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(NAR) VOL. 29 NO. 2/ APRIL - JUNE 18
[ IMMIGRATION ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR NO. JHM-2018-003, June 21, 2018 ]
RATIONALIZING THE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION, AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY, AND SCOPE OF AUTHORITY OF ALIEN CONTROL OFFICERS AND HEADS OF IMMIGRATION OFFICES
Date Filed: 21 June 2018
By authority of Section 3 of Commonwealth Act No. 613 (Philippine Immigration Act of 1940), as amended, and in order to rationalize the territorial jurisdiction and scope of authority of the Student Visa Section; existing District, Field, Extension, and Satellite offices; and One stop Shops, assigned respective areas of responsibility are hereunder identified and updated, the jurisdiction of which includes all cities, municipalities, islands, and seaports within the province or provinces concerned.
District Offices shall refer to immigration offices situated in Regional Centers of the different Administrative Regions in the Philippines.
Field Offices refer to immigration offices located in key cities or municipalities in different provinces within a Region.
Extension Offices shall refer to immigration offices established to cater primarily to companies or entities registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and Board of Investments (BOI), as well as other companies or entities within Metro Manila.
Satellite offices are those established and maintained in strategic areas to broaden the base of public service.
One Stop Shop refers to those immigration offices situated in special and/or Freeport economic zones outside Metro Manila.
SECTION 1. Immigration Offices and Their Areas of Responsibility, Defined. –
A. IMMIGRATION NCR REGION
| Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on | Area s of Responsibility |
1 | BO I MA KATI I MMI GR A TI ON EXTENSI ON OFFI CE | To p 1000 Corporati ons, |
2 | PEZ A I MMI GRATION EXTENSI ON OFFI CE | PEZA-Reg i st ered |
3 | S M NORTH I MMI GRATION SATELLI TE OFFI CE | M etr o M anila (North) |
4 | LA S PINAS I MM IGRATIO N FIELD OFFICE | M etr o M anila (South) |
B . IMMIGRATION REGION I
| Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on | Area s of Responsibility |
5 | V I GAN I MMI GRATION FI ELD OFFI CE | Prov i nce of Il ocos Sur |
6 | SA N FERNANDO I MMI GRATION DI STRI CT OFFI CE | Prov i nce of La Uni on Por t of San Fernando |
7 | DAGUP A N I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE | Prov i nce of Pangasi nan |
8 | LAOA G I MM IGRATIO N FIELD OFFICE | Prov i nce of Abra |
C . IMMIGRATION REGION II
| Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on | Area s of Responsibility |
9 | TU G UE G ARA O I MM I G RATI ON DISTRIC T O FFICE | M un i ci pali ti es unde r the 3 rd Congress i onal D i st ri ct of t he Provi nce of Cagayan Prov i nce of Nueva Vi zcaya Prov i nce of Qui ri no |
10 | APARR I I MM IGRATIO N FIELD OFFICE | M un i ci pali ti es unde r the 1 s t an d 2 n d Congress i onal D i st ri cts of t he Provi nce of Cagayan Prov i nce of If ugao CEZ A Locat ors |
11 | CAUAY A N I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE | Prov i nce of I sabela |
D . IMMIGRATION REGION III
| Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on | Area s of Responsibility |
12 | ANGELE S I MM IGRATIO N FIELD OFFICE | Prov i nce of Bul acan Prov i nce of Pa m panga Prov i nce of Tarl ac |
13 | NUEV A ECIlA I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE | Prov i nce of Nueva Ecija |
14 | BAL A NG A I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE | Prov i nce of Bat aan |
15 | CL A R K I MMI GR A TI ON ONE STOP SHOP | C l ark Speci al Econo mic Zone |
16 | M ARIVELE S I MM IGRATIO N ONE STOP SHOP FAB , M ari vel es, Bat aan | Th e Freeport Area of Bat aan |
17 | OLONGAP O I MM IGRATIO N FIELD OFFICE | Prov i nce of Za m bal es |
18 | SUB IC I MMI GRATION ONE STOP SHOP | Sub ic Bay M et ropolit an |
| SB M A , Ol ongapo Cit y, Za m bal es | Aut hority |
E . IMMIGRATION REGION IV
| Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on | Area s of Responsibility |
19 | BAT A NG A S I MMI GR A TI ON DI STRI CT OFFI CE | Prov i nce of Bat angas |
20 | BAL A BA C I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE | M un i ci pali ty of Bal ab ac |
21 | BO A C I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE | Prov i nce of M ari nduque |
22 | CAL A P A N I MMI GR A TI ON DI STRI CT OFFI CE | Prov i nce of Occi dent al |
23 | LUCEN A I MM IGRATIO N FIELD OFFICE | Prov i nce of Quezon |
24 | PUERT O PRI NCESA I MMI GRATION FI ELD OFFI CE | Prov i nce of Pal awan, except |
25 | BROOKE 'S POI NT I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE / BORDER CROSSI NG ST A TI ON | M un i ci pali ty of Brooke's Poi nt |
