With consecutive cases of human trafficking for the past few days, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and other government agencies relating to travel came up with new guidelines for the immigration process to lessen this alarming issue in the country.
Starting on September 3 this year, the immigration officers at the local airports will require extra requirements not only for travelers but also for overseas Filipino workers in order to keep Filipinos who will leave the country on track.
Based on its revised departure guidelines, the basic travel documents that an individual should have are a passport that is valid for at least six months, a valid visa, a boarding pass, and a confirmed return or roundtrip ticket if necessary.
Other guidelines relating to the additional immigration requirements are as follows:
For minor travelers:
A. Minors should be accompanied by their parents and have an original copy of their birth certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority;
B. If not accompanied by their mother, they should have an original copy of their parents’ PSA-issued marriage certificate;
C. If the minor-aged traveler will not be accompanied by his or her parents, the guardian should have a copy of a valid travel clearance certificate from the Department of Social Welfare and Development;
D. And minors aged 13 and below are not allowed to travel alone.
For overseas Filipino workers (OFW):
A. OFWs, including first-timers, should present a valid Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) to know the background of the individual’s work outside the country.
B. Employment contract;
C. If applicable, OFWs can present their Visa Usage Undertaking or Manpower Request approved by the Migrant Workers Office;
D. And OFWs are required to present their valid visas and work permits.
For tourists with self-funded trips:
A. Financial capacity or source of income of the traveler;
B. Tourist’s proof of employment;
C. Hotel booking;
D. and a confirmed return or roundtrip ticket.
For travels funded by their first civil degree of family, an individual should present his or her original PSA-issued birth certificate or report of birth or their parent’s marriage certificate and a confirmed return or roundtrip ticket.
If the sponsored trip was done by any of an individual’s relatives or was not related to them, the tourist should present evidence of the sponsor’s financial capacity, evidence of the sponsor’s relation to the traveler, and an Affidavit of Support and Guarantee for immigration to know if the individual will be obligated to return to the country after traveling.
For travelers who will be married to a foreigner, the passenger should have a clearance from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas to know the relationship of the traveler to the said sponsored trip.
Lastly, for Filipino students or scholars who will study abroad, the passengers will be required to have an endorsement certificate from the IACAT before their departure.
With the said new travel guidelines that were approved by the IACAT, the agency vowed that this was not to invade Filipinos’ personal details but to protect them and reduce possible cases of human trafficking in the future.
