Is Your Acr Card Valid If You Leave Rp?

[ancienrocka]

Today I did my first extension today for someone who had obtained the new temporary ACR card, left the country, returned and wanted to renew after 59 days.He did not have to pay for a new ACR card as his old one was still valid and he had only been overseas for 17 days.It seems that the rule is that if you leave RP and return within 59 days, your old ACR card is still valid and you do not need to pay for a new one until it expires.If you stay out of the country for longer than 59 days, you will need to pay for a new card. This information is correct to the best of my knowledge but I still have to test the rule about staying away from RP for longer than 59 days.HANG ON TO YOUR ACR CARD.Paul

[Jake]

Today I did my first extension today for someone who had obtained the new temporary ACR card, left the country, returned and wanted to renew after 59 days.He did not have to pay for a new ACR card as his old one was still valid and he had only been overseas for 17 days.It seems that the rule is that if you leave RP and return within 59 days, your old ACR card is still valid and you do not need to pay for a new one until it expires.If you stay out of the country for longer than 59 days, you will need to pay for a new card. This information is correct to the best of my knowledge but I still have to test the rule about staying away from RP for longer than 59 days.HANG ON TO YOUR ACR CARD.Paul

Thanks Paul for the update regarding ACR cards. It's good to know that you aredoing the legwork and providing us with the latest revisions of BI policies.Thank you sir -- Jake

[Art2ro]

