The Philippines has agreed to a request from the United States to temporarily host a U.S. immigrant visa processing center for a limited number of Afghan nationals looking to resettle in America, the two treaty allies announced on Tuesday.
The approval by the Philippine government, initially met with local concerns regarding security and legal issues, showcases the strengthening relations between Manila and Washington under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who assumed office in 2022.
The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila stated that the agreement is in the final stages of domestic procedures and requires final ratification by Marcos before becoming effective. Specific details, such as the number of Afghans permitted to temporarily stay in the Philippines during the completion of their special immigrant visas for resettlement to the U.S., were not disclosed.
A senior Philippine official, speaking anonymously to The Associated Press, mentioned that only 150 to 300 applicants would be accommodated in the Philippines through this “one-time” arrangement.
Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Assistant Secretary Teresita Daza emphasized that Afghan nationals must obtain a visa to enter the Philippines and will undergo thorough security screening. Each visa holder can stay for a maximum of 59 days.
The U.S. government will cover the expenses for the stay of the Afghan nationals, including accommodation, food, security, medical care, and transportation. Adequate social, educational, religious, and other assistance will be provided by the U.S. government and the International Organization for Migration, which will manage the facility where the Afghan visa applicants will be housed.
The U.S. expressed gratitude to the Philippines for assisting Afghan allies of the United States and acknowledged the positive history of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
The Afghan nationals eligible for resettlement primarily served the U.S. government in Afghanistan or are qualified for U.S. special immigrant visas (SIVs) but were left behind during the chaotic events of 2021 when the Taliban regained control of the country.
As of September 2023, there were approximately “some 130,000” pending applications for the Afghan SIV program. A visa processing center in the Philippines would offer a safe haven for some Afghans awaiting a decision on their SIV applications.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken initially conveyed the request to his Philippine counterpart in 2022, and President Joe Biden discussed the matter during Marcos’ visit to the U.S. last year.
Marcos was informed by American officials that a maximum of 1,000 Afghan nationals could stay in the Philippines concurrently while their special immigrant visas are processed. However, challenges concerning legal and logistical aspects needed to be addressed for the program to proceed smoothly.
Despite concerns about potential attacks on Afghan nationals in the Philippines and questions about U.S. involvement in vetting individuals entering the country, the agreement moves forward to provide support for those awaiting relocation to the U.S.
Since assuming the presidency two years ago, Marcos has reinvigorated relations with the U.S., exemplified by his decision to expand American military presence under a 2014 defense agreement, a move criticized by China for its implications in the South China Sea and Taiwan issues.