13 February 2010 179 views No Comment Email This Post

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has started issuing identity cards to foreign tourists who are on extended stay in the country or are holders of special work and study permits.

Atty Floro Balato Jr., BI spokesman, said the BI began implementing the scheme last Jan 19, or 15 days after the program’s implementing guidelines were published in the newspapers.

BI Commissioner Marcelino Libanan issued a memorandum order last December prescribing the rules and regulations for issuance of Alien Certificate of Registration I-Card (ACR I-Card) to non-restricted foreign tourists who are granted authorized stay of 59 days.

Also obliged to secure the identity cards are foreign nationals who apply for and are granted special study permit (SSP) and special work permit (SWP).

The rules state that the card shall be co-terminus with the validity of the tourist visa or permit issued to the holder but it cannot exceed one year.

Thus, existing tourist visa, SSP and SWP holders with ACR I-Cards shall not be charged anew for the card’s processing fee if the application for visa extension or permit renewal is filed within the one-year validity period.

As in the case of registered foreign nationals, applicants for the said card shall be charged a processing fee of $50 and an express lane fee of P500.

Previously, only registered foreigners who are holders of the various types of immigrant and non-immigrant visas were required to apply for I-Cards upon issuance of their visas.

But Balato said the new policy was introduced in line with the BI’s continuing thrust to modernize and the improve the efficiency and security of the agency’s alien registration, identification, and monitoring systems in light of the increasing volume of foreigners who are entering the country.

Balato explained that the scheme will enable the bureau to improve its capability in monitoring arriving foreigners and thwart the entry or detect the presence of those who are considered threats to national security, including fugitives and terrorists.

“Also, through this new scheme we are attaining the objective of establishing a singular and convenient identity card for all resident foreigners and tourists staying in our country,” he added. (Lolita Acosta)

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