Effective November 1, 2007, the Singapore government implements a new law for any person who will enter or leave Singapore. According to the report of Belen Anota, (Philippine Ambassador to Singapore) to DFA, arriving and departing persons bearing currency and bearer negotiable instruments (CBNI) amounting to SGD30, 000 or Php 891, 450 are obligated to report the transaction to proper authorities.

CBNI includes bills of exchange, checks, promissory notes, bearer bonds, traveler’s checks and money orders or postal orders. Report forms are available at major immigration checkpoints, commercial transport operators and visitor centers in Singapore. It can also be downloaded from the Singapore Police Force websites, www.spf.gov.sg and www.cad.gov.sg.

From August 1 to December 31, illegal foreign workers in Bahrain have the chance to legalize their status or surrender without penalty. This is possible because of the five-month amnesty program implemented by Bahrain’s government.

Labor Minister and Labor Market Regulatory Authority chairman Dr Majeed Al Alawi said, “The Illegal workers should seek the help of the General Directorate of Nationality, Passports and Residence (GDNPR) through their respective embassies.”

Due to the serious shortage of workers, it is possible that Canada will grant immigrant visas to foreign workers in the coming years. This is according to Peter Sutherland, the Ambassador of Canada to the Philippines.

An estimate of 450,000 Filipinos currently resides in Canada. From the 500 OFWs deployed in 2006, the number rose to 3600 by 2006. For the first six months of 2007, almost 3900 OFWs went with a two to three year work contracts.

Effective July 16, the Korean embassy in Manila had stopped accepting and processing visa applications of OFWs as the embassy’s retaliation for the Philippine government’s inaction to its complaints about the alleged extortion activities done to Korean nationals in the Philippines.

A report said that the possible lifting of the suspension of accepting the visa applications, would depend on the action of the government on the complaints.

According to POEA, the direct visa application through the Consulate of Japan in Manila, Cebu, and Davao will no longer be accepted. Effective July 30, all visa applications will be processed only through the agencies accredited by the Japan Embassy in Manila.

Direct applications will only be allowed in cases of “humanitarian considerations”; visas for diplomats and government officials, invitees by the Japanese government institutions and independent administrative agencies, and scholarship awardees. For the complete process of visa application, visit the website of Japan Embassy