The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has opened a new satellite office at SM Aura mall at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig in time for the holidays, as the agency sees an increase in transactions with foreign tourists spending Christmas in the country.

The BI said the new office can serve as an alternative for those who wish to avoid the long lines at the bureau’s main office in Intramuros, Manila, and its office at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

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John Felix Santos, operations officer of the new branch, said the new office will cater to foreigners applying for working visas or those securing exit clearance visas.

“A common problem at the airport is that foreigners can’t leave without exit clearances. They can now apply at SM Aura since there are processes which need the main office’s approval,” Reyes noted.

The branch will process applications for pre-arranged employment visa, treaty trader’s visa, special visa for employment generation, and visas for business executives and expatriates of the top 1,000 corporations and multinational firms with operating headquarters in the country.

It can also process applications for extension of temporary visitor’s visa; updating and extension of tourist visa; long-stay visitor visa extension; special work permit and provisional permit to work; ACR I-Card; BI clearance certificate and certificate of not the same person; emigration clearance certificate; and payment of annual report. —Julie M. Aurelio

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