Foreign minor children with Filipino roots now exempt from waivers of exclusion fees

MINOR children with Philippine ancestry, who are unaccompanied by or not coming to join a parent, shall be exempt from waivers of exclusion and waiver of exclusion service fees, according to Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan.

“Provided that, the children are accompanied by a Philippine grandfather, grandmother, guardian or relative,” Libanan said.

Libanan pointed out that the accompanying Philippine grandfather, grandmother, guardian or relative should submit substantive proof of the children’s Philippine ancestry at the port of entry.

“Otherwise, the children are not inadmissible,” Libanan stressed.

For purposes of these guidelines, Libanan explained that the term children shall refer to unmarried children below 18 years of age, whether legitimate, illegitimate and legally adopted.

Immigration departure formalities for traveling Filipinos relaxed

SAYING that freedom to travel by every Filipino is enshrined in the Constitution as an inalienable right, Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan has removed restrictions and requirements imposed on departing Filipinos that cause the infringement of their right to travel.

In his Memorandum Order No. MCL-07-19, Libanan ordered all concerned Immigration officers to allow the departure of Filipinos from the Philippines upon presentation of the following:

a. Valid passport.
b. Valid visa where required; and
c. Return ticket when necessary, without requiring the submission of other documents except only those required by existing laws, rules and regulations, such as Authority to Travel issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development to unaccompanied minors.

"There is an imperative need to remove such restrictions and to simplify the requirements in order to avoid, if not eliminate, unwarranted bureaucratic red tape that creates opportunity to unscrupulous individuals to engage in irregular activities," Libanan said.

Congrats, ACO Richard Perez; BI installs jammers at NAIA

FIRST, I would like to congratulate Richard Perez for having been designated as acting Alien Control Officer (ACO) of the Batangas Field Office.

With Richard's experience and dedication to public service, he will give the Bureau of Immigration (BI) a much-needed shot in the arm under the 
leadership of Commissioner Marcelino Libanan.

Commissioner Libanan truly has an eye for exceptional public servants like Richard.

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To avoid speculations that some immigration officers are using their cellular phones to connive with undesirable aliens, Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan will set up a signal jammer at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals 1 and 2.

Libanan has ordered NAIA immigration head supervisor Ferdinand Sampol to place signal jammers within the immigration areas only. 

"Upon entering the immigration area, a person's cellular signal will automatically be cut off," Sampol explained.

The jammer can cut off a cellphone signal within a few hundred square meters.

BI to tighten implementation and issuance of mission orders

PURSUANT to the rule-making powers of the Commissioner of Immigration and as supplement to the Memorandum, dated May 25, 2007, on "Issuance and Service of Mission Order/Warrant of Deportation", the following guidelines are hereby promulgated:

1. The Chief, Law Enforcement Division (LED) and/or the Team Leader designated to serve and implement a particular Mission Order (M.O.) shall closely coordinate and report its activities to the BI-National operations Center (BI-NOC) by:

          a. Furnishing the BI-NOC with a copy of the M.O.;

          b. Reporting to the BI-NOC, on a real-time basis, the: (i) exact time and date of departure of the team to serve and implement the M.O.; (ii) exact time and date of arrival in the area of operations; (iii) specific activities undertaken at the area; (iv) results of the operation; (v) exact time and date of departure from the area; and (vi) other information, as may be necessary;

         c. Performing such other coordinative functions as may be required under the circumstances.

2. The Chief, BI-NOC or any Duty Supervisor on duty while the service and implementation of a particular M.O. is being undertaken shall:

        a. Make a record of the real-time reports being submitted by the team and render a full report to the Office of the Commissioner immediately upon the completion thereof;

        b. Coordinate the other concerned officers and personnel of the Bureau to be available in their respective offices should there presence be required in the processing of the subjects in connection with the implementation of such M.O.

        c. Perform such other coordinative functions as may be required under the circumstances.

3. All concerned Bureau officials and personnel shall treat all information received related to the service and implementation of Mission Orders with utmost secrecy and confidentiality.

This Memorandum Order takes effect immediately.

For strict compliance.

