VVA Chapter PI 887

Allen “Pop” Reeves American Legion Post 123
U.S. Embassy Manila, Philippines
U.S. Consular Agency Cebu, Philippines

February 22, 2022

Message for U.S. Citizens:  Passport and Citizenship Appointment Availability

We know that U.S. citizens are beginning to plan travel as pandemic-related restrictions are lifted or modified around the world.  However, COVID-19 restrictions continue to affect our operations at the U.S. Embassy in Manila and the U.S. Consular Agency in Cebu.  As a result of ongoing staffing shortages and the need to maintain social distance in our waiting room, we do not expect to return to pre-pandemic appointment levels in the near future.  This means appointment wait times may be longer than expected.  We will continue to prioritize service provision to U.S. citizens with immediate travel plans or who are in emergency circumstances.

To ensure in-person appointments are available to those who need them, effective immediately, we will only schedule Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) appointments if you have submitted a complete application package to us.  If you have not submitted copies of all required documents, you will not be scheduled for interview.  More information about the CRBA process is available here.

We also ask that all eligible U.S. citizens renew their passports by mail.  Processing times are the same (four to six weeks) whether you renew by mail or in person.  See our website for more information on the mail-in passport renewal process; remember, you can now pay the passport renewal fee online.

You also may be able to return to the United States using your expired U.S. passport through March 31, 2022.  More information is available here.  If you are traveling to the United States and your U.S. passport is close to expiration, you may want to consider renewing your passport during your trip, rather than before departure.  Information on passport renewal wait times in the United States is available here.  Remember, you may need to obtain exit clearances from the Philippine Bureau of Immigration prior to departure.

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For further information and assistance:

*U.S. Embassy Manila: +63 (2) 5301-2000; ACSInfoManila@state.gov

*State Department – Consular Affairs: 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444

*Philippines Country Specific Information

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