JOINT PEZA-BI MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2022 f 4 AMENDED GUIDELINES GOVERNING THE DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR THE APPLICATION, EVALUATION AND PROCESSING OF THE PEZA VISA WHEREAS, pursuant to Sections 10 and 40 of Republic Act No. 7916 (the PEZA Law), as amended, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the Bureau of Immigration (Bl) signed on 11 November 2021, the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations for the issuance and/or implementation of the PEZA Visa (PV) to foreign nationals (FNs) working and/or employed by PEZA- registered ecozone-locator enterprises and to their qualified dependents, which took effect on 26 November 2021, following their publication in a newspaper of general circulation; WHEREAS, the MOA and its IRR provided for the policy guidelines and procedures to facilitate the conduct of business in PEZA-registered ecozones by providing efficient, simplified and harmonized rules and procedures on the issuance andlor implementation of PVs and provide a more secure and reliable system for monitoring employment of foreign nationals inside PEZA-registered ecozones; WHEREAS, the issuance and/or implementation of the PV under this initiative are fairly recent and some provisions of the MOA and its IRR do not encompass some situations as a consequence of the transition from the 47 (a) (2) visa to the PEZA Visa resulting to queries and/or requests for clarifications and reconsideration in the proper interpretation and implementation of their provisions; WHEREAS, in order to address these various requests for clarifications and to also conform to the mandated thrust of government to constantly improve government processes and services to promote ease of doing business thereby making the country more attractive to investors; NOW, THEREFORE, in view of the foregoing premises, this Joint Memorandum. Circular providing for the Amended Guidelines governing the documentary requirements and procedures for the application, evaluation and processing of the PV is hereby issued: Section 1, Documentary Requirements. The following are amendments and/or clarifications to the Documentary Requirements to be submitted to PEZA in applying for a PEZA Visa (PV): 4.4. as for the Company PEZA Certificate of Registration, the submission of a mere photocopy of the same is sufficient; 4.2. for the Alien Employment Permit (AEP), submission of any of the following is sufficient, without following this order of preference: certified true copy of the AEP; or (ii) email confirmation from the relevant DOLE Regional Office on the duly issued AEP. 4.2.4 The BI reserves the right to require the presentation of the original AEP Card prior to the implementation of the PV. La, &1.3, for the Apostilled, Authenticated, or Attested Marriage Certificate and/or Birth Certificate from the country of Origin, the following must be observed: 1.3.1 for New / Initial PV applications, submission to PEZA of any of the following is sufficient, without following this order of preference: (i) original copy of the Apostilled, Authenticated or Attested Martiage/Birth Certificate; or ii) certified true copy of the Apostilled, Authenticated or Attested Marriage/Birth Certificate from the appropriate issuing foreign office; {ili)print out of the emailed Apostilled, Authenticated or Attested Marriage/Birth Certificate from the appropriate foreign office accompanied by a Notarized Undertaking / Affidavit sined by the EN attestina to the veracity and validity of the issuance of the said print out copy 1.3.2. for applications for Renewal of PV, submission of a mere photocopy of the Apostilled, Authenticated or Attested Marriage/Birth Certificate is sufficient 1.4. Minor revisions and amendments of any of the Documentary Requirements such as but not limited to modifying the contents of the Forms, consolidating template Forms may be implemented by PEZA and BI upon proper notice to the other party. Section 2. Completeness of Submitted Requirements. Only applications with complete requirements shall be received, evaluated and processed. Incomplete applications must be returned to the applicant. 2.1 Compliances, re-submissions, corrections, revisions from the applicant after the PEZA - Head Office FNU accepted and started evaluating the application will re-start the process and the 5-working day processing time will start again. Incomplete submissions are no submissions. Section 3. Applications filed less than thirty (30) days prior to visa expiry. Accompanied with a letter addressed to the PEZA Director General stating therein the justifiable circumsstancels for late filing, applications filed less than thirty (30) days prior to visa expiry may be accepted by the PEZA Zone Offices as long as the application with complete requirements as endorsed by the PEZA Zone Office is duly received by the Head Office FNU expiry of th 3.1. For applications filed under this provision, especially so if the application is filed too close to the visa expiry date, the applicant is discouraged from finalizing travel arrangements intending to use the PV, until after the implementation of the PV. The PEZA and BI shall not be responsible for any costs or damages suffered by the applicant as a result of travel arrangements made in contravention to this provision or any of the provisions of the PEZA-BI MOA and its IRR. Section 4. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Circular is declared null and void, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in force and effect.Section 5. Repealing Clause. This Circular hereby amends or supersedes the provisions of the PEZA-BI MOA and its IRR both dated 11 November 2021, and all other issuances inconsistent herewith. All relevant provisions not affected and not inconsistent with the Circular shall remain effective and enforceable. Section 6. Effectivity. This Circular shall be effective immediately upon signing thereof and posting in the PEZA and BI websites. For guidance and strict compliance. JUN 20 2022 Pasay city, Philippines. PHILIPPINE ECONOMIC BUREAU OF ZONE AUTHORITY IMMIGRATION (PEZA) (Bl) “JUN 2.0 2022 3/3