US Embassy Manila visa interviews temporarily ceased
SIMULA Marso 18, 2020, ang USCIS ay nagsuspende ng mga routine in-person service sa mga USCIS field office, asylum office at Application Support Center para pabagalin ang pagkalat ng COVID-19. Ang pagsuspende ng operasyon hanggang Abril 1, 2020 ay extended hanggang Abril 6, 2020. Ayon sa USCIS, ang kanilang opisina ay magbubukas sa Abril 7, 2020 maliban kung kinakailangan ulit ng extension para sa public safety. Subalit ang mga empleyado ng USCIS ay patuloy pa rin sa pagtrabaho para sa essential services na hindi kailangan ng face-to-face contact kasama ng publiko.
Ipinahayag din ng USCIS noong Marso 27, 2020 na ito ay handang tumulong sa mga petitioner at aplikante na nakatanggap at sumasagot sa mga Request for Evidence (RFE) at Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) na may petsa na Marso 1 hanggang Mayo 1, 2020. Para sa mga petitioner at aplikante na nakatanggap ng RFE/NOID na may petsa na Marso 1 hanggang Mayo 1, 2020, ang mga Response to RFE/NOID na matatanggap ng USCIS ng 60 calendar days mula sa response deadline ay bibigyan ng konsiderasyon ng USCIS.
Para sa mga nagpapa-schedule ng kanilang immigrant at nonimmigrant visa interview sa US Embassy in Manila, nagsabi na ang US Embassy Manila sa mga liham sa visa applicants na sila ay pansamantalang tumigil ng lahat ng immigrant at nonimmigrant visa appointment dahil sa enhanced community quarantine sa Manila upang mabawasan ang pagkalat ng COVID-19. Ang US Embassy Manila ay magpapatuloy ng routine visa services kapag ang enhanced community quarantine sa Manila ay lifted na.
Lahat tayo ay hinihikayat na manatili sa ating mga tahanan at magtrabaho sa ating tahanan, kung maaari upang mabawasan at matigil ang pagkalat ng COVID-19. Patuloy tayong magdasal at manalangin na malalampasan natin ito. Naway ang Diyos, sa kanyang awa, ay protektahan tayo at panatilihin tayong ligtas.
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Effective March 18, 2020, USCIS has suspended routine in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices and Application Support Centers to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The suspension which was initially until April 1, 2020 is extended to April 6, 2020. USCIS offices will open on April 7, 2020 unless further extension is warranted due to public safety and health concerns. However, employees at USCIS are still continuing to perform essential services that do not require face-to-face contact with the public.
USCIS also announced on March 27, 2020 that it is adopting a measure to assist petitioners and applicants who are responding to Requests for Evidence (RFE) and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOID) dated between March 1 and May 1, 2020. For petitioners and applicants who receive RFE/NOID between March 1 and May 1, 2020, responses filed within 60 calendar days after response deadline will be considered by USCIS.
For those scheduling their immigrant and nonimmigrant visa interviews at the US Embassy in Manila, the said Embassy has stated in communications with visa applicants that they have ceased all immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments and processing due to the Philippines’ enhanced community quarantine measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The US Embassy in Manila will resume routine visa services after the enhanced community quarantine is lifted in Manila.
Everyone is encouraged to stay at home and to work from home, if possible to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Let us continue to pray and have faith that we will get through this. May God, in his mercy, protect us and keep us safe.
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ATTY. RHEA SAMSON is the principal of SAMSON LAW FIRM, P.C. She has been a member of the State Bar of California for over 15 years and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines for over 20 years. Atty. Samson received her Legal Management degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and her Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo Law School. She was a Professor for over 10 years, teaching Obligations and Contracts, Labor Laws and Social Legislation and Taxation Law. Atty Samson is the author of The Law on Obligations and Contracts (2016), Working with Labor Laws-Revised Edition (2014) and Working with Labor Laws (2005). SAMSON LAW FIRM, P.C., 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1710, Los Angeles, CA 90010; Phone: (213) 274-4561; Email: [email protected].
