Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 285)
The primary policy is to promote the Philippines as a center of education in the Asia Pacific Region by encouraging foreign students to study in the country, developing awareness of the Philippine educational system, and allowing duly accepted foreign students to use educational facilities in the Philippines.
Only aliens who seek temporary stay in the Philippines solely for the purpose of taking up a course higher than high school at duly authorized institutions, who are at least 18 years old at enrollment, and have sufficient means for their education and support.
Only schools with programs accredited by the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP) or with equivalent accreditation by CHED and BI are authorized to admit foreign students.
Schools must submit: a) an enrollment report on foreign students 45 days after classes start every semester; b) a monthly status report on foreign students' attendance and conduct; c) a promotion report including those who failed final exams or have deficiencies.
Documents include: a) Five copies of the Student's Personal History Statement with photo and thumbprints; b) notarized affidavit of support with financial proof; c) authenticated scholastic records; d) photocopy of passport data page and birth certificate authenticated by Philippine Foreign Service Post.
The accepting school submits the acceptance documents to the DFA, which forwards them to the Philippine Foreign Service Post in the student's country or legal residence. The student must appear for an interview and submit additional requirements such as police clearance and medical certificates to obtain the visa.
Foreign students must enroll in the institution that accepted them, register with the BI Students Desk, and obtain Alien Certificate of Registration and Certificate of Residence. Their stay is valid for one year initially and renewable every semester or year.
They must secure prior clearances from CHED or DECS and submit appropriate documents for BI approval before transferring or shifting courses.
The Committee includes the Commission on Higher Education (Chairman), Department of Foreign Affairs (Co-Chairman), Department of Education, Culture and Sports, Bureau of Immigration, National Bureau of Investigation, and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.
Schools found to have violated compliance provisions after investigation may suffer cancellation of their authority to admit foreign students.
Exempted are spouses and unmarried dependent children below 21 years of permanent residents, aliens with valid working permits, foreign diplomatic mission personnel, accredited international organization personnel, holders of certain special visas, and certain foreign students with valid 47(a)(2) visas.
The desk handles and screens applications for conversion to student visas, processes student visa extensions, accredits HEIs for foreign students, implements visa conversions and downgrades, issues BI clearances, and monitors foreign student activities.