Number of filed foreign nationals’ annual report dropped by 25%

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) yesterday reported that the number of foreign nationals who filed their annual report (AR) for 2021 have gone down by 25 percent.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime H. Morente said from 169,890 who filed their AR in 2020, the number went down to 130,000 or 25-percent lower than the previous year’s figure.

The filing of an AR is in compliance with the Alien Registration Act (ARA) that directs all foreigners registered with the BI to report in person to the bureau within the first 60 days of a calendar year.

Under the 1950 ARA, foreign nationals who are holders of valid immigrant and non-immigrant visas issued by the BI, and were issued alien certificate of registration (ACR), are required to make the AR.

“This is not surprising as many of these registered aliens were stranded abroad as a result of worldwide Covid-19 travel restrictions,” the BI chief said.

Morente said the aliens may still file their report within 30 days upon their return to the Philippines.

The BI said Chinese nationals topped the list of reporters followed by Indians, Americans, Taiwanese and South Koreans.

Also in the list of top reporters are Japanese, Vietnamese, Indonesians, Malaysians and Germans.

Those who failed to comply with reportorial requirement are facing fines, visa cancellation, deportation and even imprisonment.