Spending thousands of dollars on a so-called "legal visa," thinking your status is secure, only to suddenly receive a notice: "You are 'illegally staying'," facing deportation and blacklisting. This is not an isolated case, but a real predicament increasingly encountered by many Chinese in the Philippines.
Many people are asking: Who is scamming the Chinese? Is it the agencies misleading, or is it the Philippine Immigration Bureau being inconsistent?
In recent months, the visa policy in the Philippines has changed frequently, making it hard to keep up. One moment a certain type of visa is announced as open, and the next moment it is declared "illegal and lacking legal basis"; today you are recognized as a "legal resident," tomorrow you might be labeled as an "illegal overstayer." This is not alarmist, but a phenomenon that is happening.
APECO visa controversy: Most Chinese applicants affected
The most typical recent case is the batch of visas that the Philippine Immigration Bureau and APECO (Cagayan Economic Zone Authority) jointly revoked. This cancellation involved nearly 700 people, most of whom were Chinese. Applicants, through seemingly "regular" channels, paid up to tens of thousands of dollars for visas, only to be told in the end: "The visa was illegal from the start and is not recognized."
The question is: Who approved these visas? Was the Immigration Bureau aware? Why were they initially processed normally, but now suddenly completely invalidated? And those agencies that openly advertised "government-backed" and "legally handled" are not monitored or held accountable.
"Affiliated" visa trap: The unwritten rules behind the regular process
Many Chinese operate this way: companies contact agencies to handle work visas (such as 9G); follow the process to submit documents, record fingerprints, and wait for approval; once the visa is obtained, they start working and paying taxes, appearing to be legal.
But once the policy direction suddenly changes, the Immigration Bureau will suddenly announce: "This type of visa is suspected of false employment and involves fraudulent activities." No explanation, no warning, just direct arrests. Previously, the telecommunications company DITO was investigated and detained 39 Chinese nationals holding 9G visas due to similar issues.
When there is a problem with the visa, the responsibility is solely borne by the applicant: arrested, deported, blacklisted, and even criminally prosecuted; while the agency walks away, and the Immigration Bureau remains silent.
The "deep flaws" in the Philippine visa system
The biggest problem in the entire system is:
Agencies take money, but do not bear consequences;
The Immigration Bureau approves, but does not explain;
The applicant bears all the risks.
Many Chinese think that as long as they go through a "regular agency," pay the fees, and submit the documents, they can obtain legal status. But the reality is, policies can change at any time, legal visas can be denied at any moment, and what was thought to be a "safe passage" in the visa system turns out to be a well-designed harvesting game.
Current legal visa types still available for application
Despite the tense atmosphere, the following types of visas are still available for application and have not yet been targeted for major scrutiny:
9G / SWP work visas: Must ensure real employment, no affiliations.
13A spouse visa: Available for those married to a Filipino citizen.
SRRV retirement visa: Low-threshold application category has been reopened.
SIRV investment visa: Requires an investment of at least $75,000.
Student visa / tourist visa extension: Short-term available, no work allowed.
However, the problem remains: How long can these policies last? Which type of visa will be affected by the next change? No one can give a clear answer.
Has the visa policy become a tool for "harvesting foreigners through repeated modifications"?
Visas should be the basis for foreigners to legally live and work in the Philippines, but now, through repeated policy changes, they have become a "trap" tool that overwhelms foreign nationals.
— Get a visa once, recognized by the Immigration Bureau; — The next adjustment, labeled "illegal"; — When the cleanup action starts, all responsibilities are thrown to the agencies; — In the end, you are deported, with no one responsible.
Legal status is increasingly becoming a "luck-based" game.
The truth is still to be revealed, but the cost is getting higher
Who is really scamming the Chinese? Is it the agencies with false advertising? Or the Immigration Bureau that allows problems but suddenly turns hostile? Or is the entire visa system inherently designed to profit from repeated policy changes?
No one can provide a complete answer. But what is certain is that more and more Chinese are being deeply hurt by the so-called "legal visas."
According to leaks, the Immigration Bureau will introduce a new round of visa inspections and cleanups in the second half of the year, involving a wider scope and greater intensity. For Chinese wanting to work, invest, and live in the Philippines, a new storm is approaching.
