Name Sequence Error on Philippine Visa: Correction Guide

Name Sequence Error on a Philippine Visa: A Comprehensive Correction Guide


1. What counts as a “name sequence error”?

A name sequence error occurs when the order in which a foreign national’s personal names appear on the Philippine visa sticker, foil, or computerized annotation does not match the order used in the passport’s Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ) or biographic page. Typical patterns are:

Correct in Passport Printed on Visa (wrong) Typical Trigger
CHEN LIANG (surname first, East Asian passport) LIANG CHEN Western-order data entry
MARÍA PÉREZ-GARCÍA PÉREZ MARÍA GARCÍA Hyphen dropped / split
JEAN-BAPTISTE DUPONT JEAN DUPONT BAPTISTE Double-given name mis-parsed

The error looks minor, but it causes mismatches with airline manifests, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) Arrival/Departure database, and downstream permits (ACR I-Card, Alien Employment Permit, driver’s licence, bank KYC, etc.).


2. Legal framework & authority to amend

Instrument Key Provisions Relating to Corrections
Commonwealth Act No. 613 (Philippine Immigration Act of 1940) §3 vests the President (delegated to the Commissioner of Immigration) with power to issue and amend visas; §6 authorises correction of “clerical errors” without prejudice to the alien’s admissibility.
2004 BI Immigration Operations Manual Part IV, Chap. 11, Sec. 5 allows rectification of typographical mistakes upon payment of amendment fees.
Department of Justice Department Circular No. 041-10 (2010) Requires a notarised request and documentary proof of the correct name sequence.
Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Advisory 2020-01 Caps processing time for simple, non-controversial corrections at five (5) working days.
Philippine Foreign Service Manual, Vol. II Authorises Consuls General to re-issue or annotate visas they themselves granted.

No court proceeding is required because the defect is clerical, not substantive; the Commissioner (or the issuing consular officer, if abroad) has plenary authority to fix it.


3. Common causes

  1. Transliteration issues – East Asian, Middle-Eastern, or Cyrillic names converted to Latin script sometimes arrive pre-reversed.
  2. System field limits – Legacy BI systems treat the first block as “Given Name” and the second as “Surname”; two-word surnames overflow.
  3. Human data-entry mistakes – Copy-paste from invitation letters where the host wrote the guest’s name Western-style.
  4. Hyphenated or compound surnames – Hyphen removed, second surname pushed into “middle name” column.
  5. Prefix/suffix misplacement – “Jr.”, “III”, “bin”, “binti” inserted in the wrong slot.

4. Why you must correct it

  • Airport secondary inspection: The Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) flags mismatches between the e-Visa record and the MRZ; passenger can be off-loaded.
  • ACR I-Card issuance: Card printers auto-pull data from the visa record; an error forces a costly re-print or voids the application.
  • Tax, SSS, Pag-IBIG enrolment: Filipino agencies trust the BI record; inconsistencies stall permits or refunds.
  • Future visa conversions (e.g., from 9(a) temporary visitor to 13(a) spouse resident visa): the BI Examiner rejects if names differ across stages.

5. Correction pathways

Where the Error Is Discovered Authority & Venue Core Steps Processing Time
Before travel (visa still with an overseas Philippine Embassy/Consulate) Consular Officer who issued the visa 1) Email a scan pointing out the mistake. 2) Submit passport & proof of correct sequence (birth cert., national ID). 3) Consulate cancels foil and issues new one gratis or stamps “AMENDED PER CONSUL”. 1–3 working days
At NAIA or other port-of-entry Duty Immigration Supervisor 1) Show passport & invite letter. 2) Officer enters “Name sequence rectified per passenger’s passport” in the BI system; prints an Order to File for Amendment within 30 days. 15 min at counter, then 30-day deadline to file in Manila
After entry (already in PH) Bureau of Immigration, Main Office (Intramuros) or a District Office See detailed checklist below. 3–5 days (simple); 7–15 days if endorsement to DOJ needed
Already issued an ACR I-Card or long-stay visa BI Amending Unit + ACR I-Card Section Same as above, plus surrender old card and pay re-printing fee (≈ PHP 2,300). Add 7–10 days for new card

Step-by-step checklist (post-entry cases)
  1. Draft a notarised Letter Request addressed to The Commissioner of Immigration, explaining:

    • visa type & control number
    • how the error happened
    • statement that the error is clerical and no fraud is involved
  2. Fill out BI Form CGAF (Consolidated General Application Form) – tick “Amendment/Rectification”.

