WHEREAS, under Paragraph 2, Section 9, of the present
Immigration Act, an alien who is admitted as nonimmigrant cannot remain
in the Philippines without first leaving or departing voluntarily to
some foreign country and procure from the appropriate Philippine Consul
the proper visa, and thereafter, undergo examination by Immigration
Officers of the Commission on Immigration and Deportation at the
Philippine port of entry for the determination of his admissibility;
WHEREAS, the present trend of immigration practice
throughout the world especially in the United States has changed by
broadening the outlook and consideration of immigration cases so as to
allow, instead of not to allow, change of status procedures and adjust
the status of nonimmigrants without the necessity of their departing for
abroad for the purpose of admission as permanent residents;
WHEREAS, such adjustment of status may be allowed provided:
Subjects are properly documented at the time of entry;
Makes proper application for adjustment;
Are qualified for admission as immigrants and are
admissible as such; and
That corresponding immigrant quota numbers are immediately
available to such applicants at the time the application is approved;
and
WHEREAS, the present shortage of gasoline would make it
difficult for the applicants to go abroad to comply with the
requirements of existing law;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution,
do hereby decree and order that aliens who are now in the Philippines as
nonimmigrants and whose applications for immigrant visas are approved
by the Immigration Commissioner shall henceforth be allowed to acquire
permanent residence, without the necessity of their visas: Provided,
That the National Intelligence Security Authority of the Armed Forces
of the Philippines and the Commissioner of Immigration and Deportation
shall, after thorough screening, find them qualified for permanent
residence and entitled to the benefits of this Decree.
Any provision of law, rule or regulation to the contrary, is
hereby amended, repealed and or modified accordingly.
This Decree
shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 20th day of March, in the
year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.
(Sgd.) FERDINAND E.
MARCOS
President
Republic of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.) ALEJANDRO
MELCHOR
Executive Secretary