Appendix 2: Philippines Visa Information

Transcription

1 Philippines Visa Information Introduction on the Philippine Visa 3. The Philippine Visa is an endorsement made on a foreign national s passport by a consular officer at a Philippine Embassy or Consulate abroad with the implication that: (1) the visa application has been properly examined, (2) and on this basis, the bearer is permitted to proceed to and enter the Philippines. The visa issued to foreign nationals at this stage is regarded only as an entry visa. Actual admission into the country and approval of the period of stay is the task of the immigration authority at the port of entry. Please refer to the following website for more information on Philippine immigration policies, visa descriptions, procedures and fees < Fellows are encouraged to obtain a 47(a)(2) Special Non-Immigrant Visa from the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in their respective countries. This is considered the appropriate visa for foreign nationals proceeding to the Philippines as scholars, trainees, participants, students, or fellows under the auspices of a foundation or program related to research, as defined under Section 47(A)(2) of the Philippine Immigration Act of The consular officers may exercise their discretion to approve applications from Fellows for the 47(a)(2) visa, and have the prerogative to issue instead a temporary visitor s visa such as 9(A) Tourist/Business/Health Visa or a 9(E-1) Visa/9(E-2) Visa for those holding diplomatic, official, or government passports. A temporary visitor s visa is issued to a foreign national for a legitimate non-immigrant purpose such as sightseeing, sports, health, family reasons, training or study (excluding enrollment in schools for the purpose of obtaining a title or a degree), religious pilgrimage, business, cultural, and scientific purposes as defined by the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Visa Application Prior to Travel to the Philippines Fellows are advised to inquire regarding the period of processing and application requirements for the 47(a)(2) Special Non-Immigrant Visa from the Philippine Embassy or Consulate that has jurisdiction over their place of residence at least three months prior to departing for the Philippines. The following are the minimum requirements for applying for a temporary visitor s visa: 91

2 3. (1) Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the intended period of stay in the Philippines; (2) Duly accomplished visa application form with recent colored passport-size photos; (3) Proof of bona fide status as a researcher, in this case the Notification Letter and Grant Agreement from The Nippon Foundation; (4) Proof of support in the Philippines, in this case a letter of invitation/ endorsement/ acceptance from the Host Institution (HI); (5) Proof of confirmed round-trip plane tickets for return or onward journey to the next port of destination; and (6) Payment of visa fees. These guidelines may differ with each Philippine Embassy or Consulate, and are subject to change without prior notice. Additional requirements may be asked from each Fellow on a case-to-case basis. Fellows who wish to guarantee the issuance of a 47(a)(2) Special Non-Immigrant Visa for their visa application have the option to choose institutions such as the Institute of Philippine Culture (IPC) as their Host Institution (HI) in the country. The IPC is a social science research organization of the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) that administers the Visiting Research Associates (VRA) Program. For more information on the IPC, the VRA Program, and the corresponding affiliation fees, please refer to their website < Arrival in the Philippines Fellows entering the Philippines with a 47(a)(2) visa or a temporary visitor s visa are allowed a period of stay not exceeding 21 days. However, immigration authorities at ports of entry may exercise their discretion as to the exact period of stay the entry visa would be valid. Fellows need to ensure that the Immigration Officer at the airport indicates the type of visa and period of stay (number of days) in the arrival stamp on the passport. Application for Visa Extension or Visa Change Fellows whose fellowship period exceeds twenty-on (21) days for research are required to apply for either an Extension of Stay as Special Non- Immigrant under Section 47(A)(2) or Change of Admission Status to Special Non-Immigrant under Section 47(A)(2) within the first week of their arrival in the country. Fellows should submit four complete (4) sets of their visa applications 92

