MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has started accepting and processing applications for indefinite visa to foreign investors and businessmen who employ at least 10 Filipino workers as part of the government’s employment-generation strategy, the BI chief announced.
Known as the Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG), BI Commissioner Marcelino Libmanan disclosed that a “one-stop” shop has been created to receive, screen and process all applications for SVEG before these are forwarded to the Board of Commissioners for approval.
Under the scheme, SVEG allows its foreign holder, who is engaged in a viable and commercial enterprise, to stay in the Philippines indefinitely as long as he/she employs 10 or more Filipinos.
The Filipino workers are to be employed either for managerial, executive, professional, technical, skilled or unskilled positions, Libmanan said.
He pointed out the BI was mandated to implement the program through an executive order signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in November 2008 as part of the government’s strategy to generate more employment in the wake of the deepening global financial and economic downturn.
Earlier, Libmanan issued a memorandum circular prescribing the rules for issuing the SVEG to formally start the implementation of the program.
Also covered by the SVEG, aside from the foreign businessman and investor, are the spouse and dependent unmarried children below 18 years old whether legitimate, illegitimate or adopted.
For his part, Cris Villalobos, the BI legal officer who was appointed to head the one-stop shop, said a qualified SVEG applicant is initially issued a probationary one-year visa before he could be given an indefinite one.
An applicant, Villalobos said, an applicant is required to pay an application fee equivalent to more than $70 and another $120 upon implementation of the visa.
He added the visa holder will also be required to secure an “E-Card” for which he shall be charged $50 and an express lane fee of $10.
Villalobos said the rules provide that the SVEG be issued to the foreigner with controlling interest in a company engaged in a business activity, enterprise or industry that employs at least 10 full-time and regular Filipino workers on a long-term basis in the Philippines.
The applicant, Villalobos said, shall submit a notarized letter-request; copy of passport with updated stay in the country; the company’s articles of incorporation; general information sheet; proof of the applicant’s investment; and clearances from the BI and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.
Moreover, the applicant shall certify that he/she maintains a lawful immigration status in the Philippines; engaged in a viable and sustainable business; exercises managerial acts with authority to employ; promote and dismiss employees; and evinces a sincere intention to indefinitely remain in the country.
At the same time, Villalobos said proofs must also be attached to the application showing that the Filipinos employed have been granted benefits under the labor code such as membership in the Social Security System, the government-run pension fund for the private sector.
Villalobos also said grounds for revocation of the SVEG include the holder’s failure to comply with any of the requirements; if the SVEG was obtained through fraud; criminal conviction; and findings by competent authority that the holder poses a risk to national security.
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[...] he said, the scheme is a byproduct of the Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG), which is now being implemented by the immigration bureau following Malacanang approval of the [...]