PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL

Public Advisory 003-202328 February 2023 ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT OF CALL CENTER AGENTS MAINLAND SOUTHEAST ASIA The Philippine Consulate General in New York warns the public against syndicates operating online that seek to recruit "Customer Service Representatives" or "Call Center Agents" in Southeast Asian countries.These syndicates provide their victims, including Filipinos, with tickets to fly to a Southeast Asian country. Upon arrival, however, the recruits are relocated to remote areas and forced to work on online cryptocurrency scams and internet fraud. Victims are subjected to physical and psychological abuse, difficult working conditions, non-payment of wages, and confiscation of passports and mobile phones. They and their family are threatened with grave bodily harm and even death if they would not cooperate. In some cases, victims were sold to other syndicates which are engaged in sexual exploitation and slavery.The Consulate strongly advises the public to exercise caution when confronted with online offers for employment in mainland Southeast Asia.

Public Advisory 002-202310 February 2023 PUBLIC ADVISORY ON PONZI SCHEMES The Philippine Consulate General in New York reminds the Filipino community to exercise vigilance and extreme caution when conducting business and investing hard-earned dollars with individuals and entities of unreliable repute. Most often they turn out to be scammers and fraudsters involved in Ponzi schemes. A Ponzi scheme is an investment fraud that involves the payment of unusually high returns to existing investors from funds contributed by new investors. Ponzi scheme organizers often solicit new investors by promising to invest funds in opportunities claimed to generate high returns with little or no risk. With little or no legitimate earnings, Ponzi schemes require a constant flow of money from new investors to continue. Ponzi schemes inevitably collapse, most often when it becomes difficult to recruit new investors or when a large number of investorsask for their funds to be returned. Since Ponzi schemes can fly under the radar for years before they unravel, it is important to be vigilant and practice due diligence when deciding where to invest your hard-earned dollars. If the professional you are working with guarantees you above-market, no-risk returns on your investments, then this should be a red flag.…

Public Advisory 001-202330 January 2023 MAINTENANCE OF THE PASSPORT SYSTEM The Philippine Consulate General in New York informs kababayan that the Passport Online Appointment System (passport.gov.ph) will still be under scheduled maintenance until Monday, 30 January 2023, 10:59 AM ET. This same system maintenance will also affect Online Visa Appointment System (OVAS) and Philippine Visa Management System (PVMS). The Passport Online Appointment System (passport.gov.ph) is expected to be available by 11:00 AM ET of 30 January 2023.We request for the public’s understanding regarding the matter as we continue to improve our appointment system to better serve the Filipino people.

Public Advisory 086-202225 Novmber 2022 ONLINE VISA APPLICATION SYSTEM UNDER MAINTENANCE The Consulate General of the Philippines in New York informs the public that the Philippine Online Visa Application System (OVAS) will be temporarily inaccessible until Sunday, 27 November 2022, in view of system updates and changes. In this regard, visa applications will be received and processed manually during this period.Visa applicants are advised to communicate with the Philippine Consulate General in New York through the following contact details in proceeding with their applications and for further inquiries:Email: newyorkpcg.visa@dfa.gov.phPhone: (212) 764-1330 extension 2017Website: www.newyorkpcg.org

Public Advisory 085-20226 October 2022 TRANSITING FOREIGN NATIONALS WHO SEEK ENTRY INTO THE PHILIPPINES ARE COVERED UNDER SECTION A(1)(E) OF IATF RESOLUTION NO. 168 The Consulate General of the Philippines in New York informs the public that pursuant to 25 August 2022 clarification letter by the Department of Health, transiting foreign nationals who seek entry into the Philippines are covered under Section A(1)(e) of IATF Resolution No. 168 which provides:“A. Foreign nationals may enter the Philippines provided they comply with the applicable visa requirements and immigration entry and departure formalities; and provided further that they:e. For temporary visitors, have valid tickets for their return journey to the port of origin or next port of destination corresponding to their permitted/allowable duration of stay under a valid visa or visa-free entry as the case may be.”In view of the foregoing, the following shall apply:1. IATF Resolution No. 146 which limits international hub operations to airside transfer between NAIA Terminal 1 and 2, and within Terminal 3 is deemed superseded by IATF Resolution No. 168, s.2022 effective 30 May 2022; and2. Passengers making transfer via admission may be allowed to enter the Philippines, provided that all the applicable requirements under IATF Resolution No.…

