ACR I-Card issuance for certain foreign nationals

Policy and purpose

The order mandates modernization and improved efficiency and security of the alien registration, identification, and monitoring system.
The order requires implementation of an automated, accurate, fraud-proof and tamper-proof registration, identification, and monitoring system for registered foreigners in the Philippines.
The order aims to establish a singular identity card and a convenient transaction card for both resident foreigners and temporary foreign visitors.

Coverage: who gets an ACR I-Card

The order covers the following categories of foreigners for issuance of an Alien Certificate of Registration Identity Card (ACR I-Card):
- Non-restricted foreign nationals previously granted a total authorized stay of fifty-nine (59) days who wish to further extend their stay as temporary visitors under Section 9(a) of Commonwealth Act No. 613.
- Temporary visitors granted a Special Study Permit (SSP).
- Temporary visitors granted a Special Work Permit (SWP).
No application for extension of Temporary Visitor’s Visa (TVV) beyond a total authorized stay of more than fifty-nine (59) days is allowed under the ACR I-Card issuance framework.
Applications for SSP or SWP and applications for TVV extension beyond 59 days require grant without proof of payment of all immigration fees and related charges, including the ACR I-Card issuance fee.
The coverage framework does not apply to foreign athletes and/or performing artists whose stay under the applicable permit does not exceed fifty-nine (59) days.

Validity, co-termination, and limits

An ACR I-Card issued for a TVV with total authorized stay of more than fifty-nine (59) days, or for SSP or SWP, is dependent/co-terminus on the validity of the granted visa/permit.
The ACR I-Card validity in these cases must not exceed one (1) year.

Fees, express lanes, and payment rules

Main Office processing requires collection of appropriate immigration fees, express lane fees plus the ACR I-Card issuance fee of US$ 50.00 (or its equivalent in local currency), and an express lane fee of PhP500,000 for card issuance under Section 4.
For Sub-ports/Satellite or Extension Offices with BI-WAN connection and VIMS, processing requires collection of:
- appropriate immigration fees,
- express lane fees plus the ACR I-Card issuance fee of US$ 50.00 (or equivalent), and
- the corresponding express lane fee of Php500.00 for card issuance under Section 5.
For Sub-ports/Satellite or Extension Offices without BI-WAN connection and VIMS, processing requires collection of:
- appropriate immigration fees,
- express lane fees plus the ACR I-Card issuance fee of US$ 50.00 (or equivalent), and
- the corresponding express lane fee of Php 500.00 for card issuance under Section 6.
Existing ACR I-Card holders are not charged anew for the ACR I-Card issuance fee, and no additional ACR I-Card is issued when an application for extension/renewal is filed and granted within the one-year validity period of the ACR I-Card under Section 10.
The Chief, Cash Section must notify all concerned offices of the daily authorized Peso-Dollar exchange rates for collection purposes not later than 10:00 o’clock in the morning of that day.
The exchange rate of the preceding business day applies prior to receipt of the notice of the current rate under Section 11.

Application processing workflow and deadlines

ACR I-Card issuance is incorporated as the last step in the existing system of expediting visa/permit issuance under Section 19.
All Main Office offices receiving/processing covered applications must collect the required fees and release the ACR I-Card simultaneously with the applicant’s passport under Section 4.
For offices with BI-WAN and VIMS, the ACR I-Card must be processed and released within forty-eight (48) hours from the time of approval under Section 5.
For offices without BI-WAN and VIMS, covered applications require a multi-stage offsite validation workflow under Section 6:
- Within the day of approval, copies of accomplished application forms, two (2) passport sized colored pictures (white background), photocopy of passport bio-page, photocopy of the passport page showing latest arrival and visa extension implementation, and photocopy of official receipts must be sent by the concerned ACO via BI accredited courier service to the Manager, ACR I-Card center, DATATRAIL CORPORATION, Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, Manila.
- Upon receipt, the Manager, ACR I-Card Center must endorse the documents to the appropriate chiefs:
  - Chief, Visa Extension, IRD for extensions of tourist visa beyond 59 days,
  - Chief, Student Desk, IRD for SSP applications, and
  - Chief, VIMS for SWP applications.
- The endorsed chiefs must cause encoding and validation of approved applications prior to issuance.
- Any improper approval or issuance of the ACR I-Card subjects the concerned officer(s) to appropriate sanctions under existing laws, rules and regulations.
- ACOs must submit their specimen signatures to the above-mentioned chiefs for identification and validation purposes.
- The ACR I-Card must be processed and released within sixty (60) hours from the time of approval under Section 6(c).
- If validation detects fee assessment deficiencies, the concerned chiefs must hold issuance in abeyance, direct correction of the assessment, require collection of the deficiency from the applicant, and require submission of photocopy proof of payment to the concerned chief as soon as practicable under Section 6(d).
Overstaying foreign nationals covered by the memorandum must comply with the procedures and processes for approval and issuance of the ACR I-Card consistent with existing guidelines and requirements under Section 7.

Application forms, required particulars

Whether using VIMS or not, processors must ensure prescribed BI application forms are completely, clearly, and accurately accomplished and filled up by the applicant in BLOCK/ PRINTED LETTERS.
The required form codes are:
- MCL-07-02 for TVV extension, and
- MCL-07-01 for SSP and SWP under Section 8.
The applicant must provide the following information:
- Full Name as appearing in the passport (including alias/es),
- Citizenship,
- Date of Birth,
- Place of Birth,
- Sex,
- Civil Status,
- Height in centimeters,
- Weight in kilograms,
- Complete address in the Philippines.

