For veterans.Straight answers

Do I have to be retired military to get the SRRV Courtesy rate?

No. The test PRA actually applies on the Courtesy military track is a DD-214 with honorable discharge plus a lifetime pension of at least $1,000 per month, currently being received. The pension is the gate, not the title on your separation paperwork. PRA determines qualification case by case.

Does VA disability compensation count toward the Courtesy gate?

Yes. VA disability compensation is lifetime federal income paid monthly, and PRA accepts VA benefit verification letters as proof. A separated veteran drawing $1,000 or more per month may fit Courtesy without ever having been on the retired rolls.

I am a Guard retiree waiting on age-60 pay. Do I qualify for Courtesy now?

Not yet. A retirement letter for a pension that has not started paying does not satisfy the gate; PRA tests income that is currently being received. Until the payments begin, SRRV Classic is the honest route, and we will tell you exactly where you stand before any money moves.

What if my lifetime income is under the gate?

SRRV Classic still works. Lifetime income of at least $800 per month single or $1,000 with dependents supports the Classic pensioner deposits of $15,000 at 50 and older or $25,000 at 40 to 49, instead of the non-pensioner $30,000 or $50,000.

What documents prove my case?

Your DD-214 is the military service record PRA works from. DFAS Retiree Account Statements prove retired pay; VA benefit verification letters prove disability compensation. Documents issued outside the Philippines are apostilled, and a Permanent and Total or otherwise protected rating is the cleanest proof that compensation is lifetime income.

I have CRDP or CRSC. How does that screen?

Case by case. Stacked retired pay and VA compensation usually clears the gate comfortably, but the proof package matters: which letters, which figures, and how PRA reads them together. That is a screening question, not a forum question, and the strategy session settles it in writing.

Does my VA healthcare follow me to the Philippines?

Partly, and the honest map matters. VA disability compensation is payable abroad by direct deposit. The Manila VA Outpatient Clinic is the only VA healthcare facility outside the United States. The Foreign Medical Program reimburses care for VA-rated, service-connected conditions, and TRICARE Select Overseas and TRICARE For Life follow military retirees. Medicare does not pay outside the US.

How long does the SRRV take, and do I have to be in the Philippines?

PRA's published Head-Office turn-around is about 10 working days, and PRA notes it excludes Bureau of Immigration time. The realistic end-to-end number, once BI and the in-country steps are counted, is 30 to 45 working days; plan the trip around the longer one, and yes, you must be in the Philippines for the in-country steps.

Is any of this refundable if I change my mind?

The visa deposit, yes: it is held at a PRA-accredited bank in your name and returned on visa cancellation per PRA rules. The $1,500 PRA processing fee, no: it is non-refundable if you discontinue. That is exactly why we screen first.

Will the SRRV change my US taxes?

No. Philippine exemptions do not change US tax obligations. US citizens file with the IRS regardless of residence. Consult a qualified tax advisor regarding your specific situation.

The full reasoning behind the gate lives on the military retirees page, and the disabled veterans guide walks the VA compensation cases in depth. Guard and Reserve retirees waiting on age-60 pay have their own page. To go deeper, start with the complete veteran SRRV guide.