STARTING this Saturday, September 28, US visa applicants will experience changes in the application process.
The US Embassy in Manila will open its new Visa Application Center (VAC) at Parqal Building 8 on Diosdado Macapagal Ave. in Parañaque City.
This center will handle biometrics processing and other requirements for visa applicants.
Rob Romanowski, visa chief of the Consular Section at the US Embassy, highlighted three major changes with the new consular platform:
1. New Website: Applicants will now access a new website for US visa applications. Romanowski emphasized that the new website will have additional security features to protect applicant privacy and will be more user-friendly.
2. Biometrics Collection at VAC: The VAC will now collect photographs and fingerprints from applicants, which were previously taken at the US Embassy. This means applicants will need to schedule a separate appointment at the VAC before booking an interview appointment at the embassy.
3. New Call Center Hotline: US citizens in the Philippines will now have access to a call center hotline for non-emergency concerns, including passport applications in Manila.
The US Embassy in Manila initially announced the launch of its new VAC on September 6. Starting September 28, both immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants seeking interview appointments will be required to schedule a separate appointment at the new VAC.
Romanowski offered two pieces of advice for visa applicants: don’t lie and prove that you will return to the Philippines.
