Affidavit of Support and Guarantee (ASG) for OFWs

The Affidavit of Support and Guarantee (ASG) is a notarized document commitment made by a sponsor, promising to take care of the traveler’s financial needs while they’re in the host country. This is usually applied for by OFWs who want to have their families visit their host country as tourists. The ASG is a strong assurance in the world of international travel, especially for countries with strict immigration policies. The ASG, deeply ingrained in the Filipino legal system, helps assure foreign authorities that the traveler will not only have financial security during their visit but will also follow all travel requirements, including the agreement to return home after the visit.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) of the Philippines is mandated under the Amended Migrant Workers’ Act of 2004 (R.A. 10022) and the Anti-Human Trafficking Law of 2003 (R.A. 9233) to check all passengers traveling overseas to prevent human trafficking and illegal recruiting.

The Bureau of Immigration’s port personnel, not the Philippine Embassy or Philippine Consulate General, can grant permission for a Filipino tourist to leave the country. The Philippine Embassy and Consulate General’s sole responsibility is to authenticate the Affidavit of Support and Guarantee (ASG) after all requirements have been met.

What is Affidavit of Support and Guarantee (ASG)?

The Affidavit of Support and Guarantee (ASG) is a legal document often used in the Philippines, where a person or an entity pledges financial support to a prospective traveler. The sponsor, who signs the affidavit, promises to take on the financial responsibility for the visitor’s expenses during their stay, ensuring they will not become a public charge. The ASG also typically guarantees that the visitor will return to their home country at the end of the visit. This document is often required for visa applications, particularly for Filipino citizens traveling to countries with strict immigration policies.

When carrying out the Department of Justice’s Circular 036-2015 – Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) Revised Guidelines on Departure Formalities for International Bound Passengers, Philippine Bureau of Immigration officials MAY request the Affidavit of Support and Guarantee (ASG) to be an additional supporting document.

When seeking for a relative, fiancé, or spouse to go as a tourist to the OFW’s working country, a collection of documents known as the ASG compromise must be submitted to the embassy or consulate general.

Requirements

Below are the requirements for ASG:

• Completed Affidavit of Support and Guarantee (ASG) form
• The sponsor’s valid ID or passport
• The invited or sponsored individual’s valid passport or ID
• Invited or sponsored individual’s Tourist/Visit Visa
• Sponsor’s Residence Visa
• Proof of the sponsor’s relation to the invited or sponsored individual
  • Sponsor’s Report Birth of Children
  • Sponsor’s Report of Marriage
  • Sponsored birth certificate issued by NSO/PSA
  • Sponsored Marriage contract issued by NSO/PSA
• Sponsor’s Verified Employment Contract
• Proof of the sponsor’s stable income for the past six (6) months (payslip, bank statements/certificate, etc.)
  • It is not in the hands of the Philippine Embassy or Consulate General to establish or decide the appropriate income standards. The needed income is determined by using cost-of-living estimates from recognized financial institutions that do operations in this country.
• Declaration of Commitment
• Letter of Invitation
• Proof of Accommodation
  • A tenancy contract from the municipality under the sponsor’s name should be submitted by the Filipino sponsor, or, if one is not available, a hotel reservation duly stamped by the hotel or travel agency with the sponsored period of stay and plane ticket.
• Trade License of the Travel Agency

Note: the requirements could change according to the country that you are visiting.

Step-by-Step Procedure: How to Get an ASG Abroad

The ASG is processed by the PH Embassy or PH Consulate. Please check with them through the official websites if an appointment for Affidavit of Support may be required. It usually depends on the Philippine office of your host country. In general, here are the following steps:.

Step 1: Complete the Affidavit of Support and Guarantee form in its entirety.

Step 2: Have the relevant national authorities pre-authenticate the documents. Some instances you may need to verify your employment contract, some may require your overseas certificates also authenticated by the Labour Ministry of your country.