MARCELINO C. LIBANAN
Commissioner

Fil-Ams can take their elementary and high school courses here in RP

QUESTION: Dear Atty. Batas, Gusto ko pong ikonsulta ang kalagayan ng mga anak (3) ng pinsan ko na ipinanganak sa Saipan at nagtataglay ng US Citizenship at
pawang naninirahan dito sa Pilipinas: Hinihingan po kasi sila ng Birth Certificate galing sa NSO ng eskwelahan (public high school) na papasukan niya sa June. Hindi nga po kasi sila dito ipinanganak at American ang Citizenship nila. Mas mabuti po ba Atty. na ipa-late register ko na lang sila kasi sila ay nagkaka-edad ng 12, 11, at 9. Kung saka-sakali po na ipa-late register ko silang 3 may babayaran po ba ako at hindi po ba naman makaka-apekto sa kanilang citizenship ito (ok lang po ba na American or US ang ilagay sa Citizenship sa Form ng NSO?). Pwede na po ba sila na i-apply for dual citizenship kahit wala pa sila 18 years old at naninirahan dito sa Pilipinas. Magkano po ba ang nagagastos kung mag-apply sila ng dual citizeship. Kung sakali po na nais namin na i- avail o alamin ang estado ng pagiging US citizen nila, saan po at sino ang pwede namin kontakin sa mga bagay na ito. Iyan lang po at umaasa ako at ang pinsan ko na maliliwanagan sa kasagutan sa mga bagay na ito. Marami pong Salamat at God Bless. (costafc_510@yahoo.com).

ANSWER: Maraming salamat po sa e-mail na ito kay Atty. Batas. Sa ilalim po ng mga umiiral na batas sa Pilipinas may kinalaman sa mga birth certificates, hindi pupuwedeng ipa-rehistro pa ulit ang sinumang may nauna ng rehistro o may nauna ng birth certificate, ke ang birth certificate na ito ay dito sa Pilipinas o sa ibang bansa nairehistro. Kung ano na ang rehistradong birth certificate, yun na po ang dapat gamitin. Katulad po ng nabanggit sa ibang mga tanong dito ngayon, maliwanag na palsipikasyon ang pagpaparehistro ng pangalawang beses (sa pamamagitan ng delayed registration) sa kapanganakan ng isang tao. Ang dapat pong gagawin kung ang mga bata ay rehistrado sa ibang bansa, lalo na sa Amerika, ay kumuha na lamang ng birth certificate ng mga bata sa lugar kung saan sila ipinanganak, at iyon ang dapat na isumite sa mga paaralan dito. Ok din na American ang ilalagay na citizenship ng mga batang ipinanganak o rehistrado sa Amerika, sapagkat iyon ang katotohanan. Ganundin, wala naman akong nalalamang pagbabawal sa mga Filipino-Americans upang dito sila mag-aral sa elementarya at high school o maging sa kolehiyo. Sa kabilang dako, para sa karagdagang paglilinaw, o para sa sinumang nagnanais na humingi ng tulong sa amin, maaari po kayong tumawag sa amin sa aming mga landlines, (02) 994-68-05, 02-433-75-49 at 02-433-75-53, o di kaya ay sa aming mga cellphones, 0917-984-24-68 at 0919-609-64-89. Maaari din po kayong sumulat sa amin sa aming address: 18 D Mahiyain corner Mapagkawanggawa, Teachers Village, Diliman, Quezon City. O di kaya ay maaari kayong mag-email sa amin sa website na ito, www.batasnews.com, o batasmauricio@yahoo.com.

Pekeng pasaporte di na makakalusot sa mga airport -- Libanan

TAPOS na ang pamamayagpag ng sindikatong namemeke ng pasaporte sa mga paliparan sa buong bansa.

Ito'y matapos makumpleto ng Bureau of Immigration ang paglalagay ng makina sa mga airport na may kakayahang basahin kung peke o orihinal ang isang pasaporte.

Ayon kay Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan, nakakasa ang 125 passport-reading machines sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 at 2 at sa iba pang mga pambansang paliparan sa buong Pilipinas.

Aniya, 76 sa mga makinang ito ang nakalagay sa immigration counters sa departure at arrival area sa NAIA Terminal 1 at 2 habang ang iba'y nakakalat sa mga paliparan sa Cebu, Davao, Kalibo, Clark at Laoag.

