US Embassy cancels scheduled visa interviews due to ECQ

MANILA, Philippines — The US Embassy in Manila has canceled all immigrant and non-immigrant visa interviews scheduled between Tuesday until May 4 as the entire Luzon remains under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

In an advisory on Tuesday, the embassy said it would resume visa services “as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time.”

After the quarantine is lifted in Metro Manila, the embassy advised all affected applicants to reschedule their visa interviews through the Embassy call center by phone at (+632) 7792-8988 and (+632) 8548-8223, or through the online appointment system at ustraveldocs.com/ph.

“There is no fee to change an appointment and visa application fees are valid for one year in the country where the fee was paid,” the embassy noted.

To date, Philippine health officials have confirmed 3,764 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country.

Of the number, 177 patients have died while 84 have already recovered from the disease.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier placed the entire Luzon under ECQ as the number of COVID-19 cases in the country continued to increase. The quarantine became effective on March 17 and was initially set to be lifted on April 13.

The quarantine period, however, was extended until April 30 .