3 for Extension of Stay/Change of Admission Status with a request for multiple-entry privileges to in the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ, through its Legal Staff Department, is the government agency that acts on applications for the grant of special non-immigrant visas to foreign nationals under Section 47(A)(2) of the Philippine Immigration Act of The following are the requirements for the DOJ visa extension/change application: (1) Duly accomplished Extension of Stay/Change of Admission Status application form. The application form may be downloaded from the website of the DOJ < pdf>; (2) Request letter addressed to the DOJ Secretary (to be provided by the PI); (3) Photocopy of pages on passport and personal information, 47(a) (2) visa stamp or temporary visitor s visa stamp, and immigration arrival stamp from the valid passport; (4) Photocopy of Notification Letter and Grant Agreement from The Nippon Foundation; (5) Photocopy of Letter of invitation/endorsement/acceptance from the HI; (6) Photocopy of DFA Department Order on the 47(a)(2) Special Non-Immigrant Visa (to be provided by the PI); and (7) Payment of Filing and Legal fees. The following are the basic fees involved in the DOJ visa extension/ change application: Filing and Legal Fees: PhP 2, Notarial Fee: PhP / Photocopying Expenses: PhP It will take a minimum of two (2) weeks for the DOJ Legal Staff Department to process the visa extension/change application of a Fellow. The DOJ issues an Indorsement to its attached agency, the Bureau of Immigration (BI), which administers and enforces immigration, citizenship, alien registration and related laws. The BI implements the approved Indorsement for the extension of the special non-immigrant visa or for the change of admission status from temporary visitor to special non-immigrant with a new visa stamp with multiple entry privileges that corresponds to the approved period of stay in the Philippines. There are no fees involved in the implementation (visa stamping) of the Indorsement that would take a minimum of two (2) weeks after submission of the original passport that should be left behind at the BI. 93

4 Fellows who wish to have the visa stamping and receipt within the same day or after a day of submission of the original passport will have to pay the Express Processing Fee of PhP Submission of original passports and implementation of 47(a)(2) visas are accommodated on Tuesdays and Fridays only. Fellows must have a valid visa while the 47(a)(2) visa application is being processed. This may necessitate an extension of the entry visa until the 47(a)(2) visa is issued to the Fellow. Fellows should remain in the country while the processing of the 47(a)(2) visa application is going on. Application for Alien Certificate of Registration 3. The BI Alien Registration Division (ARD) requires foreign nationals whose period of stay in the Philippines exceeds four (4) months to apply for an Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) after receiving the 47(a)(2) Special Non-Immigrant Visa extension/change. Fellows who are planning to return temporarily to their home countries within the four (4) months period of stay are also required to apply for an ACR. The following are the requirements for the ACR application: (1) Duly accomplished ACR application form with a colored 2x2 size photo; (2) Photocopy of the DOJ Indorsement regarding 47(a)(2) visa extension/change; (3) Photocopy of pages on passport and personal information, 47(a) (2) visa stamp or temporary visitor s visa stamp, immigration arrival stamp, and implemented 47(a)(2) visa extension/change from the valid passport; (4) Ten (10) pieces of colored 2x2 photo; and (5) Payment of ACR application fee. The following are the basic fees involved in the ACR application: ACR Application Fee: PhP Photocopying Expenses: PhP Regular processing period of the ACR application takes at least three (3) weeks from the time of submission up to the release of documents. Fellows must inform the BI-ARD if they plan to pay for the Express Processing Fee of PhP at the time of submission of the ACR application for processing of the documents within one (1) week. Fellows need to ensure that the approved ACR includes the exemption stamp bearing the words, THIS SERVES AS YOUR EXIT CLEARANCE. 94

5 Application for Special Return Certificate 3. Fellows with approved ACR are required to secure a Special Return Certificate (SRC) from the BI-ARD prior to traveling out of the country for approved temporary leaves from their fellowship. The SRC permits the holder to return to the country with the same admission (visa type and period of stay) prior to his/her departure. The following are the requirements for the SRC application: (1) Duly accomplished SRC application form with a colored 2x2 size photo; (2) Five pieces of colored 2x2 photo; (3) Photocopy of Alien Certificate of Registration; and (4) Payment of SRC application fee. The following are the basic fees involved in the SRC application: SRC Application Fee: PhP Photocopying Expenses: PhP Regular processing period of the SRC application takes at least two (2) weeks compared to 2-3 days processing for those who paid the Express Processing Fee of PhP Temporary Departure from the Philippines Fellows departing the Philippines for approved temporary leaves would pick-up the approved SRC (two copies) but leave the ACR at the BI-ARD at least a week prior to departure. On the day of departure, the SRC should be shown to the Immigration Officer at the airport for proper registration. Upon return to the Philippines, Fellows would surrender one copy of the SRC to the Immigration Officer at the airport. Within two (2) weeks upon return, they would retrieve the ACR by presenting the other copy of the SRC. Fellows must make sure that they have their original ARC and SRC after this procedure. Exit Clearance and Final Departure from the Philippines Foreign nationals on temporary visitor s visa are exempt from paying the Exit Clearance at the airport. Fellows with an ACR and SRC departing the Philippines are also exempt since the ACR has the stamp bearing the words, THIS SERVES AS YOUR EXIT CLEARANCE. Fellows without an ACR are required to secure an Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) at the BI-ARD at least two weeks before final 95

