The Philippine Bureau of Immigration recently announced the complete abolition of the so-called "Alternative Special Retiree's Visa Program" (ASRV), which was previously promoted as a fast track to obtaining residency in the Philippines, but is now officially characterized as an "illegal and baseless" plan. This action takes immediate effect, with no grace period, causing many foreign nationals who held this visa to lose their legal status overnight, becoming "undocumented".
The ASRV project had been widely promoted by various immigration agencies and brokers over the years, claiming "no scheduling needed, fast approval, and unlimited quotas", attracting many foreigners seeking to relocate to the Philippines, with individual processing fees as high as $50,000. However, government investigations found that the visa program had never been signed by the president or supported by legislative action, nor had it been officially authorized by the immigration bureau, thus its legality was questionable from the start.
The Philippine Bureau of Immigration has clearly stated that all residency rights obtained based on the ASRV visa will be immediately canceled, and the individuals involved will be blacklisted by the immigration bureau, not only losing their legal status in the Philippines but also potentially facing fines, deportation, or even permanent entry bans.
"This project was never legally authorized, therefore all rights derived from this visa are invalid," stated a responsible official from the immigration bureau.
What is more concerning is that, due to the lack of official recognition of the ASRV plan, the government has not established any compensation or refund mechanisms, leaving some foreign investors who participated in the plan facing both economic and legal repercussions.
The incident has caused widespread dissatisfaction and panic among the foreign community. Some legal experts have criticized the government's hasty handling and called for a transition period and legal relief channels, especially for those "innocent victims" who participated in the project unknowingly. However, as of now, the authorities have not yet responded regarding subsequent resettlement measures.
