[ IMMIGRATION ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR NO. JHM-2018-003, June 21, 2018 ]

RATIONALIZING THE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION, AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY, AND SCOPE OF AUTHORITY OF ALIEN CONTROL OFFICERS AND HEADS OF IMMIGRATION OFFICES



Adopted: 18 June 2018
Date Filed: 21 June 2018

By authority of Section 3 of Commonwealth Act No. 613 (Philippine Immigration Act of 1940), as amended, and in order to rationalize the territorial jurisdiction and scope of authority of the Student Visa Section; existing District, Field, Extension, and Satellite offices; and One stop Shops, assigned respective areas of responsibility are hereunder identified and updated, the jurisdiction of which includes all cities, municipalities, islands, and seaports within the province or provinces concerned.

District Offices shall refer to immigration offices situated in Regional Centers of the different Administrative Regions in the Philippines.

Field Offices refer to immigration offices located in key cities or municipalities in different provinces within a Region.

Extension Offices shall refer to immigration offices established to cater primarily to companies or entities registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and Board of Investments (BOI), as well as other companies or entities within Metro Manila.

Satellite offices are those established and maintained in strategic areas to broaden the base of public service.

One Stop Shop refers to those immigration offices situated in special and/or Freeport economic zones outside Metro Manila.
 
SECTION 1.  Immigration Offices and  Their  Areas  of  Responsibility, Defined. -
A. IMMIGRATION NCR REGION

 

Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on

Area s of Responsibility

1

BO I MA KATI I MMI GR A TI ON EXTENSI ON OFFI CE
Makat i Ci ty

To p 1000 Corporati ons,
BOI-Reg i st ered Co m pani es, and SI RV appli cants

2

PEZ A I MMI GRATION EXTENSI ON OFFI CE
Roxa s Boul evard, Pasay City

PEZA-Reg i st ered
Com pan i es

3

S M NORTH I MMI GRATION SATELLI TE OFFI CE
S M Cit y, North EDSA, Quezon City

M etr o M anila (North)

4

LA S PINAS I MM IGRATIO N FIELD OFFICE
La s Pi nas City

M etr o M anila (South)

B . IMMIGRATION REGION I

 

Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on

Area s of Responsibility

5

V I GAN I MMI GRATION FI ELD OFFI CE
Il ocos Sur Provi nci al Capit ol, Vi gan City

Prov i nce of Il ocos Sur

6

SA N FERNANDO I MMI GRATION DI STRI CT OFFI CE
Sa n Fernando Cit y, La Uni on

Prov i nce of La Uni on Por t of San Fernando

7

DAGUP A N I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE
Dagupa n Cit y, Pangasi nan

Prov i nce of Pangasi nan

8

LAOA G I MM IGRATIO N FIELD OFFICE
Laoa g Cit y, Il ocos Norte

Prov i nce of Abra
Prov i nce of Apayao Provi nce of Il ocos Norte Provi nce of Kali nga

C . IMMIGRATION REGION II

 

Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on

Area s of Responsibility

9

TU G UE G ARA O I MM I G RATI ON DISTRIC T O FFICE
Tuguegara o Ci ty, Cagayan

M un i ci pali ti es unde r the 3 rd Congress i onal D i st ri ct of t he Provi nce of Cagayan Prov i nce of Nueva Vi zcaya Prov i nce of Qui ri no
Prov i nce of Bat anes

10

APARR I I MM IGRATIO N FIELD OFFICE
Appari, Cagayan

M un i ci pali ti es unde r the 1 s t an d 2 n d Congress i onal D i st ri cts of t he Provi nce of Cagayan Prov i nce of If ugao CEZ A Locat ors

11

CAUAY A N I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE
Cauaya n Cit y, l sabela

Prov i nce of I sabela

D . IMMIGRATION REGION III

 

Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on

Area s of Responsibility

12

ANGELE S I MM IGRATIO N FIELD OFFICE
Ange l es Cit y, Pa m panga

Prov i nce of Bul acan Prov i nce of Pa m panga   Prov i nce of Tarl ac

13

NUEV A ECIlA I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE
Pa l ayan Ci ty, Nueva Ecija

Prov i nce of Nueva Ecija
Prov i nce of Aurora

14

BAL A NG A I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE
Ba l anga Cit y, Bat aan

