PH embassy: Consult lawyers as US reviews asylum seekers who entered on short-term visas
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine embassy in Washington, D.C. urged Filipinos to “remain informed of recent developments in US immigration and visa policies and to ensure compliance with applicable US immigration laws” days after the State Department said it would revoke visas for foreigners who entered the country as short-term visitors and later applied for asylum.
In a statement, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed earlier reports about the planned review.
“Obtaining a visa in order to seek asylum is fraud — which is grounds for visa revocation…. These types of visas are issued with the clear understanding that they are for those who intend to return home,” said Pigott.
The State Department, which issues both short-term and long-term visas to the United States, said it will work with the Department of Homeland Security to identify persons who entered the US on short-term visas and later filed asylum to stay for good. The White House, in an X post, said “up to two hundred thousand visas” would be revoked in what it described as the “largest mass visa revocation in history.”
“Recent reports indicate that the US Department of State has begun reviewing B1/B2 business and tourist visas issued to foreign nationals who subsequently applied for asylum in the United States, with visa revocations expected to be undertaken on a rolling basis. Filipino nationals who have concerns regarding their current immigration status are strongly encouraged to consult a qualified US immigration attorney or an accredited legal service provider for advice appropriate to their individual circumstances,” said the Philippine embassy.
It added, “The Embassy reminds the Filipino community that immigration cases are determined by the appropriate US authorities based on the circumstances of each case.”
Filipino nationals may call 202-368-2767 or 202-769-8049, or send an email to atn@phembassy-us.org for consular help and Assistance-to-Nationals concerns, it said.
US President Donald Trump has made immigration and a tough, sometimes brutal, crackdown on those found to have violated immigration laws a cornerstone of his administration.
The State Department said some 175,000 visas had been revoked for various reasons since the second Trump administration started.
The supposed “largest mass visa revocation in history” comes as most polls indicate that Trump’s approval is at an all-time low. Polls have also indicated that Americans, in the lead-up to the midterm elections, have waned in their support of Trump’s war on Iran, on top of growing domestic and economic concerns. – Rappler.com
