Officials of the US government were recently able to experience the “new look” being implemented by Commissioner Marcelino Libanan at the Bureau of Immigration (BI), it was learned Friday.

Homeland Security director for Asia Pacific Douglas Palmeri said they are very impressed with the innovations and reforms implemented at the bureau, especially the installation of state-of-the-art equipment and immigration systems that are at par with those of advanced countries.

Palmeri was joined by First Secretary Philip Alan Thompson of the US Embassy in visiting Libanan at the bureau’s main building in Intramuros, Manila where they inspected the various offices and sections of the bureau.

Palmeri also congratulated Libanan for his “out-of-the-box” innovations and reforms which placed the bureau in a world-class border management security office.

“We are amazed how this former nondescript structure can be turned into a modern immigration office complete with state-of-the-art equipment,” remarked Palmeri as he personally saw in real-time the monitoring capabilities of the bureau.

Palmeri and Thompson, together with Libanan and other BI officials, visited the bureau’s National Operations Center, the Anti-Fraud Division and the Technology and Information Section.

The US officials said since Libanan assumed his present position in May 2007, the bureau has vastly improved not only on its look but most importantly in its dealing with tourists and foreign businessmen.

Palmeri and Thompson were the latest batch of US officials to visit the bureau.

Last week, US Consul General Karen Christensen also visited the BI where she revealed that the agency has helped the Philippines improved its image among international travelers and foreign businessmen.

Moreover, Japanese embassy officials, also in their meeting with Libanan last month, expressed interest in duplicating the strategies and methods used by the BI-Interpol unit for its success in locating and arresting foreign fugitives in the country.