More foreigners allowed to enter PH

Foreigners with valid visas and whose reentry permits have expired may now reenter the Philippines upon payment of the required fees at the airport, the Bureau of Immigration said on Sunday. Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the new rules applied to foreigners who had been issued immigrant and nonimmigrant visas and who were returning to the Philippines after being stranded abroad due to the pandemic. “Many of these foreign nationals have already expired RPs (reentry permits) and SRCs (special return certificates), and the new procedure will allow them to renew these at the airport upon arrival,” Morente said. An RP is issued to a holder of an immigrant visa, who is a permanent resident here, while the SRC is for nonimmigrants such as holders of working visa and student visa.

—Tina G. Santos