Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 423)
The main purpose of Executive Order No. 423 is to amend the guidelines on the entry and stay of foreign students in the Philippines and establish an inter-agency committee to promote the Philippines as a center of education in the region, ensuring the entry and monitoring of bona fide foreign students while addressing national security concerns.
Only aliens who seek to stay temporarily in the Philippines solely for the purpose of taking up a course higher than high school at duly authorized schools, who are at least eighteen years old at the time of enrollment and have sufficient means to support their education and livelihood are covered under this order.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is responsible for recognizing the programs of schools authorized to accept foreign students and preparing an updated list of such schools.
A foreign student must submit: a personal history statement in English and national alphabet with thumbprints and photograph, documentary proof of financial support, and scholastic records duly authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post in their country of origin or legal residence.
The DFA endorses the documents submitted by the school to the Philippine Foreign Service Post in the student's country for identity and admissibility verification, after which the Foreign Service Post conducts an interview and, upon meeting all requirements, issues the student visa.
No, conversion from any other visa category to a student visa is not permitted under Executive Order No. 423.
Authorized schools must establish a foreign students unit, submit acceptance/enrollment and monthly status reports on foreign students to the Bureau of Immigration, CHED, and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, and ensure compliance with the guidelines or face cancellation of their authority to admit foreign students.
Violation of immigration laws and regulations is ground for cancellation of the student visa and deportation of the foreign student concerned.
Spouses and unmarried dependent children of permanent foreign residents, aliens with valid working permits, foreign diplomatic and consular personnel and their families, holders of Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV) and Special Retiree's Resident Visa (SRRV), and foreign students with 47(a)(2) visas are exempted from securing student visas and BI special study permits.
The committee is composed of 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 as members.
The Committee shall promulgate simplified procedures and guidelines, monitor implementation of the order, meet regularly, invite other representatives when necessary, and submit semi-annual reports to the Office of the President on the status of foreign students in the country.
Upon arrival, foreign students should immediately report to the accepting school, enroll only in that school, undergo reassessment if necessary, and be assisted by the school in obtaining Alien Certificate of Registration and Certificate of Residence for Temporary Student from the Bureau of Immigration.
The NBI investigates criminal complaints against foreign students, and both the NBI and NICA monitor activities of foreign students to address concerns inimical to national security.