Afghan Nationals Arrive in Philippines for U.S. Visa Processing Amid Resettlement Agreement

On Monday, a contingent of Afghan nationals touched down in the Philippines, marking the start of their special immigrant visa processing that aims to facilitate their relocation to the United States. This move follows a bilateral agreement between the governments of the Philippines and the U.S., which was established in July. As part of this agreement, the Philippines has consented to serve as a temporary site for a U.S. immigration visa processing center for a select group of Afghan individuals eager to settle in America.

Upon their arrival, the Afghan nationals received entry visas, as confirmed by Teresita Daza, spokesperson for the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs. Daza emphasized that these individuals had undergone thorough security checks and complete medical evaluations prior to their arrival. Furthermore, the U.S. government is financially supporting their temporary stay in the Philippines, which includes covering costs related to food, housing, security, medical care, and transportation.

The exact number of Afghan nationals who arrived in the Philippines is unspecified, nor is it clear how long the visa processing might take. According to the Philippines' immigration regulations, visa applicants are not permitted to remain in the country for more than 59 days. Previously, a senior Filipino official noted that under this "one-time" arrangement with the U.S. government, a total of 150 to 300 applicants would be accepted into the Philippines.

These Afghan nationals had predominantly worked alongside the U.S. government in Afghanistan or were considered eligible for special immigrant visas but found themselves left behind during the tumultuous evacuation in 2021 when the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. The request for the Philippines to provide a processing center originated from Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who engaged with his Filipino counterpart in 2022. During a subsequent visit to the U.S. by Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the matter was discussed further. President Marcos has been actively fostering improved relations with the U.S. since his election two years ago, including allowing the expansion of the American military presence in the Philippines, a decision met with dissatisfaction from Chinese officials.