Over 65,000 foreigners report to BI

MANILA, Philippines—More than 65,000 foreigners personally reported to the Bureau of Immigration last January and February in compliance with a law requiring them to make their annual report to the agency.

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said a total of 65,610 aliens reported to the BI from January 2 to March 2 pursuant to the Alien Registration Act that directed holders of immigrant and non-immigrant visas to make their annual report within the first 60 days of every calendar year.

David said the bulk of the foreigners reported at the BI main office in Intramuros, Manila, while the rest appeared in the various immigration field and extension offices nationwide.

He added that the government generated fees amounting to more than P20.3 million from this year’s annual report. The foreigners paid an annual report fee of P300, a P10 legal research fee, among others.

According to lawyer Ronaldo Ledesma, those who failed to beat the March 2 deadline may still make their annual report but they will have to pay penalties.

He said a penalty of P350 for every month of delay would be charged to late filers.

Ledesma also warned that those who did not report would be deemed improperly documented aliens, thus making them liable for deportation.

Under the 1950 Alien Registration Act, all holders of immigrant or non-immigrant visas are required by law to make the annual report. Such aliens are also required to secure alien certificates of registration by another BI regulation.

According to the BI, 42,757 foreigners or 65 percent of this year’s foreigners trooped to the BI main office.

Other BI offices where aliens have reported are those in cities of Baguio, Batangas, Boracay, Cebu, Clark, Dagupan, Davao, Laoag, Makati, Olongapo, Subic, Pasay, Taytay, Zamboanga, and San Fernando (La Union).

The BI’s last statistic of the number of registered aliens in the country was for July 2011, when it said there were 189,448 aliens registered with the agency.