tap
12-03-08, 23:57
Foreigners leaving the country must now renew or extend their visas
and pay the necessary fees at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) office in
Manila.
Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan has issued a memorandum
stopping applications for extension of visas at airports "to prevent
corruption."
"Any request for extension of tourist visa filed at any international
airport of entry and exit shall immediately be referred and forwarded
to the visa extension section of the BI main office or concerned
sub-port or field office for appropriate action," read the order.
Libanan said some immigration personnel at the airports pocket the
visa extension fees collected from departing foreigners instead of
remitting them to the government.
"We should ensure that these visa extension fees are remitted to our
treasury, thus we should not give anyone the temptation or opportunity
to deprive our government of much needed revenues," he said.
BI spokesman Floro Balato Jr. said under the immigration law, a
foreign tourist who leaves the country must update his stay and pay
the necessary extension fees prior to his departure.
"However, we have been getting reports that some of our immigration
officers have been taking advantage of the passengers by charging them
lower fees and diverting the money for themselves," he revealed.
In the past, immigration officers at airports allowed the departure of a
tourist who has not updated his stay so long as the latter pays the
corresponding visa extension fees, he added. — Edu Punay
and pay the necessary fees at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) office in
Manila.
Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan has issued a memorandum
stopping applications for extension of visas at airports "to prevent
corruption."
"Any request for extension of tourist visa filed at any international
airport of entry and exit shall immediately be referred and forwarded
to the visa extension section of the BI main office or concerned
sub-port or field office for appropriate action," read the order.
Libanan said some immigration personnel at the airports pocket the
visa extension fees collected from departing foreigners instead of
remitting them to the government.
"We should ensure that these visa extension fees are remitted to our
treasury, thus we should not give anyone the temptation or opportunity
to deprive our government of much needed revenues," he said.
BI spokesman Floro Balato Jr. said under the immigration law, a
foreign tourist who leaves the country must update his stay and pay
the necessary extension fees prior to his departure.
"However, we have been getting reports that some of our immigration
officers have been taking advantage of the passengers by charging them
lower fees and diverting the money for themselves," he revealed.
In the past, immigration officers at airports allowed the departure of a
tourist who has not updated his stay so long as the latter pays the
corresponding visa extension fees, he added. — Edu Punay