Customs streamlines issuance of clearances to aliens, travelers

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has created a new office to mainly handle requests for clearances, clarifications and verifications of status of foreigners and certify the entry and exit records of international travelers.

The Verification and Compliance Division (VCD) was formed through a memorandum order issued by Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. and approved by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

The VCD would mainly handle tasks formerly performed by three offices under two bureau divisions: The verification and certification unit and the derogatory section under the BI Administrative Division and the Anti-Fraud Division, said David in a statement Sunday.

Under the memorandum, the Anti-Fraud Division was downgraded and renamed the Anti-Fraud Section under the VCD.

“This new office will address the need to implement a system of post audit and verification of all visa and alien registration applications,” David said.

He said that aside from its main task of facilitating aliens’ requests, the new division would also process clearances saying that a person was not on the bureau’s hold-departure list, watch list or blacklist.

The new office would also issue immigration clearances, record and retrieve derogatory records of travelers and authenticate documents.  All these duties were previously handled by the three separate offices, David noted.

He said the VCD would act as the central clearance, verification and compliance-monitoring unit of the bureau.  Jocelyn R. Uy

Originally posted: 10:25 pm | Sunday, April 22nd, 2012