A group of Afghan nationals landed in the Philippines on Monday to process special immigrant visas for their relocation to the US
Their arrival comes as part of an agreement between the Philippine and US governments.
In July, the Philippines agreed to temporarily host a US immigrant visa processing center for a limited number of Afghan nationals who want to make America their new home.
Afghan nationals who landed in the Philippines on Monday were granted entry visas, according to Teresita Daza, a spokeswoman for the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.
BLINKEN SAYS NO APOLOGY FOR ENDING AMERICA’S LONGEST WAR IN AFGHANISTAN
Special Immigrant Visa applicants from Afghanistan landed in the Philippines for processing on Monday before moving to the US (AP)
Daza said Afghan nationals they completed extensive security screening and underwent full medical examinations before arriving. She also said the US government is covering the cost of their stay in the Philippines, including food, lodging, security, medical and transportation expenses.
It is not clear how many Afghan nationals have arrived in the Philippines or how long visa processing will take, but Philippine rules dictate that visa applicants cannot stay for more than 59 days.
President Biden discussed the potential of the Philippines to host a processing center with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. when he visited the US last year. (AP)
A senior Philippine official said last year that only 150 to 300 applicants would be settled in the Philippines under a “one-time” deal with the US government.
Afghan nationals who wanted to move to America primarily worked for the US government in Afghanistan or were considered eligible for US special immigrant visas but were left behind during the chaotic withdrawal of troops and civilians from the country in 2021, which resulted in the Taliban regaining control of the region .
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a conversation with his Philippine counterpart in 2022, initially floated the idea of the Philippines hosting the processing center. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken first submitted a request to his Philippine counterpart in 2022 for the Philippines to host a processing center. President Biden he later discussed the request with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. when he visited the US last year.
Marcos Jr. has renewed relations with the US since he managed to win the presidential election two years ago. Nearly a year ago, he allowed the U.S. military to expand its presence under a 2014 defense accord, a move that upset Chinese officials.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
