Indian faces deportation for faking marriage to get visa

MANILA, Philippines—The  Bureau of Immigration warned foreigners on Friday against resorting to fake marriages to acquire Philippine resident visas.

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said BI agents arrested an Indian national who falsified his application for a five-year temporary resident visa by submitting fraudulent documents.

David directed the BI legal division to immediately conduct deportation proceedings against Ajay Kumar Kashyap, who was arrested in a house in Manuelavil Village, Dasmariñas, Cavite.

“We should not allow these undesirable aliens to undermine the integrity of our visa issuance system by submitting fraudulent documents,” the BI chief said in a statement.

He added that “staying in the Philippines is not a right but mere privilege of every foreigner which can be withdrawn and revoked anytime.”

Kashyap was arrested on the strength of a mission order that David issued at the request of one Rosemaria Linatok, who claimed the Indian had used her name and personal circumstances in filing a fraudulent visa application by making it appear she was his wife.

Kashyap’s visa application was approved in 2009 but the BI board of commissioners canceled his visa last Sept. 8 after Linatok lodged a complaint with the bureau.

Linatok alleged that Kashyap made it appear she was married to him by stealing her identity and submitting false documents.

She described the marriage certificate that Kashyap submitted as a sham document that was entered into the civil registry.

Linatok added that she has filed a criminal case against Kashyap for falsification of public documents and for the cancellation of supposed marriage.