Starting this month until March 1, all foreigners are directed to register in person at the nearest Bureau of Immigration (BI) office for their annual reporting.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the annual reporting of aliens is required under the 1950 Alien Registration Act.
Under said act, all BI-registered aliens are required to report to the BI main office in Intramuros, Manila or to the nearest participating BI field, satellite or extension office from their place within the first 60 days of every calendar year.
“Two months is a long time. There is no reason for foreigners to miss the annual report. Those who will fail to comply will be sanctioned,” he said in a statement.
Morente also warned that non-compliance may result in fines or cancellation of the registration.
Covered by the law are resident foreign nationals who have been issued immigrant or non-immigrant visas and are holders of the alien certificate of registration identity card (ACR I-Card).
The BI chief noted that in the annual reporting, each alien must present his original ACR I-Card and his valid passport and pay a PHP300 annual report fee and PHP10 legal research fee.
“Foreigners who are out of the country during the annual reporting period may make the report within 30 days from the date of their return to the country, provided they have valid re-entry permits,” he added.
Aliens below 14 years old are exempted from personal appearance and it shall be the duty of their parent or guardian to represent them.
Also exempted are senior citizens aged 65 years old and above. However, they are still required to pay the fees and fill out the form.
Lawyer Jose Carlitos Licas, BI Alien Registration Division (ARD) chief, appealed to all registered foreigners to avoid the rush.
“It has always been an issue that people file on the last few days of the annual report period, making the process burdensome for everyone,” he said.
“We are urging foreigners to avoid (the) deadline rush by making their report earlier,” the BI official added. (Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
