Immigration downgrades Sister Fox’s visa

Sister Patricia Fox. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

Australian nun Sister Patricia Fox will again have to fight for her right to stay in the country next week after the Bureau of Immigration (BI) downgraded her visa status to that of a temporary visitor.

In an order signed on Wednesday but only released to the media on Friday, the bureau allowed Fox to stay in the country for 59 days as a temporary visitor.

However, her visa will expire on Nov. 3 since its validity began on Sept. 5, when her missionary visa lapsed.

DOJ appeal

According to immigration spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval, the grant of the temporary visitor’s visa to Fox is “without prejudice to the resolution of her appeal before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on her deportation.”

Fox had earlier appealed to the DOJ the BI’s deportation order against her for engaging in political activities in the country.

Nonetheless, Fox’s camp welcomed the development as it meant that “she can still stay in the Philippines to face the deportation charges against her.” —JOVIC YEE