Torres Business Consultancy - Foreign Visa Specialist

15/01/2023

PRESS RELEASE

MANILA, Philippines—Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco said on Wednesday, that all agencies involved in airport operations must work together to resolve airport lines.

Tansingco made the statement after receiving reports of long lines at the immigration area, following the post-new year glitch at the country’s airports. “All counters were manned, but the lines remained long,” said Tansingco. “While passengers were processed expeditiously, more can be done to improve this,” he added.

Tansingco shared that the BI supports the decongestion of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and opening of new airports.

“As we open our borders, we should innovate in anticipation of the rebound of international tourism,” said Tansingco.

He bared that they have reached the maximum capacity of counters at the airport, and have even assigned two to four immigration officers in counters in certain terminals.

“It’s already a space problem. We can add so many officers, but if the space is limited, then there will still be lines,” he stated.

Tansingco also sought the cooperation of airlines by regulating the influx of passengers by proper scheduling. “This is a joint concern that we must all address in all aspects,” said Tansingco. “We believe that by working together, this concern can be resolved,” he added.

15/01/2023

15/01/2023

PRESS RELEASE

Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) recently intercepted a Belarus national wanted by authorities in Cavite for sexually assaulting a Filipina.

In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco identified the alien as 31-year-old Aliaksei Rudakou, who was apprehended at the NAIA 3 terminal last January 5 upon arriving aboard an Emirates flight from Dubai.

Rudakou, who carried the alias Ali and Aliak, was reported to be residing in a condominium unit in Quezon City.

Tansingco said the passenger was immediately turned over to the Philippine National Police (PNP) where he is now behind bars pending resolution of his criminal case.

It was gathered that the Bacoor City Regional Trial Court issued a warrant for the suspect’s arrest on November 22, 2022, after prosecutors filed against him charges of r**e with sexual assault.

Consequently, on December 15, 2022, the BI Board of Commissioners issued an order placing Rudakou on its alert list, and directing immigration personnel to turn him over to law enforcement authorities if he is encountered at the airport.

“Wanted criminals who have a pending warrant of arrest are immediately turned over to the proper authorities once intercepted at any port in the country,” said Tansingco. “We have close coordination with local law enforcement agencies, and immediately include in our system warrants issued by courts,” he added.

15/01/2023

PRESS RELEASE

PASAY, Philippines—Bureau of Immigration (BI) operatives intercepted a Chinese fugitive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last January 5.

According to a report from Dennis Alcedo, Head of the BI’s Border Control and Intelligence Unit, said Chinese national was identified as Chen Yiye, 48, who attempted to fly to China via a China Southern flight at the NAIA Terminal 1.

Upon inspection of the immigration officer, his records showed that his name has been included in the BI’s Blacklist, and is found to be a charged fugitive with a deportation case issued in 2017.

He is in the country as a retiree, and was reportedly apprehended last August 2016 at Angeles City, Pampanga for possession of 36.58 kg of methamphetamine hydrochloride or Shabu, with an estimated value of Php100M.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco lauded port personnel for the interception.

“These fugitives have no place in our country,” said Tansingco. “Hence he will be deported, and with his name included in our blacklist, he will be barred from returning to the Philippines,” he added.

Chen was transferred to the BI’s Warden Facility located inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig pending his eventual deportation.

15/01/2023

WE ARE HIRING!

If you have the heart and qualifications to be part of the front-lines, join the Bureau of Immigration (BI) today!

Website: careers.immigration.gov.ph

Personnel Section: 8465-2400 loc. 321, 322

15/01/2023

12/12/2022

Take note of the changes in PAL's Manila Terminals starting December 1, 2022.

Check your flight's assigned terminal before proceeding to the airport. Shuttle buses between Terminal 1 and 2 are available for passengers with connecting flights.

12/12/2022

PRESS RELEASE

PASAY, Philippines—Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco sees that the country’s e-Travel platform would allow faster and easier processing for arriving passengers.

