THE Bureau of Immigration on Friday clarified that foreigners in the Philippines holding student visas may still be subjected to government intelligence investigation if found to be conducting illegal activities.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that according to law, foreign nationals who acquire their student visas may be subjected to checks by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and the National Bureau of Investigation for activities that appear to be inimical to the security of the State.

Tansingco said that the governing law on such is Executive Order No. 285, s. 2000, which establishes an inter-agency committee on foreign students.

The BI is part of the inter-agency, headed by the Commission on Higher Education, together with NBI, NICA, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Education.

In the said law, Tansingco clarified that the BI may only issue student visas to foreign nationals who have been endorsed by legitimate schools and by CHED.

He added that all schools that accept foreign nationals as students are required to submit their regular reports to the BI who shall monitor their visa compliance, the CHED who shall ensure compliance with education-related policies, and the NICA who shall conduct investigations on suspicious activities.

Tansingco also said that in 2023, a total of 1,516 Chinese nationals have been granted student visas in Cagayan, all endorsed by a major Philippine university. However, reports received only show more than 400 Chinese nationals are on-site, as the school is said to be implementing distance learning.

He said that the rise in students may be attributed to post-pandemic rebound, as well as the aggressive marketing of schools and government agencies to boost the country’s educational tourism.

Tansingco said that the actions of foreign students are worth looking at by government intelligence agencies given that it is well within their mandate and is necessary for ensuring national security.

The BI Chief stated that despite concerns about the security sector, he hopes that the checks will not prevent legitimate foreign students from continuing their studies in the Philippines.

“The national government has actively promoted the country as an education hub in Asia. We hope that these concerns do not scare away legitimate students whose stay in the country could greatly help re-boost our economy,” he added.