Maria Khristina Garcia-Angel leads an outstanding team at Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALaw). It is noted for its expertise across a wide range of immigration and citizenship matters, in addition to outbound employment procedures for Filipino nationals. The dedicated practice is sought after by foreign embassies, government institutions, local conglomerates and other entities, including international banks and hotel chains, to handle a host of issues relating to visas, work permits and other immigration mandates. The practice also has demonstrable experience advising foreign nationals who have been excluded from the country, as well as defending clients facing deportation charges. Napoleon Gonzales is another key contact in the team.

The immigration practice at Martinez Vergara & Gonzalez Sociedad is jointly led by Shirley Alinea and Reynaldo Dizon. Senior associate Gino Paulo Uy is another key member of the group, who acts for clients on a diverse range of immigration matters and transactions. The team advises on all types of visas and work permits, with demonstrable experience assisting clients who have been blacklisted or facing deportation proceedings. It is well-placed to advise both individual and corporate clients on a host of issues pertaining to visa downgrading and clearances, in addition to compliance with the terms of stay of foreigners.

The employment, labour and immigration practice at SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan is led by Dante Pamintuan, and handles a broad array of immigration issues pertaining to visas and permits. It has been kept busy with citizenship matters and representing clients in adversarial proceedings relating to deportation and blacklisting cases. The group is well-equipped to handle multi-jurisdictional mandates and continues to advise leading domestic companies across the healthcare, banking and insurance sectors. Rodelle Bolante focuses on immigration matters and regularly advises on issues concerning visas and work permits.

Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law) assists clients through all stages of the visa and work permit application process, as well as advising on the application for an extension of tourist visas. The group assists clients in obtaining visas for foreign employees, in addition to securing travel ban exemptions. Raoul Angangco heads the department and senior associate Mark Benjamin Yam advises on immigration and emigration matters, as well as obtaining visas and permits for foreign nationals and employment certificates for Filipinos who are directly hired from abroad.

Practice head Robenson Avenida is a key contact at Avenida and Diaz Law Office. The group regularly assists clients with all aspects of visa and work permit applications. It is also recommended for its work on a broad spectrum of immigration matters, from visa waivers and extensions through to special work permit applications, provisional work permits and expired tourist visa updates.

Cesar Santamaria is a key contact at Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) and advises on a variety of issues, involving work permits and visas, as well as other special permits required by regulatory agencies for a foreign national to validly work in the Philippines. Other key areas of focus include advising on special non-immigrant visas for foreign investors and the review of employment contracts for expatriates to ensure compliance with local laws.

Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra has Ramon Andre Cedro at the helm. The group handles an array of immigration matters and frequently advises on issues concerning work permits for foreign employees, in addition to immigrant visas and citizenship mandates. The team is also well-placed to advise on overseas employment issues and compliance matters.

Al-Shwaid Ismael and Phillip Don Recentes lead the practice at Gulapa & Lim (Gulapa Law) and act for foreign national employees and consultants on immigration compliance matters. Other key areas of expertise include advising on the procedures for alien employment permits and exemptions, in addition to issues surrounding inbound international travel restrictions and entry exemption documentation during the COVID-19 pandemic.