More than 130,000 foreign nationals filed their annual report for 2021, down by 25 percent compared to the 169,890 foreigners who filed their AR in 2020, the Bureau of Immigration said.
Immigration commissioner Jaime Morente said all foreigners living in the country were required by law to file their annual report.
“A total of 130,148 foreign nationals took part in this year’s annual report in compliance with the alien registration act which directs all foreigners registered with the BI to report in person to the bureau within the first 60 days of a calendar year,” Morente said.
He said due to the pandemic, the number of this year’s reportees was significantly lower—down 25-percen—as compared to the 169,890 aliens who filed their AR in 2020.
“This is not surprising as many of these registered aliens were stranded abroad as a result of the worldwide Covid-19 travel restrictions,” MOrente said.
But he said the aliens who failed to file their AR because they were abroad may still make their report within 30 days upon their return to the Philippines.
BI Alien Registration Division Chief Jose Carlitos Licas said Chinese nationals topped the reportees, followed by Indians, Americans, Taiwanese and South Koreans.
Also in the list of top reportees were Japanese, Vietnamese, Indonesians, Malaysians and Germans.
Under the 1950 alien registration act, foreign nationals who are holders of valid immigrant and non-immigrant visas issued by the BI and were issued alien certificate of registration are required to make the AR.
Earlier, the BI warned aliens who do not comply with reportorial requirements would be subject to fines, visa cancellation, deportation and even imprisonment.