China and Taiwan Excluded in New Philippine Visa Privilege

When the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) extended the visa-free privilege of foreigners last Monday, Chinese nationals criticized the move for excluding them.

Zhuang Guotu, dean of the Research School of Southeast Asian Studies at Xiamen University claimed that the visa requirement for Chinese is Philippines' way to get even on the South China Sea territorial row.

"Both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan are embroiled in disputes with the country. Its decision to exclude people from the two regions is a retaliatory move, especially, against Taiwan," Godu told The Global Times on Wednesday.

DFA extended the 21-day visa-free privilege of 151 countries to 30 days--a list which has not included China and Taiwan since 2010. The Philippines is also barring Taiwanese from the privilege as Taiwan already sanctioned a red travel alert against Manila over the May 9 shooting incident of a Taiwanese fisherman off Batanes.

"This is a tit-for-tat response to Taiwan's sanctions and Manila wanted to show they would not give in to pressure," Zhuang said.

However, China mainland residents with Australian, Japanese, Canadian, Schengen or US visas coming to the country for tourism purposes can stay without a visa for seven days. The Global Times reported that Chinese netizens reacted negatively to the latest move by the country, which they say is likening itself to the US."

"This has also angered Chinese social media Net users, with many even calling for a boycott on visiting the Philippines," the article says.

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Posted in: Department of Foreign Affairs , philippine travel , philippine visa , travel news , visa-free privilege

Philippine Special Visas available to Alien Traders

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has resumed granting Philippine special visas to foreign businessmen who put up businesses that employ at least 10 Filipinos. Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said the special visa for employment generation (SVEG) would allow the foreigners to remain in the country indefinitely along with their wives and children under 18.

The visas were resumed two weeks ago after the BI issued the SVEG’s revised implementing rules and regulations that were approved by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. The SVEG was first introduced in November 2008 pursuant to Executive Order No. 758 issued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to attract more foreign investors and create more jobs for Filipinos.

But the BI suspended the program last July pending revision of its rules to make it more responsive and relevant to the purpose of the law. The visa is still subject to restrictions imposed by the Constitution and existing laws on foreign investments. SVEG applications may be filed at the BI main office or any field office. A P10,000 application fee, P1,000 clearance fee, P20 legal research fee and P1,000 express lane fee shall be charged each applicant. Cris Villalobos, head of the BI-SVEG one-stop facility, said the new rules provide for the outright issuance of an indefinite visa to a qualified foreign applicant, instead of the initial probationary one-year visa provided in the old rules.

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Posted in: Bureau of Immigration , Philippine Embassy , philippine immigration , Philippine Special Visas , philippine travel , philippine visa

Visa Rules on Foreign Students Tightens by Immigration Bureau

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has tightened its rules on the screening of applications for foreign student visas and permits following reports of “fake” foreign students in the country. In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. on Wednesday said he has issued new guidelines on the issuance of student visas and special study permits (SSP) to foreigners enrolled in various schools of the country. Under a new memorandum, the school’s designated liaison officer or representative, who must be an employee of the school, should represent or assist the foreign student in applying for a Philippine Visa. The commissioner said the new rule was imposed after reports reached him that unscrupulous travel agents have been conniving with foreigners in submitting fake or fraudulent transcripts of school records for student visa applications. “We have to make sure that only foreigners actually studying in the Philippines are given these visas.  This anomaly should be stopped because these fake foreign students are blatantly violating our laws,” the BI chief said.

David said he has already instructed Lawyers Ma. Antonette Bucasas-Mangrobang, BI acting intelligence chief, and Anna Katrina Sy-Gil, BI student desk head, to investigate and identify the “fake” alien students so their visas can be canceled and they can be arrested and deported. The new rules also state that only schools accredited by the BI, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and Federation of Accrediting Agencies are authorized to accept foreign students.
A student visa is issued to a foreigner, at least 18 years old, who will be taking up a course at a university, seminary, college, or school duly authorized to admit foreign students. On the other hand, an SSP is issued to a foreign student below 18, who will be studying in the elementary, secondary or special tertiary course of less than one year. Schools are now required to establish a foreign student unit and submit to the BI a periodic report on foreigners enrolled in their school. Each school will designate its representative who will deal with the BI for the issuance or renewal of study visas or SSPs of foreign students. BI alien control officers in the areas where the schools are situated were also required to submit to the bureau’s main office a monthly report on study visas and permits processed by their respective offices.

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Posted in: Philippine Embassy , philippine immigration , philippine travel , philippine visa , student Visa