Attention everyone! If you have a work record with POGO and haven't left the country by December 31, you need to be careful!
Currently, since most people with POGO work visas have not been downgraded, various Philippine government departments are determined to enforce the ban on small horses with great effort!
According to statistics from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) of the Philippines, there are currently about 30,000 foreigners working in the POGO industry, but only 12,000 have downgraded their work visas to "temporary visitor visas." Those who have downgraded can legally stay in the Philippines for 59 days, using this time to handle affairs, such as dealing with family issues or applying for other legal work.
However, those who haven't downgraded are in big trouble!
Your passport will be automatically marked with an "exit order," although this is not a criminal record, it will be considered a dangerous signal of illegal stay, and future attempts to return to the Philippines may be strictly scrutinized or even outright denied entry.
If you don't leave the Philippines by the end of the year, starting from January 2025, as long as you are still working in the building doing BC (gambling-related work), whether you have a work visa or not, it will be considered illegal work, and you will be arrested and deported. Those holding a tourist visa will not be able to slip through either, they will also be arrested and deported.
Not only that, but you will also be blacklisted and permanently banned from entering the country.
The immigration bureau is currently intensifying the collection of information from various buildings. As everyone has probably noticed, there have been inspections happening from time to time recently, all in preparation for the actions starting in January next year. It can be anticipated that next year, the efforts to raid buildings and arrest people will be very significant, so don't take any chances.
The spokesperson for the immigration bureau, Sandoval, also said that they will continue to monitor whether people with POGO work visas have left the Philippines, and those who remain here entering 2025 will be considered as illegally staying.
That means, a large-scale arrest is about to start!
What to do?
If you still have a work record with POGO, leaving immediately or downgrading your work visa is the safest choice, otherwise, by January, once the arrest operation starts, it will be too late.
Remember, the actions of the Philippines this time are serious, don't take any chances!
