Filipinos overseas told to obey immigration laws amid US work visa ban

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is reminding Filipinos overseas to follow immigration and visa policies after the United States’ suspended the issuance of new work visas for Filipinos for one year.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reminds Filipinos abroad, particularly those in the United States, to follow immigration rules and avoid staying beyond what is allowed in their visas,” the DFA said in a statement on Tuesday.

This was after the United States Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) banned for one year the entry of new Filipino workers with H2-A and H2-B visas because of overstaying and human trafficking concerns.

READ: US stops issuing new work visas to Filipinos

“As visa issuances are a country’s prerogative, the DFA notes the concerns that led the DHS to arrive at its decision,” the department added.

“Nonetheless, the Philippines is open to the possibility of working with the United States in addressing these issues, as it has previously done so with similar concerns involving the Filipino community there,” DFA added.

DFA also said the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. and other Philippine Consulate Generals in the US will continue to extend “appropriate assistance to all its nationals.”

The ban on issuing visas is imposed from Jan. 19, 2019 to Jan. 18, 2020.

H-2A visas are temporary visas issued for foreign agricultural workers while H2-B visas are offered to foreign workers providing non-agricultural services in the US. /gsg