
Tourists who want to extend their stay in the country were assured the Bureau of Immigration will further expedite their applications for extension of stay.
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BI Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. issued a memorandum order transferring the BI's visa extension section to the office of the BI commissioner directly under him.
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"(W)e should extend the most efficient service to these tourists, many of whom end up engaging in businesses here that generate jobs for our people," he said in a news release.
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He added he was assuming direct supervision over the unit to ensure that "all applications for tourist visa extensions are promptly approved or acted upon with utmost dispatch."
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The BI said the visa extension section processes all applications for extension of stay of tourists whose visas are expiring or have already lapsed.
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According to the BI, a big chunk of the BI's revenues come from visa extension fees and fines and penalties paid by overstaying tourists.
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David said the transfer of the visa extension section will also 'further improve efficiency, accountability and transparency' in the agency's frontline services.
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Also, he underscored the role of the visa extension section in efforts to draw in more foreign visitors to the country.
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Meanwhile, David's memo directed the visa extension section to continue processing applications for extension of stay of so-called non-restricted foreign nationals, or those who do no need entry visas in traveling to the Philippines.
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"Applications for extension of stay by visa-required foreign nationals shall, henceforth, require approval by the commissioner or the associate commissioner to whom such function he might delegate," the BI said.
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GMA News Online || November 8, 2012 7:48am