6 departure from the country. The following are the requirements for the ECC application: (1) Duly accomplished ECC application form with a colored 2x2 size photo; (2) Photocopy of pages on passport and personal information, 47(a) (2) visa stamp or temporary visitor s visa stamp, immigration arrival stamp, and implemented 47(a)(2) visa extension/change from the valid passport; and (3) Payment of ECC application fee. 3. The following are the basic fees involved in the ECC application: ECC Application Fee: PhP Legal Research Fee: PhP Photocopying Expenses: PhP Regular processing period of the ECC application takes at least one week compared to one (1) to two (2) days processing for those who paid the Express Processing Fee of PhP Note: All Philippine amounts cited herewith are effective as of January Contact Information DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION Padre Faura Street, Ermita Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, City City of Manila of Manila Tel. No. (632) to 98 Tel No. (632) , , Website: , Website: One-Stop Shop Processing Hotline: (632)

7 PHILIPPINE EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES IN PARTICIPAT- ING COUNTRIES INDONESIA Philippine Embassy (Jakarta) # 6-8 Jalan Imam Bonjol, Menteng, Jakarta Jakarta Pusat 10310, Republic of Indonesia Tel. No. (6221) Fax No. (6221) phjkt@indo.net.ph; jakartape@dfa.gov.ph Philippine Consulate (Surabaya) JI Kaliwaron 128 Surabaya Indonesia Tel No. (6231) or Fax No. (6231) or JAPAN Philippine Embassy (Tokyo) , Roppongi Minato-ku, Tokyo , Japan Tel. no. (+813) (+813) to 05 (except 03) Fax No. (+813) / PC PLUS No: (813) Website: tokyo.pe@dfa.gov.ph; phjp@gol.com Philippine Consulate General (Manado) Jalan 17 Augustus, Tanjung Bato Manado, North Sulawesi, Republic of Indonesia P.O. Box 1079, Manado City North Sulawesi, Republic of Indonesia Tel. No. (62431) or Fax No. (62431) or manado.pcg@dfa.gov.ph; manadopcg09@yahoo.com; manadopcg09@gmail.com Philippine Consulate General (Osaka) Twin 21 MID Tower 24F Shiromi, Chuo-ku Osaka Japan Tel. No. (+81-6) Fax No. (+81-6) Hotline: (+81-90) osaka.pcg@dfa.gov.ph; osakapc@osk.3web.ne.jp 97

8 Philippine Consulate (Naha) 2nd Floor Aljon Building Aragasuku, Ginowan City, Okinawa, Japan Naha City, Okinawa Japan Phone: (+81) (98) Fax: (+81) (98) MALAYSIA Philippine Embassy (Kuala Lumpur) No. 1 Jalan Changkat Kia Peng Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel. Nos. (603) , , , and Fax No. (603) Website: webmaster@philembassykl.org.my/ eci@philembassykl.org.my Philippine Consulate (Sapporo) Ichijo Nishi Hakken Nishi-Ku, Sapporo-shi Japan Phone: (+81) (12) , (811-1) / Fax: (+811 1) THAILAND Philippine Embassy (Bangkok) 760 Sukhumvit Road, cor. Soi Philippines (Soi 30/1), Klongtoey, Klongtan, Bangkok Thailand Tel. No. (662) , and Fax No. (662) , Website: bangkokpe@dfa.gov.ph or inquiry@philembassy-bangkok.net 98

9 EMBASSIES OF PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES Embassy of Indonesia 185 Salcedo Street, Legaspi Village Makati City 1229 Tel: (632) , Fax: (632) , Embassy of Japan 2627 Roxas Boulevard Pasay City 1300 Tel: (632) Fax: (632) Embassy of Malaysia 29th - 30th Floor The World Center Building No. 330, Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue 1200 Manila Tel No. (632) to 68 Fax No. (632) (Ambassador) (632) (Administration) Royal Thai Embassy 107 Rada Street, Legaspi Village Makati City 1229 Tel No. (632) , , Fax No. (632)