A few days ago, my friend Chas, a regular LiP reader forwarded me a link to a news article, something which he does on a fairly regular basis. Sometimes, I get links to stuff I already know about, but sometimes I get little jewels of information that is totally new to me. In this case, thanks to Chas, I found out something that I knew nothing about.
Well, maybe I can’t say that I knew nothing about it, but only very little. Some time back, I wrote an article, based on information that I got from another friend, Dave Starr. Dave had let me know that the Bureau of Immigration was making it possible for people who were here on tourist visas to obtain ACR i-Cards. The ACR i-Card is the Philippine equivalent to a Green Card in the USA. [Editor’s note: As AmericanLola pointed out in the comments, the ACR I-card differs from a US Green card in that it does not allow a person the right to work. There are other differences too. But, as far as ID for a legal resident, they are roughly equivalent.] It is basically an identification card for foreigners who live here in the Philippines like I do. However, based on the information that Dave provided me, it now seemed that foreigners who lived here long term with only a tourist visa could now obtain an i-Card through the Bureau of Immigration Manila office.
Now, why would a person who is not an official resident want an ACR i-Card? Well, there are some advantages to having one. The main advantage in my mind is that if you go try to open a bank account at a Philippine bank, many of them will require an ACR i-Card before they will open an account for you. There is no Philippine law requiring this, but if the bank demands it, what can you do? So, there is an advantage to having the i-Card.
So far, none of this is new information, though. But, what Chas sent me last week was indeed new information, or at least it seems to be.
In an article entitled “Tourists on extended stay urged to get I-card,” the Philippine Star shares some seemingly new information with us. As the title says, tourists are urged to get an I-card. Now, for me, urged means that nobody is required, but it is just being suggested that tourists on extended visas get an i-Card.
But, what does “an extended visa” mean? The standard tourist visa waiver allows you to stay in the country for 30 days. If you want to stay even one day longer, you need to extend your visa. The first time you extend your visa, it will extend up to a total of 59 days. For extensions thereafter, an additional 59 days will be added. So, your first extension is for 38 additional days (the original 21 plus 38 gives you 59 total days). So, does that mean that if you want to stay for 25 days, since you are extending your 30 day visa, you are urged to get an i-Card? Or, do you need to stay longer, like 6 months before you are being urged to get the i-Card?
But, wait…. later in the Philippine Star article, it says:
The new regulation is provided for, under a memorandum order issued by Commissioner Nonoy Libanan on Dec. 2 and which was subsequently approved by Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera.
Under the said memorandum, all temporary visitors or tourists who have extended their stay in the country, or are engaged in other activities are required to apply and obtain their ACR I-Card from the BI.
Hold on just a minute! That means something completely different from the headline! That says that if you extend your visa you are required to get an ACR i-Card. Required. To me, that means you must do it, not that you are being urged to get one. Also, it just says that all temporary visitors who extend their stay are required. So, for me, that means that if you will stay for even 22 days, you will be required to get an i-Card. What happens if you don’t get one?
ACR i-Card, by it’s name alone implies that the holder lives here. ACR stands for “Alien Certificate of Registration” – for me, Alien means that you live here. If you are only here for a short stay, you are not an Alien, but a Tourist. If you are here for 30 days or so, I consider that a tourist, not an alien resident. But, according to this “memorandum order” it would seem that every tourist who intends to stay in the country for more than 30 days must get the ACR I-Card.
What are the penalties if you don’t get the card? It doesn’t say.
Now for me, I feel that as a legal resident of the Philippines, if every tourist who is staying here must get an I-card, it sort of waters down the value of the card. Right now, if I pull out my I-card to show as ID, it shows that I am a legal resident here. If it comes down that every tourist that stays over 30 days has that I-card, though, then the value of the card is less to me, in my opinion. If I show it to a police officer, or some official, they don’t necessarily know that I am a long term resident, because every foreigner in the country will have one (as long as they have extended their visa even once).
Well, I must say that as of now, I am still very unsure about this. The article contradicts itself. Are people urged or required to get the card? What if they don’t? My fear is that later, the Bureau of Immigration will decide that residents need to get another card of a different kind, because we need something more than a regular tourist has. This will seemingly just add a new layer of bureaucracy to the system for a resident, I fear.
My other thought is that the I-card is not free. Is this just being added for tourists as a way to raise more money for the government?
What do you think?
Hi Bob;
I also have the ADR-I card, and I remember the time and money it took to get it, aside from NBI/Police checks and paperwork. If I was a tourist and required to go through all that (if it could be done within the 21 days afforded by the Visa) I would depart as soon as I was required too, and stop spending my vacation money within the economy. I think it’s just another case of some government official shooting the Philippines in the foot.