Sa tulong ng nasabing makina, sinabi ni Libanan na mapipigil na ang pagpasok ng mga hindi kanais-nais na dayuhan sa bansa at ang mga may hawak ng pekeng pasaporte.

Mababawasan din ang mahabang pila ng mga paparating at papaalis na pasahero dahil tatlumpung segundo lang ang itatagal ng transaksiyon ng bawat pasahero.

Undesirable and overstaying alien may be deported from the Philippines

QUESTION: Magandang araw po sa lahat ng bumubuo ng Mauricio-Panotes Legal Affairs, Pano po ba maihihingi mainvestigahan o mainam makasuhan ang isang Retired American National na nasa pilipinas ngayong mga panahon na to. Na posibleng nakakagawa ng paglabag sa tinatawag na Overstaying Alien! At meron kaso sa kanyang trabahante ( ang mga trabahador ay pinagtatanggal sa trabaho without due process of law ) na sa aking pagkakaalaman ay napepending ang kaso at taon na binibilang dahil sa ginagawang paggagapang o panunuhol para di matuloy ang pagdinig. Ang American National ay asawa ng isang Filipina na naninirahan sa isang lunsod. Maari ko pong maibigay ang buong Pangalan, Lugar at lahat ng pagkikilanlan unkol sa mga taong ito kung inyong pong hihilingin. Ito po ay para sa kapakanan na din ng mga kababayan natin. Para makamit man lang nila ang hustisya para sa kanila at para pagdusahan din ng banyagang ito kung meron man syang nilabag na batas ng Pilipinas.Maraming Salamat po at manawari mapakinggan at mabigyan pansin ang aking hinaing. Lubos na gumagalang, Vevian vevianmila@yahoo.com

ANSWER: Magandang araw din sa iyo Vevian at maraming salamat po sa inyong interes na magtanong ng mga bagay ukol sa ating mga batas. Tungkol sa iyong tanong, kailangan po munang mag-verify sa records ng Bureau of Immigration (BI) para malaman natin kung overstaying nga ang retired American national na iyong binabanggit. Nasabi mo kasi na siya ay asawa ng isang Filipina at dahil dito ay maaring siya ay may valid na visa para manatili dito sa Pilipinas katulad ng tinatawag na 13 (a) visa sa ilalim ng Immigration Act. Ngayon, kung siya ay may valid na visa, hindi po siya maituturing na overstaying alien Magkanun man, maari pa ding maipa-deport ang isang banyaga na may valid visa kung siya ay isang undesirable alien. Ang kapangyarihan magpa-deport ay hawak ng ating bansa laban sa mga di-kanais nais na banyaga na naririto sa Pilipinas na ang presensiya dito sa ating bansa ay nakakasama sa kabutihan ng nakararami. Kung totoong maraming reklamo laban sa kanya ang mga manggagawa, mairururing na nakakasama ang kanyang pananatili dito.Kung wala naman siyang valid na visa at siya ay hindi kasal sa Filipina, maituturing siyang overstaying and undocumented alien at maaari na rin siyang ipa-deport sa ganitong sitwasyon.

RP opens permanent resident status to PROC Nationals

IN THE interest of reciprocity, therefore, a Chinese national who has investment in the Philippines shall, henceforth, be granted permanent resident visa under Section 13 of the Commonwealth Act No. 613, as
amended subject to the terms and conditions as set forth therein and upon proper application, qualification and payment of immigration fees.

According to Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan, in his Memorandum Order No. MCL-07-021, a Chinese national who is married to a Filipino citizen or to a permanent resident alien or who is
the son or daughter of a permanent resident alien parent shall be likewise granted permanent resident visa upon proper application, qualification and payment of immigration fees.

Guidelines for processing of late ACR I-CARD applications

THE Bureau of Immigration has given registered aliens who have failed to apply for Alien Certificates of Registration (ACR) I-CARD before the December 31, 2007 deadline another chance to acquire such document.

In his memorandum dated January 29, 2008, BI Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said all registered aliens who failed to apply before the deadline must file a motion for reconsideration with the Alien Registration Division (ARD).

