From the Midwest redneck author of "The Rooster Crows at 4am!," "Lizard Poop!," and "The Philippines Expat Advisor"
65,000 Aliens Made Annual Report to Philippine Bureau of Immigration
The Philippine Bureau of Immigration website, in a March 13, 2012 article, states that more than 65,000 foreigners reported in person to the BI last January and February in compliance with a law requiring them to make their annual report to the agency.
BI Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said a total of 65,610 foreigners reported to the bureau from Jan. 2 to Mar. 2 pursuant to the alien registration act that directs aliens to make their annual report within the first 60 days of every calendar year.
The bulk of the foreigners reported at the BI main office in Intramuros, Manila while the rest appeared in the various immigration field and extension offices nationwide. I made my annual visit to the Iloilo City office this past February.
Commissioner David noted that the government generated fees amounting to more than P20.3 million (472,000 US Dollars) from this year’s annual report.
According to lawyer Ronaldo Ledesma, those who failed to beat the March 2 deadline may still make their annual report but they will have to pay penalties. He said a penalty of P350 (8.14 USD) for every month of delay will be charged to late filers.
The Philippine Bureau of Immigration website also warned that those who did report will be deemed improperly documented aliens, thus making them liable for deportation.
Under the 1950 alien registration act, all holders of immigrant or non-immigrant visas are required by law to make the annual report.
Statistics showed that 42,757 foreigners or 65 percent of this year’s annual reportees trooped to the BI main office.
I've previously posted an article about Americans living in the Philippines illegally. I cannot comprehend why someone would not go to Immigration and extend their visas. If you're married to a Filipina, she can sponsor you for a 13a Permanent Visa which I obtained last year. Or you may be able to "avail" of the Balikbayan Privilege.
In my opinion, if you're staying in the Philippines without a valid or expired visa, or not using the Balikbayan, you're either too lazy to go to Immigration or too stupid, or both.
If you try and give me the excuse that you don't have enough money, you should have kept your ass in America in the first place. If your excuse is that you don't have enough time and don't want to wait in long immigration lines, you can hire authorized agents to obtain your visa extensions for a nominal fee.
Remember, if you're a foreigner, an American expat living in the Philippines like me, you are a visitor. Be smart. Abide by the rules. Do you really want to get deported from the Philippines or risk spending some time in a Third World jail? Not me.
Dave, do foreigners who “avail” of the Balikbayan Privilege or keep extending their tourist visas need to report yearly as well, or is it just for long-term visa holders (like the 13a)?
Those foreigners who get their tourist visa extended along with those that hold the 13a as myself, have to go for the annual reporting during the first 60 days of the new year, Lance. However, when I reported to the local Immigration office in Iloilo in January 2010 and had “availed” of the Balikbayan Privilege upon our arrival in July 2009, I was told I did not have to report. The local office did not take any info from me at the time. I would not guarantee that each local office has the same policy, however. It would be best to check with your own individual office.
Dave, Do you know how this compares to recent years past?
Correct. Those on valid BB Privilege stamp do not register, even though the BI always puts out very strongly worded statements regarding “ALL” foreigners being required to register. It’s ALL foreigners _except_ those on valid BB status. You also need not register if you arrive on or after 2 November of the previous year.
Pretty interesting to me are the annual numbers. I often hear “Live the Good Life” Philippine “pushers” spout off about there being hundreds of thousands of US expats in the Philippines. It ain’t necessarily so.
Some distortion comes from the US Social Security folks who know how many folks in the Philippines receive Social Security benefits in the Philippines … upwards of 200,000 I believe … but many of them are Filipinos or Phil/Am dual citizens who have eared SS while abroad but now live back home again … not really expats at all.
Great info to have Dave. So a foreigner that arrives Nov 2 and keeps extending their tourist visa until the end of March when they leave doesn’t have to register at all. Will save me a hassle and the fee. Sweet !!
If yiou arrived after Novemever 1st, 2011 then you don’t have to register in 2012. You would have to register bewteen 2 January and 28 February 2013 though, if you didn’t leave until in March of 2013 .. just want to make sure of which year you are tlaking about.
You get to skip the reporting which would be due right after your November or December arrival, but not the reporting due the following year.
The fee is P310, and if you are on a tourist visa there shoulld be no hassle at all, just ask at Immigration when you renew on your regular January or February renewal trip. Where I have my visa stuff bone, BI Field Office in Angeles City, it’s just tacked on during the renewal processing on the first renewal of the year … no separate forms or any other hassle.
Be well.
That’s great Dave. My plan is to spend only the 5 winter months from Nov to March in the PI each year. We call it “snowbirding”.
Randy, the Bureau reported 65,155 for 2011 an increase of 8.53% from 2010. Not much difference from 2012′s total of 65,610. I can assure you that are many foreigners, including Americans, living here illegally.
Thanks for the info, Dave.
“Snowbirding” is very popular in the States, too, Lance the Canadian. Good thing you’re only planning to be in the Philippines for only five months out of the year. A heart-breaker like you has to give the young ladies here some time off.
Kewl. That should work great then. That’s an excellent plan from both ‘sides’ as well. You miss the worst weather and catch the best weather in the US as well as the Philippines. My wife and I might take up a schedule like that someday. Right now we are “Economy Birding” by living 12 months out of the year in the Philippines, but boy do I miss CostCo sometimes…..
But Dave, come on though, would you rather have a SM Department cutie waiting on you or a CostCo associate?
Last year I was told I needed to go to BI to make my annual report ( I was still on a tourist visa.) Got there and they sent me home without making the report. In the Davao office they only have residents of the Philippines make a annual report. Tourists and those on the BB program are not residents. Got the 13a and that was the first thing they said was to get in there and make that report…so I did.
Well personal experience with years on both the tourist visa and other years on Balikbayan status, plus reading the law says that tourist visa aliens MUST (with the exception of the November/December grace period discussed above) register and those on Balikbayan Privilege do NOT register.
Gary’s experience points up what I always say is the one consistency of dealing with the BI.
Inconsistency.
I’ve been in the Philippines going on 6 years now without a permanent visa and one thing which is consistent … I never get the same answer twice at the BI.
The tourist visa registration requirement is different than what the law states as Dave Starr points out, Gary. But again, and I completely agree with Dave on this, is that you NEVER get the same answer twice at BI. It’s a crap shoot.
Dave, you’re absolutely right. Reminds me of what an Immigration officer at the main office in Intramuros told me when my wife first sponsored me for my 13a Permanent Visa:”…it just depends upon what immigration officer you talk to.” It seems like if you ask ten different people the same question you’ll get ten different answers.
You have to remember that the law on the tourist visa was changed in 2010. The information on the web site is not up to date. You local BI most likely will be using the old law book as they do not have the new one. The same holds true for your LTO office. Just
and everyone will be happy.
It’s more fun in the Philippines!
Good advice, Gary, thanks.
Amen to that, Gary!
No wonder SM Brewery keeps expanding!
You’re right, Randy. And our local group of expats do enjoy our San Miguel products, no doubt about that!
hello. Can someone tell me the over all population of expats here in the Philippines? thanks
there’s a problem with the BI’s website, I can’t get any information.
Their website seems to be down now, Rubie. There have been several attacks against government websites due to the “Cyber Martial Law.” Don’t have any idea if that’s the reason the site is down now.
Some estimates state there are over 300,000 Americans currently living in the Philippines, Rubie (Source: Wikipedia.)