The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has urged foreign tourists who have stayed in the country for more than six months to secure their emigration clearance certificates in any of the different BI’s district, field, satellite and extension offices nationwide.
BI commissioner Norman Tansingco also reminded that registered foreigners with ACR I-Cards may secure their re-entry permits in other BI Offices or at the BI NAIA one-stop-shop before proceeding to their flights.
Tansingco said securing their required permits early “will decrease queuing time in half, because they will not have to fall in line in a separate counter for Immigration cashiers”.
Tansingco also reminded Filipino government officials and employees to present their authority to travel abroad from their respective department heads
He also advised parents of unaccompanied minors to make sure that their children secure the required clearance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) prior to the trip.
The BI likewise urged overseas-bound travelers to check-in at least three hours before their flight and proceed directly to the Immigration area for processing to avoid airport congestion.
Tansingco said while slight queues in the Immigration area were expected, they have ensured that their manpower are in full force during the peak season.
The BI earlier reported fielding 155 additional immigration officers to ensure that all counters are fully manned to service arriving and departing passengers.
He added that the recently-installed e-gates at the BI’s arrival areas in major international airports are also expected to reduce processing time from 45 seconds to as low as 8 seconds.
The BI said it expects the number of travelers to rise starting this weekend.