Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 285)
Only aliens seeking temporary stay in the Philippines solely to take a course higher than high school at authorized educational institutions, who are at least 18 years old at enrollment, and have means sufficient for education and support are covered.
Only schools with programs accredited by the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP) or with equivalent accreditation by CHED and the Bureau of Immigration are authorized to admit foreign students.
Authorized schools must submit: (a) enrollment reports 45 days after classes start, including names of accepted but non-enrolled students; (b) monthly status reports including missing, transferred, dropped students or those with derogatory records; and (c) promotion reports at the end of each term with details on examinations and deficiencies.
The foreign student must submit five copies of the Personal History Statement, a notarized affidavit of support with bank statements or scholarship notice, duly authenticated scholastic records, and a photocopy of the passport data page and authenticated birth certificate or equivalent.
The DFA reviews the documents submitted by schools, indorses them to the Philippine Foreign Service Post for visa issuance, and issues notices of visa issuance to the school, CHED, BI, NBI, and NICA.
Students must submit the original Notice of Acceptance from the school, a police clearance from their country authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post, and a medical health certificate including chest x-ray, HIV, and Hepatitis B clearances.
It handles and screens applications for conversion to student visa, processes visa extension applications, accredits Higher Educational Institutions for foreign student admission, implements visa category conversions and downgrades, issues BI clearances, and monitors foreign student activities.
Failure to comply with the reporting requirements shall be a ground for cancellation of the school's authority to admit foreign students by the CHED.
Spouses and unmarried dependent children under 21 of permanent foreign residents, aliens with working permits under specified sections of the Philippine Immigration Act, foreign diplomatic and consular personnel, accredited international organization personnel, holders of SIRV and SRRV, and certain foreign students with specific visas are exempted.
An Inter-Agency Committee on Foreign Students composed of the CHED, DFA, DECS, BI, NBI, and NICA is created to oversee the implementation of the Executive Order.
The Committee promulgates simplified procedures, monitors and coordinates implementation, meets regularly to assess progress, can invite other agencies or private sector representatives, and submits semi-annual reports to the Office of the President.
No, shifting courses or changing schools requires prior clearances from CHED or DECS.
Violation is a ground for cancellation of the student visa and deportation of the foreign student.
They must report immediately to the BI Students Desk for registration and then enroll in the accepting school, undergo competency reassessment if necessary, and obtain Alien Certificate of Registration and Certificate of Residence for Temporary Students from BI.