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Foreign parents of Pinoys need visa, exemption documents to enter Philippines —BI
Foreign parents of Filipinos need to secure a visa and entry exemption document before traveling to the Philippines amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
In a statement issued on Sunday, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said foreign parents of Filipino citizens are not covered by the Balikbayan privilege, thus they have to apply for an entry visa from the Philippine foreign service posts.
They must also present an entry exemption document, which may be issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs or the National Task Force Against COVID-19.
“Those who do fail to present a visa and an exemption document upon their arrival at the airport will be denied entry by immigration officers and they will be booked on the first available flight back to their port of origin,” Morente said.
The BI issued the reminder following queries from families of Filipinos who wish to travel to the country.
The agency also reiterated that only Filipinos and former Filipinos, as well as their foreign spouse and children, who are traveling with them can avail of the Balikbayan privilege.
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Travelers eligible for the Balikbayan privilege are allowed to enter the Philippines visa-free with an authorized stay of one year.
Foreign travelers bound for the Philippines must present a pre-booked accommodation in an accredited quarantine hotel or facility upon their arrival at the airport.
Those who fail to present proof of their 10-day quarantine accommodation to the immigration officer will be denied entry, said BI port operations division chief Carlos Capulong.
He also warned that foreign passengers caught by airport authorities presenting a counterfeit or fraudulent pre-booked quarantine accommodation may be subjected to deportation proceedings. —Virgil Lopez/KG, GMA News