BI deports, blacklists 11 Chinese nationals for violating VUA program

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has blacklisted 11 Chinese nationals for violating visa upon arrival ( VUA) rules when they overstayed in the country for almost a year.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the Chinese nationals were ordered to leave the country and pay corresponding fines and penalties for overstaying.

“These aliens are now barred from reentering the Philippines for violating the conditions of their stay,” Morente said.

“They were allowed to come here by availing a visa upon arrival yet they abused that privilege by overstaying without valid reason and justification at all,” he added.

The VUA program has remained suspended since January following the Covid-19 outbreak, which was believed to have originated in Wuhan, China.

Under the rules, VUA grantees are not allowed to extend their stay beyond 30 days.

The program, which was implemented three years ago to attract Chinese tourists and tour groups, permits them to enter the Philippines and stay here for not more than 30 days without the need to apply for visas at Philippine consulates in their places of origin.

VUA grantees apply for the scheme through tour operators accredited by the Department of Tourism.

Based on the records, the 11 blacklisted Chinese nationals arrived in the country separately between November and December 2019 and January 2020.

They were discovered to be overstaying in the country after they appeared at the BI main office in Manila to apply for updating of their stay and presented plane tickets manifesting their intention to leave the country.