Home 
MANILA, Philippines?The Bureau of Immigration is being envisioned as a more powerful body that can on its own act on foreign visa applications under pending bills in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Philippine Immigration and Naturalization Act of 2009 has passed third reading in the House of Representatives and second reading in the Senate.
Under the Senate version of the bill, the bureau will be renamed either as Philippine Immigration Authority or Commission on Immigration and Naturalization that will have a board of directors general composed of a director general and four deputies, all of whom with fixed terms.
The director general and first two appointed deputies will hold office for seven years each while the next two deputies will hold office for five years.
The board is mandated to act on petitions or applications for immigrant, non-immigrant and special non-immigrant visas, decide on applications for legalization of residence, and decide applications for refugee status.
The board may also decide on removal cases and act on applications for recognition of Philippine citizenship.
It is also tasked to prepare and publish an organizational policy procedures and manual to include requirements, time periods, and fees for the perfection of all transactions entered into by the commission with the public.