Prov i nce of Bat aan

15

CL A R K I MMI GR A TI ON ONE STOP SHOP
C l ark Speci al Econo mic Zone
Ange l es Cit y, Pa m panga

C l ark Speci al Econo mic Zone

16

M ARIVELE S I MM IGRATIO N ONE STOP SHOP

FAB , M ari vel es, Bat aan

Th e Freeport Area of Bat aan

17

OLONGAP O I MM IGRATIO N FIELD OFFICE
O l ongapo Ci ty, Za m bal es

Prov i nce of Za m bal es

18

SUB IC I MMI GRATION ONE STOP SHOP

Sub ic Bay M et ropolit an

  SB M A , Ol ongapo Cit y, Za m bal es Aut hority

E . IMMIGRATION REGION IV

 

Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on

Area s of Responsibility

19

BAT A NG A S I MMI GR A TI ON DI STRI CT OFFI CE
Ba t angas Cit y, Bat angas

Prov i nce of Bat angas

20

BAL A BA C I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE
Balabac, Pal awan

M un i ci pali ty of Bal ab ac

21

BO A C I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE
Boac , M ari nduque

Prov i nce of M ari nduque

22

CAL A P A N I MMI GR A TI ON DI STRI CT OFFI CE
Ca l apan Cit y, Ori ent al Mi ndoro

Prov i nce of Occi dent al
M i ndoro
Prov i nce of Ori ent al Mi ndoro

23

LUCEN A I MM IGRATIO N FIELD OFFICE
Lucen a Cit y, Quezon

Prov i nce of Quezon

24

PUERT O PRI NCESA I MMI GRATION FI ELD OFFI CE
Puer to Pri ncesa, Pal awan

Prov i nce of Pal awan, except
M un i ci pali ty of Bal abac

25

BROOKE 'S POI NT I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE / BORDER CROSSI NG ST A TI ON
Brooke 's Poi nt, Pal awan

M un i ci pali ty of Brooke's Poi nt

26

DAS MA R I NAS I MMI GR A TI ON F I ELD OFFI CE
Das m ar i nas City

Prov i nce of Cavite

27

STA . ROSA I MMI GRATION FI ELD OFFI CE
C ity of St a. Rosa, Laguna

Prov i nce of Laguna

28

T A YT A Y I MM I G RATI O N FIELD O FFICE
Taytay , Ri zal

Prov i nce of Ri zal
M etr o M anila (East)

F . IMMIGRATION REGION V

 

Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on

Area s of Responsibility

29

LEGASP I I MM IGRATIO N DISTRICT OFFICE
Legasp i Cit y, Al bay

Prov i nce of Al bay
Prov i nce of Cat anduanes Provi nce of M asbate Provi nce of Sorsogon

30

NAG A I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OF FI CE
Nag a Cit y, Ca m ari nes Sur

Prov i nce of Ca m ari nes Sur
Prov i nce of Ca m ari nes Norte

G . IMMIGRATION REGION VI

 

Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on

Area s of Responsibility

31

I LOI LO I MMI GRATI ON DI STRI CT OFFI CE
Il oilo Cit y, Il oilo

Prov i nce of Anti que
Prov i nce of Gui m aras
Prov i nce of Il oilo

32

BACOLO D I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE
Baco l od Cit y, Negros Occi dent al

Prov i nce of Negros Occident al

33

BORACA Y I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE
Boraca y I sl and, M al ay, Akl an

Boraca y I sl and

34

KAL I BO I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE
Ka li bo, Akl an

Prov i nce of Akl an
Prov i nce of Capi z, except
Boraca y I sl and Prov i nce of Ro m bl on

H . I MMIGRATION REGION VII

 

Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on

Area s of Responsibility

35

CEB U I MMI GR A TI ON DI STRI CT OFFI CE
M andau e Ci ty, Cebu

Prov i nce of Cebu, except

M acta n Isl and

36

DU MA GUET E I MMI GR A TI ON F I ELD OFFI CE
Du m ague te Cit y, Negros Ori ent al

Prov i nce of Negros Orient al
Prov i nce of Si quij or

37

GAISAN O I MM IGRATIO N SATELLITE OFFICE
M acta n Ci ty, M actan Isl and, Cebu

M acta n Isl and, Cebu

38

T AG BILARA N I MM I G RATI ON FIEL D O FFICE
Tagb il aran Cit y, Bohol

Prov i nce of Bohol

I. I MMIGRATION REGION VIII

 

Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on

Area s of Responsibility

39

T A CL O BA N I MM I G RATI O N DISTRICT O FFICE
Tac l oban Ci ty, Leyte

Prov i nce of Bili ran
Prov i nce of Leyte
Prov i nce of Sout hern Leyte

40

CALBAYO G I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE
Ca l bayog Cit y, Sa m ar

Prov i nce of Sa m ar
Prov i nce of East ern Sa m ar
Prov i nce of Nort hern Sa m ar

J . I MMIGRATION REGION IX

 

Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on

Area s of Responsibility

41

ZA M BOANG A I MM IGRATION FIEL D OFFICE
Za m boang a Ci ty, Za m boanga del Sur

Prov i nce of Basil an
Prov i nce of Za m boanga del Norte Provi nce of Za m boanga del Sur Provi nce of Za m boanga Si bugay

K . IMMIGRATION REGION X

 

Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on

Area s of Responsibility

42

CAG A Y A N DE ORO I MMI GR A TI ON DI STRI CT OFFICECagaya n de Oro Cit y, Mi sa mis Ori ent al

Prov i nce of Ca mi guin Provi nce of Buki dnon Provi nce of Mi sa mis Ori ent al

43

I LI GAN I MMI GRATI ON FI ELD OFFI CE
lli gan Cit y, Lanao del Norte

Prov i nce of Lanao del Norte

44

OZA M I S I MM IGRATIO N FIELD OFFICE
Oza m is Ci ty, Mi sa mis Occi dental

Prov i nce of Mi sa mis Occ i dental

L . I MMIGRATI ON REGION XI

 

Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on

Area s of Responsibility

45

DAV A O I MMI GR A TI ON DI STRI CT OFFI CE
Dava o Cit y, Davao del Sur

Prov i nce of Co m post ela Vall ey Provi nce of Davao del Norte Provi nce of Davao del Sur Provi nce of Davao Ori ent al

46

BATUG A ND I NG I MMI GR A TI ON BORDER CROSSI NG ST A TI ON
Ba l ut I sl and, Saranggani, Davao del Sur

Ba t ugandi ng Border Crossi ng

47

TIBANBA N I MM I G RATI ON B O RDER CR O SSING STATION
T i banban, Davao Ori ent al

T i banban Border Crossi ng

M . IMMIGRATION REGION XII

 

Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on

Area s of Responsibility

48

GENERA L SANTOS I MM IGRATIO N FIELD OFFICE
Genera l Santos Ci ty, South Cotabato

Prov i nce of South Cotabato

49

GLA N I MM IGRATIO N FIELD OFFICE
G l an, Sarangani

Prov i nce of Sarangani

50

COT A BAT O I MMI GRATI ON DI STRI CT OFFI CECo t abato Cit y, M agui ndanao

Prov i nce of Lanao del Sur Provi nce of M agui ndanao Provi nce of North Cot abato Provi nce of Sult an Kudarat

N . IMMIGRATION REGION XIII ( CARAGA)

 

Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on

Area s of Responsibility

51

B I SLIG I MM IGRATION FIELD OFFICE
B i slig Cit y, Suri gao del Sur

Prov i nce of Suri gao del Sur

52

BUTUA N I MMI GR A TI ON DI STRI CT OFFI CE
Bu t uan Cit y, Agusan del Norte

Prov i nce of Agusan del Norte
Prov i nce of Agusan del Sur

53

SUR I GAO I MMI GRATION FI ELD OFFI CE
Sur i gao Cit y, Suri gao del Norte

Prov i nce of Suri gao del Norte
Prov i nce of Di nagat I sl ands

O . IMMIGRATION ARMM REGI ON

 

Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on

Area s of Responsibility

54

BONG A O I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE
Bonqao , Tawi -Tawi

Prov i nce of Tawi -Tawi

55

JOL O I MMI GR A TI ON FI ELD OFFI CE

Jo l o, Sulu

Prov i nce of Sulu

56

T AG ANA K I MM I G RATI O N FIELD O FFICETaganak , Turtle Isl ands

Turt le Isl ands

M apu n Isl ands

P . CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

 