Changes in visa category and extensions

Applicants who file applications within the one-year validity of the ACR I-Card for change between categories must have their applications processed and approved without need for re-issuance of another ACR I-Card, subject to existing requirements.
The category changes covered for processing without re-issuance include:
- from 9(a) TVV to 9(a) with SWP,
- from 9(a) TVV to 9(a) with SSP,
- from 9(a) with SWP to 9(a) TVV,
- from 9(a) with SSP to 9(a) TVV,
- from 9(a) with SWP to 9(a) SSP, and
- from 9(a) with SSP to 9(a) SWP.
The applicant must present the existing ACR I-Card to the concerned BI Office for updating the information encoded in the card micro-chip under Section 9.

Amendment, replacement, and corrections

An ACR I-Card holder must immediately notify the concerned BI office of any change in the information enumerated in Section 8, and the holder must be issued a new ACR I-Card upon payment of the following fees under Section 13:
- Amendment Fee of Php 500.00,
- Legal Research Fee of Php 10.00,
- ACR I-Card Re-Issuance Fee of US$ 20.00 (or its peso equivalent),
- Express Lane Fee of Php 500.00.
Replacement for a lost card requires payment of:
- Duplicate Original (D.O.) fee for ACR of PhP 1,000.00,
- ACR I-Card re-issuance fee of US$20.00,
- express lane fee of PhP 1,000.00 under Section 17.
Replacement application must be filed at the BI Main Office or the BI Sub-port where the ACR I-Card was originally secured, and must be supported by submission of a Police Report and Affidavit of Loss under Section 17.
If errors are discovered or detected in encoded information during validation prior to printing the ACR I-Card, the concerned chief (Visa Extension, Student Desk, or VIMS) must cause the Chief, Computer Section to make necessary corrections under Section 18(a).
Replacement cost of printed ACR I-Cards with erroneous information in the amount of US$ 20.00 is borne:
- by the applicant if the error is in information written by the applicant in the application form, or
- by the concerned BI employees if the error in encoding or validation is caused by them under Section 18(b).

Delivery, issuance, and transaction use

The ACR I-Card delivery method is at the applicant’s option under Section 12:
- delivery to the Sub-port, Satellite Office or Extension Office where the application was submitted for personal claim or claim by a duly authorized representative upon presentation of a valid passport, or
- delivery to the applicant’s stated Philippine address via courier at the applicant’s expense.
Courier delivery requires the applicant to fill up a consignment note/airway bill, binding the applicant as consignee to pay the stated courier cost upon receipt of the parcel containing the ACR I-Card under Section 12.
Datatrail Corporation must identify, select, and accredit the most reliable, reputable, and cost-effective courier service company, subject to approval of the Bureau of Immigration under Section 12.
For visa/permit application or extension transactions, the ACR I-Card must be presented together with the passport to immigration authorities under Section 16.
The ACR I-Card must be used with a card reader to retrieve information on visa/permit validity dates, extension granted, and other relevant information about the foreign national under Section 16.
The ACR I-Card, together with the passport, must be presented to immigration authorities, banking and financial establishments, schools and educational institutions, government agencies, and other law enforcement personnel to evidence lawful stay in the country under Section 16.
Upon request, the Bureau of Immigration must provide ACR I-Card microchip readers to banking and financial establishments, schools and educational institutions, government agencies, and law enforcement organizations at their acquisition cost under Section 16.
Upon substantiation and validation of request by these entities, the Bureau of Immigration must provide access to its ACR I-Card database to ascertain status and visa/permit validity; the cost of data access and query is shouldered by the requesting entity under Section 16.

Departure rules and deactivation/reactivation

The ACR I-Card must be retained by the card holder upon departure/exit from the Philippines under Section 14.
The ACR I-Card must not serve as an Exit Clearance Certificate, Re-Entry Permit, or Special Return Certificate under Section 14.
Foreign nationals granted a total authorized stay beyond six (6) months must secure a regular Emigration Clearance Certificate from the Bureau of Immigration under Section 14.
If the card applicant leaves the country prior to release of the card, the concerned ACO or BI official must be responsible for safekeeping the ACR I-Card until claimed by the applicant under Section 14.
The ACR I-Card must be deactivated upon departure/exit.
The ACR I-Card must be reactivated under the same conditions if the holder returns, provided:
- it is still valid for at least sixty (60) days from the date of latest admission, and
- it is not a guarantee for admission of the holder under Section 15.

ACR I-Card issuance fee proof requirement and compliance

The Visa Extension Section, Cash Section, Computer Section, and Datatrail Corporation must establish process flow amendments/revisions to ensure that no extension of TVV beyond fifty-nine (59) days, SSP, or SWP is granted and issued without proof of payment of all immigration fees and related charges, including the ACR I-Card issuance fee under Section 19.
A single Order of Payment Slip (OPS) and Official Receipt (OR) must be issued itemizing assessments and payments of immigration fees and related charges, including the ACR I-Card issuance fee, respectively under Section 19.
Any violation of the memorandum order is dealt with accordingly under Section 19.
Any improper approval or issuance subjects concerned officers to sanctions under existing laws, rules and regulations under Section 6(b).

Reporting and repeal

Datatrail Corporation must submit a monthly monitoring performance report to the Office of the Commissioner covering all ACR I-Cards printed, issued, and processed in the BI Main Office, sub-ports, satellite offices, and extension offices under Section 20.
All memoranda, orders, rules, regulations, and other issuances inconsistent with BI Memorandum Order No. MCL-10-004 are repealed or modified accordingly under Section 21.