Written by Armando C. De Asa, Jr., 28 June 2007
In response to the clamor of various foreign chambers of commerce, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) recently issued Memorandum Order (MO) No. RMA-2007-001 extending the validity of the Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) Identity Card or ACR I-Card for various visa categories.
Aliens who enter the Philippines and stay over six (6) months regardless of the type of visa they have, i.e., whether admitted under nonimmigrant or immigrant status, are required to register under the Alien Registration Act. Upon registration, they are issued an ACR including their respective dependents. The registration is required to enable the BI to precisely chronicle and monitor the stay and activities of the aliens in the Philippines. At that time, the ACRs issued were paper-based ACRs with a validity period of only one year.
The ACR I-Card which replaced the paper based ACR, is a microchip-based credit card sized document. It has an embedded computer chip with biometric security features capable of data management and electronic updating. Thus, this single credit card size document already contains all the relevant personal data/information about the alien including his/her dependents, e.g., name, age, date of birth, place of birth, address etc.; photograph; date and status of admission; visa type granted; biometric information (2 digitalised fingerprint templates); signature; ACR and ICR / CRTV / CRTT / CRTS and CRPE numbers; travel details; payment of immigration fee details; and Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) / Special Return Certificate (SCR) / Re-entry Permit (RP).
The ACR I-Card system was implemented to improve the efficiency and security of the BI’s alien registration, identification and monitoring system in light of the increasing worldwide traffic in numerous ports and heightened global threat of terrorists, transnational criminals and aliens with criminal records. Moreover, installing a simplified paperless visa process system also serves as an additional incentive to prospective foreign investors wanting to invest in the Philippines.
Implementation of the ACR I-Card system was initially targeted middle of 2004. However, full implementation was deferred until November 2006 because certain issues were raised by the various foreign chambers of commerce specifically concerning the validity period of the ACR I-Card for each visa category under the ACR I-Card Implementing Guidelines. Under said Implementing Guidelines, the ACR I-Card like the paper based ACR, had a validity period of only one (1) year and was renewable simultaneously with the payment by the alien of his/her annual report fee. However, annual renewal appeared to be very expensive and impractical since most of the ACR I-Card holders are stationed all over the country.
Thus, to address this issue, the BI recently issued RMA 2007-001 dated April 2, 2007 which extended the validity periods of the ACR I-Card for each visa category, as follows:
- Five (5) years in the case of permanent residents and their dependents (with ACR and ICR holders) under the following visa categories:
- Native-born
- Section 13 and Sections 13(a) to 13(g) of the Philippine Immigration Act (PIA) as amended
- Republic Act Nos. 7919 and 8274 (Alien Social Integration Act of 1995)
- Executive Order No. 324 (series of 1988)
- Note Verbale No. 903730 dated Sept. 17, 1990 between the Philippines and India
2. Co-terminus with the validity of their approved visa in the case of resident aliens who are categorized as temporary residents and whose visas were granted under BI Law Instruction Nos. 13, 33 and 48 (all series of 1988); BI Memo Order Nos. ADD-01-038 (series of 2001) and ADD-02-015 (series of 2002).
- For aliens who are under probation prior to their becoming a permanent/temporary resident, the validity of the ACR I-Card shall be co-terminus with their probationary period.
3. One (1) year validity or as actually granted if the validity of the visa is less than one (1) year for the following visa categories:
- Section 9 (a) – Temporary Visitors – ACR & CRTV
- Section 9 (d) – Treaty Traders – ACR & CRTT
- Section 9 (f) – Students – ACR & CRTS
- Section 9 (g) – Pre-arranged employees – ACR & CRPE
- All other visa categories which are required by law to register or for those who are exempted from immigration fees but opted to avail of the ACR I-Card
These validity periods shall be reckoned from the date of issuance of the ACR I-Card.
The BI, which is under the auspices of the Department of Justice, is a vital component of government as it plays a significant role in the development of the nation insofar as the immigration rules are concerned. The issuance of MO No. RMA-2007-001 clearly demonstrates the BI’s effort in striking a balance between protecting the integrity of the Philippine territory (in many cases to prevent human smuggling) and encouraging/improving investment opportunities/trade relations with other countries.
