BI reminds POGO workers of October 15 deadline

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has reminded all foreign workers employed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) to voluntarily downgrade their visas before the October 15 deadline.

In an advisory, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado emphasized that there will be no extensions for visa downgrading applications. Foreign workers who fail to comply by the deadline will be ordered to leave the country.

Viado shared that the BI, in coordination with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), conducted a briefing on September 30 with representatives from various POGO companies. During the briefing, the BI announced the possibility of holding “implementation days” for POGO companies, during which the agency could facilitate the visa downgrading process and issue exit clearances on-site. Representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will also be present on these service days to accept surrendered Alien Employment Permits (AEPs) from POGO workers.

As of now, more than 10,000 POGO workers have already filed for visa downgrading, and the BI expects this number to rise as the deadline approaches.

Visa downgrading allows foreign nationals to revert their status from a work visa to a temporary visitor visa, granting them a 59-day grace period to legally remain in the Philippines while finalizing their affairs. The 59-day period aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive that all foreign POGO workers must leave the country by the end of the year.

"We are expediting the downgrading process to comply with the President’s directive. We encourage POGO workers to file as early as possible to avoid complications," Viado stated.

To oversee the closure of POGO operations and assist affected workers, an interagency task force has been formed. This task force includes the BI, the Department of Justice (DOJ), DOLE, PAGCOR, and other key agencies.

The BI has simplified procedures to ensure compliance and reiterated that those who fail to downgrade their visas by the October 15 deadline or leave the country by December 31 will face deportation and blacklisting.