THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has downgraded Australian nun Patricia Fox’s missionary visa to a temporary visitor’s visa.

BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the bureau, in an order dated October 24, gave Fox a temporary visitor visa with a 59-day validity.

Fox’s missionary visa expired last September 5.

The move came after the BI on September 13 denied Fox's appeal for an extension of her missionary visa, saying granting her request is inconsistent with its earlier decision to order her deportation after she violated the conditions of her stay in the country for participating in partisan political activities.

Pending before the Department of Justice (DOJ) is Fox’s appeal against the said decision.

Sandoval said the BI “still needs to wait for the decision before acting her deportation,” adding that it has granted Fox the temporary visitor’s visa without prejudice to the resolution of her appeal before the DOJ on her deportation. (SunStar Philippines)