MANILA – The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines will open a new Visa Application Center (VAC) during the last part of September to further improve scheduling through the “new and redesigned online appointment system”.
In a release from the embassy, it stated that alongside the launching of the new VAC, an updated visa appointment system and expanded call center services to U.S. citizens in the country will be accessible starting September 28, Saturday.
The new VAC will be located at Parqal Building 8, Level 3, Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, Parañaque City.
The U.S. Embassy mentioned that immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants seeking interview appointments starting September 28 will be required to schedule a separate appointment at the VAC “for photo capture and fingerprint scanning” prior to the interview at the U.S. Embassy on Roxas Boulevard.
“Scheduling will be done through the new and redesigned online appointment system,” the U.S. Embassy said.
ANNOUNCEMENT: The U.S. Embassy is launching a new Visa Application Center and redesigned online appointment system starting September 28, 2024. Please visit our website for complete information regarding these changes: https://t.co/0GugkpbFoq pic.twitter.com/q83fj8cFhp
— U.S. Embassy in the Philippines (@USEmbassyPH) September 6, 2024
Applicants who have scheduled a visa interview before September 28 will not be affected by this change and should proceed directly to their appointment at the Embassy, the release stated.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy boasted a “secure and user-friendly interface” for visa applicants who will be using the new online appointment system, which will be available on September 28 on ustraveldocs.com/ph.
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 embassy reminded.
“The VAC will offer appointment slots from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, and from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 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 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday,” the embassy added.
Additionally, the U.S. Embassy will launch a call center for customers with general, non-emergency American Citizen Services (ACS) inquiries. U.S. citizens can call consular hotlines at (+632) 7792-8988 or (+632) 8548-8223, or (703) 520-2235 for callers in the United States, with passport, citizenship, and notarial service questions.
The U.S. Embassy will also launch a new and dedicated website (ustraveldocs.com/ph/en/american-citizens-services) and email ([email protected]) for these ACS services on September 28.
Inquiries not related to passport, citizenship, or notarials should still be sent to the embassy’s ACS unit directly via [email protected], the embassy clarified.
Updates regarding these changes will be posted on the U.S. Embassy website (ph.usembassy.gov) and on the Embassy’s Facebook (facebook.com/USEmbassyPH/) and X account (@USEmbassyPH), the statement read.
