BI junks nun’s appeal to extend visa

Patricia Fox

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has denied with finality Sister Patricia Fox’s appeal for the extension of her missionary visa.

In a two-page order signed on Thursday but announced to the media only on Monday, the BI Board of Commissioners said that the 72-year-old Australian nun “failed to raise any new and substantial arguments.”

The board pointed out that Fox’s motion for reconsideration was “merely a reiteration or rehash of arguments already submitted and found [by the BI] to be without merit.”

Visa to be downgraded

BI spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval said that Fox should now apply for the downgrading of her visa to temporary visitor.

“Noncompliance [with] the order may result in another deportation case against her,” Sandoval said.

Last month, the BI denied the petition of Fox’s missionary order, the Superior of the Religieuse de Notre Dame de Sion Inc., for her missionary visa to be extended, saying that doing so would be “inconsistent with the findings cited in the deportation order against her.”

Sought for comment, Fox’s camp said they have yet to receive a copy of the bureau’s order and added that a petition for review of her deportation case would be filed next Monday in the Department of Justice.

Fox has been accused of violating the conditions of her visa by joining partisan political activities.