For: ELT

From: KLC
Subject: Securing an Employment Visa in the Philippines
Date: March 24, 2018

I. Introduction, Scope and Purpose

This research will answer the query of one of our retained clients, Loanworks
Technologies (“LWT”), on how to secure an employment visa in the Philippines. While
there are different types of employment visas issued by the Philippine Government, the
research will focus on what is called as a Pre-Arranged Employment Visa1 considering the
nature of business and industry where LWT is engaged.

This research will provide a process flow of securing pre-arranged employment

visas in the Philippines from the Bureau of Immigration (“Bureau”). This will also
include the documentary requirements and the general instructions provided by the
Bureau in accomplishing the various forms necessary, and other formal requirements.

II. Who may apply for a Pre-Arranged Employment Visa?

A foreign national applying for a pre-arranged employment visa has to make

sure that he/she has been hired by a Philippine-based company, who will be applying
for his/her pre-arranged employee visa as his/her petitioner. 2

III. Process Flow

A. Secure and accomplish the Consolidated General Application Form (CGAF)

(BIR Form CGAF-002-Rev 3)

 A copy of the CGAF may be secured from the Public Information and
Assistance Unit at the ground floor of the Bureau Main Office or may
be downloaded from the Bureau website. 3 (See Annex “A” for a copy of
the CGAF)

 In accomplishing the CGAF, all the information required must be

entered legibly into the appropriate spaces on the form. If the
information required is not applicable, write “N/A”. Do not leave any

1
“This is a working visa that allows employers/proprietors in the Philippines to employ foreign
nationals with skills, qualifications and experience that may be short in supply in the Philippines.”
(Section 9 (g) and 20 of Commonwealth Act No. 613, otherwise known as, The Philippine Immigration
Act of 1940)
2
http://www.immigration.gov.ph/faqs/visa-inquiry/pre-arranged-employee-visa
3
http://www.immigration.gov.ph/images/FORMS/18Dec2015/BI%20FORM%20CGAF-002-Rev
%203.1.pdf
 item blank. Answers must be in English and all entries must be in
CAPITAL LETTERS using English characters only.

 The CGAF must be accomplished in two (2) ORIGINAL copies. The

first copy shall be submitted together with all the documents
pertaining to this application and the second copy is intended for
application of Alien Certificate of Registration Identity Card (ACR I-
Card) to be submitted in a separate folder.

B. Documentary Requirements

 All documents required for submission must be complied with,

arranged in the order as listed in the Checklist of Documentary
Requirements (CDR), compiled in a legal size (8½ x 14 in.) folder and
shall be submitted within the prescribed period, if applicable. (See
Annex “B” for a copy of the Checklist of Documentary Requirements,
BI FORM V-NI-007-Rev 1)

 The Documentary Requirements are:

1. Joint letter request addressed to the Commissioner from the

applicant and the petitioner;

2. Duly accomplished CGAF for Non-Immigrant Visa;

3. Photocopy of passport bio-page and latest admission with

valid authorized stay;

4. Photocopy of Employment Contract, Secretary’s Certificate of

Election, Appointment or Assignment of applicant, or
equivalent document, with details of exact compensation,
duration of employment and comprehensive description of the
nature and scope of the applicant’s position in the company;

5. Photocopy of petitioner’s latest Income Tax Return (ITR) with

the corresponding proof of payment (official receipt, bank
teller’s validation slip, BIR’s eFPS payment details’ print-out
or other similar evidence);

6. For Corporations or Partnerships, photocopies of the

following:
i. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Certificate
of Registration;
ii. Articles of Incorporation;
 iii. General Information Sheet (GIS) for the current year
received/stamped by the SEC.
7. For Single Proprietorships, photocopies of the following:
i. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Certificate of
Registration of Business Name;
ii. Mayor’s Permit;

8. Photocopy of Alien Employment Permit (AEP) issued by the

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); and actual
publication of the applicant’s approved AEP or in the absence
thereof, a Certificate of Publication issued by the Publisher;

9. Notarized certification of number of foreign and Filipino

employees from the petitioning company (preferred format
can be downloaded at the BI website – See Annex “C”);

10. Special Temporary Permit for an applicant practicing a

regulated profession under the Professional Regulation
Commission (PRC), if applicable;

11. BI Clearance Certificate; and

12. Original or certified true copy of Bureau of Quarantine

Medical Clearance, if applicant is a national of any of the
countries listed under Annex “A” of Immigration Operations
Order No. SBM-14-059-A who arrived in the Philippines on or
after June 2014.

