Revised Guidelines in the Implementation of Visas under Section 47 (a) (2), Commonwealth Act No. 613, As Amended

January 4, 2016

BI OPERATIONS ORDER NO. SBM-2016-002

ADDENDUM TO OPERATIONS ORDER NO. SBM-2015-007, DATED 20 MARCH 2015, PROVIDING FOR THE REVISED GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF VISAS UNDER SECTION 47 (A) (2), COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 613, AS AMENDED

WHEREAS, Operations Order No. SBM-2015-007, entitled "Revised Guidelines in the Implementation of Visas under Section 47 (a) (2), Commonwealth Act No. 613, As Amended", prescribed exemption on registration and immigration fees to certain C.A. No. 613, Section 47 (a) (2) visa holders;

WHEREAS, Section 12 (Special Provisions) of Republic Act No. 9418, otherwise known as the "Volunteer Act of 2007", provides:

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"(e) Visa Privileges for Foreign Volunteers. — Foreign volunteers approved for assignment by the PNVSCA as well as their legal dependents may be entitled to 47(a)(2) visa with multiple entry privileges and corresponding exemption from visa and immigration fees and other related processing/application fees or charges. Foreign nationals already in the Philippines who have been approved for volunteer assignment by the PNVSCA may avail of the above visa category and privileges upon endorsement by the PNVSCA to the DOJ."

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the rule-making authority of the Commissioner of Immigration under Section 3 of Commonwealth Act No. 613, as amended, Operations Order No. SBM-2015-007 is hereby amended to include holders of Section 47 (a) (2) visas issued pursuant to Section 12 (E) of Republic Act No. 9418 as exempt from payment of visa and immigration fees and other related processing/application fees or charges; Provided, however, that such foreigners are not otherwise disqualified from entering the Philippines and shall still secure Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) and Special Return Certificate (SRC) when leaving the Philippines, as prescribed under existing laws.

This Operations Order shall take effect immediately. HTcADC

Furnish copies of this Order to the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA), Department of Justice (DOJ) and Office of the National Administrative Register (ONAR), U.P. Law Center, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

 

(SGD.) SIEGFRED B. MISONCommissioner

ATTACHMENT

March 20, 2015

BI OPERATIONS ORDER NO. SBM-2015-007

REVISED GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF VISAS UNDER SECTION 47(A)(2), COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 613, AS AMENDED

WHEREAS, Commonwealth Act (C.A.) No. 613, as amended, Section 47(a)(2) authorizes the President, when the public interest so warrants, "(t)o admit as non-immigrants, aliens not otherwise provided for by this Act, who are coming for a temporary period only, under such conditions as he may prescribe";

WHEREAS, the President has authorized the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue such visas under Section 47(a)(2) which may or may not be subject to payment of applicable immigration fees;

WHEREAS, in view of the confusion on the requirements and obligations of Section 47(a)(2) visa holders at the point of departure in terms of compliance with immigration clearances and the corresponding payment of fees therefor, Operations Order No. SBM-2014-055 was issued on 04 November 2014 prescribing the implementation guidelines of visas under C.A. No. 613, as amended, Section 47(a)(2);

WHEREAS, on 29 January 2015, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Lilia B. De Lima, requested for the Bureau of Immigration (BI)'s endorsement to the DOJ for an exemption from the coverage of Operations Order No. SBM-2014-055, citing Presidential Decree No. 66, as amended, an Article 76, Book VI of Executive Order No. 226 (1987 Omnibus Investments Code) provides: ". . . Foreign nationals who have been issued multiple entry special visas under this provision, as well as their respective spouses and dependents, shall be exempt by any government department or agency. . . .";

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the rule-making authority of the Commissioner of Immigration under Commonwealth Act No. 613, as amended, the following revised guidelines are hereby prescribed:

Section 1. PEZA-endorsed Section 47(a)(2) Visas. — Holders of PEZA-endorsed Special Non-Immigrant Visas under Section 47(a)(2), C.A. No. 613, as amended, as well as their respective spouses and dependents, shall be exempt from obtaining alien certificates and all types of BI clearances including the payment of Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) and Special Return Certificate (SRC) fees.

Section 2. Other Section 47(a)(2) Visas. — All other visas issued under Section 47(a)(2), C.A. No. 613, as amended, shall not be exempt from securing alien certificate and other BI Clearance as well as from payment of immigration fees unless specifically indicated in the Indorsement issued by the DOJ, i.e.,"free from payment of visa and immigration fees".

Such fee-exempt visas shall clearly indicate the word "EXEMPT" in the implementation thereof.

Section 3. Fee-Required Section 47(a)(2) Visas. — Visas issued under Section 47(a)(2), C.A. No. 613, as amended, shall be subject to payment of regular immigration fees and clearance requirements absent any contrary indication specified in the Indorsement issued by the DOJ.

Such fee-required visas shall clearly indicate the directive "To secure ECC/SRC upon departure" in the implementation thereof.

Section 4. Supercession Clause. — Operations Order No. SBM-2014-055 is hereby repealed and all other issuances inconsistent herewith are amended or modified accordingly.

Section 5. Effectivity. — This Operations Order shall take effect immediately.

Furnished a copy of this Order to the Office of the National Administrative Register (ONAR), U.P. Law Center, university of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

20 March 2015

(SGD.) SIEGFRED B. MISONCommissioner