September 7, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The United States embassy in Manila will open a new Visa Application Center (VAC) in Parañaque City this month.
The embassy will also launch an updated visa appointment system and expand call center services to US citizens in the Philippines beginning Sept. 28.
The VAC will be located at Parqal Building 8, Level 3, along Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Barangay Tambo, Parañaque.
Immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants seeking interview appointments will be required to schedule a separate appointment at the VAC for photograph and fingerprint scanning prior to their interview at the US embassy on Roxas Boulevard.
The embassy said scheduling would be done through the new online appointment system.
Applicants who have scheduled visa interviews before Sept. 28 will not be affected by the new system. They should proceed directly to the embassy for their appointment.
The new online appointment system features a secure and user-friendly interface for visa applicants. It will be available on ustraveldocs.com/ph starting Sept. 28.
Applicants who have existing accounts in the current visa appointment system will be required to sign in to the new system using their already registered email address to retrieve their user profile, which includes payment receipts and appointment information.
The US embassy said the VAC offers appointment slots from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, and from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturdays.
No appointment is needed for applicants who would like to pick up their passports or drop off interview waiver visa applications and other required documents from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., from Monday to Friday.
The embassy will launch a call center for customers with general, non-emergency American Citizen Services (ACS) inquiries.
US citizens can call consular hotlines at (+632) 7792-8988, (+632) 8548-8223 or (703) 520-2235 for callers in the United States, with passport, citizenship and notarial service questions.
The embassy will also launch a new website (ustraveldocs.com/ph/en/american-citizens-services) and email ([email protected]) for ACS services on Sept. 28.
Inquiries not related to passport, citizenship or notarials must be sent to the embassy’s ACS unit through [email protected].
Updates regarding these changes will be posted on the US embassy website ph.usembassy.gov, facebook.com/USEmbassyPH/and X account @USEmbassyPH.
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