  3. Prepare supporting documents

    Document Notes
    Original passport (photocopy bio page & visa page) If non-English, include sworn translation.
    Evidence of correct name order Birth certificate, national ID, or previous Philippine visas with correct order.
    Latest BI Official Receipts If holding a valid stay extension.
    2 pcs 2 x 2 ID photos with white background Write name on reverse.
  4. Pay fees (2025 schedule; always verify at Window 12):

    • Filing fee – PHP 1,010
    • Amendment fee – PHP 500
    • Legal Research fee – PHP 40
    • Express Lane – PHP 500 (optional but expedites)
  5. File at the Central Receiving Unit (CRU); obtain a Claim Stub indicating release date.

  6. Monitoring – Use the BI Online Verification Service (e-Verification tab) by entering the Claim Stub number.

  7. Release – Pick up Amended Visa and (if applicable) new ACR I-Card; sign in the logbook.


6. Fees, timelines, and possible delays

Item Official Time Limit (ARTA) Reality Check (2025 averages)
Simple clerical correction 5 working days 2–3 days w/ Express Lane; 5 days regular
Involves changed passport or holds open court order 15 working days 2–4 weeks, depends if DOJ clearance is needed
BI Satellite or District Office +2 days courier to Manila +3–5 days door-to-door

Delays arise when:

  • Passport validity <6 data-preserve-html-node="true" months – BI requires renewal first.
  • Supporting docs not apostilled or authenticated – BI Legal Division returns the file.
  • Name also wrong in Airline APIS – Airlines must push a correction message before exit, adding 24 hrs.

7. If the request is denied

  • Motion for Reconsideration – File within 15 calendar days, citing Rule 2, §1 of the 2010 BI Rules of Procedure.
  • Appeal to Board of Commissioners – Final BI-level review; pay PHP 5,000 appeal fee.
  • Petition for Review to the Department of Justice – Under §2, Chapter III, Book IV of the Administrative Code; must be filed within 30 days of receipt of the adverse BoC resolution.
  • Judicial Review (Court of Appeals via Rule 43) – Rare; only if grave abuse of discretion is alleged.

8. Practical tips to avoid future mistakes

  1. Write the surname in uppercase on every form: e.g., SMITH, John Paul.
  2. Keep one spelling across all Philippine agencies – BI, Department of Labor (DOLE), Social Security System (SSS).
  3. Ask the consular clerk to show you the visa before it is foil-stamped.
  4. For Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese passports – Hand the clerk a Name Order Card (a small slip that shows SURNAME/GIVEN NAME in both orders).
  5. Use ICAO transliteration tables for Cyrillic, Arabic, Thai to minimise later corrections.
  6. Retain all Official Receipts – BI will waive the amendment fee if it can see that the error was clearly theirs (“office-imputable”), but you need proof of prior payments.

9. Template: Notarised Letter Request

Date: ___ To: The Hon. MANUEL G. MANAHAN, Commissioner of Immigration, Bureau of Immigration, Magallanes Dr., Intramuros, Manila Subject: Request for Rectification of Name Sequence – Visa No. V-2025-123456

I, LIANG CHEN, Chinese national, holder of Passport No. E12345678, most respectfully state:

  1. On 12 June 2025 your good office issued a 9(a) Temporary Visitor Visa (“LIANG CHEN”).
  2. My correct name sequence, as appearing in my passport’s MRZ, is CHEN, LIANG.
  3. The discrepancy is purely clerical, arising from the difference between Chinese and Western name orders.

PRAYER: In view of the foregoing, I respectfully request the rectification of my visa to reflect: Surname: CHEN / Given Name: LIANG.

Attached: Passport copy, birth certificate (notarised translation), BI Official Receipt No. A-1234567 dated 12 June 2025.

I certify under oath that the foregoing is true and correct.


LIANG CHEN SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN before me this ___ day of ___ 2025, at Manila, Philippines. Doc. No. __ ; Page No. __ ; Book No. __ ; Series of 2025.


10. Key take-aways

  • Correct the error as soon as you spot it—before your first exit/entry if possible.
  • Clerical fixes are fast and inexpensive when supported by clear proof.
  • The Bureau of Immigration (or the Philippine mission that issued the visa) has full authority; you do not need to go to court.
  • Keep your identity documents harmonised—a single mismatch can cascade into tax, banking, or employment snags.

By following this guide and preparing the right documents, a foreign national in the Philippines can resolve a name sequence error smoothly, preserve legal status, and avoid immigration headaches down the line.

Disclaimer: This content is not legal advice and may involve AI assistance. Information may be inaccurate.