I. Overview of POGO Work Visas and ALO Policies

In October 2022, the Philippine government massively cracked down on illegal POGO companies, revoking the licenses of 176 offshore gambling operators and cancelling the visas of 48,782 foreign workers, placing them on the immigration bureau's Alert List Order (ALO) for monitoring. The immigration bureau required these individuals to leave the country by the end of 2022, otherwise they would be considered overstayers and subject to forced deportation and blacklisting.

According to the regulations at the time, foreigners who last left the country with a revoked POGO company visa would be denied re-entry and immediately added to the blacklist, with their visa cards also confiscated. This means that many who held POGO work visas would be denied entry at border control even with a tourist visa.

Currently, ALO is essentially equivalent to an entry alert or blacklist: once a name is on the alert list, immigration officers will scrutinize and even deny entry, requiring the alert record to be cleared first.

II. Procedures and Materials for Applying to Remove ALO (Blacklist)

ALO/blacklist removal can be requested through a formal application. The immigration bureau stipulates that any foreigner on the blacklist has the right to apply for removal, and the only procedure is to submit a formal petition letter with supporting documents to the office of the Director (Commissioner) of the immigration bureau.

Specific Process and Recommendations

Prepare the Petition

Write a detailed application letter requesting the immigration bureau to remove the ALO/blacklist record.

The application letter should include name, date of birth, passport number, any previous names used, and current contact information.

Explain that you were listed on the alert list due to the cancellation of the POGO company license, but you have not violated any laws and are willing to cooperate with investigations.

Emphasize that you have severed ties with the original POGO employer, have no criminal record, and hope to have the opportunity to re-enter the Philippines with a legal visa.

The application letter should be notarized and signed by the applicant.

Provide Supporting Documents

Criminal record clearance (such as a Philippine NBI clearance or a criminal record clearance from your home country).

Original visa-related documents (such as visa cancellation notice, ACR I-Card copy, etc.), proving that you held a POGO work visa that was cancelled due to policy.

Proof of the original company's license revocation or news reports, proving that the listing was due to policy factors.

Copy of the passport personal data page and recent entry/exit stamp pages.

If a new employer is willing to vouch, they can provide a letter of intent to hire or a guarantee statement, proving that you will engage in legal work after the blacklist is removed (not mandatory, but can be included if there is a new job plan).

All documents should be clearly photocopied and provided with English translations (if the original documents are not in English).

Pay Application Fees

Submitting the application requires payment of certain application fees and legal research fees, and a payment receipt must be presented at the time of submission.

It is recommended to confirm the fee standards with the immigration bureau before submitting.

Submit the Application

Submit the application to the main office of the Philippine Immigration Bureau (Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, Manila, headquarters) at the legal department/commissioner's office reception window.

If you are not in the Philippines, you can authorize a lawyer or immigration agent with a power of attorney to submit the application on your behalf.

Ensure you obtain a receipt or reference number for subsequent progress inquiries.

Wait for the Review Result

The immigration bureau usually makes a decision within a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on the complexity of the case.

Once approved, the immigration bureau will issue an official document "Order to Remove Alert/Blacklist".

Once the order is obtained, your name will be removed from the ALO/blacklist, restoring normal entry qualifications, and you can then reapply for a visa or enter the Philippines visa-free.

If the application is denied, you can petition for reconsideration or appeal to the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) for further relief.

III. Voluntary Departure (OTL) and its Relation to Clearing ALO

The "Order to Leave" (OTL) is a mandatory departure notice issued by the Philippine Immigration Bureau to certain foreigners who violate visa regulations. Generally, foreigners who receive an OTL and leave the Philippines within the specified period as required will not be blacklisted by the immigration bureau.

However, in the POGO work visa audit event, OTL almost became a procedural step, occurring concurrently with blacklisting. According to Immigration Bureau Operation Order 2022-004, for personnel holding work visas from POGO companies with revoked licenses, an OTL is issued when processing a visa downgrade (to a 9(a) tourist visa), and they are simultaneously blacklisted.

This means that even if you follow the instructions for "voluntary departure", you may still be recorded as banned from re-entry. Many POGO employees discovered they were under an OTL order only when processing a visa downgrade or exiting the country, needing to leave immediately and losing re-entry qualifications.

Whether or not you complied with the OTL departure, whether you are ultimately blacklisted depends on the immigration bureau's record handling at the time. Currently, most people are still prevented from entering, suggesting that the records have not been cleared, and the aforementioned petition submission is needed to clear them. Simply put, OTL has no substantial significance, and the only remedy is to go through the administrative application process for removal, rather than reapplying for OTL.

IV. Whether Alternative Visa Types (Investment Visa, Work Visa, etc.) Can Circumvent ALO

Applying for other types of visas usually does not work without clearing ALO/blacklist.

Investment Visa (SIRV/SRRV)

These visas are approved by the Philippine Trade Commission or Retirement Commission, but the final visa issuance and I-card processing still need to go through the immigration bureau.

If you are on the blacklist, the immigration bureau will not issue the relevant visa.

New 9G Work Visa

Requires a new employer (not involved in the gambling industry) willing to process it, but it cannot be approved until the blacklist is cleared.

If the previous visa sponsor is on the blacklist (i.e., the previous employer is on the cancelled POGO list), the new visa application will be intercepted by the legal department.

Only after clearing the blacklist can a new company process the 9G work visa.

Dependent Visa (13A)

If you have a Filipino spouse, you can apply for a 13A visa through a marriage certificate and simultaneously request a blacklist exemption.

Needs approval from the Philippine Department of Justice, but still falls under the category of clearing the blacklist, rather than directly bypassing it.

V. Relevant Departments and Processing Procedures

Philippine Immigration Bureau (BI) Legal Affairs Office: Mainly handles ALO removal applications.

Commissioner's Office of the Immigration Bureau: The final approving authority.

Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ): Responsible for appeals after ALO removal is denied.

FOI (Government Information Public Platform): Can be used to inquire about ALO status and application progress.

It is recommended to prepare the necessary documents for ALO removal and submit the application as soon as possible, while consulting a professional lawyer to increase the success rate. After clearing the blacklist, you can reapply for a visa or enter the country.