What to Expect When You Face the Immigration Officer at the Airport

[Lee]

 

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Ever wondered why some passengers flying abroad just breeze through their Immigration inspection while others are subjected to alleged intense questioning—to the point where at least one passenger was reportedly asked to show her yearbook—that ultimately lead to missed or rebooked flights?

The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) has released its revised departure guidelines for Filipinos traveling abroad, where it listed down the documents a passenger needs to show the immigration officer to avoid getting offloaded or referred to longer inspection.

Know that the process is part of the Bureau of Immigration's goal to stop potential victims of human trafficking as some of them attempt to bypass the process by pretending to be tourists, the Department of Justice said in a statement.

The updated guidelines will take effect beginning September 3.

All passengers flying international will come face to face with an Immigration officer during the primary inspection.

Here's what you can expect, based on the revised guidelines:

The primary Immigration officer (IO) will ask the passenger about the purpose of their travel and inspect their basic travel documents: valid passport, valid visa if rquired, boarding pass, and confirmed return or roundtrip ticket when necessary.

The IO may ask the passenger to clarify and may require supporting documents to establish their purpose of travel.

If the passenger is able to establish their declared purpose of travel, they will be cleared to depart.

If a passenger presents fraudulent, falsified and tampered documents or refuses to undergo primary inspection, they will not be cleared to depart.

In case a passenger gets referred to secondary inspection, the IO will inform them of the ground for referral and will be asked to accomplish a Border Control Questionnaire containing the primary IO's assessment and action.

Who undergoes Immigration's secondary inspection?

Passengers who fail to hurdle the primary inspection may go through another round of inspection, for example:

Those who fail to establish their purpose of travel during primary inspection

Those with inconsistent or insufficient travel or supporting documents

Those unable to show proof of financial capacity to travel and are accompanied by a foreign national who is not a relative by consanguinity or affinity up to the fourth civil degree

Those traveling, with or without visa, to countries under Alert Level 3 or 4 as determined by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and those with deployment bans as determined by the Department of Migrant Workers (DFA)

Those who stayed abroad for more than six months as a tourist or previously misrepresented travel information and are intendng to travel again for the same purpose

Those with active deferred-departure records

Those identified and reported by IACAT Anti-Trafficking Task Force (IACAT-ATTF) or other agencies as potentially-trafficked/illegally-recruited persons or suspected trafficer/illegal recruiter

What happens during Immigration's secondary inspection?

Secondary inspection is expected to not exceed 15 minutes unless circumstances require more time for inspection. The 15-minute period will only start once the interview commences.

The secondary IO will interview the passenger about the purpose of the travel and further examine the documents presented. This may include database referencing and referral of douments for laboratory examination.

The second IO will also consider the totality of circumstances which may include their purpose of travel, country/ies of destination, duration of stay, travel history, age, financial capacity or source of income consisted to their declared purpose of travel, and educational background.

After this, the secondary IO will indicate in the BCQ their asessment and the information they gathered.

Passengers will be deferred due to any of these grounds:

Refusal to undergo secondary inspetion

Doubtful purpose of travel

Inconsisent or insufficient travel or supporting documents

Misrepresentation or withholding of material information about the travel

Presentation of fraudulent, falsified, or tampered travel or supporting documents

Non-compliance with previous deferred-departure requirments

The passenger is a potentially trafficked or illegally recruited person, or a suspected trafficker or illegal recruiter.

In the case of potentially trafficked or illegally recruited person or a suspected trafficker or illegal recruiter, the passenger will be turned over to the IACAT-ATTF.

 

What to Expect When You Face the Immigration Officer at the Airport (msn.com)

[Joey G]

While it seems like a long process, it seems to detail what I thought was happening already. Wonder what part changed?  

[scott h]

What always gets me, every time I see a story about trafficking "victims" being "rescued" by BOI personnel is how can they be "victims"?

They contact the fixer, THEY PAY for fake documents, THEY learn and practice their cover story, THEY walk freely into the airport, THEY attempt to deceive BOI personnel, THEY are trying to board a plane. I have yet to read a story that a "victim" was being frog marched on to a plane.

Is there no such thing as personal responsibility and accountability anymore?

[hk blues]

2 hours ago, scott h said:

What always gets me, every time I see a story about trafficking "victims" being "rescued" by BOI personnel is how can they be "victims"?

They contact the fixer, THEY PAY for fake documents, THEY learn and practice their cover story, THEY walk freely into the airport, THEY attempt to deceive BOI personnel, THEY are trying to board a plane. I have yet to read a story that a "victim" was being frog marched on to a plane.

Is there no such thing as personal responsibility and accountability anymore?

I guess there are many different types of trafficking.  In some cases people are coerced into it by family/friends/associates.  Others are duped into working in industries other than the one they thought i.e. sex work.  Pure and simple poverty can force people into doing things they wouldn't normally do.  Then there are those who are fully aware of exactly what they're getting into.  Some of those scenarios involve victims, others not so much.

