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.
October 17th, 2007 at 11:01 am
[...] Being Filipino : Immigration grants one-year visa-free stay to ‘balikbayans’ [...]
October 17th, 2007 at 7:41 am
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
October 17th, 2007 at 1:36 am
n/a
October 16th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
[...] Being Filipino : Immigration grants one-year visa-free stay to ‘balikbayans’ [...]
October 16th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
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!