(Eagle News) — The Bureau of Immigration has extended its policy of allowing foreign nationals with approved immigrant and non-immigrant visas to leave the Philippines even if they have not yet been issued their alien certificate of registration identity card.
In a statement, bureau chief Jaime Morente said the extension of the policy until December 31 is due to the implementation of the community quarantine in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces and the relatively high number of COVID-19 cases in the country.
Immigration Deputy Commissioner J. Tobias Javier, whose office processes ACR I-Card waiver applications, for his part, said he recommended the extension so as not to inconvenience foreigners who wish to leave the country during the pandemic.
According to Morente, instead of the ACR I-Card, such departing foreign nationals only need to present official receipts of the ACR I-Card waiver application fee and the reentry permit (RP) or special return certificate (SRC).
“Immigration officers, upon presenting official receipts of fees paid by the alien, should ensure that the passenger has a valid visa implemented on his or her passport before clearing the latter for departure,” Javier said.
Javier advised the departing foreign nationals to safekeep their official receipts as the same shall also serve as their ACR I-Card waiver which they would need to present upon their return to the country.
He added that payment of the ACR I-Card waiver application fees and corresponding ECC or RP/SRC fees are only allowed at the BI main office and authorized sub-port offices.
“We will continue to find ways to ease the burden of foreign nationals during this pandemic, while ensuring that said aliens are still in compliance with immigration laws,” Morente said.