Some people do need saving from themselves.  

[BrettGC]

10 hours ago, Lee said:

Those who stayed abroad for more than six months as a tourist or previously misrepresented travel information and are intendng to travel again for the same purpose

I find it interesting that two apparently unrelated instances are listed under the same item.  

The first instance was my wife on a couple of occasions but she's never been denied exit.  Nor has she ever completed the compulsory pre-departure indoctrination when she was still young enough to have to do it.  Yes, it was around back then as well.  In fact, she was completely unaware of it until she came to visit me in Australia for the first time and only then after I asked her about it.  

[Kingpin]

12 hours ago, scott h said:

Is there no such thing as personal responsibility and accountability anymore?

Not in a nanny-state that treats everyone like children.

[Lee]

New travel requirements draw flak

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FACEBOOK netizens are up in arms against new travel requirements imposed by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).

Apart from presenting the usual travel requirements, some travelers may need to present more documents before they could go past the immigration desk, including financial capabilities, birth certificates and several others.

On the IACAT's Facebook page, the post on the new regulations, which appeared on Thursday, received 48 angry reactions, as of Friday.

This was shared by 536 people on Facebook, as of this writing.

I feel bad for those who are only visiting relatives, when they have to spend a lot of money for a notarized affidavit, then you cannot give them a copy, so these have to be brought home)," Eric Sendon wrote.

"With your new policy, I hope foreign companies or institutions will realize how difficult and time consuming and costly it is to invite Filipinos to attend international meetings, training, conventions, etc.," Ryan Silverio also wrote.

"What about the self-employed freelancers, affiliate marketers or those who are just doing a lot of side gigs? What can they present if not employed under a company as a supporting document other than proof of income? Hoping to hear an answer to clarify things up. Thanks!" Jeff Caceres said.

In a press briefing on Thursday, the Department of Justice clarified that these new requirements are only for first-time travelers, and 95 percent of travelers will only present the basic requirements of passport, boarding pass, visa and the confirmed return ticket.

"This revision is a collaborative effort aimed at streamlining and formalizing the departure requirements for various categories of Filipino passengers embarking on international journeys," the IACAT said on its website.

"The guidelines categorize different Filipino travelers to present the specific requirements for each group, thereby simplifying the process. Intended to encompass existing policies upheld by member agencies while conscientiously addressing emergent trends in human trafficking, these guidelines cover crucial aspects, including assessment, clearance and documentation during immigration inspections."

The IACAT, however, said these guidelines are not stricter than those in the past.

"The [IACAT] clarifies that the new guidelines are not stricter compared to before, they have been designed to comprehensively outline all of the requirements and documents that Filipinos need to secure before traveling," the agency added.

"The overarching goal of these guidelines is to mitigate the rising number of human trafficking victims. By providing clear, standardized departure procedures, we aim to fortify efforts against this pervasive threat to our citizens' safety and well-being."

A full version of the revised travel guidelines can be found on the IACAT's website and Facebook page.

The new travel guidelines, known as the Revised Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking Guidelines on Departure Formalities for International-Bound Filipino Passengers, were introduced on Aug. 18, 2023, but were only posted on the IACAT's Facebook page on Thursday.

These guidelines will take effect on Sept. 3, 2023.

The additional requirements are "cumbersome" and they "infringe on the right of Filipinos to travel," the Makabayan bloc in Congress said.

During a virtual media briefing, Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Danniel Manuel urged the government to immediately review the new guidelines, remove the unnecessary requirements and instead intensify its efforts to curb human trafficking.

He said the government should fund human trafficking surveillance.

"The surveillance funds should be spent here, instead of surveilling ordinary people, they should monitor those who are involved with human trafficking instead of preying on ordinary citizens," Manuel added.

ACT-Teachers Rep. France Castro said the government should focus on creating local jobs and sufficient wages so that Filipinos won't seek jobs abroad that would involve human trafficking.

In Malacañang on Thursday, August 24, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomed the recommendation of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) to streamline visa applications for tourists and international students as well as the adoption of online platforms to make the Philippines attractive to foreign tourists.

Marcos, during a meeting with PSAC, was presented with the group's proposals including the standardization of information application procedure and information on student visa requirements and accreditation of clinics for medical clearance and certificate requirements for foreign students.

These documentary requirements may be reviewed to simplify and reduce the number of requirements.

PSAC recommended the automatic accreditation of at least Level 3 hospitals nationwide for tourists' medical clearances.

"So, I think the easiest... is to align ourselves. ... We can choose to remove it altogether, the requirement for medical certificate, or if we will continue to require medical certificate, as long as it's a recognized clinic, and it comes out on the actual list of hospitals or something like that. I'm sure there's a way," the President was quoted as saying.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, on the other hand, cited Joint Memorandum Order (JMO) 01, Series of 2017, which streamlines regulations on the entry of foreign students to support government policy to promote the Philippines as a center of education in the Asia-Pacific region.

