REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION
MAGALLANES DRIVE, INTRAMUROS
1002 MANILA

IMMIGRATION MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR

NO. SBM-2014-002

AMENDING MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. RADJR-2012-003 DATED

28 FEBRUARY 2012, ENTITLED “REVISED GUIDELINES IN
ADDRESSING ACR I-CARD AND RELATED ISSUES AT ENTRY AND
EXIT POINTS”

WHEREAS, Memorandum Circular NO. RADJR-12-003 was issued for

the purpose of addressing the confusion on the proper processing
procedures of departing and arriving immigrant and non-immigrant visa
holders with expired, undated or otherwise pending renewal of ACR I-Cards;

WHEREAS, there are situations that were not specifically addressed

by the issuance of the aforementioned Circular as raised by the Alien
Registration Division (ARD), Immigration Regulation Division (IRD) and the
Immigration Lawyers Association of the Philippines (ILAP), particularly the
applicability thereof on foreigners with valid visa and pending application for
first time issuance of ACR I-Card;

WHEREAS, given that there are likewise instances that certain

foreigners need to leave the country for emergency purposes pending the
release of their ACR I-Card applied for the first time, there is a need to
amend Memorandum Circular No. RADJR-12-003 in order to address such
instances;

WHEREFORE, pursuant to Section 3 of Commonwealth Act No. 613 as

amended, and in order to enhance the processing procedures under
Memorandum Circular No. RADJR-12-003, the following is hereby ordered

Section 1. Rule II, Section 1 Memorandum Circular No. RADJR-12-003

is hereby amended as follows:

“RULE II
ALIENS WITH VALID VISAS AND PENDING
ACR I-CARD APPLICATIONS FOR ISSUANCE,
RENEWAL OR RE-ISSUANCE

Section 1. Departing Alien. – An alien with valid visa

and pending ACR I-Card application for issuance, renewal or re-
issuance shall not, as a general rule, be allowed to travel out of
the country. Should the alien insist on departing from the
country, he/she shall be subjected to the usual pre-departure
procedure and be required to present the official receipt and
claim stub of the pending ACR I-Card application. Furthermore,
said alien shall be informed that his/her departure without a
validly issued status ACR I-Card may prejudice his/her
immigration status.”
 Section 2. Rule IV, Section 1 of Memorandum Circular No. RADJR-12-
003 is hereby amended as follows:

“RULE IV –
ALIENS WITH VALID VISAS AND WITHOUT
ACR I-CARDS OR PROOF OF PENDING ACR I-CARD
APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE, RENEWAL OR
RE-ISSUANCE

Section 1. Departing Aliens. – An alien with valid visa

and without ACR I-Card or proof of pending application for
issuance, renewal or re-issuance shall be deemed to have
abandoned or given up his/her existing immigration status. The
existing visa shall be cancelled and the alien shall be allowed to
leave upon presentation of a valid exit clearance.”

Section 3. Rule V, Section 2 of the same Memorandum Circular is

hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 2. Waivers. –Requests for waiver pertaining to

this Memorandum Circular shall be subject to approval by the
Commissioner of Immigration or by his duly designated
representative, provided that such waiver shall be for single
departure and arrival use only.

Section 4. Definition of Terms. – As used herein, the following

terms shall mean:

a) “Issuance” refers to ACR I-Card application for newly converted

immigrant or non-immigrant visa category from temporary visitor
visa (TVV);

b) “Renewal” refers to ACR I-Card application for extension or

amendment of existing immigrant or non-immigrant visa category;

c) “Re-issuance” refers to ACR I-Card application due to loss,

damage, rejected or amendment of name/nationality/civil
status/address.

Section 5. Repealing Clause. – All previous issuances inconsistent

herewith are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.

Section 6. Effectivity. – This Memorandum Circular shall take effect

immediately upon signing hereof.

Furnish a copy of the Circular to the Office of the National

Administrative Register (ONAR), U.P. Law Center, Diliman, Quezon City.

27 March 2014

Signed
SIEGFRED B. MISON
Commissioner