Australian embassy visa office unavailable from May 22 to 23

MANILA, Philippines - The Australian Embassy’s Visa and Immigration Office will be unavailable from May 22 to 23 as its officers will participate in “staff training." In an advisory on its website (www.australia.com.ph), the Australian embassy in Manila said it has put in place procedures for “urgent matters that require attention." “Clients may contact the Call Centre number or send an email to immigration.manila@dfat.gov.au for any urgent enquiries or emergencies. Urgent matters or emergencies relate to people who need to travel due to a death in the family, health and medical reasons, or an unplanned urgent event of significant importance," it said. Otherwise, it said any applications collected by the courier or lodged at the VIA Centre from May 21 to 24 will be delivered to the embassy on Monday, May 26. The Visa and Immigration Office resumes normal operation on Monday, the embassy said. “If you plan to travel on or near these dates, please ensure that your application is collected or lodged 10 days before your date of travel," it said. - GMANews.TV