By Tetch Torres
INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines--The Bureau of Immigration has relaxed its rules for returning Filipinos or "balikbayans" by giving them a one-year visa-free stay in the country, Commissioner Marcelino Libanan has said.
A balikbayan principally refers to a former Philippine citizen who has become a naturalized citizen of another country.
Libanan said they decided to ease the bureau's rule after being swamped with queries and complaints from returning Filipinos who claimed that they were confused by some immigration officers who would give them a 21-day stay instead of one year on the pretext that they have been to the country more than once over a 12-month period.
"We will be doing our balikbayans a disservice if such mistakes by some of our immigration officers are not addressed and rectified, especially in light of our government's thrust to encourage our countrymen abroad to visit the land of their birth and even settle and have business here," Libanan said.
Under immigration rules, a balikbayan shall declare before a Philippine immigration officer at the port of entry that he or she is availing of the balikbayan privilege and shall present his or her valid passport in addition to other supporting documents such as the passenger's cancelled Philippine passport, birth certificate, naturalization papers to show former Philippine citizenship or certification from the adopted country.
Libanan said the balikbayan privilege was extended to foreign spouses as well as minor, unmarried children provided they were traveling together.
Immigration grants one-year visa-free stay to 'balikbayans'
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This has been practiced in Cebu, we are very grateful to the immigration officials there. Sad to say, there are plenty of complains among kababayans who take Manila as port of entry. Why this irregularity? Motivate your officials to be good and honest public servants. Thank you!
n/a
Dear Sir/Madam,
Good to hear that Immigration grants one-year visa-free stay to 'calikbayans'.
Your 2nd to the last paragraph states;
present supporting documents, such as cancelled Philippine passaport, Birth Certificate, etc.
When we were issued a Philippine passport it was necessary to produce a
birth certificate and/or other documents.
Just curious why it is required to again present such documents that were required prior to our haveing been issued a Philippine passport.
Sincerely
Jaime L. Calero
Sir Libanan,
Good day! Kindly make an immidiate action at NAIA Immigration staffs which is corrupt or they asking for extra money. to those Filipino wants to go to UAE.
I read your good work as a immigration officer Sir
But we would like you to do some action on this.
Very respectfully,
Maricel
Thank you very much! This is a Big News that we Filipino/Filipina expats really deserve. After all, no matter what, or wherever we are in this corner of the world, we are still the children of our "beloved country of origin, the Philippines". The name itself, "PHILIPPINES", always stays in our hearts. We will always love our PHILIPPINES! Yes, we love our adopted/ 2nd country too, but, there's no other sweet name as "the Philippines."
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
This is good !
This is a great privilege you give to BALIKBAYANS. A million thanks....
As stated in para 2 of this article, a term "BALIKBAYAN" is a Philippine citizen who become a naturalized citizen of another country. A BALIKBAYAN can avail this new immigration rule.
Just wondering, how about a Filipino with a "RESIDENT" status in foreign land, not yet a citizen of another country. When visiting home (Philippines), can spouse and children avail the same privilege of free visa?
Thank you so much,,,,R.J.
Hello, actually that is great that we can avail that balikbayan and hope also our family,,, but how about us like what the other question say that filipino that only have RESIDENT but not yet a foreign pasport holder, and we will going to the philippines for vacation is our husband and children can avail also that balikbayan free entry for one year.. hope to here from you
Generally I do not post on blogs, but I would like to say that this post really forced me to do so! really nice post,and very informative.
I never traveled to the Philippines although I know they have really beautiful landscapes ready for tourists to come and explore their beauties. I did not know they had problems with Immigration... I guess they need the work force because if the young population emigrates then slowly the old persons remain and this is not good for a country. San Francisco Hotels