PHL immigration execs warn foreigners vs fake marriages

Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. on Friday warned foreigners against resorting to fake marriages to acquire a residence visa in the Philippines David issued the warning after an Indian national was arrested for falsifying his application for a five-year temporary resident through fraudulent documents. Ajay Kumar Kashyap was arrested last October 27 in Dasmariñas, Cavite after a Filipina, Rosemarie Linatok, claimed that the Indian used her name and personal circumstances in filing a visa application. In a statement, David said, “We should not allow these undesirable aliens to undermine the integrity of our visa issuance system by submitting fraudulent documents." He added that “staying in the Philippines is not a right but mere privilege of every foreigner which can be withdrawn and revoked anytime." The foreigner’s visa application was approved in 2009 but the BI canceled his visa last September 8 after Linatok lodged a complaint with the bureau, claiming that Kashyap made it appear she was married to him. Linatok filed a criminal complaint against Kashyap before a local court for falsification of public documents for the cancellation of marriage. - Benjie Vergara, VVP, GMA News