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Saturday, July 10, 2010

Good News for OFWs concerning Passport application and renewal process..



For any travelling Filipino and most importantly to an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) like me, one of the most important documents that we should have is our passport. The sad thing is, whether some will agree or not; application process has become a disaster for anybody whether new application or renewal of their respective passport. In my case, I’m lucky enough that I didn’t suffer waiting and falling in a very Looonnnnggggggg line. It happened that I’m working in a government office during the time I applied for my existing passport. Actually, it’s intentional because I really would like to avail of this special lane intended for government employees (in 2nd floor of the DFA building). Recently, processing of passport becomes even worst as based on what I have learned from other colleagues and fellow OFWs most specially those who are applying in the DFA Main office.

At present, the implemented system for the passport processing is that, by the first time you fall in line they will not process your application right away. Instead, they will give you an appointment slip with a corresponding date for you to return for the formal application. During only this assigned date, that they will accept your application and starts the processing. Worst thing to happen if you’re not available on this date or failed to report, you have no choice but to fall in line again to receive a new appointment date. This means additional money to spend for the transportation and another time/day to insert in your schedule. The expense for additional transportation can be omitted if you have made an appointment through their website. But, not all can have access to internet to schedule an appointment online.

Now, here’s the good news. About a week ago, while updating my profile in "workabroad.ph"; I saw an article which caught my attention. This article is such a good news for all upcoming and current OFWs. The article says that “OFWs are exempted from the rule of setting an appointment for passport application and renewal

The exact article is attached below:

The Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA) has some good news for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). First, OFWs are exempted from the rule of setting an appointment for passport application and renewal. This is applicable for those who urgently need a passport and can present documents that show there are jobs waiting for them in their countries of destination.

A statement from the DFA-OCA said, “Returning OFWs and those that are due for overseas deployment can have their passports processed immediately provided that they present documents that show there are jobs waiting for them in their countries of destination. Similarly, employment agencies with passport applicants are given special slots for immediate processing and expedited issuance of passports.”

The second good news is the reopening of the DFA satellite office at the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) in Ortigas last June 22. This satellite office will exclusively cater to the needs of OFWs.

The DFA has also increased the number of passport appointments to assure faster passport processing and to serve more applicants.

According to the DFA, “Special passport processing is held every other Saturday, with the view of expanding this service every weekend to accommodate more people with urgent travels. This system will free up more slots on weekdays which is seen to significantly cut down the waiting time for an appointment.”

“To accommodate passport applicants in the provinces, the 19 DFA Regional Consular Offices (RCOs) that are strategically located all over the country are likewise ready to accept more passport applications,” it added.

Aside from OFWs, ordinary travelers who urgently needs passport are given emergency passports. They do not have to go to an appointment system and their passports are immediately processed. According to DFA-OCA chief Assistant Secretary Jaime Victor Ledda, these are appoved by the Passport Director's Office, with telefax number 836-7759.

Another good news is the announcement from DFA that their office will now be available to serve the public even on a Saturday starting this month.

“Source: http://www.ofwguide.com/article_item.php?articleid=1365”

21 comments:

  1. Mabuhay!

    My question is, "PANG OFW LANG BA YAN?"

    How about "STUDENT ABROAD" plus their "GUARDIANS" or PARENTS?

    Pwede ba a avail yan?

    Thanks

    J.B
    Malaysia

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  2. hi there.. i just wanna thank you for this information, this is one of the worries that we are having right now with my frends here in uae, because our passports are to be expired by next year, and they said that renewing passport in the Philippines really can waste a lot of your time. It is good to hear that OFW will not under go in the normal process anymore...Thanks a lot for this information...

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  3. @J.B. of Malaysia

    I think the exemption is only applicable for existing and future OFWs because they will ask for your employment contract to prove that you have a job offer.But at least you can benefit on the other two offers :D

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  4. well sana fair lang.. wala ng special treatment..

    http://www.pesorepublic.com/db/ofw-talk/

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  5. check nyo yung reaction ng ibang OFW

    http://www.pesorepublic.com/db/ofw-talk/

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  6. Thanks!Bon, for posting this information. i'm planning to renew my passport in the phils. on my vacation,next month.Hope they will follow this rules,they implement & must be fair to all without any special treatment to others they know.Really can help us a lot,without appoinment is better,so will not waste our time & money in going back to DFA. Auntie Inday.