13a and 13g permanent resident visa holders, yes hang on to your ACR I-CARDs, it's used as your exit and reentry permit in case you want to go on vacation outside of the Philippines! Tourist visa holders just on 59 day extensions or more and are leaving the Philippines and not planing on returning anytime soon within the expiration of their ACR I-CARDs, they have to surrender their ACR I-CARDs to immigration officials at the airport prior to their departure! MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. MCL-09-027Republic of the PhilippinesDepartment of JusticeBureau of ImmigrationMagallanes Drive, Intramuros Manilahttp://immigration.g...=612&Itemid=103 ACR I-CARD USE AND DISPOSITIONMEMORANDUM ORDER NO. MCL-09-027IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS (IRR) OF MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. MCL-09-024, DATED 23 NOVEMBER 2009, ENTITLED "ISSUANCE OF ALIEN CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION IDENTITY CARD (ACR-ICARD) TO [1] NON-RESTRICTED FOREIGN NATIONALS GRANTED A TOTAL AUTHORIZED STAY OF FIFTY-NINE DAYS (59) AS TEMPORARY VISITORS UNDER SECTION 9(A) OF COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 613, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE IMMIGRATION ACT OF 1940 AS AMENDED, AND [2] TEMPORARY VISITORS WHO APPLY FOR AND ARE GRANTED SPECIAL STUDY PERMIT (SSP) AND SPECIAL WORK PERMIT (SWP)" As a necessity and consequence for the implementation and administration of Memorandum Order No. MCL-09-024 dated 23 November 2009, entitled " ISSUANCE OF ALIEN CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION IDENTITY CARD (ACR-ICARD) TO [1] NON-RESTRICTED FOREIGN NATIONALS GRANTED A TOTAL AUTHORIZED STAY OF FIFTY-NINE DAYS (59) AS TEMPORARY VISITORS UNDER SECTION 9(A) OF COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 613, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE IMMIGRATION ACT OF 1940 AS AMENDED, AND [2] TEMPORARY VISITORS WHO APPLY FOR AND ARE GRANTED SPECIAL STUDY PERMIT (SSP) AND SPECIAL WORK PERMIT (SWP)" the following implementing rules and regulations are hereby issued: 1. STATEMENT OF POLICY. - There is an imperative need to modernize and improve efficiency and security of the alien registration, identification and monitoring system in light of increasing traffic in the country's numerous ports and escalating threats of terrorist, transnational criminals and foreigners with criminal records through the implementation of an automated, accurate, fraud-proof and tamper-proof registration, identification and monitoring of registered foreigners in the country, while attaining the objective of establishing a singular identity card and convenient transaction card for all resident foreigners and temporary foreign visitors. 2. COVERAGE. - The following categories of foreigners are hereby included under the coverage of those to be issued an Alien Certificate of Registration Identity (ACR I-Card):[a] Non-restricted foreign nationals previously granted a total authorized stay of fifty nine (59) days and who wish to further extend his authorized stay as temporary visitors under Section 9(a) of Commonwealth Act No. 613, otherwise known as the "Philippine Immigration Act of 1940" as amended; Temporary visitors who apply for and are granted Special Study Permit (SSP); and[c] Temporary visitors who apply for and are granted Special Work Permit (SWP). No application for extension for Temporary Visitor's Visa (TVV) beyond a total authorized stay of more than fifty nine (59) days, and application for Special Study Permit (SSP) or Special Work Permit (SWP) shall be granted without proof of payment of all immigration fees and related charges, including the ACR I-Card issuance fee. This does not apply to foreign athletes and /or performing artists whose stay in the country pursuant to such permit does not exceed fifty-nine (59) days. 3. VALIDITY OF THE ACR I-CARD. - The ACR I-CARD issued to the Temporary Visitor's Visa (TVV) for a total authorized stay of more than fifty nine (59) days, Special Study Permit (SSP) or Special Work Permit (SWP) shall be dependent or co-terminus on the validity of the visa / permit granted but not to exceed one (1) year.[a] The date of approval of the extension of visa to non-restricted foreign nationals who are granted a total authorized stay of more than fifty-nine (59) days, as temporary visitors under Section 9(a) of Commonwealth Act of No. 613, as amended , shall be reflected as the date of validity of the ACR I-CARD. The date of approval of the Special Study Permit (SSP) shall be reflected as the date of validity of the ACR I-CARD.[c] The date of approval of the Special Work Permit (SWP) shall be reflected as the date of validity of the ACR I-CARD. 4. EXTENSION OF TRV, SSP OR SWP. - Existing TVV, SSP and SWP holders with ACR I-CARD shall not be charged anew for the ACR I-CARD issuance fee, and shall not be issued another ACR I-CARD when an application for extension of visa as temporary visitor, or extension/renewal of SSP or SWP is filed and granted within the one-year validity period of the ACR I-CARD. 5. APPLICATION PROCESS. -[a] For an application for extension of Temporary Visitor's Visa (TVV) for a total authorized stay of more than fifty-nine (59) days, Special Study Permit (SSP) and Special Work Permit (SWP) that are processed and granted at the BI Main Office, the ACR I-CARD shall n processed, printed and released simultaneously with the approval of the visa extension or permit to the applicant. For an application for extension of Temporary Visitor's Visa (TVV) for a total authorized stay of more than fifty-nine (59) days, Special Study Permit (SSP) and Special Work Permit (SWP) that are processed, approved and granted at the district offices, sub-port offices, satellite offices, and extension offices, the corresponding ACR I-CARD shall be processed, printed and released within (48) hour period from the time of approval.[c] For an application for extension / updating of Temporary Visitor's Visa (TVV) for a total authorized stay of more than fifty-nine (59) days that are processed, approved and granted at the district offices, sub port offices, satellite offices, extension offices and international ports of entry /exit on the date of actual printed, however, the same shall be deemed as surrendered to the Immigration Officer at the airport. 