BI: Work visas may now be issued to foreigners still overseas

This undated photo shows the facade of the Bureau of Immigration’s main office in the city of Manila. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Work visas may now be issued to foreigners abroad who are hired to work in the country, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Thursday.

“With the promulgation of this new policy, would-be expatriates bound for the Philippines will be able to apply for their working visas, which they would present when they enter the country,” Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement.

Under Morente’s recently released operations order, companies eyeing to hire foreigners who are still abroad may apply for a 9(g) working visa on behalf of the workers.

The immigration bureau said that they adopted the approach in accordance with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases’ resolution allowing the issuance of working visas to expatriates who have long-term employment in the country with a Philippine-based employer.

The working visa may also be given to workers who “will be tapped for foreign-funded government projects such as those in transportation and infrastructure,” the IATF said.

Currently, foreigners who are in the country and hired by a Philippine-based firm may be provided with the working visas.

Morente emphasized that employers of foreigners who were previously given their working visas must still apply for an alien employment permit with the Department of Labor and Employment.

“Those who fail to secure their AEP will not qualify for the issuance of a 9(g) visa and the petition for visa issuance by their employers will be denied by the bureau outright,” Morente expounded.

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EDV