Reminders to Air Passengers Tips To Avoid Being Offloaded

Philippines Bureau of Immigration

Have you ever been asked with so many questions by the immigration officer that made you thought whether you can board the plane or not?  Don't blame them they are just doing their job and they are mandated by law to do so to prevent trafficking in person, illegal recruitment, and other related offenses.

In order for air passengers to have a hassle free immigration clearing, the Bureau of Immigration has released "Guidelines on Departure Formalities for International Bound Passengers”.

The guidelines, which were approved by the Department of Justice, was formulated in accordance with Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, Republic Act No. 8042, otherwise known as the “Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995,” as amended by Republic Act No. 10022 and other related laws.

Under the guidelines, which provide for definite parameters in the strict enforcement of immigration departure formalities intended for the prevention of trafficking in persons, illegal recruitment, and other related offenses, the bureau will automatically subject the following to secondary inspection:

• Travelers without financial capacity to travel escorted/accompanied by a foreigner who is not related to them.

• Minor traveling alone or unaccompanied by either parent or legal guardian without the required travel clearance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

• Previously repatriated irregular workers, in which case, travel may not be allowed without the clearance from the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).

• Partners and spouses of foreign nationals intending to depart to meet and/or marry his/her fiancé without the Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO) Guidance and Counseling Certificate.

• Passengers traveling to countries with existing deployment bans, alert levels, and travel advisories and those in possession of a visa to the said countries.

• Passengers who stayed abroad for more than one year during a previous departure from the country as a tourist/temporary visitor, intending to depart for the second and/or subsequent time.

Based on the guidelines, travelers are categorized according to purpose, whether as tourists, OFWs, or immigrants. They will be required to present documents depending on their travel purposes to prevent being offloaded.

Source:  PIA