UPDATE to USEM interviews schedule to June 11, 2020 are now CANCELED

[Greenbaum 12,258]

The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines has canceled all immigrant and nonimmigrant visa interviews scheduled through June 11 due to the Philippines' community quarantine measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time.

After the community quarantine is lifted in Metro Manila, all affected applicants should reschedule their visa interviews through the Embassy call center by phone at +63 (2) 7792-8988 or +63 (2) 8548-8223, or through the online appointment system at ustraveldocs.com/ph.

There is no fee to change an appointment and visa application fees are valid for one year in the country where the fee was paid.

[Allovertheworld 355]

It's More Fun In The Philippines

[payxibka 10,044]

At least they are trying to restore services,  some countries are indicating it will be 2021 before visa services are restarted 

[Allovertheworld 355]

32 minutes ago, payxibka said:

At least they are trying to restore services,  some countries are indicating it will be 2021 before visa services are restarted 

The problem is if they get a case they freak out in the area or if they hear about it.  Then you will have a mayor shut down and an area, and then you have barangay captains shutting down areas as well.

 

 

 

 

[Cody&Razely 134]

1 hour ago, Allovertheworld said:

The problem is if they get a case they freak out in the area or if they hear about it.  Then you will have a mayor shut down and an area, and then you have barangay captains shutting down areas as well.

 

 

 

 

Exactly, I second that. From one day to the next is a Cluster #^@& there. One day the IATF lifts a measure and the locals beg it to be locked back down, then an adjacent area is also lifted and the same locals begging to be locked down the day prior are now clamoring to have theirs lifted again, against their own wishes the prior day to remain locked down despite the government trying to lift it already in the first place, then the IATF lifts something else and they start clamoring to be back in lock down again, and everyone is so gripped with uncontrollable fear, propaganda and rumors of instant genocidal death that it is hardly fathomable. ouy! Though, hopefully it will begin to subside eventually, sooner or later, my hope is sooner than later lol

[JonSeattle 201]

Now would be a good time to start doing visa interviews over zoom.

[Allovertheworld 355]

Just now, JonSeattle said:

Now would be a good time to start doing visa interviews over zoom.

Biometrics would be the main issue

[Allovertheworld 355]

"All foreigners can leave anytime but Filipinos are not allowed to leave unless they are OFWs, permanent residents or holders of student visa in their country of destination."

 

This press release out today, but doesn't say how long this will be

 

PRESS RELEASE
29 May 2020

International travel restrictions
remain under GCQ - BI

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it will continue to implement international flight travel restrictions at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) despite the lifting of the modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and its being placed under general community quarantine (GCQ).

In a statement, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said travel restrictions that existed under ECQ and MECQ are still in place unless said restrictions are eased or lifted by the government.

"As a consequence, our operations at the NAIA are still downscaled and our personnel there are still on skeletal and rotational deployment," Morente said.

He added that most international flights remain suspended as a result of the travel restrictions which affected Filipinos and foreigners alike who wished to enter or leave the country.

"Nonetheless, we assure the public that we are always ready to resume full, normal
operations in our international airports once the government decides to ease or lift these travel restrictions," the BI chief stated.

According to BI acting port operations chief Grifton Medina, international flights remain limited and few since the start of the lockdown in mid-March.

He further disclosed that BI officers at the NAIA currently serve an average of only 20 to 30 flights a day, a third of which are special flights that ferry medical supplies and other kinds of cargo into the country.

As for the passenger flights, Medina said these are mostly repatriation flights that transport returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and chartered sweeper flights that bring foreigners stranded here back to their homelands.

Under existing guidelines approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force Against Infectious Diseases (IATF), only OFWs; Filipino citizens and their spouses and dependents; permanent residents; and foreign diplomats are allowed to enter the country.

All foreigners can leave anytime but Filipinos are not allowed to leave unless they are OFWs, permanent residents or holders of student visa in their country of destination.

