Philippines to process ‘limited number’ of Afghans seeking US visas

Tens of thousands of Afghans scrambled to leave the country in the chaotic evacuation of August 2021 – Copyright AFP STR

A “limited number” of Afghans will temporarily stay in the Philippines while being processed for resettlement in the United States, Manila and Washington said Tuesday.

The timeline for the programme is still being discussed by the two governments, the US embassy in Manila said.

Both said only a “limited number” of visa applicants will be covered, but would not reveal the exact figures.

Under the deal, the applicants will stay at a facility operated by the US state department’s Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts, an embassy spokesman told reporters.

Washington will support “necessary services” including food, housing, security, medical, and transport during their stay in the country, a Philippine foreign department statement added.

Filipino ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said last year that there were about 50,000 such visa-seekers, including the families of those who had worked for the US-backed government that was toppled by the Taliban.

The US request met with domestic opposition on security and other grounds when it was made public last year.

A Philippine foreign department spokeswoman did not immediately provide further details of the agreement on Tuesday.

Tens of thousands of Afghans fled their country in the chaotic evacuation of August 2021 as US and allied forces pulled out to end Washington’s longest war, launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Many of those who had worked with the ousted Western-backed government arrived in the United States seeking resettlement under a special immigrant visa programme, but thousands were also left behind or in third countries, waiting for their visas to be processed.

Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers insist no harm will come to anyone who collaborated with Western powers or the former government, and are encouraging those who have left to return and help rebuild the country.