BI allows departure of foreigners sans alien registration card
By Jun Ramirez
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will continue to allow the departure of foreigners with approved immigrant and non-immigrant visas even if they have not yet been issued their alien certificate of registration identity card (ACR I-Card).

In an advisory, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the bureau has extended up to the end of the year the policy of allowing foreigners with approved and implemented visas to leave pending release of their ACR I-Card.
He explained that in lieu of the ACR I-Card, the departing aliens need only to present official receipts of the ACR I-Card waiver application fee and reentry permit (RP), or special return certificate (SRC).
Morente said the extension was due to the implementation of the community quarantine in Metro Manila coupled with the high number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in many parts of the country.
BI Deputy Commissioner J. Tobias Javier said he recommended the extension so as not to inconvenience foreigners who wanted to leave during the pandemic.
“Immigration officers, upon official receipts of fees should ensure that the passenger has a valid visa stamped on his or her passport before clearing the latter for departure,” said Javier, whose office processes the documents.
He also advised the departing aliens to keep their official receipts, which they are required to present upon their return.
Morente said they will continue to find ways to ease the burden of foreign nationals during this pandemic and at the same time comply with immigration rules and regulations.