26 | DAS MA R I NAS I MMI GR A TI ON F I ELD OFFI CE | Prov i nce of Cavite |
27 | STA . ROSA I MMI GRATION FI ELD OFFI CE | Prov i nce of Laguna |
28 | T A YT A Y I MM I G RATI O N FIELD O FFICE | Prov i nce of Ri zal |
F . IMMIGRATION REGION V
| Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on | Area s of Responsibility |
29 | LEGASP I I MM IGRATIO N DISTRICT OFFICE | Prov i nce of Al bay |
30 | NAG A I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OF FI CE | Prov i nce of Ca m ari nes Sur |
G . IMMIGRATION REGION VI
| Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on | Area s of Responsibility |
31 | I LOI LO I MMI GRATI ON DI STRI CT OFFI CE | Prov i nce of Anti que |
32 | BACOLO D I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE | Prov i nce of Negros Occident al |
33 | BORACA Y I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE | Boraca y I sl and |
34 | KAL I BO I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE | Prov i nce of Akl an |
H . I MMIGRATION REGION VII
| Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on | Area s of Responsibility |
35 | CEB U I MMI GR A TI ON DI STRI CT OFFI CE | Prov i nce of Cebu, except M acta n Isl and |
36 | DU MA GUET E I MMI GR A TI ON F I ELD OFFI CE | Prov i nce of Negros Orient al |
37 | GAISAN O I MM IGRATIO N SATELLITE OFFICE | M acta n Isl and, Cebu |
38 | T AG BILARA N I MM I G RATI ON FIEL D O FFICE | Prov i nce of Bohol |
I. I MMIGRATION REGION VIII
| Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on | Area s of Responsibility |
39 | T A CL O BA N I MM I G RATI O N DISTRICT O FFICE | Prov i nce of Bili ran |
40 | CALBAYO G I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE | Prov i nce of Sa m ar |
J . I MMIGRATION REGION IX
| Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on | Area s of Responsibility |
41 | ZA M BOANG A I MM IGRATION FIEL D OFFICE | Prov i nce of Basil an |
K . IMMIGRATION REGION X
| Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on | Area s of Responsibility |
42 | CAG A Y A N DE ORO I MMI GR A TI ON DI STRI CT OFFICECagaya n de Oro Cit y, Mi sa mis Ori ent al | Prov i nce of Ca mi guin Provi nce of Buki dnon Provi nce of Mi sa mis Ori ent al |
43 | I LI GAN I MMI GRATI ON FI ELD OFFI CE | Prov i nce of Lanao del Norte |
44 | OZA M I S I MM IGRATIO N FIELD OFFICE | Prov i nce of Mi sa mis Occ i dental |
L . I MMIGRATI ON REGION XI
| Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on | Area s of Responsibility |
45 | DAV A O I MMI GR A TI ON DI STRI CT OFFI CE | Prov i nce of Co m post ela Vall ey Provi nce of Davao del Norte Provi nce of Davao del Sur Provi nce of Davao Ori ent al |
46 | BATUG A ND I NG I MMI GR A TI ON BORDER CROSSI NG ST A TI ON | Ba t ugandi ng Border Crossi ng |
47 | TIBANBA N I MM I G RATI ON B O RDER CR O SSING STATION | T i banban Border Crossi ng |
M . IMMIGRATION REGION XII
| Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on | Area s of Responsibility |
48 | GENERA L SANTOS I MM IGRATIO N FIELD OFFICE | Prov i nce of South Cotabato |
49 | GLA N I MM IGRATIO N FIELD OFFICE | Prov i nce of Sarangani |
50 | COT A BAT O I MMI GRATI ON DI STRI CT OFFI CECo t abato Cit y, M agui ndanao | Prov i nce of Lanao del Sur Provi nce of M agui ndanao Provi nce of North Cot abato Provi nce of Sult an Kudarat |
N . IMMIGRATION REGION XIII ( CARAGA)
| Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on | Area s of Responsibility |
51 | B I SLIG I MM IGRATION FIELD OFFICE | Prov i nce of Suri gao del Sur |
52 | BUTUA N I MMI GR A TI ON DI STRI CT OFFI CE | Prov i nce of Agusan del Norte |
53 | SUR I GAO I MMI GRATION FI ELD OFFI CE | Prov i nce of Suri gao del Norte |
O . IMMIGRATION ARMM REGI ON
| Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on | Area s of Responsibility |
54 | BONG A O I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE | Prov i nce of Tawi -Tawi |
55 | JOL O I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE Jo l o, Sulu | Prov i nce of Sulu |
56 | T AG ANA K I MM I G RATI O N FIELD O FFICETaganak , Turtle Isl ands | Turt le Isl ands M apu n Isl ands |
P . CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION
| Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on | Area s of Responsibility |
57 | BAGU IO I MMI GR A TI ON DI STRI CT OFFI CE | Bagu io City of EPZ M ountain Provi nce Provi nce of Benguet |
SECTION 2. Scope of Authority - The Commissioner of Immigration designates: (i) Senior I.O. or ACO to District Office; (ii) Field Office Chief to Field Office; (iii) Extension Office Chief to an Extension Office, (iv) Satellite Office Chief to a Satellite Office, (v) ACO for a One Stop Shop, (vi) Chief to SVS, and (vii) I.O. III (BCO) or Officer-in-charge to a Border Crossing Station.
