Each Foreigner who visited the Bureau of Immigration (BOI) was certainly wondering about the mountains of paperwork the ladies and gentlemen in the office have to go through. Honorable Commissioner Siegfred B. Mison has made it a point to streamline the workflow in the BOI and give all a better structure. The Alien Registration Project (ARP) is one of the new inventions which should help in this process.

The ARP (in Compliance with Immigration Operation Order no. 2014-043) has the goal to register all foreign nationals living in the Philippines and give everyone a individual Special Security Registration Number (SSRN).

Announcement from the BOI regarding the ARP

All Foreign Nationals are required to present themselves before the bureau of Immigration for biometric capturing and issuance of SPECIAL SECURITY REGISTRATION NUMBER (SSRN)

October 01, 2014 to September 30, 2015

The SSRN is an alpha-numeric number assigned to every forign national who registers under the ARP and shall be used in all transactions with the Bureau.

1. Download, print and fill-out the application form immigration.gov.ph
2. Submit the application form in person and present competent proof of identification (passport/travel document or ARCI-card even if expired, or birth certificate at any participating Bureau of Immigration Office .
3. Have your fingerprint and image capture and encoded in the Bureau of Immigration database.
4. Pay the necessary fees (does not include postage fees)

SSRN certificate (for undocumented or overstaying) PHP 700.00
ACRI- card (for newly-registered valid status and voluntary registrants ) USD Php 50.00 plus Php 500.00
ACRI-card (for re-issuance) USD Php 20.00

5. Receive your SSRN on the same day. SSRN Certification or ACRI-card shall be sent by mail. (must submit self-addressed envelope with appropriate postage stamp)

Exemption :

• Those with valid ACRI-card (except tourist ACRI-card)
• Tourist whose stay has not exceeded 59 days:
• Those who are exempt from registration pursuant to law.

Contact:

+632- 465 2400

Email: xinfo@immigration.gov.ph

Frequently asked questions

1. What do I get from the ARP?

A 90-day deferred administrative action to comply with the requirements to regularize stay; and chance to benefit from any future legislation that may grant a regular status.

2. What happens if I do not participate in the ARP?

Liable to arrest and deportation if found in violation of immigration laws.

3. What happen if I do not participate in the ARP within the compliance period?

Penalty of Php 200 per month but not exceeding Php 2,000 per year.

4. If I am an illegal foreign national, will be deported if I participate in the ARP?

No. Those illegally staying will be advised on the process to comply with immigration laws.

5. If I participate in the ARP, will I be cleared from any liability?

No. Participation in the ARP is not an amnesty. It will not erase previous violations.

source:BOI

The Alien Registration Project-form is available for download on the website of the BOI ( BI Form 2014-08-019 Rev 0) or can be picked up in the regional BOI office in Dumaguete.