Policy purpose and security objectives
- The BI adopts a policy to modernize and improve the efficiency and security of the alien registration, identification, and monitoring system.
- The BI targets improved capability in light of increasing port traffic.
- The BI emphasizes addressing increased threats of terrorists, transnational criminals, and aliens with criminal records.
- The BI requires an automated, accurate, fraud-proof, and tamper-proof registration, identification, and monitoring system for registered aliens.
Coverage, who must comply, and key definitions
- The guidelines cover all registered aliens, including their dependents, who have been issued paper-based Alien Certificates of Registration (ACRs).
- The guidelines also cover all other aliens who are required to register under the Alien Registration Act.
- A Registered alien is defined as a person who is neither a Philippine national nor citizen who was validly granted a visa and correspondingly issued an Alien Certificate of Registration.
- An Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) is defined as an accountable form issued to specified categories of aliens, including:
- Native-born
- Permanent resident under Section 13 and its subsections
- Temporary visitor (business or pleasure or health reasons if stay exceeds six (6) months)
- Treaty trader under Section 9 (d)
- Temporary student under Section 9 (f)
- Pre-arranged employee under Section 9 (g) and other special laws
- Special resident investor under EO 226 and EO 63
- Such other aliens as may be required by law to register
- The ACR I-Card (ACR) is defined as a microchip-based credit card-sized identification card issued to a registered alien to replace the paper-based ACR.
- The ACR I-Card is defined as:
- Fraud and tamper-proof/tamper-resistant
- Capable of data management and capable of being updated electronically
- Embedded with biometric security features, including 2 digitalized fingerprint templates
- The ACR I-Card is defined as having data fields including:
- Personal information (name, age, date of birth, place of birth, address, etc.)
- Photograph
- Date and status of admission
- Visa type granted
- Biometric information (2 digitalized fingerprint templates)
- Signature
- ACR and ICR/CPTV/CRTT/CRTS/CRPE numbers
- Travel details
- Payment of immigration fee details
- Emigration Clearance Certificate/Special Return Certificate/Re-entry Permit
- Alien Registration is defined as the process of accurately recording the entry, admission, personal circumstances, residence, exit, and death of non-citizens in the Philippines, including documentation of aliens admitted under nonimmigrant or immigrant status through issuance of necessary forms to chronicle their stay and activities.
ACR I-Card Committee structure and functions
- An ACR I-Card Committee is created to check the validity of the immigration status and the genuineness of the ACR submitted by an applicant.
- The Committee is tasked to verify all data entered in the application.
- After verification, the Committee endorses the issuance of the ACR I-Card.
- The Committee consists of five (5) members:
- The Associate Commissioner in charge of IT projects or a duly designated representative as Chair
- The Chief of the Alien Registration Division (ARD) as Vice Chair
- Two (2) ARD personnel designated by the Chief, ARD
- One (1) member from the Office of the Executive Director designated by the Executive Director
- The Chief, ARD and the Executive Director are directed to name their nominees within forty-eight (48) hours from receipt of a copy of the guidelines.
Application locations and issuance workflow
- Applications for issuance of ACR I-Card are made at the Main Office, Bureau of Immigration, Intramuros, Manila.
- Registered aliens residing outside Metro Manila have the option to apply at the district port nearest to them when the system is already set up in that district port.
- Until systems are set up in district ports, all applications are made in Manila.
- The issuance procedure requires the applicant to:
- Fill up and submit the ACR I-Card application form at Window 1 of the ACR I-Card Area
- Attach the following to the application:
- Original copies of the ACR and ICR/CRTV/CRTT/CRTS/CRPE
- An order granting his/her visa if still held by the applicant
- The applicant must then proceed to the designated counter of the Alien Registration Division (ARD) and secure an Order of Payment Slip (OPS).
- The applicant must proceed to the designated Cashier and pay the card fee of US $50.00 or its peso equivalent as posted in major daily broadsheets at the time of payment, presenting the OPS to the Cashier.
- After payment, the applicant must proceed to Windows 1.2 and 1.6 for data capturing (picture, fingerprint, and signature).
- The application and submitted documents are forwarded to the ACR I-Card Committee, through the ARD, for verification.
- If verified appropriate by the Committee, the Committee endorses issuance of the ACR I-Card; otherwise, the Committee takes the appropriate action against the applicant.
- On a date specified in the claim stub, the applicant is issued the ACR I-Card at the ARD.
Fees, renewal, and ACR I-Card benefits
- The ACR I-Card costs US $50.00 or its Philippine peso equivalent as posted in major daily broadsheets at the time of payment.
- Renewal of the ACR I-Card is done yearly, simultaneous with the payment of the annual report fee.
- ACR I-Card holders receive special immigration booths at ports of entry and exits without going through regular immigration control lines, with an estimated time of 10 seconds only for entry and exit.
- ACR I-Card holders are assured of holding a genuinely issued ACR.
- ACR I-Card holders receive faster and more efficient service.
- The ACR I-Card provides more convenient documentation because it is tamper and fraud-proof/tamper-resistant, and it results in no more paper-based ACR and related documents such as ECC, SRC and Re-entry permit.
Special arrangement and mandatory conversion
- The ACR I-Card Committee may authorize data capturing (picture taking, fingerprinting, and signing) at the applicant’s residence when circumstances warrant due to the applicant’s physical incapacity.
- All registered aliens are enjoined to apply for and change their paper-based ACR to a tamper and fraud proof ACR I-Card with biometric security features.
- The conversion period ends on June 30, 2004.
Administrative fine and consequences of non-compliance
- A registered alien who fails to comply with the conversion requirement within the time specified is subject to an administrative fine of P500.00 for every month or fraction thereof of delay.
- The total administrative fine for delayed conversion cannot exceed P2,000.00.
- After December 31, 2004, any registered alien found in possession of a paper-based ACR is deemed not properly documented.
- After December 31, 2004, any registered alien with a paper-based ACR may be proceeded against under pertinent provisions of the Immigration Act of 1940 or Alien Registration Act of 1950, both as amended.
Dissemination and publication requirements
- Heads of Immigration districts and Alien Registration and Control Officers must give the implementing guidelines the widest publicity possible in their respective territorial jurisdictions.
- The guidelines must be published in a newspaper of general circulation and take effect after fifteen (15) days from the date of publication.