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On Sept. 02, 2017, my nephew was denied his right to travel from MNL to SG by the immigration officer at NAIA Terminal 1.
His travel was a promised gift for his college graduation and it's his second time to travel to SG, his first was when he was in high school.
Since my son's school holiday is September, my wife decided to book my nephew an 85 days return ticket MNL-SG-MNL, which is a perfect timing for them as cousins to spend time together and enjoy the holiday.
According to my nephew, trouble started when the officer request his Old Passport which my nephew told to officer he doesn't have, the officer then asked his Old Passport number, which my nephew does provided. After a while, my nephew told that the officer mentioned to him that he can stay only to Sg for 30 days and beyond 30 days is illegal.
Anticipating that problem might arise, I sent to my nephew an invitation letter and copy of my Singapore IC and Phil Passport, which he showed to the immigration officer to proved that his travel is legal and well supported by me, and that he will be allowed to travel, but it turned out poignant. Instead of letting my nephew go, the officer instead instructed my nephew to produce original copy of his birth certificate and invitation letter coming from me authenticated by the Phil Embassy in Singapore. Demanding such documents is totally absurd! I called my nephew and told him to pass the phone to the immigration officer but the officer refused to speak with me.
Two days after, my wife received a notification from the Airline that my nephew's return ticket will be forfeited. Puzzled as she was, my wife called the Airline to contest, and to her surprise, my wife learned that my nephew's departure ticket was cancelled not due to no show but upon the instruction of the immigration officer. With this, my wife and I have decided to go back to Phils and to fetch my nephew and find way to confront the officer.
I am totally disappointed, and I am contemplating to file legal remedy to recover damages and teach this particular officer to be astute in his job.
Thank you, and hope that through this platform, I will be enlightened in my next move.
His travel was a promised gift for his college graduation and it's his second time to travel to SG, his first was when he was in high school.
Since my son's school holiday is September, my wife decided to book my nephew an 85 days return ticket MNL-SG-MNL, which is a perfect timing for them as cousins to spend time together and enjoy the holiday.
According to my nephew, trouble started when the officer request his Old Passport which my nephew told to officer he doesn't have, the officer then asked his Old Passport number, which my nephew does provided. After a while, my nephew told that the officer mentioned to him that he can stay only to Sg for 30 days and beyond 30 days is illegal.
Anticipating that problem might arise, I sent to my nephew an invitation letter and copy of my Singapore IC and Phil Passport, which he showed to the immigration officer to proved that his travel is legal and well supported by me, and that he will be allowed to travel, but it turned out poignant. Instead of letting my nephew go, the officer instead instructed my nephew to produce original copy of his birth certificate and invitation letter coming from me authenticated by the Phil Embassy in Singapore. Demanding such documents is totally absurd! I called my nephew and told him to pass the phone to the immigration officer but the officer refused to speak with me.
Two days after, my wife received a notification from the Airline that my nephew's return ticket will be forfeited. Puzzled as she was, my wife called the Airline to contest, and to her surprise, my wife learned that my nephew's departure ticket was cancelled not due to no show but upon the instruction of the immigration officer. With this, my wife and I have decided to go back to Phils and to fetch my nephew and find way to confront the officer.
I am totally disappointed, and I am contemplating to file legal remedy to recover damages and teach this particular officer to be astute in his job.
Thank you, and hope that through this platform, I will be enlightened in my next move.
