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Bureau of Immigration in Dumaguete urges foreigners to report for documentation

DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 10 (PNA) -- The Bureau of Immigration field office in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental has cautioned foreign nationals against violating provisions of the Alien Registration Act of 1950, while urging them to report to any immigration office within 60 days from the start of the new year.

Acting Alien Control Officer Peter Bueno of the Bureau of Immigration field office here disclosed that there are about 1,000 aliens permanently residing in Negros Oriental, with several thousands are tourists or holding temporary visitors’ visa and tourist visa holders.

As provided for in Section 10 of RA 562 or the Alien Registration Act and other existing regulations, all registered aliens are required to report in person to any of the immigration offices within two months of every calendar year.

This is aimed at strictly enforcing compliance of the immigration law in the interest of national security, public safety and public order.

The annual report (AR) fee is only PHP310 with penalty of PHP200 per month for delayed annual report to be reckoned from March 2 of the current year.

Bueno said the parent or legal guardian of an alien who is less than 14 years old shall have the duty of reporting such alien to his office; failure to comply will result to administrative fine and/or imprisonment, at the option of the Commission of Immigration.

On the other hand, an alien is exempt from personal appearance, if he is below 14 years old (but should be reported by his parent or guardian), above 65 years old, mentally or physically incapacitated, provided, a medical certificate with a one-week advance written request for exemption subject to the approval of the Bureau of Immigration Medical Officer.

The reportee-alien is required to present his original Alien Control Registration I-card and official receipt amounting to PHP310 covering the payment of the AR fee.

Bueno disclosed that visa-free nationalities like the Japanese, the Caucasians or the Americans are allowed to come to the country without a visa for 30 days but for those with visas, they are allowed to stay for 59 days.

However, Bueno noted that many foreigners would want to stay longer than their authorized stay and would apply for extension.

An average of 50 applications for extensions everyday is being processed by his office the whole year round.

Meanwhile, the acting alien control officer in Dumaguete has advised the warden of British nationals in Negros Oriental to assist and secure one of their nationals against possible harm to himself or to others.

Peter Bueno was furnished a copy of several police reports where British national Jamshaed Shariff was allegedly victimizing a number of business establishments here by not paying for food and drinks he ordered.

At one time, Shariff was involved in an alarm and scandal incident inside a pension house, but was released after the reglamenary period of detention.

He told the British Embassy warden Roger Stanley to secure Shariff before anything happens.

Bueno believes the British national has a mental condition or is mentally disturbed. (PNA)
FPV/JFP/JUANCHO GALLARDE

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