Bruce Posted June 7, 2013 Posted June 7, 2013 Rep. Salimbangon to look into visa requirement complaints By Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon (The Freeman) | Updated June 7, 2013 - 12:00am CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Fourth District Representative Benhur Salimbangon is initiating an investigation on complaints regarding the requirement for visa applicants to submit a police clearance from their country of origin or residence. Salimbangon said something is wrong with the implementation of this memorandum order wherein immigrant visa applicants, including those applying for temporary resident visas, are now required to secure police clearance from their countries. Such requirement stunned an Egyptian national, upon learning of this new requirement, considering that this was never asked from him upon renewing his visa for the past eight years of living in Cebu. Egyptian national Ayman Abdelmonem Attalla Nour, who is married to a Filipina, said that he has always wanted to become a Filipino but that dream is getting elusive after his status as temporary resident will be downgraded as tourist. "When my father in Egypt died three years ago and I already stayed in Cebu for five years at that time, I did not even go to Egypt until he was buried because I do not want to cut short my plan to become a Filipino citizen. But now, I have to go back as a tourist. It breaks my heart," said Nour in an interview with The Freeman. Nour laments that he applied for the renewal of his visa a month before expiration but it was turned down by the Bureau of Immigration in Manila after he failed to submit a police clearance from Egypt. "It takes time to get a police clearance from Egypt. I ask reconsideration, through the assistance of the Egyptian Embassy, for BI to accept my application while my police clearance is being processed. When my police clearance arrived last June 3, my visa already expired," Nour added. As a consequence, his status as a temporary resident was reduced to tourist. "How many more foreigners in this country do not know this new requirement? I hope with what happened to me, many foreigners will learn from it," Nour further said. Salimbangon said this is contrary to the country’s goal of attracting tourists and investors. "This is contrary to the program of the present administration wherein it aims to attract more tourist and investment. Nour has been here for more than eight years and he has employing several people in Medellin and Bogo City, Cebu,” Salimbangon said. Medellin and Bogo City are part of the Fourth District. BI-Cebu alien control officer Casimiro Madarang admitted yesterday that he already received several complaints over the implementation this memorandum by Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David, Jr. wherein applicants for immigrant visas has to submit such clearance. David in Memorandum Order No. RADJR-2012-028 stated that there is a need to ensure that applicants for immigrant visas have no records of any derogatory information against him in any enforcement agency. The memo added that if the applicant has been in the Philippines for less than six months, he shall attach to his application a police clearance from his country of origin or residence duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate at the place of issuance or nearest to it. Furthermore, if the applicant has been in the Philippines for six months or more, he shall, in addition to the police clearance from his country of origin or residence prior to his arrival in the Philippines, attach to his application a National Bureau of Investigation clearance.— /MIT (FREEMAN) . 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hounddriver Posted June 7, 2013 Posted June 7, 2013 David in Memorandum Order No. RADJR-2012-028 stated that there is a need to ensure that applicants for immigrant visas have no records of any derogatory information against him in any enforcement agency. David needs to do his own job and trust the other countries issuing passports are doing theirs. People should not get passports if they are criminals in their own countries and yet it happens because no system is perfect. David is screwing up an imperfect system with more imperfection. He also does not seem to realize that first world authorities are not permitted to slander their citizens by saying any derogatory information about them. Thats why its more fun in the Philippines. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike S Posted June 7, 2013 Posted June 7, 2013 This is contrary to the program of the present administration wherein it aims to attract more tourist and investment That is just it TOURISTS .... not temp or perm residents ..... just come here spend your money and leave ..... as the new administration is fond of saying ... "the Philippines is for Filipinos" ..... but they should add ..... "but we want your money anyway" ...... unfortunately the BI is viewing ALL countries with the same eye that they view their own people when leaving the Phils to live somewhere else .... they can't control who leaves .... all it takes is a few pesos and you can get out of the country even with being placed on a watch list .... JMHO 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Peterson Posted June 7, 2013 Posted June 7, 2013 Guys and Gals! Just as a thought, has anyone from the UK tried to get this police clearance, without a national Police Force, to date, I hear that not 1(one ) county force, will issue one for a person who is not from the County, Any one got information on this and how one can be obtained from the UK :tiphat: if you are interested, just look at this list, Where do you start for a clearance? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_police_forces_of_the_United_Kingdom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jollygoodfellow Posted June 7, 2013 Posted June 7, 2013 if you are interested, just look at this list, Where do you start for a clearance? http://www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q542.htm 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Posted June 7, 2013 Author Posted June 7, 2013 Here in the US, many police departments, for a fee, will provide a background check, usually for employment purposes. I doubt the average Pinoy government worker knows one from another and anything you submit with a letterhead of a foreign department should pass muster. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike S Posted June 8, 2013 Posted June 8, 2013 I believe they will only except an FBI clearance from the US or at least that is what I'm told ..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Call me bubba Posted June 8, 2013 Posted June 8, 2013 I believe they will only except an FBI clearance from the US or at least that is what I'm told ..... somewhere on this forum, it was posted on how to obtain a FBI RECORD aka the rap sheet. has anyone been able to locate and post? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beachboy Posted June 8, 2013 Posted June 8, 2013 FBI RECORD Here is the address of Big Brother -- http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/criminal-history-summary-checks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Peterson Posted June 8, 2013 Posted June 8, 2013 JGF what can I say but THANK YOU. :thumbs-up-smile: :cheers: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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