The Bureau of Immigration (BI) clarified Tuesday that only foreigners with permanent or immigrant visas could enter the country starting August 1.
“For the information of the public, the entry of foreign tourists, non-immigrant visa holders, and other categories of aliens are still prohibited. They will be turned back if they land in any of our ports of entry,” BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said.
The BI Chief released the statement after receiving reports that immigration offices at the airports and other field offices of the Bureau were flooded with calls and queries from individuals who thought the Philippines reopened its doors to all foreigners.
“The resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) is clear – only foreigners with existing long-term visas will be allowed entry beginning August 1. So if you are not a permanent resident here, do not attempt to travel to the Philippines because you will be excluded and denied entry by our immigration officers,” Morente said.
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BI clarifies only foreigners with permanent visas could enter PH starting Aug 1
The BI Chief appealed to the public to stop spreading fake news that all foreigners are now allowed to enter the Philippines as it will only confuse and create chaos in our airports if there is a sudden surge in the arrival of foreigners still covered by the travel ban.
BI Port Operations Division Acting Chief Grifton Medina said there are only four visa categories of foreign nationals who will be allowed entry starting August 1:
- those who were issued immigrant visas under Section 13 of the Immigration act;
- those who acquired resident status under Republic Act 7919 or Alien Social Integration Act;
- those who availed of Executive Order 324 or Alien Legalization Program; and
- native-born foreign nationals.
Medina also pointed out that foreigners married to Filipinos and their dependents, as well as foreign diplomats, can also come here as earlier resolved by the IATF.
“We are therefore advising the different airlines to take note of these latest travel guidelines so that they can accordingly inform their foreign customers who may wish to book their flights to the Philippines,” the BI official said.