Recently, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) of the Philippines is considering lifting the blacklist restrictions of the Allow Departure Order (ALO) and Watchlist Order (WLO) for some foreign employees, with an estimated number of 3678 individuals involved.
This initiative mainly targets those foreign nationals who, by the end of 2024, have timely processed their visa downgrades, legally exited, and successfully returned to the Philippines with a new visa.
It is reported that this "whitewashing" operation was triggered by hundreds of Taiwanese citizens jointly suing the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, which promoted systemic reforms, allowing those who were listed on the ALO/WLO due to administrative delays to see a turnaround.
ALO is an order that allows departure, applicable to foreign nationals who are under investigation by the immigration authority or whose administrative cases are unresolved. WLO is a watchlist for individuals under investigation by the Department of Justice or the Bureau of Immigration, or involved in financial disputes, litigation, etc. Individuals listed on these lists usually face entry and exit restrictions, affecting their legal residence and work in the Philippines.
Previously, the Bureau of Immigration had issued an ALO list involving detailed personal information of over ten thousand foreign POGO employees, including names, genders, dates of birth, passport numbers, and nationalities. Most of these individuals were listed for not processing their visa downgrades or exit procedures on time.
For those who wish to confirm whether they are still on the ALO or WLO list, they can inquire through the official website of the Philippine Bureau of Immigration or related channels. If found still on the list, it is advisable to contact a professional lawyer or agency as soon as possible to submit a removal application and provide relevant supporting documents, such as legal work or exit proofs, payment of fines, etc., to increase the chances of successful removal.
This move by the Bureau of Immigration aims to correct the problems caused by administrative delays that led to wrongful blacklisting, restoring the legal rights of foreign employees.
For foreign nationals who were blacklisted due to visa issues, this represents a significant "whitewashing" opportunity. It is recommended that the relevant individuals closely follow the latest announcements from the immigration bureau, take timely action, and ensure the restoration of their legal status.
