United States Embassy Manila, Philippines

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Manila (June 3, 2020)

Location: The Philippines

Event:

Philippine Bureau of Immigration Update

Under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ), the Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) publicly announced the following guidelines and measures aimed to achieve social distancing and prevent the spread of COVID-19:

1.       Online appointment system in place:

• Only clients with appointment codes will be served during the specified date and time of their appointments;
• Clients will need to present government-issued or valid identification cards before they will be allowed to enter the bureau’s premises; and
• Clients may still use the services of BI-accredited travel agencies and law offices on their behalf.

2.       Clients can review a complete set of instructions and requirements needed for every BI transaction at the bureau’s website.

3.       Clients can address their inquiries and concerns through BI’s online social media platforms and telephone hotlines found on their website.

4.       International travel restrictions remain under GCQ:

• Operations:  Most international flights remain suspended as a result of the travel restrictions, thus operations at NAIA are still downscaled and personnel there are still on skeletal and rotational deployment;
• Arrival:  Only Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs); Filipino citizens and their spouses and dependents; foreign diplomats; and foreign crew members of airlines are allowed to enter the country; and
• Departure:  All foreigners can leave anytime, but Filipinos are not allowed to leave unless they are OFWs, permanent residents, or holders of student visas in their countries of destination.

Actions to Take:

• Contact the airlines directly for reservations and updated information.
• Check with your airlines, cruise lines, or travel operators regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
• Monitor local news for updates.
• Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
• For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
• Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
• Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 here for information on conditions in the Philippines.
• Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the U.S.
• Consult resources below as necessary: 
  • Philippine Department of Health (DOH)
  • Philippine Department of Health (FAQs)
  • Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI)
  • Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA)
  • Philippine Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB)
  • Philippine Maritime Industry Authority
  • Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs
  • Philippine Department of Interior and Local Government
  • Philippine Department of Tourism
  • COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov
  • CDC page on COVID-19
  • Philippines Travel Advisory
  • Philippines Country Information Page

Assistance:

• U.S. Embassy in the Philippines
  1201 Roxas Boulevard
  +63(2) 5301-2000, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
  After-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is +(63)(2) 5301-2000
• State Department–Consular Affairs 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444.
• State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Advisories, Alerts, and the Philippines Country Specific Information.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts.
• Follow us on  Twitter and Facebook.