MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has downgraded the missionary visa of Sister Patricia Fox to a temporary visitor’s visa.
In an order signed last October 24, the Australian nun was given a temporary visitor status with a 59-day validity.
BI spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval said Fox’s visa was downgraded, following the denial of the extension of her missionary visa.
“Downgrading reverted her status to a temporary visitor, and she is given 59 days from the day her missionary visa expired, which was September 5,” she said in a statement.
Fox is the subject of a separate Deportation Order from the BI, which she appealed before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Sandoval added that the BI “still needs to wait for the decision before acting on her deportation.”
She said they have granted Fox the temporary visitor’s visa, without prejudice to the resolution of her appeal before the DOJ on her deportation.
On the other hand, lawyer Sol Taule, Fox’s counsel, said they welcome the BI’s decision, adding that they are ready to exhaust all legal remedies for her to stay in the country.
“This means she can still stay in the Philippines to face the deportation charges against her,” she said in a text message.
“We intend to still exhaust all remedies possible to let Sister Fox stay,” the lawyer added.