Mike S Posted June 4, 2015 Posted June 4, 2015 This can't be good ...... looks like now all Visa requests will be going to Manila to be reviewed before being issued ..... at least the way I read it .... BI CREATES TASK FORCE TO HANDLE VISA AND SPECIAL PERMITS Manila, Philippines---Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Siegfred Mison issued a directive that all applications for visa and special permits shall now be processed by the Visa and Special Permits Task Force (task force) beginning June 1, 2015, Monday. Under Immigration Administrative Order No. SBM 2015-006, all visa applications pending with the BI’s legal division and other concerned offices shall be turned-over to the task force. The task force shall act as the central processing body of all visa and special permit applications, to evaluate and recommend the required action in each application. The office shall be headed by Atty. Arnulfo Maminta as the chairperson, with visa reviewing and hearing officers as members, and supported by an administrative and technical staff, all under the direct operational control of the commissioner. Currently, the BI receives a monthly average of 2,100 applications for visas and special permits. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnMyWay Posted June 4, 2015 Posted June 4, 2015 Currently, the BI receives a monthly average of 2,100 applications for visas and special permits. I don't think this involves most of us. The use of the word "visa" should be clarified. The main BI in Intramuros probably processes more than 2100 "items" in one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum Support scott h Posted June 4, 2015 Forum Support Posted June 4, 2015 And we thought we moved to the mysterious orient to escape bureaucracy.................Boy were we wrong :hystery: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Posted June 4, 2015 Posted June 4, 2015 This can't be good It depends :)BI handling has been inconsistent and some have demanded even high bribes to let applications through :bash: (E g two years or so ago an Anti-corruption crew were send from Manila to Cebu.) If handling it central, it's more POSSIBLE to reduce corruption. The question is IF they will do it :) It had been better if the "central" had been somewhere ELSE than in Manila, because it's overheated allready... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon1 Posted June 5, 2015 Posted June 5, 2015 (edited) This is in regards to residency visas and permits. So another hoop to jump through in the process. Attached is the Memorandum driving this.MCNO.SBM2015-006.pdf REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION MAGALLANES DRIVE, INTRAMUROS 1002 MANILA IMMIGRATION MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. SBM-2015-006 LAST AND FINAL EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF COMPLIANCE FOR THE RE-STAMPING OF NEW VISA IMPRINT IN THE PASSPORTS OF FOREIGNERS GRANTED RESIDENCY STATUS UNDER REPUBLIC ACT (R.A.) NO. 7919, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “THE ALIEN SOCIAL INTEGRATION ACT OF 1995”, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT (R.A.) NO. 8247 WHEREAS, Operations Order No. SBM-14-035 dated 12 December 2014 extended the period of compliance for the re-stamping of new visa imprints in the passports of foreign nationals granted legal resident under R.A. 7919 up to 15 March 2015 required under Operations Order No. SBM- 14-035, as superseded by Immigration Administrative Circular No. SBM-15- 001 approved by the Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila M. De Lima on 13 February 2015; WHEREAS, on 18 March 2015, Immigration Memorandum Circular No. 2015-004 was issued extending anew period of such compliance until 15 May 2015; WHEREAS, the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc., whose members account the majority of R.A. 7919 beneficiaries requested for another extension of the compliance period of re- stamping of new visa imprint up to 15 July 2015 in order to “promote greater compliance among concerned foreign nationals”; NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to Section 3 of Commonwealth Act No. amended, in relation to Sections 29 and 36, Chapter 6, Book IV, Title III of Executive Order No. 292 (Revised Administrative Code of 1987, the period of compliance for the re-stamping of new visa imprints in the passports of foreign nationals granted legal resident under R.A. No. 7919 required under Operations Order No. SBM-2014-035, as superseded by Immigration Administrative Circular No. SBM-2015-001 is hereby extended, for the last and final time, up to 30 June 2015. Registered foreigners with residency status under R.A. 7919 who fail to comply with re-stamping of new visa imprints in their passport within the herein extended period shall be investigated for such non-compliance. This Circular shall take effect immediately upon approval. Furnish sufficient copies of this Circular to the Office of the National Administrative Register (ONAR), U.P. Law Center, Diliman, Quezon City. 15 May 2015 Signed SIEGFRED B. MISON Edited June 5, 2015 by Jollygoodfellow added copy of pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hounddriver Posted June 5, 2015 Posted June 5, 2015 looks like now all Visa requests will be going to Manila to be reviewed before being issued Regular tourist visa renewals are business as usual, at least they are in BI Dumaguete today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jollygoodfellow Posted June 5, 2015 Posted June 5, 2015 looks like now all Visa requests will be going to Manila to be reviewed before being issued Regular tourist visa renewals are business as usual, at least they are in BI Dumaguete today. There is no way that one department office could take care of all standard visas like tourist visa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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