US Embassy to remain closed until Wednesday, Sept. 28

The US Embassy announced on Tuesday that it will be closed to the public until Wednesday, September 28 due to heavy rains brought by Typhoon Pedring. On Tuesday, news video on GMA News TV showed flood waters creeping up the front gates of the US Embassy along Roxas Boulevard in Manila.

Non-immigrant and Immigrant Visa appointments scheduled for September 27 and 28 will be rescheduled for a proximate date, and affected clients should expect a call regarding the new schedule in the coming days, the US Embassy said. The US Embassy advised American citizens in the country to call the Embassy switchboard at 301-2000 should they face emergency circumstances. A message posted on its website also advised American nationals to keep updated, secure their travel documents, and inform US-based kin of their whereabouts. "In the event the typhoon affects where you live, locate shelter, monitor media reports, and follow all official instructions. Carry your travel documents at all times (i.e. U.S. passport, birth certificate, picture ID’s, etc.) or secure them in a safe, waterproof location. You should also contact friends and family in the United States with updates about your whereabouts," it said. — CANDICE MONTENEGRO/RSJ, GMA News