The first group of Afghan nationals, who risked their lives supporting United States (US) military operations in Afghanistan, arrived in the Philippines today.

The initial batch, comprising up to 300 individuals, will be temporarily housed in the country while their applications for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) to the US are processed, as part of the agreement between Manila and Washington.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Afghan nationals who arrived in the country—mostly children—will stay in the Philippines for “no more than 59 days.”

“The whole project is expected to finish within 100 days from the arrival of the first applicants, but each applicant shall be authorized to stay in the Philippines for no more than 59 days,” the senior Philippine government official said in a press briefing about the matter.

“So, the processing of each applicant by the US Embassy should be completed within the 59-day period.”

To recall, the DFA announced in August that the Philippines and the US had agreed to allow a “limited” number of Afghan nationals to stay in the Philippines temporarily while they complete their visa requirements for entry into the US.

According to the department, these Afghan nationals will transit through the Philippines as they finalize their visa processing for SIVs and eventual resettlement in the US.

DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza, in a separate statement on Monday, said that as part of the agreement, the US government would cover all necessary services for the Afghans during their stay in the Philippines, including food, housing, security, medical care, and transportation until their visa processing is completed.

“As part of its agreement with the Philippines, the U.S. government is supporting all necessary services for those SIV applicants temporarily in the Philippines, including food, housing, medical care, security, and transportation to complete visa processing,” Daza said.

Security Vetting

The DFA official also noted that the Afghan nationals who arrived in the country had undergone “full security vetting” by both the US and Philippine governments.

“They will secure an appropriate entry visa prior to their arrival in the Philippines, in accordance with Philippine laws and regulations,” she said.

As part of the agreement, there will be restrictions on the mobility of Afghan nationals temporarily staying in the country.

“All applicants will be confined to a designated facility for the duration of the processing of the SIV applications by the US Embassy in Manila,” the DFA said.

The official noted that all applicants will be allowed to leave the facility “only once” for their consular interview at the US Embassy in Manila.

The official assured that sufficient social, medical, educational, and religious support would be provided to the applicants, particularly the children.

Likewise, the official said that all of the applicants had also undergone a medical assessment in Kabul before arriving in Manila.

Not Refugees

According to a US State Department official, who was also heavily involved in the project, the SIV applicants are “not refugees.”

“These are individuals deemed eligible for SIV applications,” the official said in the same briefing, referring to a visa designed to help those who worked with US military and diplomatic efforts in Afghanistan by providing them with the opportunity to relocate and resettle in the US.

In response to why the Philippines was selected as the temporary home for Afghan nationals applying for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), a US State Department official simply said, “Because we’re friends.”

The official emphasized that the Philippines' openness to discussing the arrangement and its proximity to a large US Embassy helped facilitate the decision.

“There was a willingness to discuss it here. Another thing that helps is that we have a big embassy. We are able to process visas here quickly,” the official said.

Regarding the applicants’ accommodations, the official confirmed that the location would remain undisclosed for security reasons. “It is mostly children. We want to keep the location as confidential as possible.”

The official, however, said that the facility will be a private one, leased by the US government.

Several senators, particularly Senator Imee Marcos, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s sister, have raised concerns about the proposal in 2023.

Senator Marcos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, led a Senate inquiry to investigate the US' request for the Philippines to grant special immigrant status to some Afghans.

Senator Marcos revealed that Washington was seeking temporary housing in Manila for Afghans who had previously worked for the US, while their SIV applications were being processed.

During a hearing in June 2023, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez indicated that if the request were granted, not all Afghans applying for SIV status would arrive at once but in batches of 1,000 to 1,500.

At that time, more than 50,000 Afghans were awaiting approval of their SIV applications in the US.