The system, which was launched on December 5, is an initiative of a sub-technical working group of the IATF, chaired by the BI.

Partner agencies are the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“The system will consolidate all data collection processes at the ports,” said Tansingco. “Instead of having to fill out several forms for different agencies, all will be consolidated into one platform to streamline entry procedures,” he added.

The use of the platform will replace the arrival cards, which were previously submitted upon arrival to the BI. Effective December 5, the BI will no longer require the submission of the paper-based arrival cards for arriving passengers.

Information from the platform will also replace the BOQ’s One Health Pass, and the BOC’s arrival form. Registration on the eTravel is free.

Tansingco sees that the project is a major achievement to ensure interoperable systems among government agencies.

“We are happy and proud to be part of this achievement. This is a product of working together with different government agencies, with the aim of improving our services for the public,” said Tansingco.

12/12/2022

PUBLIC ADVISORY

https://etravel.gov.ph/

Please be guided accordingly.

21/11/2022

11 November 2022
PRESS RELEASE
BI intercepts fake docs, warns of scammers offering services
PASAY CITY, Philippines—The Bureau of Immigration (BI) issued another warning against scammers offering immigration services to foreign nationals.
In a statement, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco reiterated previous warnings against scammers that offer to fix BI-related documents.
The warning comes after two separate interceptions at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the BI Main Office.
Intercepted last October 25 by BI airport personnel at the NAIA Terminal 1 was an American citizen who presented a spurious exit clearance.
An exit clearance is required of foreign nationals who stay in the country for more than six months under a temporary visitors’ visa.
Immigration officers reported that upon inspection, they noticed that the document contained various discrepancies, including misspelling the name of Tansingco. Upon verification with their centralized database, it was found that no such clearance was issued by the BI.
The American was denied boarding, and was turned over to the BI’s Legal Division for proper disposition.
Last October 28, Tansingco issued a denial of the application for Provisional Work Permit (PWP) of 36 Indonesians petitioned by two Makati-based internet marketing and customer support service companies.
The companies, according to the BI, submitted fake Alien Employment Permits (AEP) as part of their application. AEPs are a pre-requisite in the issuance of PWPs.
The application of the 36 were denied and their cases were forwarded to the BI’s Legal Division to initiate action against the petitioner and applicants.
“We issue a warning to foreign nationals not to avail of illegal offers,” said Tansingco. “We have around 60 offices nationwide, and are expanding to ensure that services are closer to the people. There is really no excuse not to comply with immigration laws,” he added.

21/11/2022

PRESS RELEASE
Starting November 15 Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers assigned in the different international ports are prohibited to go on leave to ensure that adequate manpower is available to serve the traveling public during the Christmas season.
In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the ban on vacation leaves from November 15 to January 15 was implemented to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of services by the BI to international travelers, who are expected to enter and exit the country in large numbers before, during and after the Christmas break.
Tansingco bared that passenger volume at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have already started to peak up not only due to the approaching holiday season, but in view of the gradual easing of restrictions imposed on foreign and Filipino travelers during the pandemic.
He said the ban on leave by BI port personnel aims to avert long queues at the airports during the Yuletide season, when there is always a significant increase in passengers who enter and exit our country.
“This is always the season when the services of our immigration officers are most needed in the airports. This is a sacrifice we have to make to serve the traveling public,” the BI clChief added.
According to Atty. Carlos Capulong, BI Acting Ports Operations Chief, the leave ban applies to all BI employees assigned not only at the NAIA but also in the other international ports such as those in Mactan, Clark, Davao, and Kalibo.
Capulong said that except for medical and emergency reasons, no application for leave by any BI port personnel will be entertained or approved while the two-month leave ban is in effect.
He also disclosed that aside from BI officers assigned to the airport’s immigration counters, a special team of BI officers is always on standby to augment and assist in processing arriving and departing passengers.

28/10/2022