It’s a new year, Happy New Year, and time for the visit to the Bureau of Immigration for the Annual Report required for my 13a Resident Visa.
Being that I like to be prepared, and I was close to the office anyway, I stopped by the Bureau of Immigration a week or so ago to check on this year’s requirements. They seem to change every year, and as noted last year, by office. I was pleased to find out they were the exactly same as last year. I secured a copy of the correct Annual Report form and went on my way. I was set to show up after the first of the year with all required paperwork.
I keep forgetting – this is the Philippines, we aren’t in Kansas anymore.
You see between the time I picked up the form and checked on the requirements, one week, Manila had informed the Davao sub-office that there was a new Annual Report Application Form and new requirements. From a simple 1 page form to a complex 4 page form. But that was just the beginning.
You are now required to provide two 2 x 2 current passport photos (within the last 30 days), get fingerprinted AND get the new form notarized. No, the Davao BI does not provide a notary service (but that is probably coming), you are on your own to figure out where to get that done.
I was none too pleased to learn that I had wasted two trips to the BI and would need to return for a third. Not having any choice, I left and went to a coffee shop. I was able to complete the form, though much of it was redundant information that the ACR-I was implemented in the first place for. Other information was none of their business – my Mom’s passport number? It said to leave no boxes blank, so I filled in a lot of “N/A”.
I found an attorney on the 17th floor of the building that housed the coffee shop, and had them do the notary. I’m sure I paid too much, but I wasn’t in the mood to take a jeepney all over Davao to find a cheap notary. I had the photos done at the mall.
I didn’t go back the same day, as I had made plans to meet up with some friends. It wouldn’t have mattered because as the day gets late the BI fills up, and you will be there for the remainder of the day. No, I knew I’d come back bright and early the next morning. That is my approach to the BI, get there when they open.
As it turned out, I was the first one at the BI the next morning. I knew they would find something I didn’t have, even though I checked with the head of the office before I left the day before. They had told me one photo, but now requested a second. Thankfully I had brought all the photos with me that I had done at the mall the afternoon before. After going to 2 windows, 6 times total, I was done. Just under an hour.
The fee for the Annual Report was still “just” P310. If you add in my notary with 2 copes (P270), the photos (P59), a photo copy of the OR (P3), plus the extra trip (I’ll only count one), P70, then the whole thing cost me about P712.
A couple of things to note – I asked why they didn’t require my previous OR (Official Receipt) and was told that it was in the computer. That made sense until I got to the end of the process and they asked me to make a photocopy of the new OR for their records. I also needed the standard copies of my passport pages, ACR-I card and Visa to go along with the new form and requirements. They never requested to see my original ACR-I or passport.
I don’t see the point of the notary if I’m signing it in person. If I have someone bring it in for me, then that would make some sense. The fingerprinting is also questionable. Again I don’t see how they are going to get that if someone is presenting it for you, and that is allowed according to the form.
I truly don’t understand why we can’t go in, present our ACR-I card and/or passport and be done with it. If we have information that changed, we could be given an opportunity to update that, but it’s my understanding that we are required to update things like address anytime that happens, not just at the first of the year.
This new form and procedure is supposed to be standard for all of the Philippines, but I’ll venture to guess that many smaller office don’t follow it this year. By next year it will undoubtably be different anyway. Learning my lesson from this year, I will wait until after the first of the year to inquire what those new requirements are for 2015.
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Jan 03, 2014 @ 19:36:28
Sus Ginoo. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Jan 03, 2014 @ 19:59:35
The people at the BI are really very friendly and try their best to be helpful. I feel sorry for them – sometimes.
The head guy showed me the memo from Manila regarding the new form & requirements dated 12/26/2013. I asked a few questions, one about the notary. They tried to contact Manila to get clarification, because they honestly didn’t know. I don’t think they ever got the answer.
I don’t mind the requirements so much, I just want to know what they are!
It’s funny, the more I think about it, what I had to do for the Annual Report this year was very similar to what was required for the ACR-I card itself, minus a few fees and the computer photos.
Round and round we go…
At least I’m done until next year. I think
Jan 03, 2014 @ 23:17:46
The bureaucratic mind loves the labyrinthian puzzle. Instead of finding ever simpler ways to get out, it gets ever more complex……
Jan 04, 2014 @ 07:39:53
I’m told by many that the bureaucracy here is all about jobs. Good, steady jobs for many people.
I don’t see that these new procedures have resulted in adding any employees @ the BI yet. Looks to have maybe added a few more peso to the economy, though not directly to the government.
