Tag: Passport Renewal and New Application Processing at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)

My DFA Experience, part 2

Community issues

Passports

It took a while for me to write the part 2 of My DFA Experience. The reason for this is I want to know if both rush and regular processing of passports really work. My little girl and I opted for rush processing as I had to go back to Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the copy of my passport for the little girl’s travel clearance. It actually worked and there wasn’t much of a hassle even when we opted to pick up our passports than have it delivered. That’s rush processing with personal pick-up. Now for the choice of regular processing with delivery, it also worked just fine. My dad and my brother chose this option. We paid an additional Php180 for the delivery charge per passport. My dad and my brother were given the dates when their passports will arrive but you know what? It arrived two days before the release date! Not bad, right?

My two sisters, on the other hand, had their passports processed a few days after us. They chose the option of rush processing with delivery. It’s the same with my dad and my brother. Their passports were delivered ahead of the release date.

Problems may arise like what happened with my friend and her son. Her son’s surname on the passport was misspelled and it took them a while to get it cleared. But I would like to think that these are isolated cases and that the DFA is doing their best to get these things resolved on time.

All in all, I must say that the DFA has already improved their passport services. You can either have your schedule via the web or you can call them up at 737-1000. You can have your passports processed in a rush (Php1,200) or in regular business days (Php900). You can choose to have your passports delivered to your doorstep (additional Php180) or you can pick it up personally on due date.

I believe that if we really want change, it can happen. If we eliminate the fixers, under the table transactions, palakasan system and all that, a better government service can be given to its citizens.

Keep up the good work DFA Passport services!

😉

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My DFA experience

Community issues

Let me tell you my experience with Passport Renewal and New Application Processing at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). My dad, my brother, Hazel my little girl, and I went to their ASEANA Office at the Macapagal Boulevard for our passport applications. My dad and I for renewal only while my brother and Hazel for new application processing. We had our appointments set through the DFA Appointment System’s 737-1000 phone service. We chose the family appointment so we can go as one unit and I can easily assist them while inside DFA. We set our appointment last August 1, 2011 at 8:30AM.

I’ve been hearing reports that there is still a line outside of people trying their luck to get in without an appointment. This is actually true. I’ve seen some people outside the gate 1 of DFA ASEANA Office. This is a warning to those who still believe they can get in without setting an appointment either online or through the 737-1000 phone service… you can’t get in by lining up outside anymore! Your appointment paper, the DFA Form with the appointment date and time on top of it, will be presented to the guards at Gate 2 (for individual applicants). You can’t get in without it so lining up will be a futile effort on your part. Or even if you can get past the guards at the gates, you won’t be entertained inside without an appointment.

Anyway, because of those reports, I told everyone that we would head out to DFA at least an hour and a half in advance (to allow for travel and waiting time). We arrived at the DFA office a little past 8AM. We were directed right away to a table where there were three people scanning the bar codes on top of the Passport Application/Renewal Form (that you have to print as part of the documents you will be bringing with you). After which, we were asked to wait but we didn’t have to wait long. I think we sat at the waiting area outside for just a minute or two then ahead of the designated time of 8:30AM, we were asked to go inside the office already. There we were asked to line up for the Verification of Documents. We didn’t have to stand for a long time because chairs are prepared for applicants to sit on. It was a very organized process. When it’s time for me and my family to go to an available window, we went altogether: my brother first, then Hazel, my dad and I was the last one. I was the one who prepared their documents so I assisted them as their documents were verified. I will write a separate post for the documents required for passport processing. After verification, each one of us were asked to specify whether we want to have our passports rushed or not. I chose express processing (Php1,200 each, 15 days wait or 10 business working days) for Hazel and I, and regular processing for my dad and my brother (Php900 each, 30 days wait or 20 business working days).

Stay tuned for Part 2 of My DFA Experience

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