FACT CHECK: Visa-free entry to the US for Filipinos not part of Trump’s plans

Claim: US President Donald Trump is discussing the possibility of offering Filipinos visa-free travel to the US.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The TikTok video containing the claim has 1.5 million views, 53,700 likes, 17,900 shares, and 5,228 comments as of writing.

Text in the video states: “Trump: now talking about visa-free [entry] for Philippine citizens.”

Its caption adds: “Trump recently was talking about visa free to USA for Filipinos. He said it would only be fair. Also he said this is because Filipinos are hardworking, honest and God fearing.”

Some social media users seem to believe the video, posting comments such as “US is trying to make visa-free [entry available] for us but the hindrance is our own embassy making it hard for us fellow Filipinos. What a shame.” 

Another comment states: “PBBM, dahil kaibigan ng US President Trump, allows us [to have] free visa.”

([President Bongbong Marcos], because he is a friend of US President Trump, allows us to have free visa).

The facts: Contrary to the claim, there has been no official indication that the US will offer visa-free access to Filipino citizens under Trump’s second term. The video provides no evidence for its claim that this is currently being discussed as part of Trump’s plans. 

As of 2025, the Philippines is not part of the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which allows nationals from select countries to enter the US without a visa for tourism or business for short stays. Filipino citizens still need to apply for a B-1/B-2 visa for tourism, business, or medical purposes. The application process includes completing all required forms, providing supporting documents, attending an in-person interview at the US Embassy, and paying the non-refundable application fee, which ranges between $185 to $315 depending on the visa type.  

Visa Waiver Program: The VWP allows citizens from select countries to visit the US for up to 90 days without needing a visa, provided they have a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization approval. 

To qualify for inclusion in the program, countries must meet strict criteria, such as low visitor visa refusal rates, high passport security standards, and strong counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control, and document security efforts.

Tougher immigration measures: Trump, who was sworn in as US president on January 20, has vowed to intensify his hardline immigration policies, reinforcing the same measures that marked his first term. Targeting birthright citizenship and launching expanded mass deportation programs, Trump remains focused on tightening borders as part of his sweeping immigration crackdown.

Under his governance, Trump portrayed immigration as a national security threat, often framing “illegal” immigrants as adversaries. – Marjuice Destinado/Rappler.com

Marjuice Destinado is a Rappler intern. She is a third-year political science student at Cebu Normal University (CNU), serving as feature editor of Ang Suga, CNU’s official student publication.

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