OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS WHO ARE ON VISA RUNS FACE RISKS

The Philippine Embassy in Beijing informs the Filipino community of the continuing practice of visa runs scheme of undocumented Filipinos working in the ASEAN Member States of Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Visa runs refers to the process or facility by which foreign visitors continue to stay in a country by exiting through border control before their allowed period of temporary stay (usually 30 days) expires and then return for a renewed period, usually for another 15 days or up to two (2) or three (3) months, depending on the type of visa issued and discretion of the border officer.

As visa runs is considered as one of the facility being used by human traffickers and drug syndicates, overseas Filipino workers are strongly warned against using this mode of entry/exit in order to avoid possible risks to their welfare and safety.

Prospective applicants seeking employment in the above-mentioned countries are advised to take the legal processes and take extra-precautionary measures to establish the authenticity of employment offers by verifying the job orders with the POEA through its website www.poea.gov.ph and its hotlines at +632 722 1144 and 722 1155.

            In the same way, those who are seeking employment in China may also consult POEA for the verification of legal job opportunities being offered to them.