Regular visa routines

[NoMansLand2020 298]

Can anyone fathom to guess when the Philippines will commence routine visa work again? It's been nearly a year since these services stopped. 

[Chauncey 138]

Same with Russia

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

18 minutes ago, NoMansLand2020 said:

Can anyone fathom to guess when the Philippines will commence routine visa work again? It's been nearly a year since these services stopped. 

Regular visa services? I wouldn't expect anything until at least June at the earliest. 

[flicks1998 1,044]

Yes June may be the earliest, but at this point anything is just a guess now.  The concerning thing in the APAC region is how serious these countries are taking this new virus variant.  Its been found in Thailand and is partially being blamed for the sharp increase in case count in a country that had no cases in many months.  Japan is taking it serious, Philippines who tend to be a follower in anything medical is kind of copying other countries.  With the recent ban of 20+ countries (including the US) for at least two weeks and very likely extended, my feeling is 3rd quarter or early 4th quarter of this year where things may slightly normalize.  Indonesia was to open in January (at least Bali) and that was canceled, Thailand doesnt expect the vaccine until at least May and the Philippines will be similar timeframe.  It will then take 3-5 months to start getting enough people vaccinated.  Countries tend to look at the US on how they are rolling out this vaccine and all they see is a disaster or a country that is way behind.  If the US is behind on vaccinations, you can probably count developing countries to struggle as well even if they dont have the logistical issues (distance).

 

Also, the Philippines just announced that even if your vaccinated, you will still be required to do a two-week quarantine and PCR test coming in on international flights.  This was a direct message to their citizens who are coming back from overseas and have been vaccinated, but this will also apply to foreigners.  How long this last is unknown but could be for quite awhile. 

 

The other thing and whats probably effecting the US embassy is travel to Manila and back to the province is still extremely difficult and restrictions probably wont be loosened until 3rd quarter of this year.  Even coming back to Manila now, you need a negative PCR test in the province first.  I said months ago and its not entirely fair, but the US Embassy should at least start processing K1s on applicants who are based in Manila.  Even though this may mean some people will jump over others, it will help eliminate some of the massive backlog that is now present.  People who are in Manila have no restrictions on getting to the Embassy.  

 

 

 

 

Edited January 4, 2021 by flicks1998

[Adventine 3,201]

It is all speculation at this point. June 2021 is my personal estimate, but I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see any real movement until 2022.

[flicks1998 1,044]

Philstar recently published an article that locals (48%) believe more in prayer against the virus then social distancing, etc.  If that is the case, regular visa processing may be a long way off.  Moodys has already come out and said the Philippines will be the last to economically recover from the pandemic putting this at the end of 2022.  

 

https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/national/poll-prayer-better-than-shunning-crowds-vs-covid-19/ar-BB1cAu2f

[Cody&Razely 134]

19 hours ago, flicks1998 said:

Philstar recently published an article that locals (48%) believe more in prayer against the virus then social distancing, etc. 

Coincidentally, I believe 100% more in the Power of Prayer to save me while freefalling from 30,000' with no parachute than I do believing in a "vaccine" to save me or even to do more to protect me from (rather than potentially unnecessarily harm me) a Mild virus with a 0.03% Mortality rate of the average, healthy person between the ages of 1-60 yo. 

With the added full on belief 100% more in the Power of Prayer than even the most minor, innocuous word to the most panic educing, hysterical, fear mongering statements and everything in between spoken by any mass media outlet since the first days everyone started hitting the stupid sauce hard back in Feb. 2020. 

[flicks1998 1,044]

2 hours ago, Cody&Razely said:

Coincidentally, I believe 100% more in the Power of Prayer to save me while freefalling from 30,000' with no parachute than I do believing in a "vaccine" to save me or even to do more to protect me from (rather than potentially unnecessarily harm me) a Mild virus with a 0.03% Mortality rate of the average, healthy person between the ages of 1-60 yo. 

