Some friends may ask, since they have left the Philippines, this "broken country", why go back?
In fact, many people have left deep emotions and concerns in their work and life in the Philippines: they have made friends worth deepening, operated their own small business, found a desired partner, and even had their own children...
In short, many people still feel somewhat reluctant and melancholic at the moment of leaving the Philippines.
Recently, some netizens have contacted us, they are already in Thailand, how can they return to the Philippines? For this, we have done some analysis, just for your reference.
Can you return to the Philippines after leaving with a POGO visa history?
The answer is: yes. Currently, the Philippine officials have not issued any announcements prohibiting the entry of people with a POGO record.
Although the Philippines is currently very strict in the entry and exit of foreigners, especially in the management of Chinese people, such as tourist visas difficult to renew after one year, work visa approval slowing down, and even rumors that the 13A marriage visa cannot be applied for without children, legally, returning to the Philippines is still feasible.
However, it should be noted that customs operations will be stricter in practice, and entry may be subject to stricter scrutiny. Of course, "securing customs clearance" is still feasible.
Interpretation of the follow-up visa policy after returning to the Philippines
According to the latest "Action Order No. 2022-004" issued by the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, which is aimed at the implementation and management of the POGO ban, foreigners applying for visa conversion with a POGO history must comply with the following regulations:
(i) The applicant's last departure from the Philippines must be before September 19, 2022; (If listed in the ALO monitoring list, this condition must be met.)
(ii) The applicant held a 9(a) temporary visitor visa during their last entry into the Philippines;
(iii) The applicant has never applied for a Special Work Permit (SWP) or Provisional Work Permit (PWP) sponsored by a POGO company with a revoked license.
In other words, as long as you enter with a non-POGO work visa and meet the above conditions, you can still convert to other visas.
The key condition is the ALO list, as long as you are not on the list, having a POGO record actually doesn't matter much anymore, because it's hard for the Philippine officials to track your information~
How to apply for a return travel visa to the Philippines now?
Unfortunately, currently, Chinese citizens must return to mainland China to apply for a return visa to the Philippines. Many friends abroad do not plan to return to their home country to apply, so they try to find other ways.
Although there are some "special channels" occasionally mentioned in the market, according to our consultation with some experienced travel agencies, there are still no reliable third-country visa processing channels. Official policy is still the most important limiting factor.
After the end of the POGO ban
The Philippine government has been committed to cleaning up the POGO industry while also vigorously promoting other forms of foreign entry for tourism and living.
The government has begun to gradually optimize entry policies, such as the trial of electronic visas, which all indicate the official welcoming attitude towards foreign entry.
However, since the implementation of the POGO ban is still a focus of current policy, the progress of these plans is slow.
According to the current policy direction, it is expected that after the end of the POGO ban, the Philippine entry policy may be relaxed, and the officials will focus on cracking down and deporting the remaining POGO personnel.
Compared to the Philippines, Thailand's entry policy is very popular, and the smooth entry process has been praised by netizens who have experienced it.
Although there are rumors that customs policies may be tightened in December, it has not been implemented yet, and Thailand's entry policy remains simple and efficient. Embracing international friends and foreign capital is also the development direction of Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines in the future.
Is it appropriate to return to the Philippines near the end of the POGO ban period?
Currently, it is not recommended to return to the Philippines rashly as the POGO ban is about to end. First, the Philippine government has a clear target for the cleanup of POGO employees, and the continuous media attention makes this policy highly monitored by public opinion.
If the cleanup work is not completed smoothly, local media may increase their reporting, which may force the government to take stricter measures to calm public opinion, and those with a POGO history may face adverse effects.
Moreover, the recent "ALO list" leak incident has also caused concerns among many people, just a step late, and your name, passport, and other private information were leaked.
Some netizens even suspect that this was done intentionally by the officials: they kindly ask you to leave, but you don't, then they leak your information, can you still stay calm? Currently, it's just the first batch of the list, and those who don't leave later, do you also want to be listed? It can only be said, the earlier you leave, the safer you are.
When will the Philippines reopen tourist visas?
Some enthusiastic friends have communicated with us that if the Philippines wants to reopen tourist visa restrictions, it will probably drag on until the second half of next year. Because the government currently needs to first deal with various residual issues after the POGO cleanup, especially the employment and survival issues of local POGO employees, and to crack down on and deport companies and individuals involved in illegal POGOs.
Considering the efficiency of the Philippine government in handling similar affairs in the past, the possibility of reopening in the first half of next year is not great. Therefore, if you are waiting in a third country to return to the Philippines, be prepared for a long stay and consider visa, accommodation, and other medium to long-term arrangements.
Summary
Currently, the Philippine entry policy is still strict due to the POGO repatriation work, and the official continues to organize the ALO list, and subsequent policy actions are likely to revolve around the ALO list.
During the transition period of the POGO ban, it is advised to plan your return to the Philippines cautiously to avoid unnecessary troubles due to policy changes.
Also, for friends who are still waiting in a third country to return to the Philippines, be mentally prepared for not being able to return to the Philippines for a long time, and arrange your life and visa matters according to the situation.
The above content is for reference only, follow PASA, and we will continue to report on the policy trends and hot topics related to the Philippines for you.