6. DELIVERY AND ISSUANCE OF ACR I-CARDS. - At the option of the applicant, the ACR I-CARD shall be delivered either [1] to the district office, sub-port office, satellite office, and extension office, where he/she submitted the application for him/her to personally, or through his/her duly authorized representative, to claim or [2] to his/her stated local address; Provided, that in the latter case, the cost of delivery by the courier service shall be for the account of the applicant. For this purpose the applicant shall fill up a consignment note/airway bill, whereby the applicant, as consignee of the ACR I-CARD, binds himself to pay the stated cost of delivery upon receipt of the package containing his ACR I-CARD. 7. GRANT AND/OR CANCELLATION OF PERMITS. - A grant of SSP or SWP, or transfer of educational institution or employer by the foreigner , respectively, or the cancellation thereof to an ACR I-CARD holder under this Memorandum Order shall necessitate the assessment and proof of payment of all required immigration fees and related charges, including the ACR I-CARD issuance fee, attendant to such change of immigration or visa status. The applicant shall be issued a new ACR I-CARD showing the color-code as provided in paragraph 9 hereof. 8. RECORDING OF VISA/PERMIT VALIDITY INSIDE MICRO-CHIP. - The inclusive validity period of the approval of the extension of visa/permit category of temporary visitors, and any subsequent visa/permit extension within the validity period , shall be recorded in the embedded micro-chip of the ACR I-CARD.[a] The inclusive validity period of the approval of the extension of visa/permit to non-restricted foreign nationals who are granted a total authorized stay of more than fifty-nine days, as temporary visitors under section 9(a) of Commonwealth Act No. 613, as amended, shall be recorded in the embedded micro-chip of the ACR I-CARD. The inclusive validity period of the approval of the Special Study Permit (SSP) shall be recorded in the embedded micro-chip of the ACR I-CARD.[c] The inclusive validity period of the approval of the Special Work Permit (SWP) shall be recorded in the embedded micro-chip of the ACR I-CARD. 9. COLOR CODING. - The ACR I-CARD issued to the Temporary Visitor's Visa (TVV) holder for a total authorized stay of more than fifty nine (59) days, Special Study Permit(SSP) or Special Work Permit (SWP) shall be color coded as follows:[a] GREEN and ORANGE - Non-restricted foreign nationals granted a total authorized stay of fifty-nine days and beyond, as temporary visitor under Section 9(a) of Commonwealth Act No. 613, as amended; RED and VIOLET - Temporary visitors who apply for and are granted Special Study Permit (SSP);[c] RED and BLACK - Temporary visitors who apply for and are granted Special Work Permit (SWP). 10. TRANSACTION CARD. - The ACR I-CARD shall be presented to immigration authorities, together with the passport in transactions involving the application or extension of visa/permit. The ACR I-CARD shall be used, in conjunction with a card reader to retrieve the information on visa/permit validity dated, extension granted, and other relevant information appertaining to the foreign national. To attain the objective of establishing a singular identification card to serve as an identity and convenient transaction card to all resident foreigners and temporary visitors, the ACR I-CARD, in combination with the passport, shall 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. For this purpose, the Bureau of Immigration, shall upon request, provide ACR I-CARD microchip readers to banking and financial establishments, schools and educational institutions, government agencies, and law enforcement organizations on their own account at acquisition cost. The Bureau of Immigration, shall likewise upon substantiation and validation of request by banking and financial establishments, schools and educational institutions, government agencies, and law enforcement organizations, shall provide access to its ACR I-CARD database, where the status and visa/permit validity of a foreigner can be ascertained; Provided that the cost of the data access and query shall be shouldered by the requesting entity. 11. EMIGRATION CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE (ECC). - Foreign nationals who have been granted a total authorized stay of six (6) months or more shall be required to secure a Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) from the Bureau of Immigration. 12. EXIT/DEPARTURE FROM THE COUNTRY. - Notwithstanding its validity period, the ACR I-CARD shall not be used as a Re-Entry Permit (RP) or Special Return Certificate (SRC) at the time if arrival and primary inspection at the port of entry for [1] non-restricted foreign nationals who have been granted a total authorized stay of more than fifty-nine (59) days as Temporary Visitor under Section 9(a) of Commonwealth Act No. 613, as amended and [2] Temporary Visitors who apply for and are granted Special Study Permit (SSP) and Special Work Permit (SWP) after an exit/departure is made from the country. 13. SURRENDER OF ACR I-CARD UPON EXIT/DEPARTURE. - The ACR I-CARD shall be presented and surrendered to and retained by the Immigration Officer at the primary inspection counter upon exit/departure from the country. The concerned Immigration Officer shall immediately turn-over the surrendered ACR I-CARDs to the ACR I-CARD Center at the BI Main Office for inventory and proper disposition. 14. REPLACEMENT OF LOST CARDS. - Replacements of lost cards shall be subject to the payment of existing replacement fee for ACR I-CARDs. 15. MANDATORY COMPLIANCE. - The issuance of the ACR I-CARD shall be incorporated as the last step in the present system of expediting visa/permit issuance. The Alien Registration Division (ARD), the Visa Extension Section, the Cash Section and the Computer Section shall ensure that the appropriate amendment/revision to the process flow shall be established to ensure that no application for extension for Temporary Visitor's Visa (TVV) for a total authorized stay of more than fifty-nine (59) days, Special Study Permit (SSP) or Special Work Permit (SWP), shall be granted and issued without proof of payment of all immigration fees and related charges, including the ACR I-CARD issuance fee. To simplify the assessment and payment process, a single Order of Payment Slip (OPS) and Official Receipt (OR) shall be issued itemizing all assessments and payments of immigration fees and related charges, including the ACR I-CARD issuance fee, respectively. 16. REPEALING CLAUSE. - All memorandum, orders, rules, regulations ans other issuance inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 17. EFFECTIVITY. - This memorandum Order shall take effect immediately upon its publication in a newspaper of general circulation. Let copies of this Memorandum Order be filed with the Office of the National Administrative Register (ONAR), U.P. Law Center, U.P. Complex, Diliman, Quezon City. City of Manila, 29 December 2009. Marcelino C. LibananCommissioner

