Dear eFOI user,
Thank you for your request dated Sept. 26, 2024, made under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.
You have requested the number of FOI Users from 2016 to the present.
I am pleased to inform you that your FOI request has been approved.
You asked whether the Affidavit of Support and Guarantee (AOSG) needs to be notarized and authenticated in the Philippines, or if a simple letter from the sponsor without notarization would suffice.
Please note that the current IACAT Guidelines do not provide specific policies regarding international-bound Filipino passengers traveling with or without a local sponsor. Consequently, showing legal documents, such as a notarized AOSG or a simple letter, does not substantially influence the departure process. The decision by Immigration Officers to permit an international-bound Filipino traveler's departure is not primarily determined by the affidavit or letter presented. Rather, it is based on a comprehensive evaluation of the totality of circumstances during the immigration inspection.
Regarding document notarization, any licensed notary public can provide this service. An Affidavit, a legally binding document, requires notarization by an officially licensed notary in good standing to ensure its authenticity and validity.
Lastly, the AOSG duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate" does not apply when the sponsor is based in the Philippines, regardless of whether they are traveling with the passenger. According to DOJ Memorandum No. 36, s. 2015, this Embassy-authenticated document is only required when the sponsor meets the legal qualifications and is located in the passenger’s destination country.
For your future reference, you may refer to the following link: https://immigration.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/18_2015Jun15_IACAT_RevisedGuidelines.pdf
Your right to request a review
If you are dissatisfied with our response to your FOI request, you have the option to request an internal review. To initiate this process, kindly submit your written appeal for review addressed to [insert name of Secretary and postal/e-mail address]. Please provide a detailed explanation of your dissatisfaction with our response within 15 calendar days from the date of receiving this response. We will conduct the review and communicate the outcome within 30 calendar days from the receipt of your review request.
Should you remain unsatisfied with the review outcome, you retain the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011).
Thank you.
Respectfully,
I-PROBES
FOI Officer
Bureau of Immigration
