Quote Originally Posted by PeterB View Post
That was July 2007 - before the new biometric passport.

The plan had been to fly to Manila on Monday, go to VFS to submit the visa application on Tuesday, do a little sightseeing, then fly back to Mindanao on Wednesday. As it was, we had to rearrange our flights and spend Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday and Thursday chasing the replacement passport. Part of the problem was that the original passport was issued in Davao and, because it had been tampered with, we had to get documents faxed up from DFA in Davao. Things would have been just a little easier if we had been able to visit the DFA office which issued the original.

Anyway, we then returned to VFS on Friday, and caught a flight back on Friday afternoon. However, we did get some time for sightseeing.

Of course it was all worthwhile because Ruby's passport, with visa attached, turned up in Tagum just 7 days later (after I had already returned to UK).
Well atleast while waiting for it, you were able to go sightseeing. there's no time wasted

Renewing the old passports then was just very quick but now with the biometric passport it takes a long time even if its a rush it take a month to get it. That's was then when i had it done. I don't know lately if they are getting faster....