New Policy in Belgium Will Benefit Filipino Migrants

Undocumented Filipinos who are working and living in Belgium for a minimum of two and five years now have a chance to legalize their stay because of a policy that the government of Belgium recently implemented.

In a statement the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that the new law would cover all illegal immigrants in Belgium which would include more or less 2,500 Filipinos there.

Individuals who are staying in Belgium for five or more years with pending application to legalize their status that has been filed on or before March 18, 2009 are required to submit an application again at the Office for Foreigners of the Ministry of Interior, They can start submitting their applications on September 15, 2009 but will not be allowed to do so after December 15, 2009.

The DFA said, “Applications shall then be assessed by the Secretary of State   for Asylum and Immigration vis-à-vis the implementing guidelines on regularization. If approved, the undocumented migrant will be granted with the necessary papers that will allow them to stay in Belgium legally.”

Meanwhile, undocumented foreigners who are employed in Belgium for a minimum of two and a half years can get a residence permit by presenting the following documents: labor contract and a regional labor card.

The DFA informed, “Applicants for both categories must prove that they are well-integrated into the Belgian community for their applications to be successful. Other factors, among others, that can count in the applicants’ favor include knowledge of the local language, employment status, families with children at school, earlier credible attempts to obtain a legal residence in Belgium, and sustainable social local ties.”

Information about the new policy in Belgium was reported to the DFA by Christina Ortega, the Ambassador of the Philippines to Brussels. Ortega said that as of the moment, the government of Belgium is yet to decide on how many illegal foreigners they are willing to grant legal status. The Ambassador though hopes that Filipins would take advantage of this op[opportunity.

She said, “I am glad about this development. The Belgian government is consistent with its policy on migration that promotes family reunification. With the approval of regularization in Belgium and subject to the conditions set in the agreement, undocumented Filipinos now have the opportunity to avail of the program instead of being subjected to deportation procedures as prescribed in the EU Return Directive.”

Data from the Philippine government shows that as of December 2007, there are 10,000 Filipinos in Belgium. While 4,000 of them are permanent residents, 2500 are undocumented and the rest are temporary residents.