Hi Paul – According to the article, they have it down to where the i-Card can be issued in under 48 hours! Funny, because it took more than a year to get mine! If you can get one in less than 2 days now, i’d be very surprised.
I’m with you, I think this will push people away from the Philippines. Crazy.
Hi Again Bob;
Within two days? It took me ten days to get the required Police/NBI clearances, and is this how someone would want to spend their vacation days? Crazy was a nice way of putting it! Another thought is that the News Paper got it wrong.
Haha… I agree with you, Paul. Spending a vacation running around taking care of paperwork is not a dream of anybody I know!
Sounds like a money issue to me . Outside of the opening of a bank account as you mentioned i really don’t see the need . Unless staying for weeks or months what % of tourists would want to open a bank account in the first place ?
Hi alan – Yeah, I think this is nothing but a money raiser for the government, but I also think that the enforcement of this will never happen, because I don’t see any need for it.
Doesn’t make sense…Referencing the article I’d normally say “trust but verify” but being the RP I’d have to say
“Trust but verify,verify,verify ……….”
Hi brian – When it comes to this, I’d leave the ‘trust’ part out all together! 😆
How will this effect Balibayan Visa Holders who can stay here for a full year ?
Hi Delia – While I certainly don’t know for sure.. I would say that people on a Balikbayan Visa would not have to do this… because they did not extend their visa. The article clearly says that it applies to those who extend their visa, and a Balikbayan Visa is good for a year anyway. That would be my reading of how this would apply.
ummm so oooops was i supposed to get one eight months ago ? can you only get one in manila ? what if your plans are not to visit manila ?
Hi Tommy – You were under no obligation to get one 8 months ago, because this is a new ruling and was not in effect at that time. I got my ACR I-card in Davao, so they do issue them here. However, in the past, those on Tourist Visas could only apply in Manila. Now, under this new policy, I’m just not sure! Stay tuned!
Hi Bob,
I found the article by accident when browsing around.
My immediate thought was another way to raise money,but also a way of keeping check on undesirables.
This is how i interpret it,if you enter on 21 days thats ok,when you do your first extension that is 38 days,so thats ok.
When you extend again for the full 59 days,this is the time they would urge/force you to acquire ACR1 card.Which i believe is @ P2500.
Disadvantage,extra cost.
Advantage,if staying 6 months+ no need to get exit clearance from BOI office it can be processed at airport,as the info required is on the card.
Just pay the P500 exit fee+airport tax (residents i believe pay total P2900)
I also think its a tightening for security reasons,as info from ID cards goes on datebases that can be accessed by international agencies like Interpol etc.Terrorists and wanted criminals can be tracked.
Add to this that all new passports are now micro chipped,as my latest one is.
I think this is in the very early stages, as a friend of mine was at CDO BOI a couple of days ago,and asked about this Tourist ACR1 card,guess what,they know nothing about it.
I checked the BOI site,no mention yet,last updated May 2007.
regards Chas.
Hi chasdv – Just curious about a couple of your conclusions or interpretations.
1. Where do you get the idea that you can extend once without needing to go to I-card? As far as I can tell, it doesn’t say that anywhere in the article? They say if you extend your visa, you are urged (or required) to get the I-card. After 21 days you must extend. So, did I miss something?
2. What if you stay 22 days, or 23 days. Then there is certainly no advantage at all to getting the I-card.
Hi Bob – “Once a foreigner, always a foreigner!” 😆
Don’t know how this would affect tourism, etc. True tourists, if staying more than 21 but less than 59 days would have applied for an extended via through a Philippine Counsulate. Most staying longer than 59 days and obtaining extensions while here appear to be “tourists” whose reasons for coming here changed somewhat (i.e., they’re really no longer tourists).
(imho – I wouldn’t fret about what a policeman or someone else would think regarding just how long the cardholder has been a resident. Most would probably just check the card mindlessly as one step of a seemingly strange ritual for this or that reason and not even think about. After all, it’s not a senior citizen discount card or something! 😉 )
Don’t worry, Paul… I am not fretting. Just considering implications and possibilities. I doubt I’ll be losing any sleep. 😆
I don’t think, though, that you have to apply for a 59 day visa if you are a “true tourist.” Lots of people come here as tourists and stay longer than 21 days, renewing their visas here, but are still truly tourists.
Hi Bob,
6th paragraph down,it states,
“non restricted foreign nationals who were previously granted 59 days as tourists”.
Now that is open to some interpretation.
Does it mean if you have ever previously had a 59 day extension,then come in again for 21 days you must apply for ACR1.
