Philippines to Host US Visa-Processing Center for Afghan Nationals

The Philippines has agreed to temporarily host a US visa-processing center for Afghan nationals who assisted American forces in Afghanistan and were left behind during the 2021 withdrawal, Arab News reported yesterday.

In 2022, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken requested the Philippines to allow up to 1,000 Afghan nationals to stay while their special immigrant visas (SIV) were processed.

On Tuesday, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs announced that a “limited number” of Afghan nationals would be allowed to transit in the country to complete their SIV applications. These individuals will be confined to a designated facility during processing, with support provided by the US government and the International Organization for Migration.

The refugees will undergo full security vetting by Philippine authorities and must secure appropriate entry visas. The US State Department expressed gratitude to the Philippines for its support of Afghan allies, emphasizing the importance of bilateral cooperation.