13. Checklist of Documentary Requirements for EACH Dependent

( if necessary)4

 Take note of the following general instructions in preparing and

procuring the above-listed documentary requirements:

- All sworn statements or affidavits must be original and

duly notarized.

- All civil registry documents issued in the Philippines (i.e.

Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate,

4
1. Duly accomplished CGAF for Non-Immigrant Visa; 2. Photocopy of passport bio-page and latest
admission with valid authorized stay; 3. Proof of filiation with the applicant; 4. BI Clearance Certificate;
and 5. Original or certified true copy of Bureau of Quarantine Medical Clearance, if applicant is a national
of any of the countries listed under Annex “A” of Immigration Operations Order No. SBM-14-059-A who
arrived in the Philippines on or after June 2014.
 etc.) must be original and issued by the Philippine
Statistics Authority (PSA).

- All foreign documents must be original and

authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post
(FSP), which has jurisdiction over the place of issuance,
or by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) if said
document is issued by the local Embassy in the
Philippines, with English translation if written in other
foreign language.

- If the application is filed by an authorized representative,

attach a photocopy of the Bureau of Immigration (BI)
Accreditation Identification (ID) Certificate or an original
Special Power of Attorney (SPA) for EACH applicant
with a photocopy of a valid government-issued ID of
attorney-in-fact.

- The original valid passport of the applicant must be

submitted to the Central Receiving Unit (CRU) personnel
or concerned frontline officer for scanning. Thereafter, it
shall be returned.

- If the applicant is joined by his/her unmarried children

below eighteen (18) years of age, submit all
corresponding documentary requirements for EACH
dependent.

- The applicant and/or petitioner must always bring

his/her original passport and/or valid ID (if Filipino)
upon evaluation or interview by Visa Officers.

C. Submission of the documentary requirements for pre-screening to the

Central Receiving Unit (CRU) or to the frontline officer or staff of other
Immigration Offices authorized to process the transaction.

D. Payment of the required fees

Non-Top 1,000 Corporations

VALIDITY PRINCIPAL DEP-SPOUSE DEP-B16 DEP-B14
1 Year Php 10,130.00 Php 8,120.00 Php 7,870.00 Php 7,370.00
2 Years Php 17,170.00 Php 13,960.00 Php Php
13,710.00 13,210.00
3 Years Php 24,210.00 Php 19,800.00 Php Php
19,550.00 19,050.00
 Additional Fee for ACR I-Card
1 Year - + US $50
2 Years - + US $100
3 Years - + US $150

*Fees are updated as of 06 March 2014 and may change without prior notice.

Top 1,000 Corporations

VALIDITY PRINCIPA DEP- DEP-B16 DEP-B14
L SPOUSE
1 Year Php Php Php 8,370.00 Php 7,870.00
10,630.00 8,620.00
2 Years Php Php Php Php 14,210.00
18,170.00 14,960.00 14,710.00
3 Years Php Php Php
Php 20,550.00
25,710.00 21,300.00 21,050.00
Additional Fee for ACR I-Card
1 Year - + US $50
2 Years - + US $100
3 Years - + US $150

*Fees are updated as of 06 March 2014 and may change without prior notice.

E. Submission of copy of the Official Receipt

F. Attend Hearing.

 The schedule and venue of the hearing is usually indicated in the

Official Receipt, otherwise, the applicant will receive a Notice of
Hearing. After the hearing of the application, the Hearing Officer will
issue his recommendation, which will be deliberated upon by the
Committee. If approved, an Order will be issued by the Bureau of
Immigration granting the application.
 
G. Proceed to Image and Fingerprinting Capturing Counter of the Alien
Registration Division (ARD) and submit requirements for ACR I-Card 5
application.

H. Verify status of application from the Bureau website. 6

5
 ACR I-Card is a microchip based, credit card-sized, identification card issued to all registered aliens
whose stay in the Philippines has exceeded fifty-nine (59) days.  It also has an embedded computer chip
with biometric security features capable of data management and can be updated electronically. All
foreign nationals under immigrant and non-immigrant visas including holders of Temporary Visitor’s
Visa, who have stayed for more than fifty nine (59) days in the Philippines are required to apply for an
ACR I-Card.
6
http://www.immigration.gov.ph/information/application-status/agenda-verification
I. If approved, submit passport for visa implementation.

J. If ACR I-Card is approved, claim ACR I-Card.

- Nothing follows -