Starting September 28, the US Embassy in the Philippines will open a new Visa Application Center (VAC) in Parañaque City, making it easier for people to access visa services.
The embassy will also launch an upgraded online visa appointment system to improve user experience and streamline the application process, VisaGuide.World reports.
Immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants seeking interview appointments starting September 28 will be required to schedule a separate appointment at the VAC for photo capture and fingerprint scanning before their interview at the US Embassy on Roxas Boulevard. Scheduling will be done through the new and redesigned online appointment system.
According to the embassy, the new visa application process will feature a more secure and user-friendly interface for applicants.
Pre-Scheduled Visa Interviews Remain Valid as New System Launches
As the same authority explains, for those who have already scheduled a visa interview before September 28, the switch to the new system will not affect their existing appointments. These applicants must attend their scheduled interviews at the US Embassy as expected.
Meanwhile, applicants with accounts in the current visa appointment system must log into the new system using their registered email addresses to access their profiles, including payment receipts and appointment details.
The new Visa Application Center (VAC) will be open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. During these hours, no appointments are necessary for passport pick-ups or submitting documents related to interview waiver visa applications.
Moreover, US citizens in the Philippines will benefit from expanded call center services, offering enhanced support for non-emergency American Citizen Services (ACS) inquiries.
US Introduces New Visa Fees for Filipino Applicants
As of June 17, 2023, the US Embassy in the Philippines has revised the fees for various nonimmigrant visa applications. Applicants for visitor visas, including those for business or tourism (B1/B2) and other non-petition-based nonimmigrant visas such as student and exchange visas, are now charged $185 (P10,397). This represents an increase of $25 (P1,405) from the previous rates.
The application fee has risen from $190 to $205 for petition-based nonimmigrant visas for temporary workers. The fee for treaty trader or treaty investor visas (E category) has also been adjusted from $205 to $315.
As reported by the VisaGuide Passport Index, the Philippines passport currently ranks 127th globally. This ranking allows Filipino citizens visa-free access to 39 countries, while for most other destinations, they are required to obtain a visa in advance.