Authorized Schools and Student Acceptance
- Only schools recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) may accept foreign students.
- CHED prepares and updates a list of authorized schools and restricted programs, disseminated to relevant agencies.
- Schools must establish foreign student units to handle enrollment and monitoring.
- Schools must submit enrollment and status reports on foreign students to Bureau of Immigration (BI), CHED, and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).
- Failure to comply may lead to cancellation of authority to accept foreign students.
Certificate of Eligibility for Admission (CEA)
- Issued by CHED in restricted programs (e.g., Medicine, Dentistry) where enrollment quotas exist.
- Valid for the entire course duration, contingent on satisfactory attendance and grades.
Equivalency and Enrollment Requirements
- CHED and Department of Education, Culture, and Sports (DECS) provide comparative equivalency assessments for foreign educational backgrounds.
- Completion of the preceding educational level is a requirement for enrollment at any given level.
Application Process and Documentation
- Schools may directly solicit applications, with assistance from DFA and Department of Tourism.
- Prospective students must submit a Personal History Statement, financial proof, authenticated scholastic records, and other institutional requirements.
- Schools issue Notice of Acceptance (NOA), forwarding necessary documentation to DFA and other agencies for visa processing.
Visa Issuance
- Foreign students must obtain student visas from Philippine Foreign Service Posts in their home countries.
- Conversion from other visa categories to student visa is not permitted.
- Additional requirements include police clearance and medical certificate.
- Consular officers issue visas upon verification; no scholastic fitness assessment is required by consular offices.
- DFA notifies all pertinent agencies and schools upon visa issuance.
Arrival, Enrollment, and Stay
- Students must report to the accepting school immediately upon arrival.
- Schools reassess competency and assist in securing Alien Certificate of Registration and Certificate of Residence.
- Authorized stay duration aligns with the length of the accepted course of study.
Monitoring and Compliance
- Schools must regularly report enrollment and dropout data to BI, CHED, and NICA.
- NICA and NBI monitor foreign student activities for national security concerns.
- BI responsible for enforcement of immigration laws and may initiate deportation proceedings against violators.
Exemptions
- Spouses and unmarried dependent children of specific aliens (permanent residents, persons with valid work permits, diplomats, accredited international organization staff, holders of special visas) are exempt from student visa and BI permit requirements.
- Children enrolled prior to marriage or age 21 may finish studies without securing new permits.
- Spouses and children of diplomats and international organization personnel may convert admission categories to student visa under specific conditions.
Inter-Agency Committee on Foreign Students
- Established to coordinate implementation and monitoring of policies.
- Membership includes CHED (Chairman), DFA (Co-Chairman), DECS, BI, NBI, and NICA.
- Committee tasked with promulgating guidelines, monitoring compliance, and reporting semi-annually to the Office of the President.
Repealing and Separability Clauses
- Repeals inconsistent executive issuances and regulations.
- If any provision is declared unconstitutional or unlawful, remaining provisions remain effective.
Effectivity
- The Executive Order takes effect immediately upon issuance.