A group of Afghan nationals arrived in the Philippines on Monday to initiate the processing of special immigrant visas for their anticipated resettlement in the United States. This move follows an agreement established between Manila and Washington, with the Philippines consenting last July to host a U.S. immigrant visa processing center temporarily for a set number of Afghan applicants.

The Filipino Department of Foreign Affairs, represented by spokesperson Teresita Daza, confirmed that those who arrived were granted entry visas and had successfully completed rigorous security vetting alongside comprehensive medical screenings prior to their arrival.

The arrangement stipulates that the U.S. government will bear all expenses related to the Afghan nationals' stay in the Philippines, which includes accommodations, food, medical care, security, and transportation. However, the exact number of Afghans arriving or the duration of the visa processing period remains unspecified, with Philippine regulations permitting visa applicants to remain for a maximum of 59 days.

A senior official revealed last year that the Philippines would accept only between 150 to 300 applicants under this limited “one-time” agreement. These Afghan individuals are primarily those who previously worked for the U.S. government in Afghanistan or were eligible for special immigrant visas but could not evacuate during the chaotic withdrawal of American forces and the return of Taliban rule in mid-2021.

The request for this visa processing initiative was first conveyed by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to his Philippine counterpart in 2022. Subsequent discussions were held between President Joe Biden and Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the latter's visit to the U.S. last year. Marcos, who rekindled ties with Washington upon his election victory, previously expanded the U.S. military presence under a 2014 defense agreement, a decision met with disapproval from China. For further details, refer to the original articles from AP News, Voice of America, and South China Morning Post.