QuestionsQuestions (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 285)
It covers aliens who seek temporary stay in the Philippines solely to take up a course higher than high school at a duly authorized university, seminary, college, academy, or school; they must be at least 18 years old at enrollment and have sufficient means for education and support.
Only schools with programs accredited by FAAP or with equivalent accreditation by CHED and cleared with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) shall be authorized by CHED to admit foreign students.
CHED prepares and periodically updates an updated list of authorized schools, in consultation with BI. Copies are furnished to BI, DFA, NBI, NICA, and the schools authorized to admit foreign students.
Each authorized school must establish a foreign student unit. This unit serves as the internal office responsible for compliance and required reporting to BI (with copies to CHED and NICA).
Required reports include: (1) enrollment report 45 days after classes start every semester, including accepted but not enrolled students; (2) monthly status reports as deemed necessary, emphasizing missing, transferred, dropped, or with derogatory records; and (3) report on promotions including those who failed final examinations and deficiencies. Failure to comply is a ground for cancellation by CHED of the authority to admit foreign students.
CHED clears the CEA only in cases where restrictions exist on enrollment of foreign students due to shortage of facilities (e.g., medicine and dentistry).
Accreditation of advanced credits earned in college or earned credits in Science, English, and Mathematics for 11th and 12th year levels abroad is limited only to the authorized number fixed by CHED. Excess advanced credits for degree courses require validating examinations administered by the accepting institution, subject to CHED information.
Enrollment in any level requires completion of the lower particular level. For example, applicants for tertiary/college level must be high school graduates or its equivalent.
After compliance, the school issues a Notice of Acceptance (NOA) to the student and submits a duplicate copy to DFA, together with a certified true copy of CHED’s CEA when necessary, and the required documents. The school’s liaison officer hand-carries these to DFA requesting visa issuance. DFA then indorses documents to the Philippine Foreign Service Post for visa issuance.
From the Philippine Foreign Service Post in the student’s country of origin or legal residence, regardless of where the student is at the time of application.
The student must submit: (a) the original NOA with a clear impression of the school’s dry seal; (b) a police clearance issued by the national police authorities in the student’s country of origin/legal residence and authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post; and (c) a medical health certificate by an authorized physician including chest x-ray, HIV, and Hepatitis B clearance.
The student must report immediately to the BI Students Desk for registration and to the accepting school, and then enroll in the school that issued the NOA.
The authorized period must be consistent with the length of the course accepted. The initial period is one year, then renewed by the BI Students Desk every semester and, for cause, may be approved for one year.
Shifting of course or change of school requires prior CHED/DECS clearances.
Authorization for conversion from a tourist visa category to that of a student visa or issuance of a Special Study Permit is restored. The BI Foreign Student Desk handles applications/petitions for conversion to student visa or Special Study Permit and recommends action to the BI Commissioner.
Exempt include: (1) spouses and unmarried dependent children below 21 of certain categories of aliens (e.g., permanent foreign residents; holders of valid working permits under the cited provisions; diplomatic/consular mission personnel; personnel of duly accredited international organizations; SIRV and SRRV holders; foreign students with 47(a)(2) visas under existing laws); and (2) certain dependents already enrolled before marriage or before reaching age 21. For example, a spouse/dependent child under 21 of a permanent foreign resident need not secure a student visa and BI special study permit for tertiary enrollment.
Composition includes CHED (Chairman), DFA (Co-Chairman), DECS (Member), BI (Member), NBI (Member), and NICA (Member). Duties include promulgating simplified procedures and implementing guidelines; monitoring and coordinating implementation; meeting regularly; requesting representatives when necessary; and submitting a semi-annual report to the Office of the President through the Office of the Executive Secretary (before end of September and February of each school year).
Any school found, after due investigation by CHED and/or BI, to have violated any compliance provision suffers cancellation of the authority to admit foreign students.