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Chinese top list of visa holders in Philippines
The Bureau of Immigration main office in Intramuros, Manila. Roberto Verzo
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration announced Friday that there are more Chinese nationals with Philippine visas than any other foreign nationality.
Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison said in a state news report that a total of 79,697 Chinese have reported to the agency from January 1 to March 1 this year.
The annual reporting is mandated under the Alien Registration Act of 1950 requiring foreigners with immigrant or non-immigrant visas to register with the bureau within the first 60 days of each year.
Indian nationals, meanwhile, are ranked at a far second with 10,762.
American registrants make the third largest group with 9,058, while Koreans are ranked fourth with 8,367.
According to the agency's records, the top 10 nationalities who have registered are:
- Chinese
- Indians
- Americans
- Koreans
- Taiwanese
- Japanese
- British
- Germans
- Australians
- Indonesians
Most alien registrants have a native-born status with 17,235. Those with working visas, meanwhile, are reported to be 15,122 this year.
Mison said the annual reporting helps the government determine whether a foreigner is still residing in the country or has already left.
BI Alien and Registration Division chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said that foreign nationals who failed to report before the March 1 deadline can still be assessed albeit with fines and penalties.
More than P20 million are expected to be raised from the annual reporting fees in 2014.
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