Question & AnswerQ&A (BI MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. RADJR-11-004)
Quota immigrants are foreign nationals admitted to the Philippines under a quota system not exceeding fifty (50) of any nationality per year as provided under Section 13 of the Philippine Immigration Act.
Yes, stateless persons are entitled to the annual quota of fifty (50) immigrant visas.
Yes, under the principle of reciprocity, quota immigrant visas shall not be issued to foreign nationals of countries with which the Philippines has no diplomatic relations or which do not grant the same immigration privileges to Filipino citizens, except in the case of stateless persons where this requirement is waived.
No, quotas terminate at the end of each calendar year and unused quota numbers cannot be utilized for the following year.
Preference is accorded to applicants possessing qualifications, skills, or scientific, educational, or technical knowledge beneficial to the national interest, followed by those possessing sufficient capital for viable and sustainable investment in the Philippines.
An applicant must have a valid passport and visa at the time of application, must not belong to any excludible or deportable classes under Sections 29 and 37 of the PIA, must come from a country with a reciprocity arrangement with the Philippines (waived for stateless persons), and must be among the preferred classes or first-come-first-served basis for non-preferred applicants.
Applicants must pay fees in full before filing. Applications are forwarded to a Screening Committee for distribution to hearing officers who resolve the application within 15 days, recommend approval or denial, then the Screening Committee Chairman prepares a prioritized list, which is transmitted to the Commissioner of Immigration for final decision.
The only documents required are a certified true copy of the Order of Approval, a true copy of the implementation stamp on the applicant's passport, and the original or true copy of the official receipts evidencing payment of the I-Card fees.
An Order granting the visa is issued and signed by the Commissioner, the applicant is notified by registered mail, the approved list is posted publicly and online, and the visa holder is registered and issued an Alien Certificate of Registration Identity Card (ACR-I Card) within 24 hours of application for the card.