Foreigners applying for visa at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) need no longer go to the agency’s offices to claim their alien certificate of registration - identity card (ACR-I-Card) as these will soon be delivered to their doorsteps.

Under the revised rules on the processing and issuance of the ACR-I-Card issued recently by BI Commissioner Ricardo David Jr., all I-Cards printed and released for distribution shall be endorsed to a courier that shall deliver the cards to the visa applicants within 24 hours.

 

David said the new procedure will be operational as soon as the BI has identified, selected and engaged the services of a reliable, reputable and cost-effective courier provider.

He disclosed that a supplemental memorandum will be issued to formalize the operation of the courier delivery system for the ACR-I-Card.

 

The guidelines state that the cards shall be delivered to the residential address of stated by the applicant in his or her application form.

 

According to David, the courier system was introduced as part of the BI’s continuing efforts to improve its services, thus making it more convenient for foreigners to visit and do business in the country.

 

“Ultimately, the courier system will be employed for the other types of immigration documents, such as clearances and exit permits, so that foreigners need no longer go to our offices and line up to secure their papers,” the BI chief said.

 

He added that the new system will help lessen the crowd of people transacting at the ground floor of the BI main building in Intramuros, Manila, many of whom go there to claim or follow up their ACR-I-Card application.

Lawyer Ronaldo Ledesma, BI acting alien registration chief, explained that a foreigner who was issued an immigrant or non-immigrant visa by the BI should register with the bureau’s alien registration division (ARD) and apply for an ACR-I-Card to perfect his resident status in the Philippines.

 

            Ledesma said that aside from being proof of a foreigner’s legal status, the card also serves as the alien’s reentry and exit permit that should be presented to an immigration officer at the port of entry every time he or she enters or leaves the country.###