WELCOME TO MANILA Some 300 Afghan nationals, among them children, arrive in the Philippines aboard a chartered flight on Monday to complete the processing of their US special immigrant visas for their immigration to the United States. They are allowed to stay in the country for a maximum of 59 days. PHOTO COURTESY OF US EMBASSY
MANILA, Philippines — A total of 200 Afghan nationals who arrived in the Philippines for the final processing of their Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applications have already left the country.
In a statement on Sunday, the US Embassy in the Philippines expressed its deep appreciation to the Philippine government for its “cooperation and support” in assisting Afghan Special Immigrants.
“Just under 200 Afghan nationals arrived in the Philippines on January 6 for final processing of their SIV applications at the U.S. Embassy in Manila,” it said.
“All departed the Philippines for immigration to the United States aboard commercial flights between January 15 and 17,” it added.
In August last year, the Philippines and the US reached an agreement allowing a “limited number of Afghan nationals” to “transit” to Manila.
The Department of Foreign Affairs then explained this pact would enable Afghan nationals to complete their visa processing for SIV and resettlement to the US.