Filipinos in Italy Take Voluntary Return Offer by Italian Gov’t

Ambassador to Italy Domingo P. Nolasco introduces the resource persons from the Ministry of the Interior of Italy and the International Organization for Migration, led by Vice Prefect Maria Vittoria Pontieri and Claudio Di Lorenzo, respectively, for the Forum on Immigration Policies and Programs for Returning Migrants held at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the chancery on 19 July 2018. (Rome PE photo)

Project assistant for the International Organization for Migration’s Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) program Greta Alesandri explains the package of assistance a returning migrant beneficiary can expect from the program to the Filipino community leaders on 19 July 2018. (Rome PE photo)

ROME 30 July 2018 – Eleven Filipinos have so far availed themselves of the “Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration” (AVRR) program of the Italian Government, currently being implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) since 2016.

This information was given by the Italian Government officials, led by Vice Prefect Maria Vittoria Pontieri of the Department for Civil Liberties and Immigration of the Ministry of the Interior, and IOM representatives at a forum organized by the Philippine Embassy in Rome on 19 July 2018 for the Filipino Community leaders.

IOM’s Lazio Regional Counselor Claudio Di Lorenzo, and IOM Project Assistant for Voluntary Assisted Repatriation Greta Alesandri informed the forum participants that a total of 653 individuals from 57 non-EU countries availed themselves of the program in 2017, an increase of 453 percent from 144 individuals in 2016.

The AVRR program is intended for non-European Union (EU) migrants in Italy, who wish to return to their countries of origin for good.

The program is open to regular and irregular migrants in Italy—including those with medical cases—but excludes those who are citizens of any EU member state, those with criminal record, and those serving jail terms for a serious crime.

It consists of a package of assistance that includes an individual interview before departure, assistance in obtaining a travel document, payment of travel costs, cash upon departure (€400), and in-kind contribution (€1,800-2,000) to help the beneficiary find a job and integrate in society.

Filipinos who wish to inquire more about AVRR program may call the IOM’s toll free number at 800 200071.

Italy’s Immigration Policy Remains Unchanged

Meanwhile, Italian immigration representatives also assured Filipinos in Rome that there is nothing new to the immigration policy of Italy.

“If you have a valid permit to stay, then your stay in the Italian territory is legal. If you don’t have any, then you are subject to expulsion,” Giuseppe Di Giovanni of the Italian Ministry of Interior’s Department of Civil Liberties and Immigration said.

During the question and answer portion of the forum, Di Giovanni reminded Filipino Community leaders that a person’s permit to stay should be consistent with one’s entry visa. This means that a tourist visa does not entitle one to work in Italy.

The EU Long-Term Residence Permit, formerly known as Carta di Soggiorno, may be revoked under the following conditions: absence of the foreign national in the European Union for a period of 12 consecutive months; absence of the foreign national from Italy for six months; acquisition of the EU Long Term Residence Permit in another European Member State; and when the foreign national is deemed to be a danger to public order or national security.

“A tagliando is a document to show that one has a pending application for renewal of one’s permit to stay. It is incorrect to assume that it can be used as a re-entry permit or as a replacement of a valid visa or permit to stay,” Di Giovanni explained.

“The Attesa Occupazione status is valid for one to two years and its renewal is entirely the discretion of the immigration office,” he added. END

Dott. Giuseppe Di Giovanni and Deputy Inspector Anna Lisa Desiati from the Ministry of the Interior of Italy explain that the immigration policy of Italy remains the same. (Rome PE photo)

For more information, visit www.romepe.dfa.gov.ph / https://www.facebook.com/PHinItaly/.