The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced on Sunday that it is temporarily suspending the issuance of Order to Leave (OTL) against foreigners who have overstayed their temporary visitor's visa in the country amid the pandemic.

 BI Commissioner Jaime Morente in a statement said that the suspension is imposed in consideration of the effects of the pandemic to domestic and international travel.

 “Pursuant to various resolutions from the IATF directing the public to exercise social distancing and minimize travel, and in the interest of public safety and welfare, we will be implementing this order as a form of regulatory relief for foreigners,” Morente explained.

 The BI chief also said the suspension also mirrors the leniency other countries extend to Filipinos who may be experiencing the same situation abroad.

 Morente said those “have reached the 24-month period maximum stay for visa-required nationals and 36-month period maximum stay for non-visa required nationals, as of March 1, 2020” are covered by the relief.

Foreigners “who have overstayed regardless whether they have been in the country beyond the maximum allowable period” are also included. 

The BI however said that “concerned foreigners will still, however, be assessed and shall still be required to settle their immigration fees and penalties in lieu of the OTL.”

The immigration bureau is also enforcing travel ban against foreign travelers coming from Azerbaijan, Guadeloupe, Guam, Israel, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Saint Lucia, and Switzerland that are placed on the Philippines’ “Red List.”