 

New travel requirements draw flak (msn.com)

[Mike J]

3 hours ago, Lee said:

New travel requirements draw flak

New travel requirements draw flak (msn.com)

Manilla Times is using creative journalism to create controversy.  These are not "new" requirements but rather a clarification of existing requirements.   Getting increasingly difficult to trust the news. 

[Lee]

The Philippine Senate weighs in on the debate.                 

Senate reso seeks suspension of new departure guidelines for Filipinos

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The Senate on Wednesday adopted two resolutions against the new guidelines released by IACAT (Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking) on Departure Formalities for International-Bound Filipino Passengers.

The guidelines, which require all Filipino outbound travelers to undergo immigration inspection and present basic travel documents such as a valid passport, boarding pass, appropriate visa, and confirmed return or roundtrip ticket, will go into effect on September 3.

The senators approved an unnumbered resolution urging the inter-agency council to suspend and review the new guidelines, and another unnumbered resolution authorizing Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri to file a temporary restraining order (TRO) before the Supreme Court (SC) if necessary.

In a privilege speech, Zubiri said traveling is a right mandated by the 1987 Constitution.

“There has to be a way to protect our people without also hampering their right to travel. This is a constitutional right…It’s under Article III, Section 6 of our Constitution,” Zubiri said in mixed English and Filipino.

“The constitution is not recommendatory, Mr. President, it is mandatory. As may be provided by law, that is correct, to add to that. But I don’t recall, in our 25 years as a legislator, that we passed a law asking the people to submit their graduation certificate and their yearbook at the airport,” he added.

Under the new guidelines, Immigration officers are also mandated to interview the passenger about their purpose for travel and ask for relevant clarifying questions and additional supporting documents.

The Department of Justice said that the guidelines aim to address “emergent trends in human trafficking” and claimed that they will not hamper Filipinos’ right to travel, nor impose additional requirements.

However, Zubiri criticized the new IACAT guidelines by comparing it to the rules of North Korea.

“Parang North Korea lamang po, Mr. President, ang hindi pumapayag sa kanilang mga kababayan na mag-travel,” the Senate President quipped.

He pointed out that the government must strengthen its measures against illegal recruiters as “this is where the exploitation starts.”

Zubiri’s speech was backed by several senators including Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, who filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the matter, and Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III who said the guidelines are “on its face unconstitutional.”

Since the matter is urgent and the implementation of the guidelines is expected to take effect before the Senate can start its investigation into the issue, Pimentel suggested the chamber authorize Zubiri to talk to the IACAT and suspend the imposition.

Following Pimentel’s idea, Zubiri suggested passing a resolution instead asking the IACAT to suspend and review their guideline pending the investigation of the Senate.

“If we all agree today, maybe today, we can pass a resolution asking them to suspend and review their IACAT guidelines pending the investigation,” he said.

Zubiri also urged his colleagues to rally behind him in case the circumstances would prompt him to file a TRO before the high court.

“I’d like to seek the support of the minority and all the members of the majority, if the time comes when—you know there are a lot of agencies [and] sometimes we shout to the highest heavens, hindi nakikinig. If the time will come that we need to file sa Supreme Court a TRO, maybe I can enjoin the members to join me in filing a TRO to that effect so that the Supreme Court can finally declare if it's constitutional or not,” he said.

“Because I truly feel—I’m not a lawyer, but deep in my heart it is unconstitutional and all the lawyers here. But for the meantime, with the permission of the majority leader we can approve an unnumbered resolution today that will give the sense of the Senate appealing to the head of the IACAT which is under the DOJ to suspend their implementation on September 3 until further study particularly by the Senate, particularly by the committee on justice,” he added.

After the resolution seeking the halting of IACAT rules implementation was adopted, Pimentel still pushed for the inclusion of a provision that authorizes Zubiri to file a TRO before the SC if it is still necessary.

As advised by the Senate secretariat, Zubiri said this suggestion can be written in another unnumbered resolution.

After the discussion, the chamber also adopted the second resolution on the filing of a TRO before the SC.

All senators were made co-authors in the two adopted resolutions.

Meanwhile, Zubiri's  privilege speech was referred to the Senate committee on justice and human rights chaired by Senator Francis Tolentino.

Pimentel urged his fellow senators to provide better ideas to prevent human trafficking.

"In the hearing of this topic in the committee on justice, we can come up with ideas to combat human trafficking na hindi po ganito,  parang shotgun approach to the extent that it violates the constitution. Yun lang naman ang reklamo natin e," he said. — BM, GMA Integrated News

 

Senate reso seeks suspension of new departure guidelines for Filipinos (msn.com)

[Hestecrefter]

Perhaps one has to expect the Spanish Inquisition in order to board the aircraft: