2016-08-12
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has issued Advisory No. 33, Series of 2016 warning those seeking employment in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States of Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malaysia not to do so using “visa run” mode. The “visa run” is one of the means used by human traffickers and drug syndicates to ply their trade within ASEAN nations taking advantage of the visa-free stay ASEAN member countries accord each other.
Visa runs refer to the process or facility by which foreign visitors continue to stay in a country by exiting through border control before their allowed period of temporary stay (usually 30 days) expires and then returning for a renewed period, usually another 15 days of up to two (2) or three (3) months, depending on the type of visa issued and the discretion of the border officer.
Prospective applicants seeking employment in the abovementioned countries are advised to do so legally and to take extra precaution by establishing the authenticity of employment offers by verifying the job orders with the POEA through its website at www.poea.gov.ph and hotline numbers (+632) 722-1144 and (+632) 722-1155.