Immigration bureau temporarily allows foreigners with visas to leave without ACR I-Card

Foreigners with approved and implemented visas are temporarily allowed to leave the country without their Alien Certificate of Registration Identity Card (ACR I-Card) as further compliance with COVID-19 social distancing measures, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Friday.

ACR I-Card is an identification card issued to all registered foreigners with immigrant or non-immigrant visas who have stayed in the Philippines for more than 59 days.

Under regular procedures, departing foreigners with approved visas but pending ACR I-Card are required to secure a waiver at the BI's Office in Intramuros, Manila, the BI said in a statement.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the bureau is temporarily doing away with ACR I-Card waiver orders as an additional measure to lessen person-to-person contact.

This change is in line with the enhanced community quarantine and stringent social distancing measures directive from Malacañang, the BI said.

Foreigners are now required to present the following documents in place of the ACR I-Card waiver order: passport with valid visa, official receipts of the ACR I-Card waiver application fee and emigration clearance certificate with returning permit or special resident certificate, whichever is applicable.

The BI advised outbound foreign nationals to keep these requirements since they will be needed again when they reenter the Philippines.

The bureau scaled down its operations in Luzon and suspended several transactions in the island after President Rodrigo Duterte imposed sweeping quarantine rules in an attempt to arrest the spread of COVID-19. — Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/RSJ, GMA News