US Embassy beefs up security;
visa applicants face long wait
By Jowie F. Corpuz, Correspondent
THE United States Embassy in Manila has imposed tighter security to protect its personnel from possible terrorist attacks against American interests.
Over the past week, more security personnel were deployed to guard the embassy premises. Even relatives of American citizens can no longer walk in and apply for non-immigrant visas without prior appointments.
As part of the strict security measures, American consular officials removed their “walk-in” system for those applying for non-immigrant visas. Instead, all applicants must now get appointments before they can transact business with the embassy.
Consul General David Donahue said these measures are meant to protect the embassy from any form of terrorist attacks, particularly after the May 12 suicide bombings in Riyadh, which targeted an American compound, causing several deaths and injuries.
The US State Department immediately shut down its embassy in Riyadh owing to threats not only to American diplomats but also to American residents in the Saudi capital.
“Security has become a major concern and new procedures have been put into effect to help ensure the safety of embassy personnel as well as our visa applicants,” Donahue said.
He said the walk-in system was no longer viable, because the number of applicants for non-immigrant visa had increased dramatically.
“The walk-in system is no longer a practical way to process visa applications. K visa applicants will now be given appointments for their visa interviews,” Donahue said.
K visa applicants are fiancé(e)s or spouses and children of American citizens. Once the embassy receives the approved K petitions from the National Visa Center in the US, it will schedule the applicants for interview and notify them of their medical and interview appointments.
The K visa speeds up the travel of beneficiaries who could be subject to a long period of separation from petitioners during the petitioning process.
It is a non-immigrant visa that allows the beneficiaries to get into the US and stay there until they can apply for lawful permanent residence status instead of having to wait in the Philippines as previously required by the US Immigration law.
