Aliens must report to BI offices

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has reminded foreigners in the country they have to appear in person at the agency for their annual reporting lest they face sanctions for being improperly documented.

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said the annual reporting—to start on January 3—was provided for under Republic Act No. 562, the Alien Registration Act of 1950, which states that foreigners must present themselves to the bureau within the first 60 days of each year.

David said those who failed to report would be fined and could even face deportation. He urged foreigners to report early and avoid the deadline rush.

Alien registration division chief Ronaldo Ledesma said that under Section 10 of RA 562, aliens who hold immigrant or nonimmigrant visas must make the annual report to any BI office.

“They can report either to the BI main office in Intramuros, Manila, or any of its field or satellite offices nationwide,” Ledesma said.

He also advised foreigners to pay their fees directly to bureau cashiers and demand an official receipt to avoid being victimized by “fixers.”

Foreigners making the annual report should bring with them their alien certificate of registration identity card (ACR I-Card) and certificate of residence.

An annual report fee of P300 and P10 legal research fee shall be charged by the bureau.

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

As for aliens below 14 years of age or 65 years and older, their parents or legal guardians and representatives shall make the report in their behalf.

In a report last year, the BI said it issued a total of 183,804 ACR I-Cards from January to September 2011, with 59,906 of them going to Chinese citizens.

Rounding out the top five foreign nationals in the country in number of ACR I-Cards issued were South Koreans, Americans, Indians and Japanese.