By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora

SIV APPLICANTS. Afghan nationals arrive in the Philippines aboard a chartered flight on Jan. 6, 2025 to complete the processing of their special immigrant visa to the United States. The US Embassy on Sunday (Jan. 19) said the last batch left the country on Jan. 17 and is back in the US. (Photo courtesy of US Embassy in Manila)

MANILA – All Afghan nationals who transited to process their special immigrant visa (SIV) have left the Philippines and are now in the United States, the US Embassy in Manila said on Sunday.

The embassy clarified that “just under 200 Afghan nationals” actually arrived in the country to process their SIV applications as opposed to the earlier information provided that up to 300 are flying in. Of the total, about 60 percent are minors.

The number was planned at 300 but last-minute drops were made for various reasons, including medical and personal withdrawals.

In a statement, US Embassy spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay confirmed that the last batch left the Philippines on Jan. 17 aboard a commercial flight.

“The government of the United States extends deep appreciation to the government of the Philippines for their cooperation and support for US efforts to assist Afghan Special Immigrants,” he said.

READ: Afghans transiting for US visa arrive; 59-day stay starts

The embassy did not provide the specific numbers of flights but said they departed via commercial planes between Jan. 15 and 17.

The Philippine-US deal on the hosting of the Afghan nationals who worked for the US mission in Kabul terminates exactly on the 100th day after the arrival of the first applicant.

Each Afghan national was allowed to stay in the country for a maximum of 59 days.

The first applicant arrived in the Philippines on Jan. 6.

Asked if the US will send another batch to process SIVs in the country, Gangopadhyay told the Philippine News Agency the he “won’t speculate on the future of the program.” (PNA)