| More foreign studes come to RP to study |
|
02 May 2008 The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported today an increase in the number of foreign students in the country as Immigration Commissioner Marcelino C. Libanan cited the development as a vote of confidence by foreigners in our educational system. Libanan announced that nearly nine thousand foreigners were issued student visas and study permits during the first three months of the year as the country prepares for its school opening in June. He said a total of 8,881 foreigners applied for student visas and study permits with the BI from January to March, 36 percent higher during the same period of last year. "During the three-month period, the BI collected more than P-16 million from student-visa and study-permit fees, which certainly is a substantial contribution to our national coffers," he said. Libanan said the increasing number of foreigners is definitely propping up the country's image as an educational center and as an attractive tourist destination, adding that many of these foreign students initially come here as tourists before deciding to study here. He noted that efforts by the tourism and education departments to attract foreign students have paid off and that "we in the BI are doing our share in these confidence-building efforts" by eliminating red tape and simplifying our procedures in processing student visas and special study permits (SSPs). A special study permit (SSP) is issued to a foreigner studying in the elementary and high school and other non-degree courses while a student visa is given to one pursuing a college degree. Libanan said that right after he assumed office in June, he issued a memorandum extending from one month to six months the length of visa extensions that the bureau gives to SSP holders. "I have also directed our student desk and the officials concerned to always expedite the issuance of student visas and study permits so as not to inconvenience these young foreigners who choose the Philippines as their preferred destination in their quest for knowledge and education," the BI chief said. Libanan, however, warned that any foreigner caught studying here without the required permit or visa will be deported for immigration law violations, adding that school registrars who admit foreigners without permits or visas will lose their school's accreditation at the BI. (BI News) Teodulo Estrada, who heads the BI student desk, disclosed that aside from Metro Manila, there is also a high concentration of foreign students in the cities of Baguiio and Cebu. Estrada also bared that of the 8,881 who were issued study visas and permits during the first quarter, 947 are active students, 2,892 were given special study permits, 1,180 are new students, and 3,862 renewed their existing visas up to June 15 this year. He said Koreans topped the list with 4,717, followed by Chinese who totaled 536, and Americans with 222 while a few came from Bhutan, Canada, Cameroon, Colombia, Congo, East Timor, Finland, Ghana, Haiti, Hongkong, Iraq, Japan, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Russia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Estrada also said that last year, a total of 24,676 foreign students were studying here, up by 5,541 and 9,106 over those who enrolled in 2006 and 2005, respectively, and who remitted to the treasury more than P140 million during the two-year period. |
