Search This Blog

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Earlier today, I renewed my Philippine passport months in advance (its to expire February of next year). Good thing too, as I didn't expect that it would take me ~3 hours at the DFA to get through every guard, gate, counter, person, bench, doorway, chair, room, seat, table, line, signage, escalator,queue, corridor, and other queues of which descriptions I shall spare the gentle reader. Suffice to say, I polished a lot of seats :-)

Posted by at

37 comments:

  1. CatH \(^_^)/August 25, 2011 at 1:32 AM

    In the end, the passport photo taken of yours truly made me look like a puffed-up virago from a scary movie. I didn't have the energy anymore to demand another picture to be taken of my inner beauty :-) I was just too hungry.

    note - apparently there's passport extension - good for 1 year, and you can get it in 2-3 days.

    but thinking about having to queue all over again and then repeat the experience when the time is up - it made me decide, I'd rather wait another 5 years before I repeat the experience ...hehehe!

    ReplyDelete
  2. CatH \(^_^)/August 25, 2011 at 1:42 AM

    I was lucky, I have a trip this October 2011, and though at first the first appointment I had would be in September yet, in my call to the hotline, I managed to get an August appointment. Even if I could get the e-passport 20 working days after, it would still have me in a manageable schedule.

    However, between Php 950 for 20 working days and Php 1200 for rush or 10 working days, I think the difference is not too bad.

    Note - The DFA advises the public to file for their passport applications at least 12 weeks before their intended date of travel.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tochie **August 25, 2011 at 3:19 AM

    Thanks for the tips Cat. I might also be doing that soon.

    ReplyDelete
  4. CatH \(^_^)/August 25, 2011 at 6:34 AM

    due ka ba for passport renewal? I was thinking kc buti na maging e-passport instead of extending the old green one...

    I would suggest also that its perfectly all right to call the hotline of the DFA instead of going through the others which also process it for you. I tried one, it asked me to pay Php 1,800 (and I drop off the papers and photocopies at their payment center or courier) but in the end, I would really have to go to the DFA anyway, so I don't see why I have to pay extra for them if its just a matter of processing...its still the same, they'd still have to call and make the appointment for you.

    hence Php 1800 versus Php 1070 (normal processing + Php 120 courier delivery)...

    So my recommendation is to just call the DFA hotline, get the appointment even its too far ahead - you can try calling them up again and asking them to resked your appointment closer because some people do cancel. There's also rush I think after 5 pm and Saturdays.

    During the call, you can already give the details so they will fill out the form, and all you have to do is prepare the requirements, download and print the form on long bondpaper then...make sure to be at least at the DFA 30 minutes before your appointment time.

    Maybe in the future these waiting times and numbers will ease up.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Rom O'MarAugust 25, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    What a hustle!! Over here, we get an application from any post office. Option1: Fill them up and mail it with your (2)passport photos, old passport + processing fee then you're done.
    Option 2:Go to any post office with your completed application, pay the processing fee, surrender your old passport and you're done..you seldom see a line for people waiting. You will get your new passport with your old one by mail in 45 days..NO EXCEPTIONS!! Karamihan sa pinoy that i know believe it or not...NAGREREKLAMO PA at ang tagal daw dumating!!oh well you can't please everybody...have a good day Cat!! Kuya Rom

    ReplyDelete
  6. dr.philip del carmenAugust 25, 2011 at 3:35 PM

    we called in for our application, we can't remember which agency (will confirm), they picked up the documents & we chose the date we were to go to DFA to sign...at the DFA, it took us less than 15 mins...you just sign the documents...then they deliver the passports.
    it cost us around P1700 then.

    ReplyDelete
  7. dr.philip del carmenAugust 25, 2011 at 5:51 PM

    www.philippinepassports.com.ph

    for DFA Express passport delivery : tel no.737-1000

    ReplyDelete
  8. CatH \(^_^)/August 25, 2011 at 7:21 PM

    actually with the old passport I had, it was no hastle...in the application (well, probably at that time because I was young and had my dad with me so my going to the DFA in Cebu was easy), then in the renewal, it was simply a matter of submitting the picture and filling a form, then a courier handles both the getting it from you and submitting it to DFA.

    These days kc Kuya Rom, both your picture and signature and thumbprints are scanned at the DFA (old passports used to be mano-mano writing the details down on the passport).

