148,000 foreign nationals residing in PH report to Immigration bureau

by ABS-CBN News, Mar 24, 2019

MANILA — Some 148,000 foreign nationals residing in the country recently reported in person to the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the agency said Sunday.

Under the law, BI-registered aliens are required to report to the agency’s headquarters in Intramuros, Manila or the nearest participating field, satellite or extension office within the first 60 days of every calendar year.

A total of 148,387 foreign nationals complied with annual reporting from Jan. 1 to March 2, said Immigration Alien Registration Division Chief Jose Carlitos Licas in a statement.

This year’s reportees were higher compared to the 142,319 aliens who reported in 2018, he said.

Out of this year’s total, majority or 56,015 were Chinese nationals, followed by 26,533 Indians, 10,566 Americans, 8,557 Taiwanese, and 8,157 South Koreans.

Also in the top 10 list of alien reportees were nationals from Japan, Indonesia, United Kingdom, Vietnam, and Germany.

Statistics also showed that the bulk of the reportees, totaling 59,339 aliens, are holders of working visas, said the bureau. Others who topped the list of registrants were foreign students, native-born foreigners, and those who married to Philippine citizens, it added.

Licas said that close to 100,000 aliens made their annual report at the BI main office in Manila and the bureau’s satellite and extension offices in Taguig and Makati City.

The other BI offices which reported large number of reportees are those in Cebu, Davao, and Clark.

Those who were abroad during the reporting period may still file within 30 days from their return to the country, provided that they have valid re-entry permits, said Licas.