Resident aliens told: Report to BI by tomorrow

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reminded yesterday all resident foreign nationals in the country that they have until tomorrow to make their annual report to the bureau or face sanctions for being improperly documented aliens.

BI officer-in-charge Ronaldo Ledesma said there will be no extension of the March 1 deadline because the law does not allow it. “The Alien Registration Act of 1950 expressly provides that foreigners must report to the bureau within the first 60 days of every calendar year,” he said.

He warned that those who fail to make the annual report on time will be meted administrative fines, jailed, or both, at the discretion of the BI.

Danilo Almeda, BI alien registration division chief, said those who must submit their annual report are aliens who hold immigrant or non-immigrant visas. They can go either to the BI main office in Intramuros, Manila or any of its extension, district, sub-port, or satellite offices throughout the country, Almeda said.

He told foreigners to bring their Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) I-Cards, Certificate of Residence and valid passports when they report, as well pay a P300 annual report fee and P10 legal research fee directly at the cashier’s office.

A foreigner who holds the old paper-based ACR and whose visa is not exempt from paying immigration fees shall not be allowed to make his annual report until he applies for an ACR I-Card, Almeda said.

For aliens who are below 14 years of age or 65 years old and above, their representatives should make the report on their behalf, he said.  

– Helen Flores, Rudy Santos