Open space and the visa race
Space is the new frontier for conquest, astonishingly not by governments that fired the first boosters. With NASA and Roscosmos grounded, a few proud billionaires and the head of a country with billions in population seized the moment.
The UK’s Sir Richard Branston earned his astronaut wings when he launched Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity spacecraft, touched the edge of space 80 km up to suborbital altitude, then returned safely to Earth.
Jess Bezos, the Amazon-founder billionaire, followed suit with his Blue Origin blasting from rural Texas. Despite claiming to touch the edge of space, Bezos discovered that his 10-minute suborbital venture is not likely to qualify him for Commercial Space Astronaut Wings.
On the same day of Bezos’ blast off, the US Federal Aviation Administration released new requirements for the winners. First, a commercial pilot proves flight beyond 50 statute miles above the Earth’s surface. The recipient must also demonstrate that his activities in-flight contributed to or were essential for public or “human space flight safety.”
It’s like saying that for a would-be US immigrant to deserve a green card, the applicant must be eligible for a specific category and provide evidence of participating in required activities before and during the application period.
Though the borders of the five Desti-Nations are more than ajar and visas announced as available, “Visanauts” seeking temporary or permanent residency cannot reach their destinations despite being launch-ready.
COVID-19 has contaminated their visa journey.
Travel to and from the Philippines
Outbound Travel
Those seeking to break the monotony of lockdown by using a valid visa or applying for one must contend with departure and arrival countdowns.
Outbound Filipinos traveling on tourist or short-term visitor visas are required to comply with the following:
- Proof that the traveler complied with the health requirements of the destination country, such as a negative COVID-19 test taken according to the destination’s health and safety protocols. If proof of complete COVID-19 vaccination is needed, a traveler may request an International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV) from the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ).
- Confirmed roundtrip ticket
- Travel and health insurance to cover travel disruptions and hospitalization in case the traveler contracts COVID-19 abroad
- Bureau of Immigration (BOI) Declaration acknowledging the risks involved in traveling
- Passengers of Philippine Airlines must submit the airline’s Passenger Profile and Health Declaration Form five days before departure via https://bit.ly/PALIntPPHD.
Inbound Travel
If leaving is a chore, the travails of returning are not easier.
For one, each inbound passenger must complete and sign the Bureau of Customs Form, Affidavit of Undertaking, and Arrival Card. Second, balikbayans are required to quarantine for 7-10 days in a government-accredited hotel for PHP2,000 a day (meals not included).
The Philippine Coast Guard briefs inbound travelers and performs a temperature check. Once completed, these individuals have to confirm hotel quarantine arrangements, proceed to the swab verification booth, and pay the RT-PCR test that costs approximately PHP3,500. Only after tendering payment can travelers get their baggage and travel to their designated hotel.
Quarantine is strict, and travelers cannot leave the room or receive visitors. Medical staff administers the RT-PCR test on day 6 or 7, depending on the NAIA terminal. However, travelers can only check out on the 10th day of their quarantine even if they do not show symptoms or if the test results and certificates are released earlier.
Essential Information on Common Types of Visas
If you are still willing to be subjected to all the inconvenience of international travel, check the most common types of visas in the five Destin-Nations and the summary of visa updates on who may be issued the document to be a “Visanaut.”
| Country | Tourist | Student | Temporary Work | Immigrant |
| Australia | Only citizens, residents, and qualified dependents are allowed entry | Must be part of the International Student visa arrival plan of a state or territory | The job offer must be on the Critical Skills List /Priority Migration Skills Occupations List | SkillSelect invitations target onshore applicants |
| New Zealand | Only those with critical purpose reasons to travel | 250 PhD & post- grads. 1,000 returning students (degree & postgraduate) | Priority for critical workers onshore. Work permit holders offshore must meet the border exception rule. | Skilled Migrant, Parent category schemes on hold, Last selection was March 18, 2020 |
| Canada | Travel allowed for US citizens, LPRs in the US only | International students only with designated learning institutions | Priority processing for applicants in the support and essential services | Express Entry selection prefers those already in the country as students or workers |
| UK | British and Irish Nationals only to apply online. | No other COVID-19 specific info | The job offer must prove the required salary, English proficiency, and occupational code. | Not applicable. No direct student to resident pathway. |
| USA | Visa appointments remain canceled | A Negative COVID-19 viral test was taken within 3 calendar days of travel | A negative COVID-19 viral test was taken within 3 calendar days of travel | Huge backlog on immigrant visa applications and interviews. |
Immigration Doors Opening Slightly
Intending immigrants bound for Australia, Canada, and New Zealand may submit online applications. Selection and invitations to apply for permanent residence are also made online by the immigration agencies of these countries. The online systems are SkillSelect for Australia, Express Entry for Canada, and Expression of Interest for New Zealand.
Canada’s ten provinces and three territories offer provincial nominee programs or PNP.
Australia has something similar to Canada’s PNP’s with six states and two territories offering a nomination, selection system coordinated with but separate from the federal government.
Processing time varies from four months (Temporary Skill Shortage visa (Visa subclass 482) to 20 months (Skilled-Regional visa (Visa subclass 887). The waiting period is relatively short, but for permanent residency through SkillSelect, the assessment by the specific assessing authority could be tedious, complex, and expensive.
Because of its size, demographics, and economy, New Zealand has three shortage occupations lists: the Long Term Skill Shortages, Regional Skill Shortages, and the Construction and Infrastructure Skill Shortages List.
As the “Visanauts” navigate their immigrant journey from home to their destination, the billionaire cosmonauts and country head of billions pursue their intended abandonment of Earth and colonization of other planets in the solar system and beyond.
The migrants cry, “let go; I need to survive.” The billionaires say, “Leggo, my ego.”
