Setting off on the path of international travel is an exciting endeavor, filled with the promise of new experiences and cultural enrichment. However, the process of departing from one’s home country can sometimes take an unexpected turn, particularly when dealing with immigration authorities.
For travelers flying from the Philippines, concerns about being off-loaded by the Bureau of Immigration have become a focal point of attention. For instance, a passenger missed her flight due to an extensive interview involving personal details like her parents’ relationship status and her graduation yearbook. Another traveler, along with several others, experienced a lengthy screening process that led to missed flights. In even more distressing cases, a passenger was offloaded and coerced into paying a significant sum to reboard his flight, despite possessing all the necessary documentation.
The rigorous enforcement of departure protocols has sparked frustration among certain passengers, yet the BI clarified that these procedures, referred to as Departure Formalities by the Department of Justice, serve as the government’s countermeasure to human trafficking.
This stringent approach led to the Philippines attaining a Tier 1 Ranking in the United States Trafficking in Persons Report for seven consecutive years, establishing it as a global model in the battle against human trafficking.
However, even with the strict implementation of these protocols, they must not lead to passengers missing their flights. Thus, people planning to travel abroad must take heed of the guidelines outlined in these protocols. This will enable them to know the boundaries of the BI officials’ authority and ensure a smooth understanding of their rights and responsibilities.
A traveler intending to go abroad with a tourist/temporary visitor’s visa shall be subjected to:
- Primary Inspection
- During primary inspection, the following documents shall be required from the traveler:
- Passport
- Visa, when required
iii. Roundtrip Ticket
- Secondary Inspection
- The Bureau of Immigration will conduct a second inspection if needed, especially to protect potential victims of human trafficking, illegal recruitment, and related offenses. This assessment considers factors such as:
- Age
- Educational attainment
iii. Financial capacity to travel
(1) If not financially capable of travel, an authenticated affidavit of support, indicating therein the relationship within the 4th civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, together with supporting documents, may be required; and
(2) An affidavit of undertaking/guaranty may likewise be required.
- Any passenger/traveler who will be subjected to secondary inspection shall be required to accomplish the Bureau of Immigration Border Control Questionnaire to be furnished by the Immigration Officer.
- However, the following shall automatically be subjected to secondary inspection:
- Travelers without the financial capacity to travel escorted/accompanied by a foreigner who is not related;
- Minors traveling alone or unaccompanied by either parent or legal guardian without the required travel clearance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development;
iii. Repatriated irregular workers, in which case travel may not be allowed without clearance from the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking;
- Partners and spouses of foreign nationals intending to depart to meet and/or marry his/her fiancé without the Commission on Filipinos Overseas Guidance and Counseling Certificate;
Passengers traveling to counties with existing deployment bans, alert levels and travel advisories and those in possession of visas to the said countries; and
Thus, people planning to travel abroad must take heed of the guidelines outlined in these protocols.
- Passengers who stayed abroad for more than one (1) year during a previous departure from the country as a tourist/temporary visitor, intending to depart for the second and/or subsequent time.
- Clarificatory questions may be propounded relating to the above-mentioned documents/purpose by the Bureau of Immigration.
- A traveler found to be misrepresenting the purpose of his/her travel as a tourist shall not be cleared for departure.
It is crucial to highlight that the screening procedure should solely address factors pertinent to the travel situation. The BI has reiterated the importance of conducting interviews professionally and avoiding the recurrence of such situations.
Additionally, the public is encouraged to report any problems or post their queries regarding immigration personnel to the Immigration Helpline PH Facebook page.