ACR iCard ACR card vs valid passport

Because, like many other countries, if you have a green card, or landed immigrant status, or 13a visa it means you are a resident of the country and thus are not required to maintain a valid passport, or at least that is how it worked in Canada when I moved there from England (I only mention that because you brought up the word 'logic' which so seldom applies here).

 

aha, I never heard that one before. So we are back to maybe it is not a problem after all. That would put me back to asking the BI what the rules were... which leads into the next issue of consistency of Philippine government agencies interpreting requirements (as in often there is none). And I would end up renewing my passport even if just as insurance against some possible rule interpretation change.

 

Having gone to the Mayor of SIBULAN's wake Yesterday, I took the Liberty of asking the local ACO (Peter Bueno) this question( he was also there and I stole a few mins of his time) He told me it is imperative to have a valid Passport at all times as this is your Document of Travel, the ACR card is not a means of Travel (merely an ID with Status under the Alien Registration Programme) and the Documentation of your Status is on your Passport, Anyone who has a right to see your Passport will take the necessary action should it be Found that your passport has Expired while you are in the PI. He also told me that you will not get your yearly Report executed on an expired Passport, This will of course give you more problems, So for me, (& the BI) Don't take the Risk. He also mentioned that the renewal of the ACR card would/could may be in jeopardy if it is found the passport expired especially if it is 1 or 2 years.

Take this as you may but this comes from our Local BI /ACO who is a Lawyer

 

Thanks a lot Jack , this answer will be conclusive for me since it's so to say out of the horse mouth. So , if there's no consular meeting before my passport expired I will/have to go to Manila. A lot of effort and expenses for a bloody passport! Since I arrived here in 1982 we had a consul in Cebu but now that they have to house, feed and give free medical health service to all this refugees and asylum seekers a consulate becomes to expensive notwithstanding that the amount of foreigners is maybe hundred time or more than in the eighties.

 

Jack just for future reference, is it possible to renew a British passport in the Philippines?

 

Renew or replace your adult passport - GOV.UK
Overseas British passport applications - GOV.UK

 

Absolutely correct!

 

From another completely unrelated situation. An American is being deported in part because as a result of a warrant the State Department withdrew his passport. The Philippine government then connected the dots, no valid passport = undocumented foreigner (even though he was here on a valid passport on arrival) = automatic deportation.

This seems to answer the question. Since your foreign passport is the underlying document for the ACR card, and an invalid (revoked or expired) passport is considered as undocumented, and undocumented foreigners will be deported, it is very important to ensure you always have a valid passport. (a non-attorney opinion)