The Philippines Bureau of Immigration recently stated that less than two weeks before the December 31 deadline for the shutdown of offshore gaming companies, about 8,000 foreign POGO workers who have downgraded their work visas to tourist visas have not yet left the Philippines.
At the year-end press conference, the Director of the Bureau of Immigration revealed that there are about 33,000 registered foreign workers in offshore gaming, of which 23,000 to 24,000 have left the country after voluntarily downgrading their visas.
The Director stated: "Although most have left, there are still a large number of employees remaining in the Philippines, estimated to be about 7,000 to 8,000."
He also specifically clarified that foreign employees involved in offshore gaming are not only from China but also include other Asian and Southeast Asian countries, and even some from Africa. The Director noted: "This involves citizens of multiple countries, not just Chinese."
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration found that about 1,000 foreign workers failed to apply for a downgrade in time and are currently unaccounted for. The Director stated: "We will continue to search for these employees who did not apply for the downgrade."
Since President Marcos announced a complete ban on the domestic gaming industry in his State of the Nation Address in July this year, the Bureau of Immigration, following the instructions of the Department of Justice, allowed foreign POGO workers to voluntarily downgrade their work visas to tourist visas before October 18. For those who downgraded their visas before this deadline and wish to continue staying in the Philippines, they must leave the country by December 31.
The Bureau of Immigration reminds that employees who fail to voluntarily downgrade or leave within the specified time will face a "leave order" and be blacklisted, after which they will be deported. The Director emphasized: "After December 31, if these employees have not downgraded as required, they will be deported and banned from re-entry."