OR,if you have entered on a 59 day acquired from PI embassy in your home country you need to apply for ACR1.
OR,(just my interpretation)when you apply for your full 59 day extension having earlier received 21day followed by a 38 days.
There obviously needs to be a lot more clarification from BOI Manila,i feel its a wait and see for more news.It may take a while to be rolled out.
regards Chas.
Hi Chas – OK, I can see how you interpreted that now. That was not the way I interpreted it, though. I suppose it can go either way on that, now that you explained how you read it.
Hi Bob,
Something else has just come to mind it states “Visa”.
If you enter on 21 days its not a Visa but a Visa Waiver.
When you extend for the further 38 days that is also a Visa Waiver.
This is what the stamps in my passport say from my recent visit.
Wow it gets more complicated the more we delve into it lol.
regards Chas.
Hi chas – I wouldn’t consider that, though… it is commonly just called a visa. Nobody says “you better go extend your visa waiver now, before it’s too late.” 😉
Hi Bob,
Valid point,maybe i’m getting into to many technicalities now.
Just to sidestep for a moment,
I have posted in the forum, news from UK Embassy Manila.
From Feb 2010 renewals of British Passports will be processed in Hong Kong.
So many changes happening at once,now where did i put that San Miguel.
regards Chas.
Hi chasdv – Indeed, I heard about that UK passport renewal thing a few weeks ago. Too bad for UK expats living here!
Hi Bob;
Yesterday (Monday Dec.22) I dropped by the local B.I. Office here in O.C., and spoke with the Office Director. You & Chasdv know more about the subject than they do. Heads were scratched (no joke, really) and no answers came forth. I’ve known the man for 15 years and, he has always worked hard to help out foreigners. His advice “Wait and see!”
Hi, Paul- I’m not surprised at all that the Olongapo BI branch knows nothing about what’s going on at the head office in Manila. In this age of technology and email, some Philippine government agencies are still stuck in time back to the days of the 3X5 index cards, Underwood typewriter, the carbon paper, and the Victory Liner express. Give the Olongapo branch time, Paul, for them to get the latest news from Manila. Maybe the Victory Liner carrying the BI priority mail for the ‘Gapo office is stuck somewhere between Bulacan and San Fernando, Pampanga, with a flat tire. Either that or the bus driver and the conductor decided to stop for rice and “dinuguan” at the Dinalupihan karinderya. 🙂
Hi Paul – That doesn’t really surprise me at all. I think the word has not gotten around, perhaps the main office doesn’t even know for sure what the policy is. Hey… I did a little head scratching on this one myself! I can’t blame your friends at the BI office!
Hi Bob, I am just concerned about your statement that the ACR-i card is like the green-card in the USA. I don’t think that is correct. The green card inables someone to be able to work legally in the US, but the ACR-i card does not give you permission to work for money here. It is just the computerized version of the Alien Registration Certificate required for foreigners who have a visa to be in the Philippines. Before, we had to have this but it looked something like anoither passport and had to be carried around while traveling and renewed yearly. Until the time you mentioned, this applied to people not under the usual tourist visa. To work for money here, you have to meet other requirements and have a different sort of visa.
Hi AmericanLola – Certainly a green card in the USA (which is actually pink!) is somewhat different than an ACR I-card. I didn’t mean to say that they are exactly the same. They have many similarities though… they show that you are living here legally, and things like that. You are right, of course, that the I-card gives you no right to work, though, perhaps I should have been more clear about that.
BTW, I also used to have a paper ACR, before the i-Card came out some years ago.
I remember when my American passport-holding daughter came to visit and she spoke Tagalog to the Immigration folks and boom — a one year visa without even asking. My son who was in the same line didn’t speak any Tagalog and he only got 21 days hahahaha. Go figure.
I don’t have any card at all — I wonder if I need to get one
Hi Miguk – Given that you work at the Embassy, you may have some kind of diplomatic status, I don’t know. But, if you are living here long term on any other status, you need to have an I-card.
Yes I have a diplomatic visa as you said — guess that precludes the card. In fact I have never even heard of it.
It appears all of this is based on a ” News Article ” . I agree with you Bob, a lot of contradictions here. What about any published information from the card issuing agency itself ? Even that may not be 100 % accurate but I would be more inclined to believe that than a News Article.
Hi Bob – So far, the Bureau of Immigration shows nothing on their website, but the news article does quote them. I’ll be watching to see if I can garner any “official” information on this.
