The United States and the Philippines have agreed to permit a limited number of Afghan nationals to transit through the Philippines while they await approval for U.S. visas and resettlement, according to a statement from the State Department.
The agreement allows Afghan nationals to stay in the Philippines temporarily as they complete their visa processing for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) and prepare for resettlement in the United States, the statement released on Monday said.
The timeline for this program is still under discussion between the two governments, the U.S. Embassy in Manila noted.
During their stay, the Afghan applicants will be accommodated at a facility managed by the U.S. State Department’s Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts, an embassy spokesperson told reporters.
The U.S. will provide essential services, including food, housing, security, medical care, and transportation, while the applicants are in the Philippines, according to a statement from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.
The State Department also expressed its appreciation for the “long and positive” history of cooperation between the United States and the Philippines and thanked the Philippine government for its support of Afghan allies of the U.S.
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