All heads shall be charged with the proper, effective, and efficient implementation of all immigration and alien registration laws, rules and regulations. They shall exercise general administrative, operational control and supervision over all personnel assigned to his office except on matters involving Bureau policies, policy directives, and policy decisions which shall be referred to the Commissioner of Immigration through the Chief, Immigration Regulation Division.
The Chief, Immigration Regulation Division shall have the responsibility of monitoring strict compliance to this circular. For this purpose, the Chief IRD is authorized to access the visas, permits, payments, and ACR I-Card systems of the Bureau.
The Chief, IRD retains the authority to accept, endorse, and/or process applications from the Student Visa Section; District, Field, Extension, and Satellite offices; and One stop Shops. Decisions of the heads of these offices are appealable to the Chief, Immigration Regulation Division within five (5) days from notice of such decision.
SECTION 3. FILING AND PROCESSING. - Applicants shall file their applications at the appropriate BI office:
(a) Immigrant Visas - Processed at the BI Office with jurisdiction at the applicant’s place of residenceSECTION 4. Limitations - The Student Visa Section may only accept applications for Special Study Permit (SSP) and 9(f) Student Visa, as well as other related transactions for foreign students and accreditation of schools.
(b) Non-Immigrant Visas - Processed at the BI Office with jurisdiction on the applicant’s place of work
(c) Special Working Permits and Provisional Work Permits - Processed and issued at the BI Office with jurisdiction at the applicant’s place of work
(d) Student Visas - Processed and issued at the Student Visa Section or processed at the BI Office with jurisdiction at the applicant’s school
(e) Special Study Permit - Processed and issued at the Student Visa Section or processed the BI Office with jurisdiction at the applicant’s school
All district, field, extension, and satellite offices may accept requests and applications which are not for BOC action, e.g., SSP, SWP commercial, and TVV extension.
Only online-capable district, field, extension, and satellite offices with ACR l- Card data capturing facilities may accept requests and applications which are for BOC action, e.g., visa applications. ACOs and heads of immigration offices are authorized to conduct hearing for immigrant and non-immigrant visa applications.
Online-capable offices may also accept CA 613, Sec. 9(f) applications which shall be forwarded to the Student Visa Section for processing and approval.
BOI Makati Extension Office shall only cater to foreign nationals under the Top 1000 Corporations and BOI-Registered companies, as well as applications for Special Investor’s Residence Visas.
PEZA Extension Office shall only accept foreign nationals under PEZA- registered companies by virtue of Chapter Il, Sec. 36 of RA 7916 (The Special Economic Zone Authority Act of 1995) and the Memorandum of Agreement between BI and PEZA dated September 2, 1999.
One Stop Shops shall only accept applications from foreign nationals within their respective areas of jurisdiction as covered by existing Memoranda of Agreement and Joint Memorandum Orders between their respective Special Economic Zones and BI.
SECTION 5. Reportorial Requirements. - All heads of the Student Visa Section; District, Field, Extension, and Satellite offices; and One stop Shops shall submit daily to the Chief, Immigration Regulation Division, a list of all visas processed and permits issued together with their corresponding Official Receipt numbers not later than 1000H of the next working day.
SECTION 6. Administrative Sanctions. - Violation of this Circular shall subject the erring official or employee to administrative sanctions in accordance with the Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (RRACCS).
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - All previous issuances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.
SECTION 8. Effectivity. - This Circular takes effect immediately.
Let a copy of this Circular be furnished to the Office of the National Administrative Register (ONAR), U.P. Law Center, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.
Commissioner