I saw the article in the ‘Star’ and share your confusion over its implications. I have a 12 month multiple entry visa from Australia and so far I’ve always had to go somewhere or other for work within the 59 days, but it looks like I’ll have to extend at the end of January. Presumably if there is a new ‘requirement’ I’ll find out about it then because I imagine they will refuse to extend until I get the card. But then again maybe not because it might be a different branch of the BI, who knows?
I hope someone with personal experience of renewing in Manila since December 2 might throw some light on things soon.
Hi Ken – Nice to hear from you! Yes, that article is indeed quite confusing! I suspect that it might take 6 months before all of the BoI branches are aware of the new procedure, as usually happens.
I hope you enjoy your longer stay in the Philippines! Where will you be visiting?
Bob I spend a lot of time here now with a car and an apartment in Navotas City but I still have a place in Australia and go back there from time to time for work reasons. I also have to go to China and Singapore from time to time.
I’m currently looking forward to a short vacation in Pangasinan between Christmas and New Year with my partner and the two teenage common law brothers in law, if there is such a thing, who have moved in permanently now.
Hi Ken – Ah, OK… I didn’t realize that you were already moved in here! Sorry, perhaps you already told me… to be honest, sometimes it can be hard to keep up! 😉
I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas!
Bob
Let me see if I get this.
You had to go thru the hassle of getting a resident status visa, then get a Icr card. Now a tourist can get a Acr card.
This sounds like a money maker for the Government with a hidden agender of making it easier for Foreigners to open Bank accounts further making it easier for foreign money to enter the RP.
It does downgrade the value of the current Acr card you have now. There may be more hoops for you to jump thru to get another type of carb in the future.
Just my 2 cents.
Hi Neal – Yes, if this new policy is really official, I am expecting that those of us who are here with resident visas will soon have added hoops to jump through as well. We’ll see.
I think the bank account angle is valid. I go the different casinos here cause I like to play poker, and you wouldn’t believe some of the amounts Koreans are changing (I’m talking shopping bags full of pesos). I am almost embarrassed to go change my little 5 or 6 thousand with them around. And this goes on all the time. Where is this money coming from?!
hi all
i have been reading the stories on this site for 2 years now and here is my 1st comment(by the way i think it is a great site thanks to you all)
i believe it will be a long time till tourist will have to get a acr icard as the order was only made on the 2 Dec 2009 and this is the Philippines .but it could be useful for all those stay up to 18 months by keep renew as they may not have to leave and could the costs be cheaper
i have also asked about being able to work in the Philippines while being a holder of a 13a permanent resident visa the answer was yes you can as long as i also get a tin number.
Hi stef – A couple of things… for those staying on an extended tourist visa, they can stay for 16 months now, not 18, but that is only a small point. But, I see nothing in this ruling that says that they can stay longer than that with an I-card. I don’t think that they will be able to stay beyond 16 months.
You are correct that those with a 13 series visa are allowed to work. I have a 13(g) visa, and work is allowed with that.
hi bob
it would seem to me only those who wish to stay longer than 59 days need to apply. Quote from said article:Lawyer Floro Balato Jr., BI spokesman, said those covered by the new regulation are non-restricted foreign nationals who were previously granted an initial authorized stay of 59 days as tourists and those who applied for special work permits and special study permits.
Could it then be that the card is valid for a further 14 months after the initial 59 day visa.
and you do not have to go to BI every 2 months and they would also have your fingerprints and photo on record.
Hi Stef – I personally find the language vague and contradictory. I think the best policy is to “wait and see” what happens.
It’s all very confusing this; I’d wait until there is some official publication on the subject before getting too worried about it. The last time we were in the Phils in March ’08, I was travelling with my wife and Sister in law who were both chatting away to the guy at the immigration desk (at Davao Int. Airport) and without any hesitation me and the two children both got one year stamps on our (UK) passports too. I do hope this does not become a hassle, as we expect to be in and out of the Phils fairly frequently in the next couple of years.
I hope someone will post whenever any “official” news becomes available. Probably we’ll know before the guys at the immigration desks. 🙂
A very happy Christmas and New Year to the Martin household and to all LIP readers.
Jim
Hi Jim – I think that “confusing” is a very good description!
Thanks for the note bring this to my attention, Bob. I did not see anything about this announcement. I will do some further research,likely right after the first of the year.
A few points on your article and some of the comments:
1. In your sentence here: … “However, based on the information that Dave provided me, it now seemed that foreigners who lived here long term with only a tourist visa could not obtain an i-Card through the Bureau of Immigration Manila office” .. you appear to have quoted my information backward … perhaps it is a simple typo. I have an email from the BI’s official “help desk” service that clearly states the opposite. In fact they even offer an expanation as to why a tourst who did not _have_ to have an ACR-I card might want one, bank accounts, driver’s license, etc.
