Foreigners Comply with Bureau of Immigration Reporting Requirement
According to Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco, more than 153,000 foreigners have complied with the Bureau of Immigration’s annual reporting requirement this year. Under the Alien Registration Act of 1950, foreign nationals in the Philippines must report to the BI within the first 60 days of each year. The reporting period for this year ended on March 1.
Who is Required to Report?
The reporting requirement applies to both immigrants or permanent residents in the Philippines and non-immigrants or temporary residents, including foreign workers, expatriates, and students.
Top Nationalities Reporting
According to records from the BI Alien Registration Division, the top nationalities reporting this year were Chinese with 49,556, followed by Indians with 26,123, Vietnamese with 11,671, Americans with 10,912, and Taiwanese with 7,800. Rounding out the top 10 were South Koreans, Indonesians, Japanese, Britons, and Malaysians.
It is worth noting that the number of reporting aliens this year is 13 percent higher than the previous year, with 136,065 reported in 2023. Commissioner Tansingco sees this increase as a positive sign that more aliens are applying for residency in the Philippines.
Reporting Methods and Collection of Fees
Jose Carlitos Licas, the BI alien registration chief, revealed that 80 percent of the aliens reported in-person at the BI field, extension, and satellite offices, as well as selected shopping malls in Metro Manila designated as reporting venues. However, this year, the BI also allowed nearly 8,000 aliens to report virtually and pay their fees online, marking the first time this option was available.
The government’s collection of reporting fees has also seen an increase. This year, the government earned almost P16 million, compared to last year’s collection of P11 million.
Overall, the compliance of foreigners with the Bureau of Immigration’s reporting requirement is a significant development. It indicates that a growing number of aliens are seeking residency in the Philippines. The BI’s efforts to accommodate different reporting methods, such as in-person and virtual reporting, have also contributed to the increase in compliance. The collection of reporting fees further highlights the government’s commitment to enforcing immigration regulations and ensuring that foreign nationals fulfill their responsibilities while residing in the country.
Source: The Manila Times