 

https://www.facebook.com/officialbureauofimmigration/?__tn__=kCH-R&eid=ARDYTsEKt09f8A1vlWO6XVAR-kOIdkW06qjx1FISkTowNPncgZ71bQ-dkvK3ZCR7roMZ3xYKU0LUJgt7&hc_ref=ARSIb52W_sfSeW_T5PancmuGYZ5oY07UFJIOEUZj8jzoditcmF0gl2wknLgQKsNlm9M&fref=nf&__xts__[0]=68.ARDr9lmIfbZyYXyoN_lJLNEZi0w4MF_9MyYfKJgGGjAd43oLNpwfc6K_7SFmGXkRwu6Sc0g8amlvsZuDrmtHPjGw8wsTQd28SSGt6BrHHolvHb-EoiXLFpMcXk7H4c2CYMqSAS0pR2MqmSciBZdFqxpsYy2jl8jvkdwNMamoEwsvqOsfiuzyrt_gN_qmHBuzmsJJlbSgaFkPq_jU1w7ODkI0Zmt19_EHvs2VgDhEeSgxKNB-3ygyw-1VvxgI70tM2D22rzTiQsUfGlDBTUCn5Nu-YSAEFwd5Otd1UVqWFfFwAPCsZ9HDuI8ImZGp5Q

Edited May 29, 2020 by Allovertheworld

[flicks1998 1,044]

4 hours ago, payxibka said:

At least they are trying to restore services,  some countries are indicating it will be 2021 before visa services are restarted 

Correct and its not just the pandemic we have to worry about.  As we move closer to the election, Immigration will become a very hot topic again and Ive heard through the grapevine it could be wide-spread banning of many visa classes.  This comes from all the different immigration companies I work with.  If an opening comes to do whatever we need to get done to get our significant other to the US, we need to take advantage of the opportunity asap.  It could be not just work visas they go after.  

[PIRuby 8]

6 hours ago, JonSeattle said:

Now would be a good time to start doing visa interviews over zoom.

Good Idea

[payxibka 10,044]

6 hours ago, JonSeattle said:

Now would be a good time to start doing visa interviews over zoom.

Never happen, zoom has to close of ties to the ccp

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

6 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Never happen, zoom has to close of ties to the ccp

Yeah they have already shut it down for the DOD network because of that. I believe the rest of the departments and agencies are next

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

4 hours ago, flicks1998 said:

Correct and its not just the pandemic we have to worry about.  As we move closer to the election, Immigration will become a very hot topic again and Ive heard through the grapevine it could be wide-spread banning of many visa classes.  This comes from all the different immigration companies I work with.  If an opening comes to do whatever we need to get done to get our significant other to the US, we need to take advantage of the opportunity asap.  It could be not just work visas they go after.  

Have you been reading the Reddit Immigration sub? If you don't then you are great because they love to run with conspiracies. 

[apellica 76]

20 hours ago, Allovertheworld said:

"All foreigners can leave anytime but Filipinos are not allowed to leave unless they are OFWs, permanent residents or holders of student visa in their country of destination."

 

This press release out today, but doesn't say how long this will be

I'm assuming this can be lifted at any point during the month depending on how things progress.  It's unfortunate, they are keeping K1's and CR1's from leaving....makes no sense whatsoever.  My fiancee believes she will need to acquire her a travel pass in order for her to leave which requires a 5 step process.  This includes a acquiring a 14 day quarantine certificate and health certificate in order to be able to travel.....at least domestically.

[flicks1998 1,044]

On 5/29/2020 at 8:53 PM, Cyberfx1024 said:

Have you been reading the Reddit Immigration sub? If you don't then you are great because they love to run with conspiracies. 

I work in Immigration moving expats around the world in the Global Mobility Industry.   Some of that time was in Philippine immigration as a US citizen along with a number of other places.  This is a topic in all of the large immigration providers in the US.  Never even heard of Reddit.  I dont read any US news media and havent in about 15 years.  In fact as I posted before, Im just moved back to the US after 20 years being away. I never stepped foot in the US during that time.  Dont belong to a political party, never have voted in my life and never will.  I guess Im just privy to certain type of info that effects my job.   I stand by my post completely.