MANILA, Aug 20 – The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Tuesday that the country has agreed to a request by the United States to temporarily host a US immigrant visa processing centre for “a limited number” of Afghan nationals.
“The Philippines and the US have agreed on allowing a limited number of Afghan nationals to transit to the Philippines to complete their visa processing for special immigrant visas and resettlement to the US,” the DFA said in a statement.
It added that the US government “is supporting necessary services for those Afghans temporarily in the Philippines, including food, housing, security, medical, and transportation to complete visa processing.”
“The agreement is currently undergoing the final domestic procedures required for effectivity,” the statement noted.
US President Joe Biden discussed the request with Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos when they met in Washington in May 2023.
The US’ request, since it was made public, has faced local concerns over potential security and other grounds.
