Hundreds of Afghans reach Philippines for US visa processing

As many as 300 Afghans arrived in the Philippines on Monday for temporary stays while awaiting processing for US resettlement, according to Philippine and US officials.

The arrangement stems from an agreement signed last July between the Philippines and the United States, allowing hundreds of Afghans to reside in Manila temporarily as their US Special Immigrant Visas undergo processing.

The program has moved forward despite opposition within the predominantly Catholic nation, over security and other concerns.

"The DFA issued the appropriate Philippine entry visa to these applicants in line with current rules and regulations," Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Teresita Daza said in a statement.

"All applicants completed extensive security vetting by Philippines national security agencies."

A US State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, would not be specific about the number involved other than to say "up to 300".

Under the deal, the US government will shoulder the cost of the Afghans' stays in Manila, including food, housing, medical care, security and transportation, the Philippine DFA statement said.

The Afghans will stay at a facility operated by the US State Department's Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts, an earlier US Embassy statement said.

Daza had previously said the Afghans could stay for no more than 59 days and would be "confined to their billet facility" except for embassy interviews.

The applicants all underwent medical screening in Afghanistan.

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 attacks on September 11, 2001.

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.