Routine visa services remain suspended due to precautions and limited resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Embassy is continually evaluating the conditions necessary to resume full services. We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time.
The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines continues to operate on reduced staffing. As conditions surrounding the COVID-19 situation improve, the Embassy will add additional services, culminating eventually in a complete resumption of routine visa services. The Embassy cannot predict when the resumption of full visa services or a specific set of visa cases will resume.
Immigrant Visa: The Embassy is currently processing limited numbers of the following:
- Cases for applicants previously interviewed and refused under INA Section 221(g) for additional document submission or processing.
- Interviews for any case with a derivative applicant who is turning 21 years old and risks losing eligibility as a child.
- Interviews for Immediate Relative family members of U.S. citizens, including intercountry adoptions: IR-1, CR-1, IR-2, CR-2, IR-3, IH-3, IR-4, IH-4, and IR-5.
- Expedite-approved mission critical cases, such as fiancé(e)s of U.S. citizens and their children (K-1, K-2) if there is a terminal eligibility deadline (age out or one year issuance deadline for K-1 of an issued K-1 approaching) or active U.S. military petitioners as well as employment-based (EB-3) immigrants with healthcare positions on a case-to-case basis.
- Visa interviews for all other immigrant visa categories remain suspended until local conditions and capacity allows.
Nonimmigrant Visa: The Embassy continues to prioritize travelers with urgent travel needs, foreign diplomats, and certain mission-critical categories of travelers such as those coming to assist with the U.S. response to the pandemic, followed by students and exchange visitors (F-1, M-1, and J-1) and temporary employment visas (consistent with Presidential Proclamation 10052). Visa appointments and processing for B1/B2 (Business/Tourist) remain suspended. We understand that many visa applicants have paid the visa application processing fee and are still waiting to schedule a visa appointment. The U.S. Embassy will extend the validity of your payment (known as the MRV fee) until September 30, 2022, to allow all applicants who were unable to schedule a visa appointment as a result of the suspension of routine consular operations an opportunity to schedule and/or attend a visa appointment with the already paid fee.
Visa Scheduling: After we resume visa processing, which will be confirmed on our website, applicants can reschedule the first available visa interview appointment by phone at (+632) 7792-8988 and (+632) 8548-8223, or through the online appointment system at http://cdn.ustraveldocs.com/ph. There is no fee to change an appointment. After routine visa processing resumes, if you have difficulties rescheduling a pending consular appointment, applicants may send an email to supportphilippines@ustraveldocs.com for specific guidance.
NIV expedited appointment requests for emergency travel may be submitted here: http://cdn.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-visaapply.asp. Please note that the applicant will need to book a regular appointment through our appointment system before requesting an expedited appointment through http://cdn.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-expeditedappointment.asp.
NIV Interview Waiver: The interview waiver program has been extended. Information is available at https://ph.usembassy.gov/visa-update-interview-waiver-program/.
Contact Us:
- Scheduling, case status, passport delivery, and other questions can be directed to support-philippines@ustraveldocs.com or by chat at https://cdn.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-main-contactus.asp#contactinfo for the fastest reply.
- Case Specific Inquiry on an Immigrant Visa: https://ph.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/immigrant-visa-inquiry-form/
- Case Specific Inquiry on a Nonimmigrant Visa: https://ph.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/nonimmigrant-visa-inquiry-form/
- For Seafarer concerns: MNLNIVSEA@state.gov
- To report U.S. passport and visa fraud: FPMManila@state.gov
To call or chat with a Visa Information and Appointment Service Center customer service representative, please click here.
