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WHEREAS,  the  Bureau  of  Immigration  (BI)  is responsible  for  the administration and enforcement of immigration and citizenship laws and the admission of foreigners in the Philippines^[1], including the enforcement of alien registration laws, exclusion, deportation and repatriation of foreigners, and supervision of their immigration into and emigration from the Philippines^[2];

WHEREAS, on 21 September 2015, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued Memorandum  Circular  No. 052 providing  the delineation  of authority  to act on visa applications filed before the Bl;

WHEREFORE, pursuant to Section 3 of Commonwealth Act No. 613, as amended,  otherwise  known  as  the  “Philippine  Immigration  Act  of  1940”,  the following are hereby ordered:

SECTION  1.  Purpose.  -  This  Operations  Order  implements  DOJ Memorandum  Circular  No.  052  issued  on  21  September  2015  and  aims  to enhance  the procedures  and establish  timelines  in the processing  of visa and ACRI-Card applications.

SECTION  2. Coverage.  - Consistent  with DOJ Memorandum  Circular  No. 052, this Operations Order shall apply to the processing of all applications for immigrant, non-immigrant  (excluding temporary visitor’s visa under Section 9(a) of C.A. No. 613, as amended) and special non-immigrant visa conversion, amendment and extension filed before the BI to be acted by the Commissioner, except application for pre-arranged employment visa issued by Philippine Embassies/Consulates   pursuant  to  Section  20  of  CA.  No.  613,  as  amended, which shall be acted by the Board of Commissioners.

This  further  applies  to  the  processing  of  applications  for  issuance  and renewal of Alien Certificate of Registration Identity Cards (ACR I-Card) corresponding to the aforementioned visas.

SECTION 3. Duties and Functions of Each Concerned BI Office.

A.   CENTRAL RECEIVING UNIT (CRU) [Same Day Transmittal]:

1.   Upon  determination  that  the  Consolidated  General  Application  Form (CGAF) is properly accomplished  and all the supporting  documents  for the visa and ACR I-Card applications are complete and in order in accordance with the prescribed Checklist of Documentary Requirements, transmit all application folders received from all Bl offices before the end of office hours of the same day when they were received to:

a.     Visa and Special Permits Task Force (VSPTF) - for visa application;
b.     Alien Registration Division (ARD) - for ACR I-Card application.

2.  If the visa application does not require the personal appearance by the applicant in a hearing, advise him/her to directly proceed to the ACR I-Card Biometric Capturing Station for biometric capturing, if required, on the date indicated in the notice.

B.   VSPTF:

B.1 APPLICATION WITH HEARING:

1.   Endorse the visa application folder to the Visa Officer designated in the Notice of Hearing.

2.   On the date indicated in the Notice of Hearing, the Visa Officer shall:

a)     Conduct the hearing on the application;
b)     Direct  the  applicant  to  immediately  proceed  to  the  ACR  I-Card
Biometrics Capturing Station for biometric capturing, if required; and
c)     Within  two (2) working  days  after  the actual  hearing,  prepare  the
Minutes of the Hearing  and Certification  with recommended  action and transmit the same, together with the application folder, to the Supervising Visa Officer for review.

3.   Within  one (1) working  day from  receipt  thereof,  the Supervising  Visa Officer shall complete the review of the application and submit to VSPTF Head  for appropriate  recommendation.  In case of diverse  finding  from Visa Officer, prepare a Report of Review and likewise submit to VSPTF Head for appropriate recommendation.

4.  Within one (1) working day from receipt of Supervising Visa Officer’s submission, the VSPTF Head shall recommend either the approval or disapproval of the visa application to the Commissioner.  If for approval, the VSPTF Head shall indicate the recommended validity of the visa.

B.2 APPLICATION WITHOUT HEARING:

1.  Endorse the visa application folder to the Supervising Visa Officer for evaluation and review.

2.   Within two (2) working  days from receipt thereof,  the Supervising  Visa Officer  shall  complete  evaluation  and  review  of  the  application  and submit to VSPTF Head for appropriate recommendation.

3.  Within one (1) working day from receipt of Supervising Visa Officer’s submission, the VSPTF Head shall recommend either the approval or disapproval of the visa application to the Commissioner.  If for approval, the VSPTF Head shall indicate the recommended validity of the visa.

C.   ALIEN REGISTRATION DIVISION (ARD):

1.   Upon  receipt  of  the  ACR  I-Card  application  from  the  CRU,  conduct evaluation and review thereof.

2.   On  the  scheduled  date,  capture  the  applicant’s  biometrics  data  and confirm personally with the applicant the correctness of the information provided in his/her ACRI-Card application.

3.   Within one (1) day from notice from the Office of the Commissioner  of the approval of applicant's visa application, print the ACR I-Card and transmit to the Office of the Executive Director (OED).

D.   OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER (OCOM):

1.   Act on the VSPTF Head's recommendation on the visa application.

2.   Within the same day of the Commissioner’s action:

a.     If  approved,  (i)  notify  the  ARD  through  electronic  means  for  the purpose of printing applicant’s ACR I-Card, and (ii) transmit the visa application folder to the OED.

b.     If disapproved, transmit the visa application folder to VSPTF.

3.   In either case, notify the BINOC and MISD, through electronic means, for the  posting  in  the  Bl’s  Official  Website  of  the  action  on  the  visa application within the same day of notice thereof.

E.   OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (OED):

1.  Implement  the  approved  visa  in  the  applicant’s  passport  upon presentment thereof and simultaneously release his/her ACRI-Card.

2.   Within  three  (3)  working  days  after  the  implementation,  transmit  the entire  application  folder  to  the  Verification  and  Compliance  Division (VCD) for post-audit.

3.  Initiate the forfeiture of approved visas and ACR I-Cards that are not implemented  within  thirty (30) working  days from posting  of the action taken thereof in the BI website.

F.   VCD:

1.   Conduct  and complete  the post-audit  of all approved  visa and ACR I- Card applications within three (3) months from receipt from OED.

2.   On  the  basis  of any  adverse  post-audit  finding,  transmit  to  the  Legal Division or Intelligence Division for further action, otherwise, endorse the visa application folder to the Records Section for safekeeping.

SECTION  4. Repealing  Clause. - This Order repeals Operation  Order No. SBM-14-007 and Operation Order No. SBM-14-018 issued on 12 February 2014 and  21  May  2014,  respectively.   All  other  previous   issuances   inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.

SECTION 5. Effectivity. - This Order shall take effect immediately upon publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Furnish  a  copy  of  this  Order  to  the  Office  of  the  National  Administrative Register  (ONAR),  U.P.  Law  Center,  University   of  the  Philippines,   Diliman, Quezon City.

28 October 2015.

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^[1]  Executive Order No. 292, Book IV, Title III, Chapter X, Section 31.
^[2]  Letter of Implementation No. 20 (31 December 1972), Section 14.