Edited July 7, 2010 by MrBBtheFilAm

[UZI]

Don't confuse the TOURIST ACR I card with the 13a or 13G one. The 13A/G is for RESIDENTS & is PERMANENT renewed every 5 years so there is definitely no requirement to surrender it. Just follow Ancienrocka's sound advise if on a Tourist Visa, he knows what he is talking about from experience not as an armchair expert. Uzi

Edited July 7, 2010 by UZI

[ancienrocka]

13a and 13g permanent resident visa holders, yes hang on to your ACR I-CARDs, it's used as your exit and reentry permit in case you want to go on vacation outside of the Philippines! Tourist visa holders just on 59 day extensions or more and are leaving the Philippines and not planing on returning anytime soon within the expiration of their ACR I-CARDs, they have to surrender their ACR I-CARDs to immigration officials at the airport prior to their departure! MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. MCL-09-027  

That was the initial ruling and I have been advising my clients on this basis until yesterday - it seems that the ruling has been modified.I know of many people who have not been asked for their Temporary ACR card on leaving the country and yesterday was proof for me that it is still useful on re-entry as long as your absence is not longer than 59 days.Note to oneself - I must change the advice on my website!!!!!!!paul Edited July 7, 2010 by Mr. Lee
repair quote

[Art2ro]

13a and 13g permanent resident visa holders, yes hang on to your ACR I-CARDs, it's used as your exit and reentry permit in case you want to go on vacation outside of the Philippines! Tourist visa holders just on 59 day extensions or more and are leaving the Philippines and not planing on returning anytime soon within the expiration of their ACR I-CARDs, they have to surrender their ACR I-CARDs to immigration officials at the airport prior to their departure! MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. MCL-09-027

That was the initial ruling and I have been advising my clients on this basis until yesterday - it seems that the ruling has been modified.I know of many people who have not been asked for their Temporary ACR card on leaving the country and yesterday was proof for me that it is still useful on re-entry as long as your absence is not longer than 59 days.Note to oneself - I must change the advice on my website!!!!!!!paul

There's no confusion what the memorandum says! I didn't make it up! We all know that permanent residents are different from tourists! Immigrations officials just aren't following the guidelines! Good for those if immigrations officials aren't taking their ACR I-CARDS at the airport for those departing tourists as long they are returning immediately to the Philippines prior to their ACR I-CARD's expiration! If not staying or returning to the Philippines, they just surrender the ACR I-CARD prior to their departure, it's just that plain and simple! It takes less than an arm chair expert to read the memorandum! There's no confusion here, people can read for themselves! Edited July 7, 2010 by MrBBtheFilAm

[UZI]

13a and 13g permanent resident visa holders, yes hang on to your ACR I-CARDs, it's used as your exit and reentry permit in case you want to go on vacation outside of the Philippines! Tourist visa holders just on 59 day extensions or more and are leaving the Philippines and not planing on returning anytime soon within the expiration of their ACR I-CARDs, they have to surrender their ACR I-CARDs to immigration officials at the airport prior to their departure! MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. MCL-09-027

That was the initial ruling and I have been advising my clients on this basis until yesterday - it seems that the ruling has been modified.I know of many people who have not been asked for their Temporary ACR card on leaving the country and yesterday was proof for me that it is still useful on re-entry as long as your absence is not longer than 59 days.Note to oneself - I must change the advice on my website!!!!!!!paul

There's no confusion what the memorandum says! I didn't make it up! We all know that permanent residents are different from tourists! Immigrations officials just aren't following the guidelines! Good for those if immigrations officials aren't taking their ACR I-CARDS at the airport for those departing tourists as long they are returning immediately to the Philippines prior to their ACR I-CARD's expiration! If not staying or returning to the Philippines, they just surrender the ACR I-CARD prior to their departure, it's just that plain and simple! It takes less than an arm chair expert to read the memorandum! There's no confusion here, people can read for themselves!

Seems that one member here needs to learn some etiquette on using forums & stop talking down to other (more knowledgeable) members. Paul knows more about the IMPLEMENTING of visas than someone who's only knowledge comes from copying what is on other websites. Show some respect.Yes we can read, just do as you do & go to the BI website. Paul on the other hand uses EXPERIENCE.Yes members here will read this thread & know who's advise to follow. Thanks for the useful info Paul.Uzi.

