New visa processing program launched

CEBU, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration and Deportation yesterday officially launched the “Visa Issuance Made Simple,” its newest program aimed at making immigration services faster, efficient, and transparent. 

BID commissioner Marcelino Libanan, who led the switch on ceremony, said VIMS is expected to cut up to 82 percent waiting time, as it is expected to eliminate up to 42 percent of the procedure in visa processing.

VIMS was launched in Manila last year and Cebu was chosen as pilot area to implement the program outside Metro Manila.

Libanan said VIMS would help boost the country's tourism and help bring in investment opportunities because it would now take only 10 minutes for a foreign tourist to process the extension of his or her visa for 30 days. Before VIMS, one has to wait for up to 50 days to process visa extension.

"If we will not change the system, we will be changed," says Libanan, adding that VIMS is also aimed at eliminating fixers at BID.

Libanan disclosed he has been receiving death threats from some syndicated fixers since VIMS was launched but said he merely shrugs them off.

"Parang toothpick ko na lang yan. Ang importante hindi tayo matatakot sa ating gagawin lalo na para sa kabutihan nang lahat," he said. –Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)