US Embassy in Manila suspends visa interviews again until Sept. 30

By Jeanne Michael Penaranda

MANILA – The US Embassy in the Philippines has extended the temporary cancellation of non-immigrant B1/B2 visa interviews to September 30 due to the surge in COVID-19 cases.

On its website, the embassy said appointments for non-immigrant visa interviews were cancelled for B1 or B2 category or business and tourist visas until Sept. 30 in response to the continued significant worldwide challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“You can only reschedule your canceled visa interview once routine visa services resume by contacting the Embassy call center at (+632) 7792-8988 and (+632) 8548-8223, or through the online appointment system at Apply for a U.S. Visa | Home – Philippines (English),” the embassy stated but added “There is no need to contact us at this time.”

“Please continue to monitor our website at Visa Updates | U.S. Embassy in the Philippines for updates regarding the resumption of routine visa services at the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines,” the embassy added.

The resumption of routine visa services is on a country-by-country basis, in coordination with the Department of State’s framework for safely returning our workforce to Department facilities, the embassy stated.

U.S. embassies and consulates have continued to provide emergency and mission-critical visa services since March and will continue to do so as they are able. As country-specific conditions improve, our embassies and consulates have begun providing additional services, culminating eventually in a complete resumption of routine visa services.

The US Embassy said there is no fee to change an appointment, and the validity of the visa fee payment (known as the MRV fee) is extended until September 30, 2022 to allow applicants who are unable to schedule a visa appointment because of the suspension of routine consular operations an opportunity to schedule and/or attend a visa interview appointment with the already paid fee.

For questions and case-specific inquiries, you may contact the Embassy’s Consular Communications Group at Contact Us | U.S. Embassy in the Philippines.