Jan 04, 2014 @ 09:28:29
The BI have changed their web site as well, the old one was user friendly, can’t say that about the new one. Trying to find if my perminent resident visa has been approved yet. Can I find? No. If I call the BI they say check the web site, hmmm.
Jan 04, 2014 @ 15:25:43
I’d noticed that they changed it, too. Doesn’t appear everything is working properly yet.
I’ve got question, if you processed the 13a here, as I have a friend looking to do it this year.
What were the requirements for the police clearance?
Jan 04, 2014 @ 12:44:43
I processed before the police clearence was required, I just needed NBI clearence.
Jan 04, 2014 @ 15:26:08
Ah, OK. Thanks. I guess he’ll just have to work through it.
Jan 06, 2014 @ 18:32:45
Randy,
Thanks at least I’m prepared to go down there now! Forewarned is forearmed as they say!
Keep on smiling. ..monty python always look on the bright side of life.
Paul
Jan 06, 2014 @ 18:39:12
Well I at least I hope you are. Remember (I think this is Dave Starr’s line) – the only thing that’s consistent here is inconsistency.
Good luck!!
Jan 07, 2014 @ 01:41:36
its 12 months before i am moving there, wonder how i am going to handle it all since i hate waiting in line, I know i will use the fixers when ever possible let them be the ones to sort it out
Jan 07, 2014 @ 06:48:52
Practice patience. Waiting in line is a national pastime here. Seriously.
Real fixers are no longer allowed here. There are big fines, etc. for that. You can often times get people to do much of your waiting for you though.
I’m uncertain whether you could use someone for the BI Annual Report check in. The form seemed to indicate you could, but it also required thumb prints. I think you need to show up for the Annual Report, at least.
Jan 10, 2014 @ 09:29:24
This is what we are currently going through, Randy,so I can bring my fiance to the US.
Back in 2009, before we first met, Ivy had her annulment finalized, or at least she thought at that time it was anyway. Her lawyer didnt fully complete the process back then, and didnt send all the paperwork to NSO for there stamp of approval. So we found out about this requirement back in Match of 2013, and she sent all the needed paperwork that she was informed to send to NSO for finalization of her annulment, we figured it couldn’t take more than a few months at most to do this but, we were sure wrong. After 3 times of them sending her notification that they wanted something more than what they originally told her, it’s now taken almost a year, and we still have months more to wait I imagine. We started the K-1 process back in June of 2012, and figured long before the time we got to her interview where they want to see the completed papers, we would have them. Once again we were wrong, we have been at the point for over 2 months now, where she could schedule her interview, but we cant because we are still waiting for the NSO stamp of approval. So last Friday, she was told that NSO is waiting for a signed letter from the judge, and also from the Circuit court clerk, notarized of course ( the ones who actually signed the annulment papers in the first place )stating that they are who they say they are,,,an actual Judge and circuit court clerk. I just cant believe that any place could require this much redundancy for something. I would think that NSO could pick-up a phone and call the Judge at his own phone number, in his office, where he works, and that would prove its actually him. All this is in Catoboto , which I believe is close to you Randy from past articles of yours I read. Another,,,2 month delay was because the first letter in her last name wasent capitalized on one form, but it was on all the others, but they returned it, and made her have her lawyer fill it all out and resubmit it to the Judge to sign it again.
We plan to move there to live in apx. 4 years, as soon as I take early retirement, but this kind of stuff worries me, as to how well I can tolerate the “system” there, am hoping all this is teaching me about all the patience I am going to have to learn. Common sense, just seems to be lacking, but thats me, an American trying to think my way, not there way, which I know, I MUST learn to stop doing, especially once we move there.
All you bloggers, are making we aware at least of some of the things, I must learn to change about myself, and my way of thinking, cause it is there country, and Foreigners are not going to change the way they do things.
Jan 10, 2014 @ 10:37:11
I’m afraid to say that your experience is very much the norm here. In fact I (jokingly) tell people that I fully believe 50% of the marriages are not legal here for one paperwork snafu or another. Birth Certificates are always with issues it seems. My wife has two different birth dates, for instance.
Common sense is lacking here. Logic, I’m not kidding, just doesn’t exist. It’s not part of the culture. They don’t see the reason to use logic, as no one else does. They are not taught to think that way.
By far the best thing one can do is be patient and have no expectations. When I need to deal with government agencies I get there early, expect to be there at least the whole day (if they don’t have me come back another), and try to have no expectations of success. It sounds a bit absurd from my US way of looking at things, but that’s what I’ve found I need to do.
The one thing that is almost always true – they find a way to get it done. It will be incredibly inefficient, and usually involve extra kwarta, but it gets done.