The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday, Jan. 3, reminded foreigners in the country to present themselves before the bureau for this year’s annual reporting.

In a statement, the BI said that under the law, “aliens holding immigrant and non-immigrant visas, and were issued an alien certificate of registration identity card (ACR I-Card) are required to present themselves to the bureau for the first 60 days of the year for the annual report.”

“The reporting period will last until March 1, 2024,” it said as it started its registration last Tuesday, Jan. 2.

"Exempted from physically reporting to the BI are foreign nationals who are below 14 years old, those 60 years old and above, those mentally or physically incapacitated, pregnant women, and foreigners with medical conditions,” it said.

It also said that foreigners may register at the BI's head office in Manila or at its regional offices Mondays to Fridays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

It assured that it  has streamlined the process as well as outlined specific requirements including completely filling out the online registration.

As part of its modernization projects, the BI also initiated “the virtual annual report for registered foreign nationals present in the Philippines during the annual report period.”

It said the virtual option “aims to provide convenience while maintaining compliance through an online registration platform.”

It also said that foreigners can also go to the Robinsons Mall in Manila or the Government Service Express (GSE) Unit in the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

So far, it said "a total of 899 foreigners registered through their Robinsons Manila and SM Mall of Asia sites.”