DOJ defends Bureau of Immigration denial of missionary to extend visa

September 16, 2018

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Sunday said the decision of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) denying the request of Australian missionary Sister Patricia Fox for extension of her missionary visa that expired  September 5 is valid.

“The denial of Sister Fox’s request for extension of her missionary visa is consistent with the BI’s order of deportation, which is on appeal at the DOJ,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a text message to reporters.

“I understand that though that Sister Fox is given an opportunity to apply instead for a temporary visitor’s visa,” Guevarra added.

Guevarra’s statement came after the BI’s board of commissioners refused the application for extension of missionary visa filed by Fox upon petition by the Superior of the Religieuse De Notre Dame De Sion Inc.

In the two-page order dated last September 13, the BI said it could not grant Fox's request because of its findings in the earlier deportation order against the nun.

“The BI already saw that Sister Fox violated the conditions of her stay and is considered undesirable, hence a deportation order was previously issued against her,” BI spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval explained.

“Our legal team saw that approving the extension of her missionary visa will be inconsistent with the findings cited in her deportation order,” she said.

The BI said a Memorandum of Agreement with the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines says foreign missionaries will be given visa and allowed to stay in the country for 10 years.

The BI said Fox has spent 27 years in the country as a missionary.

Fox may still stay in the country by applying for a temporary tourist visa.

“She is required to apply for the downgrading of her visa within fifteen days from receipt of the denial order. Downgrading will revert her status to a temporary visitor’s visa, with a 59-day validity, starting from the date of the expiry of her missionary visa,” the BI spokesperson said.

Last month, the BI Board of Commissioners (BOC) ordered Fox deported and placed in the BI's blacklist to prevent her from returning to the country.

The BI has found that Fox violated "the limitations and conditions of Commonwealth Act 613, Section 9 (g) missionary visa and undesirable under Article 2711, Section 69 and order her deportation to Australia, subject to her submission of all appropriate clearance and the inclusion of her name in the BI’s blacklist, thus barring her re-entry into the country.” DMS