Pursuant  to Department  of Justice  (DOJ)  Memorandum  Circular  No.  052, dated 21 September 2015, providing the delineation of authority to act on visa applications  and in order to streamline and enhance the processing of visa and ACR  I-Card  applications  filed  before  BI District,  Field,  Satellite  and  Extension Offices  (hereinafter   referred  to  as  œOffice ),   the  following  procedures   and timelines are hereby prescribed:

SECTION  1.  Purpose.  -  This  Operations  Order  implements  DOJ Memorandum  Circular  No.  052  issued  on  21  September  2015  and  aims  to enhance  the procedures  and establish  timelines  in the processing  of visa and ACR I-Card applications.

SECTION  2. Coverage.  - Consistent  with DOJ Memorandum  Circular  No. 052, this Operations Order shall apply to the processing of all applications for immigrant, non-immigrant  (excluding temporary visitor ™s visa under Section 9(a) of  C.A.  No.  613,  as  amended)  and  special  non-immigrant   visa  conversion, amendment   and  extension   filed  before   BI  Offices   with  ACR   I-Card   Data Capturing Facility^[1] to be acted by the Commissioner, except application for pre- arranged employment visa issued by Philippine Embassies/Consulates  pursuant to Section 20 of C.A. No. 613, as amended, which shall be acted by the Board of Commissioners.

This  further  applies  to  the  processing  of  applications  for  issuance  and renewal of Alien Certificate of Registration Identity Cards (ACR I-Card) corresponding to the aforementioned visas.

SECTION 3. Duties and Functions of Each Concerned BI Office.

I.     DUTY OF THE OFFICE:

A.   Ensure  that  all  Consolidated  General  Application  Forms  (CGAF)  are properly accomplished and all the supporting documents for the visa and ACR I-Card applications  are complete  and in order in accordance  with the prescribed Checklist of Documentary Requirements.

B.   Complete the evaluation, hearing (if required) and processing of the visa application and the capturing of applicant ™s biometrics data for the ACR I- Card within three (3) days from filing thereof and immediately transmit, through the fastest means available, the application folders to:

1.     Visa and Special Permits Task Force (VSPTF) - for visa application;
2.     Alien Registration Division (ARD) - for ACR I-Card application.

C.  Completely   and  accurately  encode  all  the  required  information   and update   the  module/s   in  the  Visa  Information   Management   System (VIMS)  and  ACR  I-Card  System  data  bases  immediately  upon completion of each of the processes involved.

II.    DUTY OF THE VSPTF:

A.   Within  two  (2)  days  from  receipt  for  the  visa  application  folder,  the Supervising Visa Officer shall complete the review of the application and submit to VSPTF Head for appropriate recommendation.

B.  Within one (1) working day from receipt of Supervising Visa Officer ™s submission, the VSPTF Head shall recommend either the approval or disapproval of the visa application to the Commissioner.  If for approval, the VSPTF Head shall indicate the recommended validity of the visa.

III.   ALIEN REGISTRATION DIVISION (ARD):

A.   Within one (1) day from receipt  of the ACRI-Card  application  from the Office,  conduct  review  thereof  and  make  corrections/adjustments thereon as may be necessary.

B.   Within one (1) day from notice from the Office of the Commissioner  of the approval of applicant ™s visa application, print the ACR I-Card and transmit to the Office of the Executive Director (OED).

IV.  OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER (OCOM):

1.   Act on the VSPTF Head ™s recommendation on the visa application.

2.   Within the same day of the Commissioner ™s action:

a.     If  approved,  (i)  notify  the  ARD  through  electronic  means  for  the purpose of printing applicant ™s ACR I-Card, and (ii) transmit the visa application folder to the OED.

b.     If disapproved, transmit the visa application folder to the concerned Office.

3.   In either case, notify the BINOC and MISD, through electronic means, for the  posting  in  the  Bl ™s  Official  Website  of  the  action  on  the  visa application within the same day of notice thereof.

V.   DUTY OF THE OED:

A.   Within one (1) day from receipt of both the visa application  folder and ACR I-Card, certify as true copy a photocopy of the CGAF with the visa approval and transmit, together with the ACR I-Card, to the concerned Office.

VI.  DUTY OF THE OFFICE:

A.   Within one (1) day from receipt of the certified  true copy of the CGAF with  visa  approval  and  ACR  I-Card,  implement  the  visa  in  the  same CGAF and in the applicant ™s valid passport and release the ACR I-Card to the applicant.

B.   In case of disapproved visa application, provide the applicant with a copy of the CGAF with visa disapproval within the same period.

C.  Not later than a day after the implementation date, return the following to:

1.     OED -

a.  Photocopy of the CGAF with the visa implementation stamp; and

b.  Photocopies     of     the     applicant ™s     passport     bio-page,     visa implementation stamp page and last arrival stamp page.

2.     ARD - Duly acknowledged ACR I-Card Claim Stub.

D. Within the first five (5) days of the month, submit a monthly report to the Office of the Commissioner, copy furnished the OED, VSPTF, IRD and ARD, of implemented and non-implemented visas and released and unreleased ACR I-Cards from those transmitted by the OED.

VII. DUTY OF THE OED AND ARD:

A.   Within the period in the VCD Post-Audit Guidelines and Procedures, the OED  and  ARD  shall  transmit   the  complete   visa  and  ACR  I-Card application folders, respectively, to the VCD for post audit.

VIII. VCD:

A.   Conduct  and complete  the post-audit  of all approved  visa and ACR I- Card  applications  within  three  (3) months  from  receipt  from  OED  and ARD.

B.   On  the  basis  of any  adverse  post-audit  finding,  transmit  to  the  Legal Division or Intelligence Division for further action, otherwise, endorse the application folders to the Records Section for safekeeping.

SECTION  4.  Repealing  Clause.  - This  Order  repeals  Immigration Operations Order No. SBM-2013-017 issued on 14 October 2013. All other issuances  inconsistent  herewith  are  hereby  repealed  and/  or  modified accordingly.

SECTION 5. Effectivity. - This Order shall take effect immediately upon publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

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

28 October 2015.

---

^[1] Batangas, Cagayan De Oro, Cebu (Mandaue), Cebu (J Center), Davao, Iloilo, Tacloban, Makati, PEZA, Baguio, San Fernando (La Union), Legazpi, Olongapo, Surigao, Zamboanga