DFA BEGINS ADJUSTING VISA ISSUANCE POLICIES FOR CHINESE VISITORS

MANILA PHILIPPINES – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will begin this week a gradual adjustment for some visa issuance policies for Chine visitors in the country.

DFA Undersecretary Gary Domingo said that the Philippine government will start requiring social insurance certificates for visa applicants.

This is part of the verification process apart from the usual documentary needed for the application of visa.

With this the DFA urges Chinese visitors to consider group visa application.

“… a group application is more convenient since the applicant doesn’t have to appear, but we’re looking at raising the minimum of what constitutes a group for a minimum of three to a minimum of 10,” Undersecretary Domingo said in a press conference, Thursday.

Domingo admits that the DFA may have challenges in determining the legality of the documents submitted by the applicants.

“So really a major challenge is the submission of fraudulent fake documents, particularly from the China side, especially IDs, bank statements and certificates of employment and fixers brazenly advertise such things on WeChat and things like that, saying it’s very easy to obtain the Philippine visa,” Domingo added.

Lawmakers wants to investigate the influx of Chinese students in Cagayan.

Around 1,500 Chinese students have been granted for visa in Cagayan, where two military sites that American troops can use under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

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