    So for renewal, you can't send a picture anymore (entonces,it reminds me of my driver's license pictures too, I always look haggard and surly hehehe...could be all the waiting too in the hot sheds outside).

    ReplyDelete
  9. CatH \(^_^)/August 25, 2011 at 7:24 PM

    maybe it was in the earlier days...because I met up with a friend last night, she mentioned hers took a shorter time too, but that was when the e-passport was in the infancy stage :-)

    the one I first tried asking before using the DFA hotline was telephonepassportexpress.com (I saw their sign when I was queueing up for the Ayala MRT train tickets).
    tel # +63 5671111

    thats the Php 1800 which includes their doing the pickup and submission and delivery of documents...

    ReplyDelete
  10. CatH \(^_^)/August 25, 2011 at 7:39 PM

    the Philippine passport is processed at DFA (which is Aseana Business Park).

    go through gate 2

    go to verification counter, where they will scan your printed and filled out application form and will sign it

    go to waiting area where the batch for your time is huddled up

    wait

    go inside the building when your batch is called

    wait and watch your queue snake around the room (at least it has aircon)

    go to counter when you are called or asked to move

    counter will check your documents and give you the slip for payment (whether Php 1200 or Php 950 - rush or normal)

    go up to 2nd floor where the cashiers are by using escalator

    queue up for lines at the cashier

    * note, courier delivery is not included nor paid here, its an option for those who wish to avail of it when encoding/picture taking is done

    pay in cash either the Php 1200 or Php 950

    go to counter where they will give you a number so when its your turn to be "encoded" into the system, you will just go to the counter with that number
    (I got luckier here, when I queued, I can only guess what happened because there were no numbers given and we were led to a corner of the room where we all sat down in a line and were called when a counter was available)

    wait to be called and remove earrings and such, comb your hair and make yourself presentable (hopefully you are wearing a shirt with a collar, any color for your picture)

    when you are called to the available counter, they will encode the info on your app form, ask you to check while they type, take your picture, have your digital signature taken, your thumbprints scanned then print out the form
    you signify your "ok" to the encoded items and sign the printed form

    at this point, you can go home or go to the counters again where the courier delivery option is available
    queue at the cashier for this (this is not the same cashier as the first one where you paid your processing fee).
    with your O.R., gueue at the counter where they will arrange for the delivery...you are asked to verify from the system which matches your records
    you are given an OR and a copy of the claim

    the end

    oh, if you wish to do public commute, at this point I had to walk to the other end of the street.
    then attempt to cross a dangerous looking highway with so many trucks, buses and jeepneys
    we couldn't see a clear walkway but well, since apparently the security guard at another lot in the area told me, that people cross (hopefully without getting flattened into a pancake), I timed my dash :-)
    then walked forward again to see which buses I could safely board ...without getting squished or arrested by any traffic enforcer...

    adventyur! haha!

    ReplyDelete
  11. louella alixAugust 25, 2011 at 11:04 PM

    Am so lucky to live in Cebu. Yan lang ang masasabi ko.

    ReplyDelete
  12. CatH \(^_^)/August 25, 2011 at 11:13 PM

    true Mommy Loy...hmm...I should ask my mom her experience when she renews her passport this October :-)

    in fact, I was thinking of having my renewal in Cebu while I was there in July...but I thought it would be faster to get it here ..hehe!

    ReplyDelete
  13. louella alixAugust 26, 2011 at 3:36 AM

    The passports now take longer to process because they are all sent to Manila. Two months on the average ang waiting time. But lining up in the Cebu DFA office does not take long especially for us senior citizens. They have assigned a desk for the senior citizens, I didn't have to line up, was told to proceed to the said desk right away.

    ReplyDelete
  14. tunde akingbulugbeAugust 26, 2011 at 3:46 AM

    same story here to get a passport.but the protocol you go through is your choice,there is always a way round these things.
    be careful of the highway next time,pls.

    ReplyDelete
  15. CatH \(^_^)/August 26, 2011 at 3:54 AM

    well then, am glad to hear that, because now I know my mom will not find it tiring then as she would also be lining up on the senior citizen lane :-)

    hmm...I wonder if there could be a category in the future as Junior na Senior Citizen...hehehe

    ReplyDelete
  16. CatH \(^_^)/August 26, 2011 at 3:55 AM

    hi Tunde...

