Bi Launches Long-Stay Visa

[Jollygoodfellow]

This was posted on the BI site yesterday.  :attention:

 

 

BI LAUNCHES LONG-STAY VISA

14 June 2013

Foreigners intending to stay longer in the country may now avail of a six-month, long-stay tourist visa that will be launched next week by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

 

BI Commissioner Ricardo A. David, Jr. also announced the introduction of a new visa sticker that will replace the wet stamp used by the Bureau in implementing extensions of stay in the passports of foreign tourists.

 

David said the Long Stay Visitor Visa Extension (LSVVE) project was launched to spur tourist arrivals in the country by giving foreigners the privilege to prolong their stay here without the need to frequent the BI office.

Presently, the BI grants foreign tourists a maximum stay of two months each time they apply for visa extensions.

“Through this long stay visa, we expect lesser crowding in our offices due to the decreased volume of visa extension applicants,” David said.

 As for the new visa sticker, the BI chief said it will prevent the proliferation of fake visa extension stamps that has victimized many foreigners.

He disclosed that the sticker has security and tracking features that cannot be copied.

“It will also speed up transaction in our visa section, allow more efficient tracking of records and faster detection of forged and tampered stamps,” The BI chief added.

According to David, the projects were initiated after meetings were meetings between the BI and Department of Tourism and Department of Foreign Affairs were held on what policy reforms can be initiated to further attract more foreign visitors to the country.

The tourist department had said it is aiming to increase volume of tourist arrival to 10 million by 2016.###

 

http://immigration.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2007&Itemid=78

[Mike S]

Interesting .... wonder if the criminal background check will have to be supplied with these new visas as they are now 6 months .... also be interesting to see what the cost will be .... sticker could be a very good idea providing it is small and they don't use it on one whole page but then if you are here for 6 months maybe it doesn't matter ..... wonder why other countries haven't thought of it ..... :thumbsup:

:cheersty:

[OnMyWay]

I have to renew Monday or Tuesday this week, so I will ask about it.

[Americano]

Launched next week huh? I will believe it after I see it. If they are ready to launch a new visa then why didn't they say how much it will cost. What about the 30 day visa everyone was talking about last year? Are we still get that visa too?

[dalidali]

Sounds good to me.

Launched next week!!.....oh happy days are ahead!! Maybe :thumbsup:

This would sure help by not having to navigate Mandaue every 59 days.

 

And wouldn't it be great that this same 6 month visa, be good for multiple, or least one additional entry.

 

It would not surprise me if the 6 month visa was DOUBLE, or more, the cost of a 59 day one.

 

Wet sticker??....it that a "lick with spit" type that is glued on the passport page? Takes up a whole damn page?

I just have a red colored "rubber stamp" entry stamp, a black colored extension stamp and a green colored exit stamp......all on the same passport page.

 

Maybe Mr Jollygoodfellow could keep track of the progress as this new change develops.

Edited June 15, 2013 by dalidali

[JJReyes]

FINALLY! It took nearly one year of committee meetings to get the program launched. Of course, every time the committee met, all the members received a per diem, also known as an honorarium. Hopefully, the SRRV Courtesy visa for military retirees won't take as long.

[jon1]

This is step in the right direction if they follow thru (both on this and the SRRV)... 

[Americano]

They forgot to mention that in Cebu Abellon will have all of the stickers in his desk. And the stickers will go to the highest bidders. I mean the biggest bribe.

[Jollygoodfellow]

They forgot to mention that in Cebu Abellon will have all of the stickers in his desk. And the stickers will go to the highest bidders. I mean the biggest bribe.

 

Well thats not really a fact is it, just an opinion. Seems to be a lot of naysayers in many topics lately for some reason.   :89:

[Mike S]

Seems to be a lot of naysayers in many topics lately for some reason.

 

Sorry sir if my questions seemed to be negative ..... I assure you it was not intended ..... they were just (I thought) legitimate questions that came to my mind about the new visas as not a whole lot of info was supplied by the BI ..... but guess I shouldn't have answered as I'm on a 13a and really have no interest in the 6 month visa ..... please delete this and my other post above if it offends anyone .... I have no problem with that at all ....  I'd delete it myself but that option has passed ..... :mocking:

:cheersty: