The Philippines and the United States have finalized an agreement to allow a limited number of Afghan nationals to transit through the Philippines while they complete their visa processing for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) and resettlement to the United States.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Teresita Daza however said the agreement requires ratification by President Marcos before it becomes effective.
The program will cater to a specified number of applicants for a period not exceeding 59 days. Applicants will undergo comprehensive security vetting by Philippine authorities and must secure the appropriate entry visa before their arrival.
Despite holding a Philippine visa, “the Bureau of Immigration retains the authority to exclude any applicant based on standard immigration examinations upon arrival,” Daza noted.
The US government will bear all costs associated with the applicants’ stay in the Philippines, including “expenses for food, housing, security, medical care, and transportation.”
During their stay, applicants will be confined to a billet facility managed by the US Government and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). This facility will provide essential support, including social, educational, religious, and emotional assistance, especially for children.
“All applicants will have been medically screened already in Afghanistan and need to leave their billet facility only once for their consular interview at the US Embassy in Manila,” Daza emphasized.
For its part, the US Embassy in the Philippines stated that “Afghan SIV applicants will temporarily reside at a facility operated by the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE).”
However, the Embassy declined to disclose the facility’s capacity or specific details about the timeline, which are still being discussed with the Philippine government.
