The Bureau of Immigration has relaxed its rules in checking the entry of foreign delegates to the ongoing series of preliminary meetings for the upcoming summit of leaders from the Association of Southeast Nations.
A memorandum issued by BI Commissioner Jaime Morente prescribed the guidelines that Immigration officers at the airports should follow when processing all foreign delegates to the meetings which have started to occur in various places of the Philippines, the host and chair of this year’s ASEAN summit.
Morente directed the conduct of “less restrictive” immigration formalities for ASEAN delegates and their companions, such as their spouses and dependents.
Among others, the BI is waiving the imposition of the six-month rule on passport validity, which means any ASEAN delegate can be admitted even if his passport is valid for less than six months.
Also waived is the requirement to procure a return or outbound plane ticket, which is normally imposed on foreign tourists who come here for business or pleasure.
As for any foreign delegates who have no entry visa (for visa-required nationals) and those whose names might appear in the BI’s derogatory list, they shall not be automatically excluded or turned back to their port of origin, said Marc Red Mariñas, BI’s acting port operations chief.
Instead, Mariñas said the Immigration supervisor on duty should conduct secondary inspection on the passenger and seek guidance or instruction for his superiors on what action to take.
In these instances, the passenger concerned may, at the option of the BI commissioner, be issued a waiver of exclusion ground, an allow entry order, or an order of non-admission, he added.
The BI has mobilized nearly 100 personnel to manage and facilitate the bureau’s role in the Philippines’ hosting of the yearlong ASEAN event.
