When I moved here to the Philippines, I got a 13(g) visa, which is a resident visa that entitles me to live here permanently. It is a great visa for me, because I reside here, and I don’t travel outside the country. If I didn’t have a resident visa, I would be required to leave after one year under most other types of visas. Upon entering the country, I was issued what is called an “ACR” or “Alien Certificate of Registration.” It is a big yellow card (the size of a sheet of paper) that has my photo, and all the information about my living here.
About three years ago, the system was changed, and instead of having an ACR, you were to have an “ACR I-Card” which is a credit card sized plastic card with a data chip on it. You could go to the Immigration office, to the Airport or any other Port of Entry/Exit and they can scan the card and get all of your Alien data. It’s much simpler, easy to carry in your wallet, etc. At the time, you were not mandated to get an I-Card, but encouraged to do so. Last year, the Government demanded that all Aliens get their I-Card by no later than August 15, or face deportation. They extended the deadline several times after that, but it is now final, since earlier this year. Feyma, our kids and I all applied before the August 15 deadline last year to receive our I-Cards. So, it has been nearly a year since we applied.
To date, our second son, Aaron has his I-Card, but none of the rest of the family have them yet. When we applied, we were told that the cards would be available in 3 months or less. Now, 10 months later, we are still waiting. At the time of application, we were required to surrender our ACR paper records, and we were issued a small paper receipt, and told that this would show that we had applied for the I-Card as we were required to do. I was afraid of loosing the small paper receipt if I carried it with me, so I put each of our 5 receipts (one for each of us) in an envelope and placed it in my desk. In addition, I scanned each of the receipts and stored the digital file in my computer, for safe keeping.
Last February, I was taking a trip to Zamboanga City, Tawi Tawi and Basilan. I don’t carry my passport with me, because it has never been needed before, and I am a resident after all. I was traveling on only domestic routes, not leaving the country, so I saw no need to carry a passport. Feyma told me that maybe I should bring that receipt with me, just in case it was needed. I am lucky that I did, because in Zamboanga City airport I was stopped by the immigration people. They asked for my passport, I told them that I am a resident of the Philippines, and don’t carry my passport for domestic travel. Next, they asked for my I-Card, and I told them that I didn’t have one, because it was not sent to me yet. They pulled me aside and gave me a shaking down. I showed him the little receipt that the Davao Immigration office had told me would be adequate, and they didn’t know what it was, and kept asking me where my I-Card was! I was on the verge of being jailed or deported. Luckily, a Filipino friend that was with me convinced them that I was legitimate, and just waiting for the Government to send me the I-Card. It was kind of a scary incident. What if I didn’t have that little receipt with me, as normal? I could have been in real trouble.
The thing that I am getting at here is that the Philippine Government really needs to get into gear and get the I-Cards out to those who have applied! I paid $50 for each I-Card that my family applied for. There is no question that all of our paperwork is legitimate. The Government just needs to get the I-Card made and sent to Davao. I really consider this an important matter, and hope that they will get the system working properly soon.
"in the Philippines, everything has its own time Bob ! Di Ba ?"
Of course, I understand that, Pete. There are two points worth considering, though… I almost got arrested due to the fact that the government has yet to produce my I-card! Also, at the time I applied, the card was good for 1 year before expiring! That year is almost up! Thankfully, they changed their minds and have made the cards good for 5 years!
Hi Bob,
I realize how frustrating that can be. I have experienced similar incidents here in the States, but not as bad though. Sorry to say that bureaucratic red tape is one thing I don't miss about the Philippines. I hope things will get better, though. Look how long it's taking them to come up with the final results of the election! One thing that gets me is incompetence! I sure hope you'll get your cards soon for your own peace of mind.
Do you think our real estate title will come through sometime this century Bob ?
Bob, did I tell you that I was fobbed off so much in the Philippines when I try to open an ATM account, I have it on good authority that the Manager of Metrobank in Bacolod City is going to give me a ATM Debit card account, now if I am nice, play my cards right, and not rude, quiet and a friendly foreigner husband, I might just get one….I found out from the Philippine Embassy that you do not need a ACR card to get the ATM Account, its the policy of each bank manager, I dont want to go off topic here Bob, but I think your frustrations over official documents is kind of linked into this comment.
perhaps u need to grease the right wheel….seems with my past experince it is the only way things get done….regretable so.
Hello Bob….Bill Huff here…….well, for the first time in a year of me getting ready to move & live in the Phili, i now feel nervous, and even a little frieghtend….hehehe……you pay $50.00 for a card that you must have, and you never recieve it almost a year later…?????…..what makes you think that you will recieve it Bob..???…how do you not know that the money went into a pocket, and the info you gave was disgaurded….and the proof of your recept does not even exist…?????
relax bill…in the USA it was taking 4 months to get a passport (before the recent moritorium)which normally takes 30 days max. Very easy to get a 12 month visa in the PI. Besides if you have to leave for a few days to get a re-stamp…visit Bangkok for some spectacular food and shopping !
