‘Foreigners can apply for work visas before entering Philippines’

MANILA, Philippines — Foreigners intending to work in the country could already apply for working visas even before they come to the Philippines, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said yesterday.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente announced that with the issuance of a joint memorandum circular on the Rules and Procedures Governing Foreign Nationals Intending to Work in the Philippines, aliens would now have the option to apply for their work visas abroad even before they arrive in the country. 

“In the past, foreign nationals may secure work visas by applying for the conversion of their visa from tourist to working,” said Morente.  

“Following this circular, the inter-agency team will soon craft the implementing rules and regulations that would allow foreigners the option to apply first for a working visa before flying in,” he added.

The BI is a member of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Employment of Foreign Nationals. 

The task force aims to harmonize the rules of the different government agencies, to regulate the activities of foreign workers; and to harmonize the policy guidelines on the issuance of documents to prospective workers in the country. 

The inter-agency task force also intends to ease the transaction process for aliens and at the same time ensure that foreign workers are paying the proper taxes.

“We are giving foreigners options and clearer rules. They have no more excuse. Any violation of immigration laws will merit immediate deportation,” Morente added. 

In the new rules, a special joint inspection team composed of the BI, Department of Labor and Employment and the Bureau of Internal Revenue was created to conduct joint inspection of establishments employing foreign nationals to guarantee compliance with local labor, immigration and tax laws.