US embassy to temporarily close on December 24

MANILA, Philippines — All visa interviews and routine services at the US Embassy in Manila will be canceled Tuesday, December 24, following US President Joe Biden's order to close all federal government offices for Christmas Eve, embassy officials announced Monday.

"The U.S. Embassy will be closed on Tuesday, December 24 following President Joseph R. Biden’s announcement on Thursday," the embassy said.

"All visa interviews and routine American Citizens Services (ACS) appointments at the U.S. Embassy on December 24 are canceled and will be rescheduled," it added.

Despite the main embassy's temporary closure, the offsite Visa Application Center will maintain its regular operations on December 24 for applicants who have scheduled appointments for photo and fingerprint collection.

Individuals with scheduled appointments were advised to check their email for the new schedule or rescheduling instructions.

Biden issued an executive order on December 19 that ordered all executive departments and agencies of the federal government to be closed and all their employees to be excused from duty on December 24.  — Cristina Chi