With the added full on belief 100% more in the Power of Prayer than even the most minor, innocuous word to the most panic educing, hysterical, fear mongering statements and everything in between spoken by any mass media outlet since the first days everyone started hitting the stupid sauce hard back in Feb. 2020. 

Unfortunately, the panic button is again hitting the Philippines.  They are now on the look out for the UK, South Africa and US variant   They are deciding on extending the travel ban in the next few days which is looking likely at this point.

 

 Its not necessarily the deaths that are the concern, its the long term health impacts that are a little more worrisome.  Its still too early, but some of the research at the medical center Im at are showing some concerning long term health effects which could leave people diabilitated over the long-term and this is hitting a little bit wider age range than the deaths are.  I think thats more of the worry then death at this point.

[hopefulfor2021 31]

14 minutes ago, flicks1998 said:

Unfortunately, the panic button is again hitting the Philippines.  They are now on the look out for the UK, South Africa and US variant   They are deciding on extending the travel ban in the next few days which is looking likely at this point.

 

 Its not necessarily the deaths that are the concern, its the long term health impacts that are a little more worrisome.  Its still too early, but some of the research at the medical center Im at are showing some concerning long term health effects which could leave people diabilitated over the long-term and this is hitting a little bit wider age range than the deaths are.  I think thats more of the worry then death at this point.

I agree.

[Adventine 3,201]

I take COVID-19 seriously and I am disappointed in the PH government's pandemic response. But this isn't the thread to debate either of those points.

 

To stay on topic, I don't think we can expect normal visa processing to resume until a significant population of the Philippines is vaccinated. Until then, we can expect more lockdowns and extended wait times. 

Edited January 10, 2021 by Adventine

[Allovertheworld 355]

2022 would be optimistic

[0NI 114]

We're on our way to our 1st year of quarantine and our government still don't know how to manage this BS.

 

It's ridiculous how we are the only country who has the longest quarantine. SMH.

 

Sucks to be here right now.

[NoMansLand2020 298]

5 hours ago, Adventine said:

I take COVID-19 seriously and I am disappointed in the PH government's pandemic response. But this isn't the thread to debate either of those points.

 

To stay on topic, I don't think we can expect normal visa processing to resume until a significant population of the Philippines is vaccinated. Until then, we can expect more lockdowns and extended wait times. 

What do you consider to be a significant percentage? A recent poll showed that roughly 30% of Filipinos would be willing to be vaccinated at this time. That number could obviously increase as well as decrease with time as vaccinations are delivered.

 

Moreover, is it going to be free for Filipino citizens? That could also very well affect who is vaccinated and who isn't. 

 

It's a fool's game for the country to suggest that the country will open up more and resume routine activities when a large part of the population has received the vaccine. That could potentially never happen. 

 

[NoMansLand2020 298]

5 hours ago, 0NI said:

We're on our way to our 1st year of quarantine and our government still don't know how to manage this BS.

 

It's ridiculous how we are the only country who has the longest quarantine. SMH.

 

Sucks to be here right now.

The politics are the only thing I do not Love about the Philippines. Seems the country is always being run by corrupt and murderous politicians. Not saying other countries do not have issues. But the Philippines Govt has a ton of control over things they shouldn't. 

[Adventine 3,201]

7 hours ago, NoMansLand2020 said:

What do you consider to be a significant percentage? A recent poll showed that roughly 30% of Filipinos would be willing to be vaccinated at this time. That number could obviously increase as well as decrease with time as vaccinations are delivered.

 

Moreover, is it going to be free for Filipino citizens? That could also very well affect who is vaccinated and who isn't. 

 

It's a fool's game for the country to suggest that the country will open up more and resume routine activities when a large part of the population has received the vaccine. That could potentially never happen. 

 

 

50% seems like a nice, safe-sounding number. But obviously, the more the better. Major cities in Metro Manila (Quezon City and Makati come to mind) are already lining up their own vaccine deals with Pfizer, Astra Zeneca, etc, and plan to distribute the vaccines for free. No news yet about cities outside Metro Manila. 

 

What's your source for the 30% figure?