Resident foreigners told to report to Bureau of Immigration

MANILA, Philippines - All foreign nationals living in the country are advised to report to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) beginning today or face sanctions for being improperly documented aliens.

In a statement, BI officer-in-charge Ronaldo Ledesma reminded all resident foreign nationals to personally visit either the BI’s main office in Intramuros, Manila or any of its extension, district, subport or satellite offices all over the country.

The annual reporting is in line with the Alien Registration Act (Republic Act 562), which requires all foreigners to report to the BI within the first 60 days of every calendar year. Failure to comply with this regulation could lead to the filing of administrative fines or deportation, at the discretion of the BI commissioner.

Danilo Almeda, BI alien registration division chief, said that under Section 10 of RA 562, all aliens holding immigrant or non-immigrant visas must report to the BI annually.

He advised foreigners to go directly to the cashier’s office to pay their fees to avoid falling prey to fixers. The annual report fee is P300 plus a P10 legal research fee.

Aliens making the annual report should bring their Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) I-Cards, Certificate of Residence and official receipts of the annual report fee paid during the previous year.

Foreigners holding the old paper-based ACR and whose visas are not exempt from paying immigration fees shall not be allowed to make the annual report until they apply for an ACR I-Card, Almeda said.

For aliens below 14 years of age or 65 years old and above, representatives could make the report on their behalf.