MANILA — Starting May 19, Filipinos applying for immigrant visas will have to reschedule their appointments if they have incomplete documents, the US Embassy in Manila announced Friday.

It said that, starting May 19, applicants with incomplete documents will not be interviewed.

"Be aware that the next available appointment may be months from now," the embassy added.

New US visa application process to start September 28

An immigrant visa is issued to an applicant planning to live and work permanently in the United States.

The embassy said applicants need to make sure they have the following before they go to their visa interview:

• Passport (valid for at least 60 days beyond intended travel date)

• Original Civil Documents (e.g., certificates of birth, death, marriage, Certificate of No Marriage or CENOMAR, Advisory of Marriages, and proof of any termination of marriage)

•  Original proof of termination of marriage for applicants with previous marriage

• Original Philippine Police Clearance (National Bureau of Investigation clearance) for applicants aged 16 and above.

• NBI AKA for applicants with aliases or nicknames, including different spellings, appearing on public documents

• Foreign Police Certificate (for any country the visa applicant worked or lived for 12 months or more).

• Affidavit of Support (I-864) and financial/tax documents from petitioner/joint sponsor

• Petitioner’s original birth certificate for applicants being petitioned by their child or a sibling 

• DS-260 Confirmation Page

• Interview Appointment Letter

Applicants must also have gone through a medical examination at St. Luke’s Extension Clinic (SLEC) before the interview, the embassy also said.

It said that applicants can check the pre-interview checklist and the embassy's visa information page for more clarity.

The embassy reminder comes as US immigration authorities crack down on undocumented people in the United States and have conducted large-scale deportations that have raised concerns about due process and other rights.

Migrante presses PH consulate general for plans on Pinoys detained for immigration issues