ACR-1 card

Hi
ACR card contains all your biometrics and speeds up all BI transactions plus is great ID anywhere in Philippines. during lockdowns can help get you a travel pass. Fast tracks you on visits to BI so you get waited on quicker because special windows for ACR card holders also mandatory after 59 days in Phil's.

lasvegan wrote:

Hi
ACR card contains all your biometrics and speeds up all BI transactions plus is great ID anywhere in Philippines. during lockdowns can help get you a travel pass. Fast tracks you on visits to BI so you get waited on quicker because special windows for ACR card holders also mandatory after 59 days in Phil's.

FYI for the original poster.:

The ACR-I card is required with some types of visas.  The most common being the 9a tourist visa. 

With the SRRV visa it is not required, nor is it required if you enter the Philippines with you Filipino spouse (Philippines citizen) and request the Balikbayan privilege stamp in your passport. 

You can also apply for a voluntary ACR-I card.  The ACR-I cards are color coded to indicate the type of visa you hold.

Is that the Aiien certification card from the immigration office??

Yes

Balikbayan? Can you please give me the details of this type of Visa? Maybe I can take my wife out of the country and get this visa when we enter back 🤔 is it costly? Been married for 2 years now in February to a Filipina lady.

Unfortunately not all BI departments have the same services so we go to Cebu and get better services.

Jazz14mg wrote:

Balikbayan? Can you please give me the details of this type of Visa? Maybe I can take my wife out of the country and get this visa when we enter back 🤔 is it costly? Been married for 2 years now in February to a Filipina lady.

There is no cost for the Balikbayan stamp in your passport.  It is not a visa it is a privilege afforded you as the foreign spouse of a Philippine resident. The requirements state that the privilege is available to a Philippine citizen (spouse and children) who has been out of the country for at least one year.
If you return to the Philippines with your wife, have your marriage license with you (they may or may not ask for it). Go together to the immigration officer and ask for the Balikbayan stamp in your passport.  It will simply be a "BB" stamp.  No cost and good for one year.

Balikbayans are not required to have an ACR-I card.

https://www.philippineconsulatela.org/u … -filipinos

Great 👍 thanks for sharing this with me brother, GBY!

I'm here on a BB visa in my 6th of a 7 month stay. No ACR. But I don't need a bank account. I just transfer to my wife for any large withdrawals.  I did get a drivers license with just showing the BB  in my passport. They asked for an ACR but we told them I didn't have one at the 4 month mark in country. But it all depends on what office, what day and who you deal with. Like just about everything else. Be nice, smile and you never know.

@TeeJay4103 Balikbayan privilege certainly IS a visa. It is a type 9A tourist visa that has an extended stay per certain legislation for those eligible as "balikbayans" (return to homeland). Every foreigner must have some type of visa to enter the country.

I was told one has to apply after six months. Is this true? Thank you

No. I received mine after applying for my first extension

I applied for a 6 month extension at 11 months on my BB and I applied for the ACR at the same time. That was in the mall at Cebu. My ACR card is there but I have yet to pick it up. I'm waiting for my wife's dual citizenship to complete so I can apply for the 13a on my next trip to Cebu. She took the oath 7 months ago but it is only in the 2nd signatory at this time. I was asked for my ACR number when I got my drivers license but my wife talked them into using the number on the receipt for the ACR.

Thank you for the information.

@tphgawn thank you for the info.

@danfinn I'm on my 9th visit to the Philippines over the past 7 years and have never had a visa to enter the country.

@danfinn I'm on my 9th visit to the Philippines over the past 7 years and have never had a visa to enter the country.
-@Whitehall1212

Yes free if under 30 days in and out and the stamp or sticker in your passport is your visa. After that you need to extend and pay.

BTW, welcome to the forum.

Cheers, Steve.