The United States Embassy in the Philippines on Monday announced the cancelation of nonimmigrant B1/B2 (Business/Tourist) visa interview appointments scheduled through July 30, 2021 in response to the continued significant worldwide challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic.
In March 2020, the Department of State suspended routine visa services worldwide following the outbreak of the pandemic. In July 2020, US Embassies and Consulates began a phased resumption of routine visa services.
“The resumption of routine visa services is on a post-by-post basis, in coordination with the Department’s framework for safely returning our workforce to Department facilities,” said a statement posted by the US Embassy in Manila on its website.
US 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 post-specific conditions improve, our missions have begun providing additional services, culminating eventually in a complete resumption of routine visa services,” it added.
Once routine visa services resume, applicants are advised to reschedule their visa interviews by calling through the Embassy call center at (+632) 7792-8988 and (+632) 8548-8223, or through the online appointment system at ustraveldocs.com/ph.
The US Embassy said no fee will be exacted 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.