Philippines | Face-to-face interviews resumed for spousal visa applicants

The Bureau of Immigration has resumed face-to-face interviews for applicants of spousal visas.

‌Key Points:

• The issuance of Proclamation No. 297 lifted the public health emergency throughout the Philippines, making all prior orders, memoranda and issuances during the state of public health emergency withdrawn and no longer in effect.
• As a result, the Bureau of Immigration announced that face-to-face interviews of applicants for spousal visas will resume after discontinuing the practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Only the petitioner spouse and the applicant spouse are required to attend, and they may be accompanied by a lawyer if desired.

BAL Analysis: The Bureau of Immigration has also confirmed that applicants for certain Emigration Clearance Certificates are now required to personally appear at the Main Office for processing. The Philippine government may resume additional in-person requirements for other visa processes going forward. BAL will continue to provide updates as they become available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

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