2. Regarding the ‘first extension’ debate … i.e. 21 days versus 60 days. When a person on a tourist visa waiver stap choses to go to immigration and extend his/her initial stamp for 38 more days, that is _not_ extending a tourist visa. It is legally “buying” from the BI the additional 38 days that the person would have gotten if they had obtained a tourist visa prior to entry. It is specifically not a ‘visa extension, because people availing of the 38 day extension do not _have_ a visa. So I think the idea that the 59/60 day point is the requirement is the correct idea. This point is certainly still debatable, but for purposes of discussion, let’s just assume that what the BI director’s message said means that he is talking about the first ‘real’ extension as the 60 day extension. And here’s why.
3. When you extend at 60 days .. either a ‘real’ tourist visa or a 21 plus 38 day tourist visa waiver extension, you enter officially into the BI’s system and become a registered alien. If you look at the OR (Official Receipt … always keep your OR’s), you will note that one of the items you are charged for is an ACR. Alien Registration Certificate. Everyone (except those on Balikbayan privilege) who is legally “in country” actually has an ACR not later than the 60 day point.
(remember, that even though both foreigners and Filipinos often refer to the ACR-I card as an “ACR”, they are two different things. _Everyone_ (yes, even those on other, permanent visas) has an ACR, not everyone has an ACR-I card)
4. Last year in December the BI issued a nearly identical notice that clearly stated that those on extended tourist visas required an ACR-I card. I went to my nearest BI office (Angeles City) and inquired how to go about complying. The Angeles office (technically, these offices are called “sub-ports”, another bit of confusing BI lingo) told me, “No, you do not need and ACR-I card so long as you are within your extension period as stamped in your passport.
5. Faced with this apparent conflict, I wrote directly to the BI main office in Intramuros and they responded that, I did not require an ACR-I card so long as my passport stamp and concurrent ACR were kept current, but if I wanted, optionally to have an ACR-I card, I could apply at Intramuros and a number of other regional offices … but not at Angeles City.
That’s where the info that Bob first quoted in the paragraph in his article came from.
So, to review the bidding.
– You get an ACR automatically after the first, 60 day, extension.
– You _may_ get an ACR-I any time from 60 days onward.
– I haven’t had time ot inclination to read last year’s and this years December decree word for word, but they appear substantially similar.
– The difference may be, as Bob and others have noted, that for 2010 and beyond the ‘optional’ part may be ‘mandatory’, but last year’s seemed to indicate it was ‘mandatory’ also, and it apparently was not.
My advice? Ask the BI directly for each of your individual cases, because no one else except the BI can actually speak for the BI .. what ‘they’ say on the web, especially what ‘I’ say on the web is certainly not authoritative.
Hi Dave, That #1 was indeed a typo on my part. When I said that you could “not” get an ACR, I meant to write “now”. I will fix that, thank you for pointing it out to me.
I am in agreement with most of what you say, though.
Dear Bob,
As you may remember, we once met and had coffee at the Landco Bldg.
If you are a family travelling with a former Philipino spouse or dual citizen, the family can stay in the Philippines for up to one year without any visa if they have not visited the Philippines for over one year. This is called the Balikbayan Program. See website http://philembassy.nl/default.asp?iId=KGKDH. Also download the attached letter by Atty. Edguardo Mendoza, Chief, Immigration Regulation Division of the Bureau of Immigration. Hope to see you in 2011!! Dave LaBarr
Hi David – Nice to hear from you, hope to see you again soon!
Yes, I am quite familiar with the Balikbayan Visa, and it’s a great deal for those who can avail of it. I’ve actually written about it many times.
Merry Christmas!
Hi Bob,this is one for Klause to sort out lol.Do you still see or hear from him?
Hi john.j. – Nice to hear from you again, I hope you are doing well. No, I don’t hear from Klaus anymore. I have actually e-mailed him, but get no response.
just here to give my experience,s i am american liveing at this time in ozamis. i have been in philippines now for over 18 mts.i have paid my visa as i should of and got extentions. i was in iligan city and they said i would have to go to manila to get am resident visa,but here in ozamis they said i can apply here,so i did ….that was 3 mts ago…i still pay visa fee’s ever two mts..i keep asking at the immigation when i have to go to manila for final resident visa permit and they say just wait for notice in mail…..well the mail here is very comfusing….i never get any…even tryed to send letter to myself……i have just saved monet aside for am visa run if any one is to say that i need to make one….other that that i am not going to worry any more… and drink am few brewski’s.. guess time will tell
Hi franklin – Wow, I hope your resident visa comes through for you soon! I’d keep bothering them a bit, if it were me! 😆