Na m e of Offi ce/ Locati on

Area s of Responsibility

57

BAGU IO I MMI GR A TI ON DI STRI CT OFFI CE
Bagu io Cit y, Benguet

Bagu io City of EPZ M ountain Provi nce Provi nce of Benguet


SECTION 2. Scope of Authority - The Commissioner of Immigration designates: (i) Senior I.O. or ACO to District Office; (ii) Field Office Chief to Field Office; (iii) Extension Office Chief to an Extension Office, (iv) Satellite Office Chief to a Satellite Office, (v) ACO for a One Stop Shop, (vi) Chief to SVS, and (vii) I.O. III (BCO) or Officer-in-charge to a Border Crossing Station.

All heads shall be charged with the proper, effective, and efficient implementation of all immigration and alien registration laws, rules and regulations. They shall exercise general administrative, operational control and supervision over all personnel assigned to his office except on matters involving Bureau policies, policy directives, and policy decisions which shall be referred to the Commissioner of Immigration through the Chief, Immigration Regulation Division.

The Chief, Immigration Regulation Division shall have the responsibility of monitoring strict compliance to this circular. For this purpose, the Chief IRD is authorized to access the visas, permits, payments, and ACR I-Card systems of the Bureau.

The Chief, IRD retains the authority to accept, endorse, and/or process applications  from  the  Student  Visa  Section;  District,  Field,  Extension,  and Satellite offices; and One stop Shops. Decisions of the heads of these offices are appealable to the Chief, Immigration Regulation Division within five (5) days from notice of such decision.

SECTION 3. FILING AND PROCESSING. - Applicants shall file their applications at the appropriate BI office:
(a)  Immigrant  Visas  -  Processed  at  the  BI  Office  with  jurisdiction  at  the applicant ™s place of residence
(b)  Non-Immigrant Visas - Processed at the BI Office with jurisdiction on the applicant ™s place of work
(c)  Special Working Permits and Provisional Work Permits - Processed and issued at the BI Office with jurisdiction at the applicant ™s place of work
(d)  Student  Visas  -  Processed  and  issued  at  the  Student  Visa  Section  or processed at the BI Office with jurisdiction at the applicant ™s school
(e)  Special Study Permit - Processed and issued at the Student Visa Section or processed the BI Office with jurisdiction at the applicant ™s school
SECTION 4. Limitations - The Student Visa Section may only accept applications for Special Study Permit (SSP) and 9(f) Student Visa, as well as other related transactions for foreign students and accreditation of schools.
 
All district, field, extension, and satellite offices may accept requests and applications which are not for BOC action, e.g., SSP, SWP commercial, and TVV extension.

Only online-capable district, field, extension, and satellite offices with ACR l- Card data capturing facilities may accept requests and applications which are for BOC action, e.g., visa applications. ACOs and heads of immigration offices are authorized to conduct hearing for immigrant and non-immigrant visa applications.

Online-capable offices may also accept CA 613, Sec. 9(f) applications which shall be forwarded to the Student Visa Section for processing and approval.

BOI Makati Extension Office shall only cater to foreign nationals under the Top 1000 Corporations and BOI-Registered companies, as well as applications for Special Investor ™s Residence Visas.

PEZA Extension Office shall only accept foreign nationals under PEZA- registered companies by virtue of Chapter Il, Sec. 36 of RA 7916 (The Special Economic Zone Authority Act of 1995) and the Memorandum of Agreement between BI and PEZA dated September 2, 1999.

One Stop Shops shall only accept applications from foreign nationals within their respective areas of jurisdiction as covered by existing Memoranda of Agreement and Joint Memorandum Orders between their respective Special Economic Zones and BI.

SECTION 5. Reportorial Requirements. - All heads of the Student Visa Section; District, Field, Extension, and Satellite offices; and One stop Shops shall submit daily to the Chief, Immigration Regulation Division, a list of all visas processed and permits issued together with their corresponding Official Receipt numbers not later than 1000H of the next working day.

SECTION 6. Administrative Sanctions. - Violation of this Circular shall subject the erring official or employee to administrative sanctions in accordance with the Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (RRACCS).

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - All previous issuances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. - This Circular takes effect immediately.

Let a copy of this Circular be furnished to the Office of the National Administrative Register (ONAR), U.P. Law Center, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

(SGD) JAIME H. MORENTE
Commissioner