The stay of some 350,000 Filipinos facing deportation in the United States might be extended amid the expected immigration policy changes under the administration of US President-elect Joe Biden.

In a Laging Handa briefing, Philippine Ambassador to US Jose Manuel Romualdez on Wednesday said there are around 350,000 pending cases of deportation among Filipinos in the US, a number of which is now on appeal at deportation courts.

“Posibleng puwedeng ma-extend yung kanilang stay dito (their stay might be extended) and it’s also possible that these changes might occur under the presidency of President-elect Biden,” he said.

Romualdez said there are “indications” that Biden would introduce more “changes” in the current immigration policies of the US, many of which could be “beneficial for many of our Filipinos”.

The Philippines has been excluded from the list of eligible states to participate in the US H-2A and H-2B visa programs in 2020.

A report earlier cited a Federal Register report saying “the Philippines had a high H-2B overstay rate,” with nearly 40 percent Filipino visa holders overstaying in 2017 alone.

The H-2A program allows American employers to bring foreign nationals to the US to fill temporary agricultural jobs, while H-2B visas are dedicated to temporary non-agricultural jobs. (PNA)