Public Advisory 081-20225 August 2022 NEW POST-ENTRY PCR TEST REQUIREMENT FORINTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS IN REPUBLIC OF KOREA The Consulate General of the Philippines in New York informs kababayan that effective 25 July 2022, the Republic of Korea (ROK) Government requires post-entry RT PCR test requirement for international arrivals which must be taken “within the day of arrival” or “day after arrival.” The ROK Government previously allowed taking and submission of the RT PCR test results within three (3) days from the date of entry to the country.The said RT PCR test results (i.e., negative certificate) must be uploaded through the ROK Q-Code system (https://cov19ent.kdca.go.kr).For further information, click the following link: https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/ph-en/brd/m_3275/view.do?seq=760900 and https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/us-newyork-en/brd/m_4235/view.do?seq=761567

Public Advisory 080-20225 August 2022 COVID-19 GUIDELINES FOR FILIPINO AND FOREIGNMINORS TRAVELING UNACCOMPANIED TO THE PH The Consulate General of the Philippines in New York informs the public that the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) of the Department of Health of the Philippines has issued guidelines concerning minors traveling unaccompanied to the Philippines.Based on BOQ’s latest issuance, Filipino minors, traveling unaccompanied to the Philippines, who are fully vaccinated will not require quarantine nor testing upon arrival in the Philippines.Partially vaccinated and unvaccinated Filipino minors, aged 12 to 17 years old will require quarantine and testing upon arrival.Partially vaccinated and unvaccinated Filipino minors aged 4 to 11 years old will not require quarantine and testing upon arrival if they have prior coordination with the BOQ through their airline.Filipino minors aged 3 years old and below, regardless of vaccination status, must have prior coordination with the BOQ through their airline.With reference to unaccompanied foreign minors, who are aged 15 to 17 years old, mandatory quarantine and testing shall be required for the following:- those who have received primary series COVID-19 vaccine without a COVID-19 booster shot or without a negative test;- those who are partially vaccinated and unvaccinated.For unaccompanied foreign minors, who are…

Public Advisory 078-202221 July 2022 DISTRESSED KABABAYAN URGE TO CALL CONSULATE HOTLINES Filipinos who may find themselves in distress due to hate incidents or other crimes that may involve them or other kababayan are requested to call the hotlines of the Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines in New York at +1-917-294-0196 and +1-917- 239-4118 for assistance. Kababayan may also call 911 in case of emergency. The Consulate is requesting kababayan to report such incidents so that it can more accurately assess the situation and issue timely advisories to help ensure the safety and security of members of the Filipino Community. The Consulate was informed today of a hate incident involving a 51-year-old Filipina who was verbally assaulted and harassed by what appeared to be a homeless woman who also tried to prevent her from boarding her train at the 63rd Drive Subway Station in Rego Park, Queens on Saturday afternoon. This is the 42nd case of a hate-related incident or criminal act involving a member of the Filipino Community that was reported to or monitored by the Consulate since last year. Kababayan residing in New York and those on temporary visits are reminded to always remain vigilant…

Public Advisory 077-202220 July 2022 INCREASE IN CRIME IN NEW YORK CITY The Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines in New York advises the Filipino Community to remain vigilant in view of the latest statistics released by the New York City Police Department (NYPD) indicating a 37 percent increase in major crimes citywide. According to the NYPD, grand larceny was up 49 percent this year; grand larceny auto, 46.2 percent; robbery, 39.2 percent; and burglary 32.9 percent. Kababayan taking mass transport are also reminded to remain vigilant as transit crimes have also increased by 55.5 percent compared to last year. Hate crimes have also increase by 12.6 percent city-wide. Kababayan are reminded to be situationally aware at all times when outside their residences and to take the necessary precautions to avoid becoming a victim of crime.

Public Advisory 076-202215 July 2022 KABABAYAN REMINDED TO REMAIN VIGILANT WHEN IN NEW YORK CITY The Philippine Consulate General in New York advises the Filipino Community to remain vigilant after an 18-year-old Filipino tourist from Cebu was reported to have been violently assaulted near the Philippine Center in Manhattan on Wednesday. In view of this incident, the Consulate reminds members of the Filipino Community as well as kababayan visiting New York to exercise the necessary precautions while on the streets or in the subways. Based on information received by the Consulate this afternoon, the victim was walking with three other Filipinos near the corner of 6th Avenue and 46th Street when he was assaulted. The Filipino sustained facial injuries from the beating he received from the suspect who was eventually subdued and turned over to authorities. This is the 41st incident since last year that involves a Filipino who was either a victim of a hate crime or incident or a criminal act. The Consulate is in touch with the New York City Police Department to get more information on the incident. It is unknown at this point if the incident was anti-Asian-hate-related.