1.What is an SVEG?
The SVEG is a special non-immigrant visa issued to a foreigner who shall employ at least ten (10) Filipinos in a lawful and sustainable enterprise, trade or industry in the Philippines. The foreign national shall actually, directly and exclusively engage in a viable and sustainable investment in the Philippines and perform management acts or the authority to hire, promote and dismiss employees therein.

2. How much investment is needed to avail of the SVEG?
The foreign national must show proof that the has substantial investment in an entity, firm, partnership or corporation that establishes, expands or rehabilitates a business activity, investment, enterprise or industry and that said investment enables the initial or additional employment of at least ten (10) Filipino workers on a regular basis, provided that the foreign equity participation is consistent with the Constitution, the Foreign Investment Act and other special laws.
In case said investment is for rehabilitation of business, enterprise or industry, the foreign national must show satisfactory proof that said investment enabled the retention of at least ten (10) Filipino workers or employees on a regular basis, and without said investment, existing Filipino workers or employees would suffer loss of employment.

3. What are the privileges of being a SVEG holder?
Foreign nationals who are granted SVEG shall be considered special non-immigrants with multiple entry privileges and conditional extended stay, without need of prior departure from the Philippines.
SVEG holders are exempt from securing Special Return Certificates and Exit Clearance Certificates. However they shall be required to submit and/or file their annual report pursuant to the requirements of the Alien Registration Act of 1950, as amended.
The privileges of SVEG may extend to the legal spouse of the qualified foreign national as well as their unmarried children below eighteen (18) years of age, whether legitimate, illegitimate or adopted.
The special non-immigrant status of children of SVEG holders shall cease upon reaching the age of eighteen (18), in which case, they are required to downgrade their visas to temporary visitor’s visa under Section 9(a) of Commonwealth Act (C.A.) No. 613, as amended, and apply for any appropriate visa.

4. What is the nature of employment of the Filipino workers?
The employment of at least ten (10) Filipino workers shall be for managerial, executive, professional, technical, skilled or unskilled positions in a business activity, investment, enterprise or industry in the Philippines, excluding personal employees of the foreign national such as household workers and the like.

5. How much would it cost to apply for the SVEG?
There shall be collected and paid to the BI Cashier the following fees, which are subject to change upon prior notice;

 FEES
Basic Application                 Php10,000.00 
MR Fee                                  Php  3,000.00 
Implementation Fee              Php10,000.00 
BI Clerance Fee                    Php  1,000.00 
Express Lane Fee                Php 1,000.00 
ACR-I Card Fees                  US$ 50.00 or its peso equivalent
Dependents of principal SVEG holders shall be subject to payment of Application, Implementation and ACR-I-Card Fees in the same amounts paid by the principal SVEG holders.

6. Where do I process the SVEG?
SVEG applications may be filed in the BI Main Office or any of its satellite offices in which case, the documents shall be forwarded to the Main Office for processing.
Upon payment of the appropriate fees, the SVEG application shall be forwarded to the OSSF for raffling to designated hearing officers. A specific control number shall be assigned for each application.
The Hearing Officer shall examine and evaluate the application within fifteen (15) working days from the date of filing and may require the appearance of the applicant for clarificatory hearing. The Hearing Officer shall forward his recommendation to the Commissioner of Immigration for the approval or denial of the application.
Documentary proof shall be received and evaluated without strict observance of the technical rules on evidence and procedure.

7. Are SVEG holders required to be registered under the Alien Registration Act?

After the SVEG implementation, the SVEG holder shall proceed to Bureau’s Alien Registration Division for registration and documentation. An Alien Certificate of Registration (ARC) I-Card shall be issued to the SVEG holder upon payment of appropriate fees. The ACR I-Card and SVEG Certificate shall indicate, among others, the following:
Status Adjusted Without Departure as a Special Non-Immigrant with Multiple Entry Privileges and Conditional Stay in the Philippines under E.O. No. 758, Series of 2008, in relation to C.A No. 613, Section 47(a)(2) under BI Control No. ____.
SVEG holders are exempt from securing Special Return Certificates and Exit Clearance Certificates. However they shall be required to submit and/or file their annual report pursuant to the requirements of the Alien Registration Act of 1950, as amended.
8. What are the grounds for the cancellation of the SVEG?
The Commissioner of Immigration shall revoke the SVEG:
(a) Upon finding that it was obtained through fraud or willful misrepresentation of material facts;
(b) Upon conviction by final judgment of the SVEG holder for a crime or offense in the Philippines;
(c) Upon final determination of the Board of Commissioner that the SVEG holder poses a risk to the general welfare or national security;
(d) Upon the death of the principal SVEG holder, in which case, the SVEG of any dependents shall also be revoked;
(e) Withdrawal of investment or termination of the operation of the business activity, investment, enterprise or industry, except when there is only a change in the type of business activity, investment, enterprise or industry duly notified to the Bureau of Immigration at least thirty (30) days before the actual closure or change of the type of business; and
(f) Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the SVEG. In case of failure or inability to comply with the employment of ten (10) Filipino workers, the SVEG holder shall immediately submit to the Commissioner of Immigration the reasons for non-compliance. For meritorious reasons, the SVEG holder shall have a period of thirty (30) days to comply with the employment requirement. Otherwise, the Commissioner of Immigration shall revoke the SVEG.
The revocation of the SVEG under paragraph (a), (b) and (c) shall cause the deportation of the foreign national via summary proceedings. In the case of revocation under paragraph (b) the deportation shall be implemented after service of sentence.

9.  What are the obligation of SVEG holders ?
The SVEG holder shall, at least sixty (60) days after the end of every year, submit the following documents to the One Stop Shop Facility (OSSF):
 (a)Latest General Information Sheet (GIS) of the business activity, enterprise or industry of the SVEG holder, duly stamped “RECEIVED” by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC);
(b) Latest Income Tax Return of the SVEG Holder; and of the business entity where the SVEG Holder has substantial investment.
(c) List and inventory of at least ten (10) Filipino workers or employees including their individual notarized contact of employment signed by the SVEG applicant and the Filipino employee containing details of compensation, nature of work and duration of employment; Social Security System (SSS) ID card; and Philhealth membership card.
(d) Certification from the Corporate Secretary that the SVEG holder is a bonafide stockholder in good standing;
(e) Mayor’s Business Permit of the City / Municipality where the principal place of business is located;
(e) Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Inspection Report stating that the corporation / employer has no violation of existing labor laws and other applicable laws and proof of existing employment of at least ten (10) regular Filipino workers; and
(f) Affidavit of the principal SVEG holder declaring the eligibility of his/her SVEG dependents by stating his/her relationship with his/her legal spouse and filiation with his/her unmarried children below eighteen years of age.

**Information obtain from Bureau of Immigration



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