US envoy assures Pinoys of easy visa application process

The United States Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg on Saturday encouraged Filipinos to travel to the US, saying visa application process now is relatively "easy."

"The majority of people who apply are approved for visas. It's rather a standard and very easy process. You make an appointment, you go in, you have an interview, [and] as long as you are a stable resident of the Philippines, you're going to get the visa and you enjoy the Unites States," Goldberg told reporters at the US Embassy's road show at a mall in Pasay City.

"Lady Liberty" and "Uncle Sam" make themselves available for pictures with children and passersby during the US Embassy's road show on Saturday March 1, 2014, at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. Amanda Fernandez
Also he said the process for US visa application is "user-friendly."

"We have a nice new consular office at the Embassy... people don't need to wait outside, and it's fairly quick to get an appointment," he said, adding "[most] of applicants are approved. All of that is important for people to keep in mind and it is easy to travel to the US."

Road show

On Saturday, the US Embassy kicked off its road show at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, where officials entertained and answered questions of Filipinos interested in getting a US visa.

"We are here to explain what the embassy does, help demystify our services and to try to help people as best as we can because sometimes people are intimidated by the big American Embassy and high walls and all of that," Goldberg said.

"This is a way to share to the public some of the things that we do and some of the great American cultural traditions... singing and dancing... we have a chef here from the United States," he added.

Moreover, he said the road show is to showcase the strong ties between the US and the Philippines.

"That is why we also have performances by Filipino celebrities who have been influenced by American music and whose successes we want to celebrate," he said in a separate statement. — LBG, GMA News

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