Visa Services and Immigration Law Firm in Metro Manila, Philippines

Duran & Duran-Schulze Law (“DDS Law”) is a premier Bureau of Immigration (BI)-accredited law firm specializing in citizenship, visa, and immigration in the Philippines. While headquartered in Metro Manila, with its principal office in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig, we cater to foreign nationals, expatriates, multinational corporations, and international investors seeking to navigate the complexities of Philippine immigration.

With a profound mastery of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 (C.A. 613), the Labor Code of the Philippines (P.D. 442), special investment laws, and the latest administrative orders, we bring over a decade of experience in visa processing, work permit procurement, immigration blacklist lifting, and regulatory compliance.

We guide individuals, families, and corporate enterprises—from multinational companies deploying foreign talent to solo entrepreneurs setting up local roots—through every stage of relocation, residency, and citizenship. Through consultations, we clarify visa options, quota requirements, and regulatory standings to deliver tailored legal solutions aligned with specific mobility needs. Read more about our law firm here >>>

Visa and Immigration Law Core Practice Areas

Our core practice areas under visa and immigration law include the following:

• Immigration Blacklist Order (BLO) Lifting: Representing foreign nationals in lifting Blacklist Orders (BLO), Watchlist Orders (WLO), and Alert List Orders (ALO), as well as filing motions for reconsideration and clearing immigration derogatory records.
• Work Permits and Non-Immigrant Visas: Applications for 9(g) Pre-Arranged Employment Visa, Special Work Permits (SWP), and Provisional Work Permits (PWP) and  Alien Employment Permits (AEP)
• Special Investor and Resident Visas: Assisting foreign investors and retirees with long-term residency options, including the Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV) via the Board of Investments (BOI) and the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) through the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA).
• Permanent Resident Visas: Handling applications for 13(a) Non-Quota Immigrant Visas for foreign nationals married to Philippine citizens, Temporary Resident Visas (TRV), quota immigrant visas and other treaty-trader arrangements.
• Filipino Dual Citizenships: Guiding foreign-born individuals of Filipino lineage through the retention or re-acquisition of Philippine citizenship under the Dual Citizenship Law (R.A. 9225). 
• Overstaying and Legalization Assistance: Assisting foreign nationals with the regularizing of their stay, updating expired visas, securing exit clearances (ECC), and processing voluntary deportation or motion for extensions in complex stay scenarios.
• Bureau of Immigration (BI) Litigation: Representing clients in administrative hearings, deportation defense proceedings, and advocating for foreign nationals before the Board of Commissioners.

Immigration Legal Team

Atty. Marie Christine Duran-Schulze, the firm’s Managing Partner, commands the Immigration Legal Team. As a seasoned immigration law practitioner, she uniquely bridges the gap between complex immigration frameworks and bureaucratic processes. Under her leadership, DDS Law’s high-caliber team of in-house immigration counsel, visa specialists, and global mobility experts provides comprehensive, strategically aligned support—from routing executive visas to resolving high-stakes derogatory issues and blacklist orders. Check our lawyers’ page here >>>

Track Record of Success

Our Immigration Legal Team has successfully navigated numerous high-stakes and complex immigration matters. Notable successes include:

Lifting a Blacklist Order (BLO) Due to Disrespectful Behavior

When a foreign national faced a Blacklist Order (BLO) for alleged “disrespectful behavior,” DDS Law leveraged the constitutional principle of family solidarity and precise legal advocacy before the Bureau of Immigration (BI). Our team successfully lifted the order, fully restoring the client’s right to return to the Philippines. Read the full story here >>>

Overturning a Blacklist Order (BLO) for Alleged Fraudulent Marriage

When a foreign national was blacklisted and excluded from the Philippines due to an alleged fraudulent marriage, DDS Law intervened following the client’s failed independent attempt. Through a rigorous legal approach and meticulous documentary compliance, our team successfully disproved the allegations, lifted the Blacklist Order (BLO), and reunited the separated family. Read the full story here >>>

Lifting a Blacklist Order (BLO) on Grounds of Indigency

When a foreign national was permanently barred under a Blacklist Order (BLO) due to financial indigency and immigration non-compliance, DDS Law stepped in following a failed initial attempt. Rectifying prior procedural errors with a precise legal strategy before the Bureau of Immigration (BI), our team successfully lifted the blacklist and secured the client’s lawful readmission to the Philippines. Read the full story here >>>

Client Engagement and Journey

Guided by principles of transparency and efficiency, Duran & Duran-Schulze Law follows a structured five-stage engagement lifecycle. The process begins with an intake inquiry and custom immigration cost proposal, advancing to the execution of a formal Engagement Agreement. 

Following the secure settlement of initial fees, a dedicated immigration lawyer and specialists are assigned to deploy the legal strategy, draft petitions, and deliver routine progress updates. Upon the successful resolution of the matter—such as visa issuance or stamp procurement—the firm completes a thorough offboarding phase that features a final financial accounting and the secure return of all original passports and statutory documents. Read more about our structured client lifecycle here >>>

Immigration Legal Consultations

To secure strategic legal guidance, foreign nationals, employers, and investors may schedule a formal online or onsite consultation directly through this booking link or by contacting the firm via email at info@duranschulze.com. Sessions are structured into dedicated time allocations—including 30-minute and 1-hour blocks—to address specific visa, work permit, or residency matters efficiently.

Functioning as an initial intake and immigration diagnostic session, this formal consultation allows the firm’s immigration counsel to review personal and corporate facts, examine material disclosures (such as travel history and employment status), outline viable visa or residency remedies, and assess associated processing timelines, government fees, and procedural costs.

Under Philippine law and the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA), all personal data, travel histories, and proprietary strategies shared during this session remain strictly protected under the Attorney-Client Privilege.