Immigration bureau cuts alien certificate processing time to 5 days

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has issued new guidelines to cut delays in the processing of applications for alien certificates of registration identity cards (ACR-I-Card).

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. issued on June 1 a memorandum containing the new rules which prescribe a period of only five days for the processing and issuance of ACR I-Cards.

While the application for an  I-Card can be accomplished in a day, release of the card often takes up to 30 days.

David’s circular states that “in no case shall the entire ACR I-Card application process exceed five working days from the date of filing of the application.”

Any “delay or deviation” from the performance timeline will result in disciplinary action against the responsible BI employee, the circular added.

Aside from setting a timeline, the circular also prescribed the documentary requirements for the issuance of the I-Card.

The bureau also said it had adopted stricter rules in the registration and issuance of visas to dependent children of resident foreign nationals in the country.

A circular issued on May 24 provides for the cancellation at the end of this year of visas of dependents of nonimmigrants who were erroneously registered as native-born foreigners.

Native-born foreigners are given certain preferences in applications for naturalization, permanent residency and other immigration benefits. Jerome Aning