NON-RETROACTIVITY OF MAXIMUM PERIOD FOR PRE-ARRANGED EMPLOYEE VISA

1.  This supplements Law Instructions No. 15

2.  Before the effectivity of Law Instructions No. 15 on 4 March
1988, pre-arranged employment visas were extendible for more than three
(3) years beyond the initial period of validity of two (2) years. In
order not to unduly prejudice those who applied for pre-arranged
employment visas before the effectivity of Law Instructions No. 15 on 4
March 1988 the provision therein limiting the maximum period for the
validity of a pre-arranged employment visa to five (5) years, except in
very exceptional cases, shall not be given retroactive effect.

Hence, pre-arranged employees who applied with the Philippine
consulate abroad for the issuance of a pre-arranged employment visa or
with the Commission on Immigration and Deportation for a change of
status to pre-arranged employee before the effectivity of Law
Instructions No. 15 on 4 March 1988, shall be granted extensions beyond
the limits set in Law Instructions No. 15,   as follows:

a.    For pre-arranged employees whose total stay as of 4 March
1988 was more than five (5) years but less than seven (7) years, such
additional extensions as will result in a total period of stay of seven
(7) years;

b.    For pre-arranged employees whose total stay as of 4 March
1988 was more than seven (7) years, a final extension of one (1) year.

3.  The provision in Law Instructions No. 15 granting additional
yearly extensions not to exceed five (5) years in exceptional cases,
shall be applied to the cases referred to in (a) and (b) above, to allow
a maximum period of stay of only ten (10) years.

Hence, to illustrate, in the cases referred to in (a) above, where
the resulting total period of stay will be seven (7) years,
notwithstanding that the pre-arranged employee qualifies as an
exceptional case, he shall be granted a maximum additional extension of
three (3) years or a total period of stay of ten (10) years.

In the cases referred to in (b) above, where the resulting total
period of stay will be eight (8) or nine (9) years, notwithstanding that
the pre-arranged employee qualified as an exceptional case, he shall be
granted a maximum additional extension of two (2) years and one (1)
year, respectively, or a total period of stay of ten (10) years.

The application for additional extension by reason of being an
exceptional case, shall be filed after the additional period granted
under (a) and (b) shall have expired.

The only situation where the pre-arranged employee may be granted a
total period of stay of more than ten (10) years is where as of March 4,
1988, he had already stayed for ten (10) years or more and shall
therefore be granted a final extension of one (1) year.

Adopted: 7 June 1988

(SGD.) REGINA PADILLA GERALDEZ
Associate Commissioner