Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Philippine VISA Types 2 - Non-immigrant Visa (Special Visas)

Basically, there are two (2) kinds of Visas, immigrant and non-immigrant. Visas under "Section 9" and "Section 9" and "Section 47(A)(2) of the Philippine Immigration Acts of 1940 are non-immigrant Visas and "Section 13" defines immigrant Visas.

All the following Visas are based on the 47(A)(2) of the Immigration law but for the convenience sake, I will use the separate name.

1. 47(A)(2) - PEZA Visa

This Visa requires the employer’s sponsorship and is valid for the duration of the contract or term
of office or one (1) year whichever is shorter. It is a company-specific visa that limits the
percentage of foreign national employees to less than 5% of the total work force. Holders of this
visa are exempted from ACR I-card requirement. Renewal should be filed at least 30 days before the
expiration. Board of Investment (BOI) registered companies may also apply this Visa.

2. 47B

It's for humanitarian reasons, and when not opposed to the public interest, to admit aliens who are
refugees for religious, political, or racial reasons, in such classes of cases and under such conditions as he may prescribe.

3. SVEG (Executive Order No. 758) - Special Visa for Employment Generation

The foreign national must have control over an entity, firm, partnership, or corporation in the
Philippines, which employs at least 10 full-time, regular Filipino workers on a long-term basis.
Multiple-entry privileges and exempts him or her from payment of exit clearance certificate (ECC) and special return certificate. It's valid as long as the 10 full-time employment condition is met. He should secure AEP also.

4. SIRV (Special Investor's Resident Visa) 

It is issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) upon endorsement of the Board of Investments (BOI), and entitles the holder to reside indefinitely in the Philippines. He should have the capacity to remit at least US$75,000 into the Philippines and invest such capital in viable economic activities. An initial six-month probationary SIRV is given to the foreign national to undertake such investments. Only upon submission of documents to prove that actual investments have been made may the application for indefinite multiple entry SIRV be considered. It's valid as long as the investment remains.

5. SRRV (Special Resident Retiree's Visa)

It's for foreign nationals or former Filipinos at least thirty-five (35) years of age under the
retirement program of the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA). Specific amount of deposit and
age limit (at least 35 years old) is the basic requirements. 

Some benefits are:
a) Multiple-entry privileges with the right to stay in the Philippines during his lifetime;
b) Exemption from the ECC;

c) Exemption from Travel Tax, provided the SRRV holder has not stayed in the Philippines for more than a year from date of last entry;

d) Tax-free importation of household goods/personal effects worth US$7,000.00;

e) Privilege to study in the Philippines;

f) Privilege to work in the Philippines upon issuance of the Alien Employment Permit.

It's valid as long as the visa holder remains a member of good standing of the Program and his time deposit and/or investment exists in the Philippines.

6. Multiple Entry Special Visa under RA 8756

It granted to executives of Regional Headquarters (RHQ) and Regional Operating Headquarters
(ROHQ). The applicant must be an executive working exclusively for the petitioner RHQ or ROHQ and the salary must also be at least US$ 12,000. The ROHQ Visa is valid for three (3) years and can be renewed thereafter. The applicant’s legal spouse and unmarried children below 21 years of age can be under this Visa.

7. Multiple Entry Special Visa under PD 1034

It's for foreign personnel of offshore banking units of foreign banks duly licensed by the Central Bank of the Philippines to operate as such.

8. Other Sepcial Economic Zone Visas

a) CDC – Clark Working or Investor’s Visa
b) SBMA – Subic Working or Investor’s Visa
c) CEZA – Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Working or Investor’s Visa
d) AFAB -Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan, Working or Investor's Visa

Appendix A. Balikbayan program
It's for Filipino citizens who have been continuously out of the Philippines for more than 1 year or
a former Filipino citizen and his family who had been naturalized in a foreign country.

a) Immediate family members when travel together with Filipino

b) Return from non-visa required countries

c) Initial 1 year on arrival and can extend till 36 months.

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