Here Anything Goes

My journal for my passport renewal:

Around mid-month of April 2010, I decided to renew my passport as it is already expired for more than two years.  I was very surprised with the new procedures.  Walk-in is no longer entertained in Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Manila.  Ooops there is now two DFAs in Manila.   One is the old office along Roxas Blvd., Pasay and the other is the new office in Macapagal near Mall Of Asia (MOA).

Please note I will be talking of the Manila procedures only as I understand there are other DFA offices in the provinces which may have different procedures.

All passport related transactions are entertained only in the DFA-Macapagal.  Yes, they no longer accept in old DFA-Roxas Blvd.

Here’s the steps:

Step 1:  Set Appointment (either online or call 737-1000)

Second week of April 2010,  I visited the  DFA Philippines website and at the middle-right of the page I clicked the “Make an appointment” link to set an appointment.  Before going to DFA, applicant, whether new or renewal or for updation/revision or replacement of passports, must first set an appointment either thru DFA Set Appointment site or call 737-1000.  When I was in the set-appointment web page, I filled up information in their online form then click click click buttons until I reach the end page which is the setting of date as to when will be my appointment for passport renewal.  Funny as I find it, the open date was May 4, 2010 and onwards to think I was setting appointment around week 2 of April.  Meaning, I have to wait for more than three weeks  or approximately a month. After I click the last button, I saw a successful remark on the page and a pdf file.  The instruction is to print the pdf file in three copies and bring the printed copies on the set appointment date.

Step 2:  Appear in person at the DFA-Macapagal on the date and time of your appointment

Step 2 a: Show your appointment docs to the guard on duty

Then, come May 4, 2010, I am inside the new DFA-Macapagal office.  Who are inside are only the applicants as they are the only ones allowed to enter the premises.  There’s this gate where the passport applicants should enter.  If I remember it right, they call it gate 2.  In this gate, I showed the printed copies to the guard who then directed me to the reception tables near the entrance of the main office. The DFA personnel in the reception then checked/verified if I have a set appointment in their listing for  that day.

Step 2 b:  Application/submission of required documents

After confirming my name on the list they then directed me to enter the main door and told to get a queing number and wait for the number to be called or showed up in the queing board.

When my number showed up in the queing board there also showed which processing window I should go to.  When I was in the window, the officer asks for my verified/confirmed printed copies, old passport,  xerox of front and back of old passport and two valid IDs.

I was asked about the type of processing, should it be regular or express? Regular processing is I have to wait for 20 working days while Express processing is 10 working days waiting time.  Since I am not in a hurry I opted the regular type.

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In that window, I was given a receipt which shows the amount I need to pay and the date of claiming (June 2, 2010) along with the stapled requirements I submitted to them. Also, they returned my old passport with hole in it (meaning it is no longer valid).

Step 3:  Payment and interview and photo-capture

Right after, I was directed to go to the cashier for payment and to get another queing number for the last step: the interview and photo-capture sessions.

In this last step, I gave the receipt and the stapled documents to the designated officer and this officer interviewed me about my personal details I wrote/encoded in my online application (during the setting up of appointment online) and after verifying information I was told to fix myself and remove my earrings for photo-capture. I was reminded not to show my teeth and show my ears during the photo-shoot.

To add info on photo-capture, applicants should wear clothes with collar and sleeves so better to go there in your formal upper attire: collars and sleeves.

So, I spent few hours in this day of May 4, 2010 just to process renewal of my passport.  Actually, I was there 10a.m. but 10:30a.m. is my appointment time and finish 2:30p.m. for the whole process.  Accordingly, applicants should show up at their appointed time and date otherwise they need to set new appointment again.  Also, applicants can enter the building 30 minutes before their appointment time but not earlier than 30 minutes.  Better to  just arrive 30 minutes earlier than your appointed time otherwise you will wait outside the gate of DFA.

Step 4:  Claim your new passport

I was able to claim my renewed passport last June 3, 2010.   Claiming time is only from 1p.m to 4p.m.  I came there around 3p.m.

Claimants should enter a different gate this time.  Show the receipt to the guard on duty.  He/she will direct you to enter only the door for the passport releasing.  In the releasing area, there’s a box where the claimant should drop his/her receipt.  Then wait for your name to be called.  So, just sit and relax and be alert in the waiting benches there.  After a few minutes my name is called.  I then went to the designated window where my name is called and showed my two valid IDs to the officer.  Upon seeing my valid IDs, the officer then told me to sign and gave my renewed passport and my receipt.

Yehey! I now have my new passport, I can fly now anytime.

This is very surprising, I was there around 3 pm and I was out around 3:30pm the same day.  I only spent around 30 minutes.

Take note, applicants have the option to express-deliver their passport.  After, your interview and photo-capture, go to the www-express delivery area inside DFA, give your receipt to them and pay the delivery charges.  They say, just wait for a day after your claiming due date: your passport is knocking at your door.

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