Visas of foreigners affected by Middle East conflict extended until May 1 -- DOJ
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered the visa extension until May 1 of foreigners who are affected by the Middle East conflict.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, March 31, DOJ Acting Secretary Fredderick A. Vida said the automatic extension of visas will be at no cost to foreigners like payment of fees, fines, and penalties.
“We did this unilaterally for humanitarian reasons and on the premise of compassion,” Vida said.
Last March 9, Vida issued Department Order (DO) No. 159 that allowed foreigners whose visas expired last Feb. 28 to legally stay in the Philippines until April 1. “We are extending this to May 1,” he said.
Vida said: “We do understand that there are still some visiting foreigners who have difficulty going back because of the restrictions, of the various constraints.”
With the extension, he also said, affected foreigners will no longer worry about their lack of a legal basis to stay in the Philippines.