The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced that it is increasing to 80 percent its operational capacity in all its Metro Manila offices.
In an advisory, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said that the move is in the wake of the government’s decision to downgrade to Alert Level 2, the quarantine status in the metropolis.
Morente added that fully-vaccinated clients are no longer required to secure slots via the Bureau’s online appointment system before they could transact business at the agency.
As proof that they are fully vaccinated, persons entering the BI’s offices should present their vaccination cards or certificates, or they will not be allowed entry.
However, Morente said that aliens, including the fully-vaccinated, who intend to file their annual report at the BI main office in Intramuros, Manila are still required to apply slots in the online appointment system.
He added that the online appointment requirement also applies to all unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals, who have businesses to transact at the BI main building.
BI increases on-site work capacity to 80% in Main, NCR offices
Morente also stated that BI offices in the National Capital Region will continue to operate from 7 am to 5:30 pm daily under Alert Level 2.
He further reminded BI-registered aliens that still have another month or until March 1 to file their annual report, pursuant to the country’s Alien Registration Act.
Aside from the BI main building, aliens may file their annual report at selected BI satellite, field, or district offices nationwide.
A total of 157 countries are considered visa free, including the United States of America, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Canada, UK, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Arriving tourists are required to present a passport valid for at least 6 months, and the required proof of vaccination against Covid-19.
Under the latest resolution issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID), fully-vaccinated foreign tourists coming from countries under EO 408 are again allowed to enter the country without a visa for 30 days.
The BI advised the airlines and the traveling public to view the updated guidelines in the Bureau’s website and Facebook page.
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