The ARD then will recommend to the Office of the Commissioner the appropriate action to be taken, Libanan said.

These registered aliens are required to pay the motion for reconsideration fees and administrative fees in accordance with Section 6, Paragraph 1 of the Alien Registration Act of 1950.

However, the following registered aliens are exempt from compliance of the December 31, 2007 deadline provided that they can show that they were out of the country prior to February 18, 2007.

Also exempted from compliance are registered aliens who are above 65 years old, below 14 years old or are physically and mentally incapacitated.

Bureau of Immigration comes out with new pro-investment visa

THE Bureau of Immigration has established a new Pro-Investment Visa Program aimed at attracting and sustaining foreign investments.

Under Memorandum Circular No. MCL-7-001 signed by BI Commissioner Marcelino Libanan, the new program covers foreign investors and businessmen duly endorsed by the Board of Investments, Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), local business councils, or local and foreign chambers of commerce and industry.

"The program also covers athletes and delegates to sports competitions, conventions and delegations," Libanan said.

Delegates and participants of international conventions, symposia and conferences can also avail of the program.

Foreigners, who, in the discretion of the Commissioner, may be entitled to the benefits under this program, Libanan added.

NOTICE TO ALL FOREIGNERS 

      ALL registered foreigners, permanent or temporary residents in the Philippines, are hereby reminded to report in person, pursuant to Section 10 of the Alien registration Act of 1950, within the first sixty (60) days (from 02 January to 01 March) of 2008 at the Alien Registration Division (ARD), Bureau of Immigration, Manila, or at the Immigration Subport/District Field office nearest their place of residence.

     The following documents shall be presented by the foreigner during the Annual Report (AR):

           1. Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR)/ACR-1 Card;
           2. Certificate of Residence (CR); and
           3. Official Receipts (O.R.'s) covering payment of previous AR fees.

     An Annual Report fee of P300.00 and P10.00 Legal Research fee shall be paid by the foreigner.

     The parent or legal guardian of a foreigner who is less than fourteen (14) years of age, shall have the duty of reporting for such foreigner. Provided, that whenever such foreigner attains his fourteenth birthday in the Philippines, he shall within fifteen 915) days from his 14th birthday apply in person for re-registration and fingerprinting, paying the registration fee and thereafter make his own annual report once a year within the period and at the place above designated.

     A foreigner holder of paper-based ACR, whose visa is not exempt from payment of immigration fees, shall not be permitted to make his Annual Report without applying for an ACR-1 Card. The deadline to apply for ACR I-Card shall expire on 31 December 2007 pursuant to Memorandum Order No. AFF-07-006 dated 21 February 2007.

     Foreigners who fail to comply with the provisions of the Alien Registration Act of 1950 are subject to administrative fine and/or imprisonment, at the option of the Commissioner of Immigration.

Concon Panotes of the Immigration Corner, through the Mauricio Law Office, is assisting foreigners in need of the following services: 

A. Approval and issuance of the following Visas:

Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) 

Transit Visa / Temporary or Bridging Visa

Treaty Traders Visa

Seaman’s Visa

Special Investors Resident Visa (SIRV)

Special Retiree’s Resident Visa (SRRV)

Student Visa

Pre-arranged Employment Visa

Visa for Accredited Officials of Foreign Governments

Permanent Resident Visa

Visa for Alien married to a Filipino

Visa for a child born to a permanent resident mother during her temporary visit abroad

Visa for a child born subsequent to the issuance of visa to a permanent resident

Visa for a woman who lost Filipino citizenship by virtue of marriage to a foreigner

Visa for Permanent Resident returning from temporary visit abroad

Visa for Former Filipinos returning for permanent residence

Quota Resident Visa

Other specific Visas.


B. Special and provisional working & study permits

C. Administrative Determination of Filipino Citizenship

D. Repatriation

E. Deportation

F. Registration/Cancellation /Issuance of ACRs / CRTV, ECC

G. Issuance of Re-entry permits / SRCs

H. Accreditation of Schools which can accept foreign students

I. Accreditation of Law Firms, Liaison Officers, Travel Agencies, Firms transacting business with the B.I.

J. Administration / Determination of Alert Lists (Blacklist, Hold Departure Orders, Watch Lists)