Hi Tina – Yes, the red tape is maddening! And, I remember how the INS was with Feyma's case when we lived there. Slow, slow, slow! This is worse, though! 😉
Hi Pete – I hope you will get your title soon! Also, regarding your bank account, based on what you've told me in the past, I think it will all be taken care of on your coming visit!
Hi Brian – no, in this particular case greasing the wheels will not be helpful. It is something that is affecting every person who applied, and there are a lot of complaints about it.
Hi Bill – Hang in there. Here is a tip for you – when you apply for an i-Card, do it in Manila. It is my understanding that when you apply in Manila they hand it to you while you are there. When you apply outside Manila, they have to send everything to Manila, which is why it is slow. You'll make it, but expect that this is the type of red tape you have to deal with here. It's normal procedure!
Hi Brian – if you are on a resident Visa like Bill is going to do you cannot just leave and go to Bangkok. If you leave like that your resident visa is then null. If you have your i-Card you can come and go. If you don't yet have your i-Card, leaving the country is complicated. You have to go to Manila, fill out all kinds of papers, and basically get permission to leave the country. What you are talking about works great for somebody on a tourist visa, but not for a resident.
Hello Mr. Bob,
I have been reading your blog and as well as your wife's for the past few days and I must say that I am getting lots of valuable information about living in the Philippines. You are truly helping a lot of people by giving such very important information.
That experience of yours with the ACR could be really disturbing and that is why my husband and I are very reluctant to get his Permanent Resident Visa.
The reason why I said 'disturbing' is that, our agent told us that the Bureau of Immigration keep the applicant's passport upon application of the Permanent Resident Visa and it is kept until the visa is released. The waiting period could be a year! That is a long time without a passport! How true is that? Does it mean that the applicant can not leave the country until he or she gets his or her visa? What happens in case of emergency that the applicant has to leave the country? Will he has to start the application all over again. More so, the problem is, will the Immigration allow him to leave the country?
I apologize if this"comment" is not a comment anymore. Actually, my husband and I have been married for twelve years now but we have not really stayed in the country longer than a year. He has been taking advantage of the Balikbayan visa for as long as I remember everytime we come back to the Philippines.. I still hold a Philippine passport even if I have been away from the Philippines for more than three decades.
In our most recent trip to England (in May,just 21 days ago) we decided to fly to Dubai from Manchester and in Dubai, he flew back to Manila on his own and I flew to Japan to arrange some meeting there. That was when he got only a 21- day visa. He was given that visa because I was not traveling with him. I was aware that he could get a Balikbayan visa only if he was traveling with me but we took a chance because ONCE, only once that he entered the country alone and a copy of our marriage contract, but he was luckily given a Balikbayan visa.
Anyway, he went to our travel agent for an extension and he got an extension until the 25th of July. He was also informed by this agent that the Immigration does not give Balikbayan visa anymore! How true is that? No website tells so. With that doubt in my mind, I visited the Philippine Consulate in Osaka, Japan to give a more legit information and I was told that Balikbayan visa still exists. Well, you mentioned that Balikbayan visa is not guaranteed. Before his visa expires in July, we are planning to go our of the country and come after ten days together. That will be the only time that we will find out if he can get another Balikbayan visa.
I would appreciate any advise and information on this.I would like to thank you for your time reading this as well, and more power to you and your family.
Hi Osti Wade – Thanks for sharing your concern. You don't have to give your passport while they are processing your i-Card. But, I've heard that you do have to give it when you apply for a 13 series resident visa, and if you apply here, it can take several years to get it completed! I am like you, I would not surrender my passport for that amount of time.
Here is my suggestion for you – apply for the 13 series resident visa in your home country where you are living now. I applied in San Francisco, and the whole process only took a week or so. Then, when you enter the Philippines apply for the i-card. This way, your husband can keep his passport in hand!
The information given to your husband about the Balikbayan visa is incorrect. Balikbayan visas are still issued, but you will need to be with him upon entry. He cannot get a Balikbayan Visa by going for a renewal, only at the time of entry. When you leave the country, as you say, he should get a Balikbayan Visa upon return with you. It is not guaranteed, but I would say that in 99.9% of such cases it will be issued to him.
Good luck!
Hi Bob, I have been getting concerned about the time validation of the I-card, but now breath a sigh of relief knowing that its five years. I was originaly told one year and having waited 10 months before I received it thought it would be a never ending cycle.
Hi Derek – yeah, I was happy when they decided to extend the card's expiration to 5 years instead of 1. It seems that having it 1 year would put it always "in the mail" so to speak!