Not enough workload caused USCIS to shut down Manila office, says embassy

Insufficient workload caused the US Citizenship and Immigration Services to close its office in Manila on July 5, US embassy spokesperson Molly Koscina said on Thursday.

Koscina said the embassy would assume responsibility for some of the immigration services previously provided by the USCIS field office in Manila.

"USCIS will close the Manila Field Office on July 5, 2019, due to insufficient workload," Koscina said.

"USCIS will transition Forms I-407 and I-130 to domestic and electronic processing, respectively. These two form types account for approximately 65% of the office’s workload," she added.

The embassy issued the statement after the USCIS in Manila stopped accepting family visa applications, foreign adoptions and citizenship petitions on May 31.

"Under an existing inter-agency agreement, the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines will assume responsibility for certain limited immigration services previously provided at this location by USCIS," Koscina said.

Instructions

Individuals who were previously assisted by the Manila office of USCIS were given instructions on filing petitions and applications.

Koscina said the USCIS office in Mexico would also close on June 30, 2019 and that the agency had "entered into discussions to phase out all international offices."

USCIS spokesperson Jessica Collins earlier said that there were roughly 70 USCIS employees working in 23 international field offices located across the globe.

"If such an agreement is finalized, USCIS staff currently working at international field offices would return to the United States at the appropriate time and in a responsible way to ensure a smooth transition," Collins said. —Dona Magsino/NB, GMA News