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Pursuant  to  Commonwealth   Act  No.  613,  Section  3,  as  amended,  the following policies and guidelines shall be observed:

Section 1. Objective. - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) promotes the sustainable voluntary return of overstaying foreigners. Likewise, the BI aims to provide alternatives to holding the physical custody of overstaying foreigners.

Section  2.  Visa-Required  Foreigners  Who  Overstayed  for  More  Than Twenty Four (24) Months but Applied for Updating of their TVVs. -

1.     Visa-required  foreigners  who  overstayed  for  more  than  twenty  four  (24) months but applied for updating of their Temporary Visitor Visas (TVV) shall be allowed to update their visas with ORDER TO LEAVE provided that:

(a)  They  overstayed  for more  than  twenty  four (24) months  but less than forty eight (48) months;

(b)  Their  total  stay  in  the  country  is  less  than  forty  eight  (48)  months (computed from the applicants’ latest recorded arrival); and

(c)  They shall pay: (a) updating fees and penalties to be computed  by the Visa Extension Section; (b) Immigration Arrears Clearance Certificate fee (IARC); and (c) express lane fee.

2.     Visa-required   foreigners  who  overstayed  for  more  than  forty  eight  (48) months or those whose situation does not fall under Section 2, paragraphs 1 (a) and (b) shall be allowed to update their TVVs with ORDER TO LEAVE and  INCLUSION  OF  THEIR  NAMES  in  the  BLACKLIST.  They  shall  pay updating fees and penalties only but shall submit their respective NBI clearances.

Section 3. Non-Visa Required Foreigners who Overstayed for More than Thirty Six (36) months but Applied for Updating of their TVVs. –

1.     Non-visa  required  foreigners  who  overstayed  for more  than  thirty  six (36) months  but applied  for updating  of their TVVs  shall be allowed  to update their visas with ORDER TO LEAVE provided that:

(a)  They overstayed for more than thirty six (36) months but less than sixty
(60) months;

(b)  Their total stay in the country is less than sixty (60) months (computed from the applicants’ latest recorded arrival); and

(c)  They shall pay: (a) updating  fees and penalties;  (b) IARC fee; and (c) express lane fee.

2.     Non-visa required foreigners who overstayed for more than sixty (60) months or those whose situation does not fall under Section 3, paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) shall be allowed to update their TVVs with ORDER TO LEAVE and INCLUSION OF THEIR NAMES in the BLACKLIST. They shall pay updating fees and penalties only but shall submit their respective NBI clearances.

Section  4.  Exceptions.  -  The  Commissioner,  in  the  exercise  of  sound judgment,  may allow  such  foreigners  who fall under  Section  2(2) and Section 3(2) to update their TVVs without including their names in the Blacklist taking into consideration  their Filipino  lineage,  medical  condition,  minority,  old age, contribution  to  the  Philippine  society/economy  and  other  analogous circumstances.  The  Commissioner  shall  submit  to  the  Secretary  a  quarterly report containing the names and circumstances  of foreigners who fall under this section.

Section 5. Indigents/Distressed Overstaying Foreigners who Desire to Voluntarily Return^[1]. - Indigents/distressed  overstaying foreigners who desire to voluntarily return to their country of origin or nationality shall submit the following:

1.     Letter  request  stating:  (a) their latest  arrival;  (b) that they have  fallen  into financial or other distress; (c) that they have not committed any immigration violation other than overstaying; (d) their desire to voluntarily return to their country  of origin  or nationality;  and (e) that they will leave  the Philippines within fifteen (15) days from approval of their application; and

2.    NBI clearance, except for minors below 15 years of age.

Section 6. Inclusion in the Blacklist of Indigent/Distressed  Overstaying Foreigners. - The names of the distressed overstaying foreigners who voluntarily returned to their country of origin or nationality shall be included in the Blacklist.

Section 7. Foreigners Found to be Overstaying by Virtue of a Complaint or Mission Order. - Foreigners found to be overstaying by virtue of a complaint or  Mission   Order   regardless   of  the   period   shall   be  subject   to  summary deportation.

Section 8. Duties of the TVS, ACO, LD and ARD. – Within twenty four (24) hours  from  receipt  of  the  application   for  updating  of  TVVs  of  overstaying foreigners under Section 2 and Section 3 of this Circular, the Tourist Visa Section (TVS)and concerned Alien Control Officers (ACOs) shall endorse the application to the Legal Division (LD).

Within forty eight (48) hours from receipt of the application for updating/ extension, the LD shall forward the draft order to the Office of the Commissioner. The draft order shall resolve whether: (i) the visa required foreigners fall under Section 2(a) or (b); (ii) the non-visa required foreigners fall under Section 3(a) or (b); (iii) the applicants fall under Section 4; or (iv) the applicants are subjects for deportation proceedings under Section 7.

The same period of forty eight (48) hours from receipt shall apply in LD’s processing of request for voluntary return of indigent/distressed overstaying foreigners.

Within twenty four (24) hours from receipt of the signed Order of the Commissioner,  the  TVS  and  concerned  ACO  shall  implement  the  Order  with respect   to  the   payment   of  immigration   fees   and   charges,   penalties   and administrative fines of overstaying foreigners under Sections 2 and 3.

The ARD shall issue the required Exit Clearance Certificate.

With respect to indigent/distressed  foreigners requesting for voluntary return, the TVS shall make an assessment of fees otherwise collectible from them. The LD  shall  indicate  in  the  Voluntary  Return  Order  the  (i)  assessed  fees  and penalties; (2) IARC fee; (iii) express lane fee; and (iv) cash bond in case of application for readmission/lifting of their names in the Blacklist.

Section 9. Duties of the BMSU. - The Border Management Security Unit (BMSU)  of  the  Port  Operations  Division  (POD)  shall  implement  all  Orders  to Leave issued pursuant to this Circular.

The BMSU shall submit a monthly report to the Office of the Commissioner and the LD on the foreigners who failed to comply with the Orders to Leave.

Failure to comply with the Orders to Leave shall subject the erring foreigners to deportation proceedings.

Section   10.  Repealing   Clause.   -  All  previous   issuances   inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and/ or modified accordingly.

Section 11. Effectivity. - This Circular shall take effect after fifteen (15) from publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Furnish  a copy of this Circular  to the Office of the National  Administrative Register (ONAR), U.P. Law Center, Diliman, Quezon City.

08 October 2015

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^[1] Under C.A. No. 613, Section 43. (Removal of Indigents).