Provisional Work Permit Replaces Special Work Permit For Work Visa Applicants

At a Glance

• In the Philippines, applicants for the 47(a)(2) Special Non-Immigrant Visa seeking to start work during the processing of their long-term work visa must now apply for a Provisional Work Permit (PWP) instead of a Special Work Permit (SWP).
• Because of this restriction, 47(a)(2) visa applicants will no longer be allowed to obtain an SWP.
• Since both categories have similar processing times and validity periods, there is no apparent impact on timeframes or stay rules; the only differences are the sequence in which the applications are filed and documentary requirement variances between the two categories.

The situation

In the Philippines, applicants for the 47(a)(2) Special Non-Immigrant Visa seeking to start work during the processing of their long-term work visa must now apply for a Provisional Work Permit (PWP) instead of a Special Work Permit (SWP), according to a new regulation published by the Bureau of Immigration.