[Mr Lee]

This has to stop now. I am getting tired of it. Most of us are armchair experts including myself, and that is what forums are for IMO, to give information to people who ask for it and while I have a lot of faith in Paul, I also know from personal experience that everything in the Philippines can be in flux at times and rules and laws seem to be for interpretation by whoever happens to be the one reading and applying them. So guys and gals, all we can do is quote the laws and also our personal experiences with how we were dealt with, and then it is up to the members to decide on what advice they wish to follow. While Paul is dealing in Cebu and in one particular office, in Manila or elsewhere it may be a whole different story and this forum is for the whole Philippines and not just the office that Paul happens to be dealing with. So until I see it in writing that the rules or law changed, the law is the law and each office or officer may do as they feel it should be applied. End of this discussion and lets get back to the topic at hand.

[UZI]

Most of us are armchair experts including myself, and that is what forums are for IMO, to give information to people who ask for it and while I have a lot of faith in Paul, I also know from personal experience that everything in the Philippines can be in flux at times and rules and laws seem to be for interpretation by whoever happens to be the one reading and applying them.

Lee, I agree but I think you quote as an armchair expert from experience & thank others for their info IMHO. That said, back to the topic at hand. This was posted on another forum by a member in CDO:

If you are on a Tourist Visa and have been given an ACR-I Card If you leave the Phil. permanently, then you have to hand-in the card. If you can show that you are returning ie: an airline ticket, then you retain the card, and upon returning you can get in line at Manila Immig. and go thru' the designated queue for ACR-I holders, which is the line on the extreme left hand side of Immig. This is the story from the BoI at Cagayan de Oro!

Seems to support Paul's experience. Hope this helps those with the new Tourist ACR get their heads around this new law which is clearly being adapted as lessons are learned since the December Memo. Uzi.

[Art2ro]

Most of us are armchair experts including myself, and that is what forums are for IMO, to give information to people who ask for it and while I have a lot of faith in Paul, I also know from personal experience that everything in the Philippines can be in flux at times and rules and laws seem to be for interpretation by whoever happens to be the one reading and applying them.

Lee, I agree but I think you quote as an armchair expert from experience & thank others for their info IMHO. That said, back to the topic at hand. This was posted on another forum by a member in CDO:

If you are on a Tourist Visa and have been given an ACR-I Card If you leave the Phil. permanently, then you have to hand-in the card. If you can show that you are returning ie: an airline ticket, then you retain the card, and upon returning you can get in line at Manila Immig. and go thru' the designated queue for ACR-I holders, which is the line on the extreme left hand side of Immig. This is the story from the BoI at Cagayan de Oro!

Seems to support Paul's experience. Hope this helps those with the new Tourist ACR get their heads around this new law which is clearly being adapted as lessons are learned since the December Memo. Uzi.

There wasn't any doubts about it, it has already been established that retaining an ACR Card is OK as long it is within 59 days upon reentry for a tourist, because the ACR CARD is good for (1) one year after all and prevents one from paying for another ACR I-CARD! So, that answers the main topic subject in question as titled by the original poster! But the card is not meant to be used as a reentry permit (that's only meant for 13a and 13g visa holders embedded in the card's micro chip) and the ACR I-CARD for tourists is primarily for visa extensions and as an I.D. card! So, there's nothing wrong in keeping the ACR CARD as long one is still in the Philippines for extended periods of time! So if one doesn't plan on returning to the Philippines anytime soon, surrender your ACR I-CARD or keep it as a memento of your travels! Misinterpreting the memorandum where it says here on paragraph 12, even though a few tourists are getting away with it doesn't make it correct unless it says so in an amendment or revision. That's the purpose of the ACR CARD's color coding indicating the status of one's visa! Anyway, who cares if you keep the card or not after your departure! It's yours, you paid for it! Anyways, it's just a small minor deviation for one to rant or holler about! The facts have been posted here as to the current existing memorandum, people can read for themselves to comprehend and or interpret the way they see fit, "arm chair" expert with experience or not! 12. EXIT/DEPARTURE FROM THE COUNTRY. - Notwithstanding its validity period, the ACR I-CARD shall not be used as a Re-Entry Permit (RP) or Special Return Certificate (SRC) at the time if arrival and primary inspection at the port of entry for non-restricted foreign nationals who have been granted a total authorized stay of more than fifty-nine (59) days as Temporary Visitor under Section 9(a) of Commonwealth Act No. 613, as amended. As Lee stated, while Paul is dealing in Cebu and in one particular office, in Manila or elsewhere it may be a whole different story and this forum is for the whole Philippines and not just the office that Paul happens to be dealing with. So until I see it in writing that the rules or law changed, the law is the law and each office or officer may do as they feel it should be applied. Edited July 8, 2010 by Boss Man