BI alien registration project deadline: September 30

This is a press release from the Bureau of Immigration

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Immigration (BI)’s registration, mapping, and foreigner-assistance program, also referred to as the Alien Registration Project (ARP), will end on September 30, 2015.

“This one-year assistance to foreign nationals allowed us to assist those with improper immigration documents to regularize their stay in the Philippines,” said Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison.

The program, which started on October 1 last year, processed 460 cases of foreign nationals who have overstayed or have incomplete papers. The foreign nationals were given a 90-day deferred administrative action to allow them to comply with requirements set by the BI.

Most of the foreign nationals who availed themselves of the program were victimized by fixers and have families in the Philippines. One applicant who had overstayed for 18 years was allowed to regularize his stay without being blacklisted.

Mison warned that the BI will no longer extend the same level of leniency to erring foreign nationals after the end of the ARP period. Thus, any foreign national who is found to have violated Philippine immigration laws shall be deported immediately. 

Those who wish to avail of the program before the deadline may download the application form at www.immigration.gov.ph. – Rappler.com