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The Bureau of Immigration has moved to Monday the deadline for all
resident foreign nationals to report in person to the agency their
presence in the country as required by law.
Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan
issued a memorandum order extending to March 3 the deadline for
foreigners to make their annual personal appearance before the
bureau.
This requirement for foreigners, which started
last January 2, is provided under Section 10 of the Alien
Registration Act of 1950 and applies to all aliens who are holders
of immigrant or non-immigrant visas.
The law requires foreigners, who are holders of
any visa except temporary visitors, to report to the bureau within
the first 60 days of every calendar year.
Libanan, however, said he decided to move the
deadline to March 3 because March 1, which supposedly is the last
day for the annual report, falls on a Saturday.
He explained that under the law, if a deadline
for a particular government program falls on a weekend or a holiday,
the said deadline shall be moved to next working day.
“Thus, foreigners can still make their annual
report on Monday and avoid being fined or subjected to deportation
proceedings,” he said.
Foreigners should bring with them their I-Cards
as well as the official receipt of the annual report fee they paid
the previous year. The I-Card replaced the paper-based alien
certificate of registration which foreigners used to present to the
bureau when making their annual appearance.
An annual report fee of P300 and P10 legal
research fee shall be paid by each foreigner to the cashier of the
bureau. As for aliens who are minors, their parents or guardians can
make the annual report on their behalf.
-- William B. Depasupil
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