Afghans complete processing for special visa, leave PH

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NEARLY 200 Afghan nationals whose application for special immigrant visa (SIV) have been completed by US authorities left the country for the United States last week, the US Embassy said yesterday.

The Afghans had worked for the US government but were left behind when the Taliban seized control anew of Kabul in 2021.

“All departed the Philippines for immigration to the United States aboard commercial flights between January 15 and 17,” said US Embassy spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay.

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“The government of the United States extends deep appreciation to the government of the Philippines for their cooperation and support for US efforts to assist Afghan Special Immigrants,” Gangopadhyay added.

The US Embassy also clarified that just under 200 Afghan nationals arrived in the Philippines on January 6 for final processing of their SIVs applications at the US Embassy in Manila. Earlier reports said about 300 Afghans arrived in Manila.

An official of the Department of Foreign Affairs who requested anonymity said the Afghans “left Manila last Friday” aboard commercial flights.

Manila has agreed to host a processing center as requested by Washington, its long-time ally.

Earlier, the DFA said the Afghans will be staying in the country — no longer than 59 days, visa or no visa — while the US Embassy processes their SIVs.

The DFA also said Manila would not incur any expenses for the Afghan’s temporary stay as Washington will be the one providing food, housing, medical care, security and transportation to complete the SIV processing.

Last year, Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said Manila should accept Washington’s request which was first raised with the Philippine Embassy in Washington in October 2022. He cited the country’s acceptance of refugees, including Vietnamese when the Saigon government fell to communist forces from Hanoi in 1975, Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi rule before World War II, and the White Russians who escaped their country after the Bolsheviks’ take over and the subsequent civil war there in 1917.

After Kabul fell to Taliban forces in 2021 following the withdrawal of the US-led coalition forces, then-DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the country also took in Afghan nationals “including women and kids.”

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