Step 3: Scan the documents online (if online submission is required).

Step 4: Email the documents to the Philippine Embassy or Consulate General for pre-assessment.

Step 5: The authentication officer will assess the email submission’s authenticity.

Step 6: Pay the processing fee.

Step 7: You will receive an email confirmation to send the two (2) copies of the documents to the Philippine Embassy or Consulate General via post office. Include a copy of payment for each document, one photocopy for the file of the Philippine Embassy or Consulate General, and one self-addressed or pre-paid envelope to be used for returning your documents.

Please make sure that you have scheduled an appointment in advance before submitting the documents in person.

Note: Once documents are sent over to the post office or courier service, the Philippine Embassy or Consulate General is not responsible for any loss or damage to them.

Step 8: Wait five (5) working days to receive your documents if you submit them in person. On the other hand, it may take three (3) to seven (7) working days to get your documents if you send them in through the post office.

Note: As a reminder, the steps vary from every Philippine Office. ASG in Dubai, for example requires you to upload all your documents online for pre-assessment. If everything is approved, you will get an appointment to submit the physical documents, and then a notice to pick-up your notarized ASG within 3-5 business days. Other instances, you may be asked to send your application through Post office. So double-check through your nearest PH office.

Important Reminders

• Sponsorship is prohibited for some visa categories, including Household Service Workers (HSWs).
• Affidavit of Support and Guarantee does not need to be requested by minors (17 years old and under) or senior citizens (60 years old and above).
• Each document needs to be translated into English legally.
• The applicant(s) must sign the document(s) in person in front of the Philippine Embassy or Consulate General officials.
• Any forged or altered documents presented for notarization or attestation may be confiscated outright once the consular officer has made the appropriate assessment. Fixers and the owner of the relevant documents will face legal action. If a document turns out to be fraudulent, payment will be refunded.
• The review process for the application documents will take three (3) to seven (7) business days.

Video: Affidavit of Support and Guarantee Explained: Common Questions Answered with English Subtitle

Watch the video below of YouTuber Honeylith Rudz, shares her experience and answered the common questions regarding to the Affidavit of Support and Guarantee.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

See the list of frequently asked questions and answers below if you have further questions about “Affidavit of Support and Guarantee.”

1. What is Affidavit of Support and Guarantee?

It is an agreement that someone signs to take on financial responsibility for the visitor who is going to visit the OFW’s place of employment. The term “sponsor” also refers to the individual who signs the Affidavit of Support.

2. What is the sponsor of the Affidavit of Support and Guarantee?

When an individual pledge to financially support another, it is legally documented in an Affidavit of Support and Guarantee. This type of document is frequently used in connection with applications for travel permits or visas. In cases involving family law, such as child custody, it may also be necessary.

3. How can I acquire an Affidavit of Support and Guarantee?

Private Attorney: To create this affidavit, you can speak with a private attorney. This guarantees the document’s legal validity.

Public Attorney’s Office (PAO): The PAO may help create an Affidavit of Support at no charge to you if you are unable to pay a private attorney.

4. Who will give the Affidavit of Support and Guarantee?

Generally, an Affidavit of Support and Guarantee can be given by a close friend or relative who is financially stable. The sponsor is the individual who offers the support.

5. How much is the processing fee of the Affidavit of Support and Guarantee?

The country in which you submitted the documents will determine the processing fee of the Affidavit of Support and Guarantee.

6. Is Affidavit of Support and Guarantee mandatory?

Affidavit of Support and Guarantee filing is typically needed for visa applicants. Failure to submit this document could result in the denial of your visa application. As such, it is essential to guarantee that the affidavit of support submitted by the sponsor complies with all applicable immigration laws and regulations.

Summary

To sum up, an Affidavit of Support and Guarantee must meet a lot more requirements than what is written in the document. It includes adhering to legal formalities and several supporting documents. It is usually advised to consult a lawyer given the possibility of legal implications.