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  7. hi!
    tanong kolng pano kung wala kapang employment contract but shure na babalik ka.like ako im a musician sa carnival ship pero stay ako 2 to 3 months satin but i dont have the emplyment contract with me pagbalik.pauwi nako dis april and passport ko expire sa may 5.sabi skin ng emlpoyer ko malamng 2 to 3 months balik nako.so pwede ba akong ma considered para makakuha ng mabilis na passport.thanks

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  8. Kailangan mo present ng other supporting documents as proof na OFW ka.. Like ung visa, return ticket, or OEC. Di ko lang sure kung mapapayagan kang umuwi for now kc meron ngayon rule na dapat at least 6-mos before expiration ang passport para allow ka to travel.. Pero hindi pa ata ito applicable sa ibang countries...

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  9. Thanks dito sa article na to lalu na sa mama ko na OFW at 20 days lang ang bakasyon.. mabuhay !

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  10. I'm hoping this article is still active on that issue. For it would be less burden to all OFWs' like me....

    M A B U H A Y A N G M G A O F W !!!

    Harold Montalban

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  11. This is a great news for all OFW...!!!
    Guys, pls i need ur advice! maeexpire n kc ang passport q this coming june 1,2013 at s april 11, 2013 nmn ang end of contract q. Now, planu qng mgrenew ng passport s pinas pra mgplit ng status. my question is pwede b akong mgbakasyon ng month of may 2013 1 month bago mgexpire ang passport q???? narinig q kc s mga ksma q dpt dw 2 months prior to expiration of passport.... pero d q p nmn confirm qng totoo...
    Plssss..... klngan q ng matibay n sagot s tnong q. Shukran!

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  12. Hi ofw po ako sa dubai and i will have vacation in the Philippines on May 2013, ma expire na po passport ko sa Sept. 2013....gusto ko sana mag renew nalang ng passport sa pinas. hindi po ba mahirap mag pa renew sa pinas at baka kun ano ano pa ang hingin sa akin na documents? i only have COPY of my employment contract at matagal pa po ma expire yung visa ko and i have return ticket and oec. only the passport is expiring....

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  13. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  14. @Anonymous

    Old passport lang po ang hihingin sa inyo na document kapag nagparenew. Then depending on your old passport kapag green pa po yan eh kailangan kayo kunan ng picture and specimen ng signature. Pero doon na po yan personally ginagawa.Pero hindi po ako sure kung ilang days bago nyo makuha kasi mostly eh 1 month din yan. Meron option for rush pero may additional charges po yun for processing ska may mga hinihingi na additional documents. Kasi company po ang magprocess noon at hindi directly sa DFA. Bat hindi nalang kayo magparenew jan sa embassy sa dubai. May pa naman ang alis nyo diba?

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  15. Ofw rin po ako dto sa hk.gusto ko rin magrenew ng passport jan sa pinas kc dto sa abroad
    -kukuha k lang muna ng appointment para sa renewal,aabutin kana ng 15-30 days,dpende sa dami ng nakapila
    -after ka makuhanan ng specimen at maisubmit ung mga needed docs, bibigyan ka ng appointment ulit para maclaim ung new passport mo,aabutin naman ng 2-3months,
    -at ang bayad ng renewal of passports dto ay halos triple ng regular na bayad pag magrerenew ka jan sa pinas.

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  16. Hi, i would like to ask kasi i was able to process my passport and got the released schedule this august 15, 2013, kaso yung auntie ko nag advise na kelangan nya e book ang ticket ko asap para sabay na ako sa kanya papunta dubai at isang scheduled flight lang kami the agency there in dubai advise her to present my passport para iisa lang ang schedule namin, would there be a chance for me to have my passport release a week before august 15, 2013.

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  17. If the advised date of release is August 15, 2013 then I think yan na ung earliest date which you can claim your passport.

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  18. If the advised date of release is August 15, 2013 then I think yan na ung earliest date which you can claim your passport.

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  19. Good pm sir..I am an OFW arrived last Sept 19, 2013 with final exit visa because i accepted job offer from another hospital in Saud. I went to DFA Robinson's Galleria today Sept 23, to renew my passport. they didn't allow me to renew because i need to do an appointment. though i showed to him my job offer. I told them that there was an article that OFW's are exempted in Appointment System. I explained that i need to send my passport this week to process my visa but failed to do so.

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  20. Hello Sir, Meron ba sa cebu passport renewal for as possible 2 weeks lang sana, dahil ang bakasyon ko ay short lang din. Dapat meron silang ganitong paraan sa returning OFW na maiksi lang ang bakasyon.
    Maraming salamat sir.

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  21. Hi..do you have any program for those who stay inthier respective location? My friend cant go back home because he need to stay in canada for some reason coz its paper had undergo for infligth status so its strictly to stay in d country his current location its in alberta he need to fly to toronto for renew it. We have office here in alberta but i think its lack of employee or the processing its to slow. if im not mistaken atlst 3 months were trying to reach them but unfortunately every call they had a fullybook. Do you have any suggestion or online program? Keep us posted please we are neard to expired.salamat

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