Bureau of Immigration

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India: Residence reporting form likely to become mandatory

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All hotels and landlords across India may soon be required to report the occupancy of foreign guests and tenants to local police stations, Foreigners’ Regional Registration Offices (FRRO) and Foreigners’ Registration Offices (FRO) through a form called ‘Form C’, similar to the practice already in effect in some Indian cities.

This will allow the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to maintain updated records of foreign nationals and to curb potential overstays.

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Philippines: Long-term visa holders must comply with annual report requirement by March 3

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Long-term work visa holders in the Philippines who have been issued Alien Certificate of Registration identity cards (ACR-I Cards) indicating "Worker" or "Treaty Trader" status – including but not limited to holders of 9(g) Pre-arranged Employment and 9(d) Treaty Trader work and dependent visas, and Section 13 immigrant visas – must personally appear at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) office and complete their annual report from January 4 through March 3, 2016.  

Those who fail to submit the annual report by March 3 may face a fine and/or imprisonment at the discretion of the Commissioner of Immigration.

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Philippines: Longer work permit and visa application processing times

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The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is implementing internal changes that will likely delay work permit and visa application processing times.

Summary of Internal Changes

  • The BI will revert to the previous practice of issuing Orders of Approval/Denial (in addition to approving Consolidated General Application Forms).
  • Hearing schedules for visa applications will go through a raffle regardless of what is indicated in the receipts. The results will be final and will be posted outside hearing officers’ rooms.
  • Pending applications endorsed by the Visa and Special Permits Task Force will now be sent to the Board of Commissioners for appropriate action.

Commissioner Siegfred Mison remains the BI Chief Commissioner and letter requests should still be addressed to him.

What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals

Employers and foreign workers should plan for longer work permit and visa application processing times in the near future.