BI calls on foreigners traveling for Chinese New Year to process fees in advance
THE BUREAU of Immigration called on foreigners living in the country, particularly Chinese nationals, to process their re-entry fees before going to the airport to minimize congestion at the departure areas. Ports Operation Division Chief Grifton SP. Medina, in a statement on Monday, said the bureau is expecting a surge in exiting Chinese for the Jan. 25 Chinese New Year celebration. “It may result to heavy congestion of our airports, which could be avoided if they process and pay their fees before heading to the airport,” he said. Foreigners living in the Philippines with immigrant and non-immigrant visas have to pay exit and re-entry permit fees when they leave the country. A receipt of the re-entry permit fee has to be presented before they are allowed to depart. Mr. Medina said they can pay the re-entry fees in advance at the BI main office and almost 60 immigration offices nationwide. “Coming to the airport with the receipt at hand makes processing faster, allowing departing aliens to avoid the rush,” he said. The BI could not immediately provide data on the number of immigrant and non-immigrant Chinese living in the country as of this writing. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
