juchniewicz, LL.M.Claim dates and qualifications
Side by side
| Dimension | SRRV | 13A by marriage |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) | Bureau of Immigration |
| The basis | Age plus deposit, or a qualifying special category | A valid marriage to a Philippine citizen |
| Money at stake | Refundable deposit from $1,500 (Courtesy) to $50,000 (Classic non-pensioner, 40 to 49), plus the $1,500 processing fee | No deposit. Roughly ₱8,620 in BI filing fees per applicant, plus about $50 per year for the ACR I-Card |
| Status granted | Permanent residency on approval, indefinite stay, multiple entry | Probationary year first, then conversion to permanent residency |
| Ongoing obligations | PRA annual fee ($100 Courtesy / $360 Classic, principal plus two dependents); exempt from BI annual reporting and the ACR I-Card | Bureau of Immigration annual report each year, plus a valid ACR I-Card |
| Tied to | Your own qualification: age, deposit, pension | The marriage itself, and a Filipino spouse as petitioner |
| Planning timeline | 30 to 45 working days in-country from complete documents | Commonly quoted in months; BI workloads vary by office |
13A fee figures are the BI’s posted schedule; BI dates its posted fee schedule to March 2014 and notes fees may change without prior notice. SRRV figures are PRA’s, from our verified facts library.
Source review October 24, 2026Reviewed by Adam Juchniewicz, LL.M.Claim dates and qualifications
Where each one wins
The 13A wins on cash
No deposit, and BI filing fees measured in hundreds of dollars. If the budget is tight, the marriage is solid, and you do not mind the probationary year, the annual report line at BI each year, and keeping the ACR I-Card current, the 13A is the economical route and we will say so to your face.
The SRRV wins on independence and admin
PRA publishes a retired-military Courtesy category, but the overview and August 2025 checklist differ in category wording and age-specific income requirements. Confirm the applicant’s service history, accepted benefit evidence and deposit tier with PRA in writing. Income or veteran status alone does not establish eligibility.
The marriage is the visa
The 13A stands on the marriage. Annulment or a spouse’s death can put the status itself in question, and that is a conversation to have before filing, not after. The SRRV does not have this failure mode; it stands on your own qualification.
We sell SRRV screening and execution, not 13A petitions. If the screening says the 13A is your honest fit, we tell you that plainly and point you to the official BI source rather than selling you the wrong visa.
Two routes, one answer:Screened before you choose
One structured session compares both paths against your numbers and puts the answer in writing.
SRRV Courtesy qualification is determined by the Philippine Retirement Authority on the documents. Many US military retirees may qualify; others fit SRRV Classic. We screen both routes before you commit, and we will tell you plainly if the SRRV is not your best option.