Regularize an overstay
Bring your authorized stay up to date so that you are legally in the Philippines again.
Visas & immigration
Motion for Reconsideration (MR)
A Motion for Reconsideration (MR) is a formal request asking the Philippine Bureau of Immigration to review an adverse decision or to regularize an irregular stay. It is the usual remedy for foreign nationals who have overstayed, and it is also used to challenge visa denials, orders to leave and blacklist orders.
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- Who it is for
- Overstayers and denied applicants
- Processing time
- 3 to 4 months
- Filed at
- Bureau of Immigration, Manila
- Government charges
- Assessed case by case
About the visa
What an MR can achieve
For overstayers, the MR takes the form of a request for reconsideration on the updating and extension of authorized stay. Once it is granted and the assessed fees and penalties are paid, your stay is brought up to date and you can extend, change visa or leave the country properly.
Avoid deportation and blacklisting
Dealing with a problem voluntarily puts you in a far stronger position than waiting to be stopped at the airport.
Reverse a denial
Ask the Bureau to reconsider a refused visa or extension where there are grounds to do so.
Open the way to a resident visa
Once your stay is updated, you can apply for a long-term visa such as the SRRV or 13A.
Leave properly
Depart with your record cleared and without difficulty returning later.
Who can apply
Who needs an MR
You may need to file a Motion for Reconsideration if any of these apply.
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You have overstayed your tourist visa or other authorized stay.
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Your visa application or extension has been denied.
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You have been issued an order to leave.
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You have been blacklisted or placed on a watchlist.
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Your visa has been downgraded or canceled and you want the decision reviewed.
How it works
MR Application Process
The exact requirements and timing depend on your circumstances, but most applications follow these stages.
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Case assessment
We review your passport, stamps, extension receipts and any Bureau of Immigration orders to establish exactly what needs to be resolved. -
Preparing the motion
We prepare the request for reconsideration and the motion itself, with attachments that support why your stay should be updated or the decision reviewed. -
Filing in Manila
The motion is filed at the Bureau of Immigration main office. MRs are a Manila-only transaction, and we handle filing wherever you are based. -
Evaluation and assessment
The Bureau evaluates the motion and assesses the fees and penalties due. -
Payment and updating
Once the assessed amounts are paid, your stay is updated and you receive the order and receipts. -
Next steps
We move straight on to your extension, visa application or exit clearance so that your status does not lapse again.
What the C&G MR Service Includes
Since 2019 we have helped more than 1,500 clients secure their Philippine visas. Your service cost covers everything below, from the first document to the final approval.
- Documents prepared and notarizedWe prepare every document your application needs, and our in-house attorneys notarize them.
- With you at government officesOur staff assist you on site at your government appointments, so you never face an agency alone.
- We deal with the agenciesWe coordinate with the agencies, follow up on your application and keep you updated at every step.
- Accredited with PRA, DOLE and BIC&G is accredited with the Philippine Retirement Authority, the Department of Labor and the Bureau of Immigration.
- An experienced teamOur team, including two attorneys, has more than 10 years of experience in immigration and business consulting.
- No hidden feesYour quote shows our service cost and the government fees separately, so you know the full cost before we begin.
- Manila, Cebu or remoteMeet us at our Manila or Cebu office, or work with us remotely from anywhere.
In detail
MR document checklist
- Bureau of Immigration request for reconsideration on the updating and extension of authorized stay
- Motion for Reconsideration signed by you as petitioner
- Attachments supporting the grounds on which your stay should be updated
- Your passport, with copies of the bio-page and latest admission stamp
- Receipts for any previous visa extensions
- A copy of the order or decision being challenged, if there is one
In detail
MR fees and processing time
Government charges for an MR are assessed by the Bureau of Immigration and depend on your case. For an overstay they usually include:
- Overstay fees calculated for each month overstayed
- Arrears and penalties on the stay that was not extended
- An express lane fee
We estimate the total once we have reviewed your passport and receipts. Our service fee is separate and is quoted during your consultation.
How long it takes
A typical overstay MR takes three to four months. Cases involving blacklisting or an order to leave can take longer.
In detail
From overstay to retirement visa
If you are 40 or over and have overstayed, an MR can be combined with an application for the SRRV retirement visa, so that you move from an irregular stay to permanent residency in one sequence:
- Remit your SRRV deposit to the PRA's accredited bank, which takes one to three weeks.
- Obtain the bank certificate confirming the deposit, in three to five banking days.
- Request a certificate of pending application from the Philippine Retirement Authority.
- File the Motion for Reconsideration with that certificate in support.
If you are leaving the Philippines instead, you may also need an Emigration Clearance Certificate before you fly.
FAQs
MR Frequently Asked Questions
The Bureau of Immigration assesses them case by case, based mainly on how many months you have overstayed. We give you an estimate once we have seen your passport and receipts.
An overstay MR typically takes three to four months to be resolved. Cases involving blacklisting or deportation orders take longer and depend on the facts.
An MR consists of the Bureau of Immigration's request for reconsideration form and a signed motion, with documents supporting why your stay should be updated and extended.
You can, but the outcome depends heavily on how the motion is presented and supported. For anything involving a long overstay, blacklisting or an order to leave, professional help is strongly recommended.
The filing is done at the Bureau of Immigration in Manila. In most overstay cases we file on your behalf.
In most cases no. Trying to leave with an unresolved overstay or order can lead to being stopped at the airport, fines or a ban on re-entry.
Sometimes. It depends on your circumstances and the Bureau of Immigration's decision, including the length and reason for the overstay, the visa involved, family ties such as marriage to a Filipino citizen, and whether you came forward voluntarily or were apprehended. Filing a Motion for Reconsideration does not by itself resolve the overstay or suspend a departure deadline.
If an Order to Leave is issued, you must comply unless the Bureau grants reconsideration or otherwise allows you to remain. Returning afterwards depends on any restrictions it imposes. An Order to Leave does not necessarily mean you are blacklisted, but a Blacklist Order generally has to be lifted before you can return, and re-entry is still subject to visa requirements and immigration clearance.
Often yes. Once an overstay has been resolved and your stay is updated, you can apply for a resident visa. For the SRRV the two can be coordinated so that your retirement visa application supports the motion.
The retirement visa deposit is made with a PRA-accredited bank first. Once the bank certifies it, the Philippine Retirement Authority issues a certificate that your SRRV application is pending, and the MR is filed with that certificate.
If you are leaving after a stay of six months or more, yes. The MR order is submitted with your ECC application.
If an MR is denied, the decision can be appealed further, depending on the case, or you may need to leave the country. We advise you on realistic options before filing.
Written and reviewed by the C&G immigration team. Last updated . Government requirements and fees change, so confirm the details for your case before filing.
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