BI orders foreigners to report for continued stay
Boracay. FILE PHOTO
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has ordered all foreign nationals residing in the country to appear at its offices within 60 days as part of the requirements for their continued stay in the country.
Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison has issued a memorandum circular dated Dec. 12, requiring the foreigners to report in person at the BI offices from January to Feb. 28 next year, in compliance with Section 10 of Republic Act No. 562 or the Alien Registration Act.
“The circular aims to strictly enforce compliance of the immigration law in the interest of national security, public safety and public order,” Mison said in the statement on Monday.
Foreign nationals are asked to bring their ACR I-card (Alien Certificate of Registration Identity Card) or paper-based ACR and accomplish an application form.
Applicants can download the application form from the bureau’s website (www.immigration.gov.ph) or personally get a copy from any of the BI offices nationwide.
An application fee of P310 is required for their appearance.
Mison warned the foreigners that travel agencies, law firms and other entities transacting with the immigration bureau are prohibited from accomplishing the application form or paying the corresponding application fees on their behalf, except due to circumstances stated in the Memo Circular SBM 2013-002.
Those who are not required to appear in person are those under 14 or about 65 years old, imbecile, staying in a penal institution or confined in a hospital.
Mison said those who could show sufficient proof of physical incapability to report in person could likewise send a representative to apply.
Those who are outside the country are not required to appear personally for as long as they pay the application fee within 30 days upon arrival.
Other applicants whose appearance have been waived by the bureau can just send their representatives.
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