    I think this time its just because of so many of my countrymen getting e-passport thats why its like a flood of salmon trying to swim upstream :-)

    thank you...it took me a long time to cross, almost as long as waiting to get into the DFA building..hehehe

    ReplyDelete
  17. Boboy YonzonSeptember 3, 2011 at 4:12 AM

    Yup! I had my passport extended. Good for two years. Got it in two working days, no sweat.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Boboy YonzonSeptember 3, 2011 at 4:12 AM

    Yup! I had my passport extended. Good for two years. Got it in two working days, no sweat.

    ReplyDelete
  19. CatH \(^_^)/September 3, 2011 at 9:18 AM

    hay...I shoulda done that prolly but was afraid some countries would prefer my passport to be the e-version...

    ReplyDelete
  20. louella alixSeptember 3, 2011 at 6:01 PM

    Oy, I got my extension after an hour. Faster in Cebu City?

    ReplyDelete
  21. CatH \(^_^)/September 3, 2011 at 9:03 PM

    argh..dapat yata nag pa extend na lang ako and in Cebu at that...

    for one thing, sayang ang maganda kong picture sa old passport...

    *toink* ampanget labas ng hitsura namin ...reminds me of my drivers license pictures...hehehe...

    ReplyDelete
  22. CatH \(^_^)/September 8, 2011 at 9:54 AM

    not bad..I received my passport on September 8 (I thought mga Sept 12)...

    I looked, sabi na issue August 26 :-)

    anyway, the only thing am not happy with it is of course my picture..I have Gucci bags under my eyes...(sosi kc)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Tochie **September 8, 2011 at 12:35 PM

    Happy to hear that.

    ReplyDelete
  24. dr.philip del carmenSeptember 8, 2011 at 4:11 PM

    Orig ba o Greenhills?

    ReplyDelete
  25. Me AnnSeptember 9, 2011 at 4:34 AM

    lucky for us, i did not take that long. we (all 5 of us) were finished in less than an hour's time. and yes, i did not use a third party to apply for our passports.

    ReplyDelete
  26. CatH \(^_^)/September 9, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    you're happy to hear I have eyebags? waaah

    ReplyDelete
  27. CatH \(^_^)/September 9, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    well, at least orig to and not made in China...hahaha

    ReplyDelete
  28. CatH \(^_^)/September 9, 2011 at 6:48 AM

    probably may times na peak season...sabi ng a friend of mine who had hers renewed when bago pa ang e-passport, mabilis nga rin daw...

    ReplyDelete
  29. CatH \(^_^)/September 9, 2011 at 6:49 AM

    I know I asked Chito here if we could staple the old (kc nandon yung US visa ko) and new passport (yung e-passport) to keep them together...

    wanted to ask if thats ok or considered na di dapat may holes ang passport na bago? :-)

    other than putting a garter around it to keep both together, or as it is now, putting both of the passports in one jacket...

    ReplyDelete
  30. dr.philip del carmenSeptember 9, 2011 at 6:58 AM

    yes you can...my old passports with US Visa are stapled.

    ReplyDelete
  31. CatH \(^_^)/September 9, 2011 at 7:32 AM

    okidoks..kc naman may sinabing may "sensitive electronics" daw sa new passport..so takot at baka ma-invalid :-)

    ReplyDelete
  32. dr.philip del carmenSeptember 9, 2011 at 7:55 AM

    You'll staple it at the back cover.

    ReplyDelete
  33. CatH \(^_^)/September 9, 2011 at 8:07 AM

    back cover of new passport to back cover of old passport?

    or back cover of the new to the front cover of the old?

    ReplyDelete
  34. dr.philip del carmenSeptember 9, 2011 at 8:10 AM

    Back of the new to front of old. Just be sure there are no chips or that sort on back cover of new pport.

    ReplyDelete
  35. CatH \(^_^)/September 9, 2011 at 8:23 AM

    thanks po...

    naku, I sort of miss my old passport, I was hoping to fill all its pages with stamps :-)

    nainggit ako sa mga taong nag extend instead of renew...every time I see my photo on the new one...hahaha~

    ReplyDelete
  36. Tochie **September 9, 2011 at 1:51 PM

    Hahahaha...that statement was deliberately left like that. And I expected what your response will be. I thought you'd pick up the other meaning. And I was right, hahahaha....

    ReplyDelete
  37. CatH \(^_^)/September 10, 2011 at 9:25 AM

    my dear, e nasa dulo ang statement na yon, at don ka nag reply banda, not to a particular fragment, kaya alam ko na...mwahaha!

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)