Validity of visas for alien students now 6 months

Foreign students are now allowed to study until six months without renewing their visas several times.

The government has recently relaxed its policy on foreigners studying in the country, extending the validity of their student visas from one to six months.

A memorandum order issued by former Immigration chief Alipio Fernandez weeks before he resigned from his post has outlined the policy change, according to acting Immigration commissioner Roy Almoro.

Foreign students with special study permits valid for one year can avail of the one time extension for another six months upon renewal.

"A foreign student can renew his visa for another six months if he submits his grades and certification from the school where he is enrolled," Almoro said.

On the other hand, foreigners whose study permits are valid for less than a year may apply for another three months extension.

Before the extension, foreign students were only allowed to extend their permits for only a month, forcing those taking up six months courses to renew their visas six times before they finish the course.

Study permits are issued to foreigners enrolled in elementary and secondary levels while student visas are given to those taking up collegiate courses.

The bureau’s student desk takes care of the processing of documents of foreign students and their parents living with them in the Philippines.

At most, 90 percent of the more than 20,000 foreigners studying in various schools in the country are Koreans.

A number of them are enrolled in elementary and high school.

Majority of them are enrolled in schools in Cebu and Baguio.

This change in policy stemmed from a request of South Korean President Roh Moo Hun, discussing the growing number of Korean students, during the 12th ASEAN Summit here. — Ferliza C. Contratista/MEEV