PARTNERSHIP. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco (3rd from right) and Robinsons Land Corporation executive vice president Faraday Go (3rd from left) show copies of a memorandum of agreement at the Robinsons Place Manila on Oct. 25, 2022. Under the pact, Robinsons Place Manila will be a venue for the annual registration of foreigners from January to March next year. (Photo courtesy of BI)
MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has partnered with the private sector to be able to serve the transacting public, particularly foreigners who are staying in the country.
Commissioner Norman Tansingco and officials of Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Oct. 25, providing for the opening of its services to foreign nationals at Robinsons Place Manila for the upcoming 2023 annual report (AR).
“The off-site venue will be open from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m. The space that we will be using in Robinsons mall will also be larger, so it will very much benefit the transacting public,” Tansingco said in a statement Friday.
Under the Alien Registration Act of 1950, foreigners holding BI-issued immigrant and non-immigrant visas are required to report in person to the bureau within the first 60 days of every calendar year.
“This means that those who are living, working, and studying here are required to present themselves for the annual report," Tansingco said.
At the same time, he warned that those who would fail to file their AR may be meted sanctions such as payment of fines and penalties and even deportation.
The BI chief urged foreigners to personally file their ARs from Jan. 1 to March 1, 2023.
Only aliens who are under 14 years old and below and those who are aged 65 years and above, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities, and those who are mentally and physically incapacitated may be exempted from personally appearing at the bureau, provided that a proof of exemption is presented by an authorized representative.
The AR filers are also required to present their original alien certificate of registration identity card (ACR I-Card) and their valid passport.
On the other hand, Tansingco noted that aside from the venue at Robinson’s Place, Manila, aliens may also file their AR at the different field and district offices of the bureau nationwide.
"We thank the Robinsons management for the opportunity to partner in providing better service to the public who may now file their reports in a more comfortable venue," he said.
"The improvement of services is really one of the major goals of this administration, and we are happy to be partnering with Robinsons Land Corporation in this endeavor," the Commissioner added. (PNA)
