Every year foreigners who live permanently in the Philippines are required to report to their nearest Bureau of Immigration office within the first two months and pay Php310 for the privilege of doing so. In previous years this was simply a case of presenting one's ACR Card, paying the fee and being on one's way within thirty minutes or so. But not this year. Commissioner David, who had done much to streamline BI's procedures and make them more "foreigner friendly", resigned in the latter half of last year and has been succeeded by his deputy, Mison. He - Mison - has decided that his department needs to tackle the problem of foreigners that BI has lost track of and those whose residency visas were not legally obtained and to that end, has introduced a new Annual Report regime. Part of this involves the completion of a new four page form which requires notarisation and submitted in duplicate. Also, for the first time, residents who hold SRRVs (retirement visas) are required to make their report in person whereas previously this was handled by the Philippine Retirement Authority. The procedure - according to a local BI official - should be as follows but I include several anomolies that have been reported from around the country, they're in italics: Download the Annual Report Application form from the BI web site. Note that there are two versions marked "A" and "B"; almost all foreigners will need form "A". The Application Form must be printed in "duplex mode" (ie: pages 2 and 4 on the reverse side of pages 1 and 3) on 'Legal' size paper (8" x 13" but not all printers are capable of handling this paper size!). Staple these two sheets together. Complete all sections in black ink. If a particular section does not apply, write "N/A". If you make a mistake, you must complete a fresh form, no crossings-out are allowed. If one or more of your parents is alive and is/are dependant on you, or you have dependant children, you must provide their details even if they're not resident in the Philippines. Parents - or children - who are deceased should be listed on the fourth page. You will need two 2" x 2" colour photographs taken within the last 30 days against a pure white background. One photograph needs to be glued (not stapled) to the space provided at the top right of the first page. Having completed the form, you'll need to get it notarised by a lawyer offering this service. That will cost between Php150-250. You will now need to photocopy all four pages and staple those together as a set. You will also need two photocopies of both sides of your ACR Card printed on a single sheet AND two copies of Passport's details page and your current visa page also printed on a single sheet. Attach the sets of photocopies to the original and photocopies of the Application Form with a paper-clip together with your second colour photo (attached to the copy of the Application). Take the two sets of forms together with your Passport, ACR Card and the Official Receipt from your 2013 Annual Report to one of the BI Offices listed as processing Annual Reports. Expats have reported that not all offices listed are actually accepting Annual Reports. You should also take with you some tissues and a bottle of alcohol as both thumb-prints will be taken. Expats in Manila are reporting that full fingerprint and palm-prints are being taken. Note that the forms are being carefully checked for completeness and you will be told to fill-out fresh forms if the submission is incomplete, mistakes are detected or you used the wrong colour ink. Pay the fee and present your Official Receipt for the return of your Passport and ACR Card. Your mileage may vary!
What are they trying to do...??? Get rid of foreigners and their spending power and send to places like Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam where is is cheaper and easier...??
That is certainly one interpretation being made by residents who are completely legal here and there is an almost uniform resentment to these measures. But those of us who are law-abiding and live here legally in family surroundings are frankly embarrassed by the actions of those who are not of this ilk. Quite a large number of foreigners have managed to obtain Section 13 residency visas (both quota and non-quota) and Balikbayan Privileges by paying corrupt officials who are often BI lawyers; others come here on a visa waiver and then never bother to obtain extensions. Both these groups tend to be here for illegal or immoral reasons and are unlikely to be affected by this new regime since they won't bother to make their Annual Report or obtain extensions of stay. But since BI doesn't sack its corrupt officials - it promotes them sideways - the problems will continue.
