On March 13, I had
the privilege of touring portions of the U.S. Embassy in Manila. It is unfortunate that the embassy grounds
are not normally open for tours. The
property, built on land reclaimed from Manila Bay in the 1930s, is the site of
many historical events.
In addition to the
grounds and chancery building, an hour was spent in the new Annex building
which houses a variety of consular services, including visa issuance. Opened in 2011, the Annex has over 99
service windows and provides a clean and comfortable waiting area capable of
seating over 500 applicants. There is
even a children’s play area (designed and supported by embassy staff). Obviously, a great improvement over the old
visa complex.
Part of the tour
included a simulated walkthrough of the entire visa issuance process, starting
with entry into the compound and finishing at the last window where a decision
is made. Whenever I have the
opportunity to visit an embassy, alone or with a client, I come away with a better
understanding of the visa applicant experience.
And on this trip, I
also came away with a colorful hat!
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