The Philippines will establish a temporary US Visa processing center for a limited number of Afghan citizens aiming to resettle in the United States, as the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila announced.
Under this agreement, eligible Afghans will be able to transit to the Philippines to complete their visa procedures for Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) and resettlement to the United States, VisaGuide.World reports.
Philippines officials, as cited by the Associated Press, said that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken presented the request to his Filipino counterpart in 2022, and US President Joe Biden addressed it during the visit of Philippines President Bongbong Marcos to the US in 2023.
The agreement is currently undergoing the final domestic procedures required for effectiveness.
Meanwhile, the US Department of State thanked the government of the Philippines for collaborating on this agreement, noting that the US government will support these Afghans with essential services such as transportation, accommodation, food, medical care, and security during their temporary stay in the Philippines.
The United States appreciates its long and positive history of bilateral cooperation with the Philippines and thanks the Philippine government for supporting Afghan allies of the United States.
Filipino Officials Voice Concerns Over Potential Attacks on Afghan Nationals While in Philippines
As further reported, Afghans eligible primarily worked for the US government in Afghanistan or were qualified for US special immigrant visas but were left behind after the US withdrew from the country as the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
Regarding the above-mentioned agreement, some Filipino officials have expressed concerns that Afghan nationals could become targets of attacks during their stay in the Philippines.
Moreover, questions have been raised about an agreement where the US would have a say in vetting who could enter the Philippines.
Visa Required for Entry Into the Philippines, Stay Limited to 59 Days
The Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Assistant Secretary Teresita Daza, noted that these Afghans must obtain a visa before entering the Philippines and will be subject to “full security vetting”.
As further revealed, visa applicants will be allowed to stay in the Philippines for up to 59 days.
In their brief announcement, the authorities did not provide details about the number of applicants that will be accepted. However, a Filipino official told AP on condition of anonymity that about 150 to 300 applicants will be accommodated in the Philippines under the “one-time” deal.