BI backs DFA on stricter visa controls for Chinese

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) supports the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)’s plan to implement stricter rules for the issuance of tourist visas to Chinese nationals.

The DFA cited cases of fraudulently acquired visas and crimes related to Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO).

“This is a welcome development for the BI,” Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said yesterday.

“We project that there will be fewer exclusions, given that arriving tourists have been better filtered during their visa applications at the Philippine posts abroad,” he added.

The DFA’s move would provide another strong layer of protection against foreigners who might have intentions inimical to state security, he noted.

Based on BI data in 2023, 3,359 foreigners were denied entry. A majority had questionable purposes for travel and were tagged as likely to become a public charge.

Of the number, 885 were citizens of China.

Based on previous news reports, there have been instances wherein POGOs were linked to crimes such as human trafficking, forcible abduction, homicide, illegal detention, kidnap-for-ransom, theft, robbery-extortion, serious physical injuries, swindling and grave coercion.

Tansingco believes that stricter visa issuance would have little impact on the country’s tourism.

“The move is really just filtering out those undesirables that are trying to enter the country. Regular tourists need not be worried,” he added.

In 2023, the BI said Chinese nationals were the fifth largest group of foreign tourists in 2023 with 246,179 tourist arrivals.

Ahead in the list were South Koreans with 1,467,051 arrivals, followed by Americans, Japanese and Australians.

Amid the reported influx of Chinese students in the country, the BI requested the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to call for a high-level meeting of agency members to clarify the role of each agency in permitting foreigners to study in the country.

The Inter-Agency Committee on Foreign Students (IACFS) is scheduled to meet today to discuss the matter.

“We have requested the high-level meeting to reiterate our previous requests for immediate joint inspections and for it to become a regular