For the first time since before the pandemic, a Philippine diplomat visited Kodiak on last week. The consular team provided services that people would otherwise have to leave the island, or the state, to receive.
The Philippine National Anthem, “Lupang Hinirang,” played for newly sworn in citizens at Kodiak ’s Best Western Hotel this week. The hotel’s Harbor Room was packed with people looking to meet with the Southeast Asian country’s visiting consulate.
Immigration can be complex, but the gist for many is that when some Philippine nationals become U.S. citizens, they end up renouncing their home country’s citizenship. But, they can regain legal ties as dual citizens later. That’s what Briones did. Philippine Consulate General Neil Frank Rivera Ferrer said he tries to serve Alaska at least once a year. Teams mostly have gone to cities like Anchorage and Juneau in recent years, but this is the first time anyone can remember consular outreach to Kodiak in nearly a decade.Ferrer, his consulate staff, and volunteers helped 296 people file paperwork with the Philippine government during their day in Kodiak for a variety of administrative services.
Ferrer serves Northern California, Northern Nevada, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington State, and Wyoming in addition to Alaska. The combined population he serves is around 1.3 million Filipino people. “Their journey from the Philippines to here has transformed their lives, their families’ lives, how many generations,” she said.
And now many folks who’ve realized that dream want to go back to the Philippines. U.S. citizens can usually only stay in the Philippines for about a month depending on their visa, but dual citizenship allows them to stay longer, or even move back. With a Philippine passport, they can also have a faster process when going through customs and immigration.
Southwest Daisy Briones Kodiak Neil Frank Rivera Ferrer Philippine Consulate Rebecca Carrillo U.S. Citizenship
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