Dear Atty. Duran-Schulze,
What should I do if my work visa got approved but I am outside of the Philippines?
Dear Writer,
If your work visa was approved while you were outside the Philippines, you can apply for revalidation at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) main office.
To do so, submit the following documents:
- A letter addressed to the Commissioner explaining why you left the country before or after your visa approval. Ensure the letter does not have a derogatory stamp from the Certification and Clearance Section (CCS).
- If you failed to file for revalidation within fifteen (15) days of your latest arrival, include an Affidavit of Explanation.
- Photocopies of supporting documents that justify your reason for leaving the country, along with photocopies of your passport’s bio-page and latest departure and arrival stamps.
To avoid any delays, arrange all documents in order as listed in the Checklist of Documentary Requirements and compile them in a legal-size (8½ x 14 in.) folder. Otherwise, your application may not be accepted.
Additionally, all sworn statements or affidavits must be original and notarized. Philippine civil registry documents must be original and issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO), while foreign documents need to be original and authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post (FSP) or the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), with English translations if written in other language.
If an authorized representative is submitting the application on your behalf, attach a photocopy of the BI Accreditation ID Certificate or an original Special Power of Attorney (SPA) along with a photocopy of a valid government-issued ID of the representative. Moreover, it is advisable to seek legal advice from a lawyer or the BI-accredited entities.
Do you have any further questions that need to be addressed? Talk to our team at Duran & Duran-Schulze Law to know more. You may reach us at (+632) 8478 5826 or +63 917 194 0482 email info@duranschulze.com for more information.
