* BI Sets New Rules (Unaccompanied foreign minors)

[Kano]

BI Sets New Rules


Manila Bulletin September 12, 2010,

MANILA, Philippines — Unaccompanied foreign minors who want to enter the Philippines have to surrender their passports and other travel documents to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

BI Officer-in-Charge Ronaldo Ledesma said Sunday that the bureau has implemented stricter rules governing the entry of foreign minors who are not accompanied by their parents into the country.

Ledesma issued a memorandum order last week prescribing new rules regarding the issuance of waivers of exclusion to unaccompanied foreign minors entering the Philippines.

Under the amended rules, an unaccompanied foreign minor shall be allowed entry only after the minor's guardian or representative pays a waiver fee of P3,120 to the BI cashier at the port of entry.

Immigration officers are also required to retain for safekeeping the minor's passport as well as a copy of the child's plane ticket and arrival card to enable the BI to closely and effectively monitor the arrival and departure of foreign minors who are on limited stay here as temporary visitors or tourists.