New Philippine Passport Rules

[thedug]

Does anyone know about the new rules when renewing your passport? I just went to check the Phil. Embassy site to print out the application form for passport renewal and it says there we now have to apply for our passports in person!

It says we now have to travel to London and then need to go back to pick up our new passport when it's done!... crikey, it's not gonna be cheap since I live in Scotland!

It says the reason for this is because of the new MRP passport that they are introducing but the process is really ridiculous especially if you don't live anywhere near London!

So can anyone please enlighten me about this new process, cos I'm really not sure how this came about, dunno if I just misunderstood it or what....

Thanks in advance peeps, hope to hear from anyone!

Mars

[kimmi]

oh no, I will gonna check again for u Mars because I am also thinking of ammending my passport but if also I need to apply in person I dont think I can do that also because we're living here in Scotland too so it will be a long way for us..

[gingxrick]

hi Mars and Kimmi what part of Scotland are you both in, we live in Fife (ricky and Gingx2) oh and our 7week old baby Kyle.

[A_flyer]

This change of rule is linked to the new machine-readable Filipino passport.

Here is the info I found on Philippines Embassy web site in Belgium:

Date:2008-06-06
Philippine Embassy to implement Machine Readable Passports
“With the launch of MRP, all passport applications received by the Embassy will have to be sent to Manila for processing, which we estimate will take at least two months’ turnaround time,” said Ambassador Edgardo Espiritu.

Aside from the regular documentary requirements, all Philippine passport applicants must appear personally before a consular officer to affix their thumbprints and sign on the new form to be generated by the Embassy’s computer, based on the applicants’ duly accomplished forms. The MRP also requires passport photos to be taken against Royal Blue color background.

With the initial implementation of the MRP technology, Philippine passport applicants are advised to submit their applications well in advance of the expiry dates of their Philippine passports or their expected travel dates to minimize inconvenience.

[joebloggs]

yes, this will cause alot of problems, i think i'll apply for citizenship for the misses and get her a new filipino passport next time in the phils..

or maybe just goto london and tell them her old passport has been lost,and apply for a new one, it doesn't say wether they send your passport to manila, i dont like the idea of the embassy sending her passport to the phils, might never get it back here, and at least a 2 month wait, bye bye passport, might never see it again

[andypaul]

yes, this will cause alot of problems, i think i'll apply for citizenship for the misses and get her a new filipino passport next time in the phils..

or maybe just goto london and tell them her old passport has been lost,and apply for a new one, it doesn't say wether they send your passport to manila, i dont like the idea of the embassy sending her passport to the phils, might never get it back here, and at least a 2 month wait, bye bye passport, might never see it again

They should send it diplomatic post or baggage surely?

Dont know how they work but im thinking neither the postal carrier or airline would wanna lose/tamper/steal a nations diplomatic post?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/672786.stm

http://www.baworldcargo.com/services/diplomatic.shtml
http://www.klmcargo.com/tds/frameset...cePageID=67288

[joebloggs]

true but at least a 2 month wait

it will be chaos, more like 4 months and never seen again.. but i'm sure i will be proved wrong , i hope

[andypaul]

true but at least a 2 month wait

it will be chaos, more like 4 months and never seen again.. but i'm sure i will be proved wrong , i hope

Im sure it will be ok you let the British royal mail carry all your papers and you got them back

[joebloggs]

Im sure it will be ok you let the British royal mail carry all your papers and you got them back

yes all the embassy have to do is put it in an envelope marked 'bill' funny how the PO never lose them

[andypaul]

yes all the embassy have to do is put it in an envelope marked 'bill' funny how the PO never lose them

Using red ink helps protect it even more

[kimmi]

hi Mars and Kimmi what part of Scotland are you both in, we live in Fife (ricky and Gingx2) oh and our 7week old baby Kyle.

hi Kuya Ricky and Ate Ging2x, we're here in Glasgow..actually I am asking here to some friends if we're just near or ur contact number in case our place be near on a map..he he he

pls extend my regards to Ate Ging and to ur lovely angel, Kyle..

[mars_ellis]

Hi guys, it's me Mars... i finally registered under my own name rather than use my husband's...

Anyways, thanks so much for all your replies guys, I really appreciate it.

Well I've just been to London to have my passport renewed, no way out of it i guess. I need to renew it to be able to travel to the US in September for my nephew's wedding. Unfortunately, I don't think that's going to happen now since they say it may take 1-2 months (or more) processing since they need to send the passport back to the Phils. All they can tell me is that they can't guarantee how long it will take since it will all depend on how quick the Manila people work on the passports.... gee, that's just great!!!

So I advise all my fellow filipinos to renew their passports ASAP especially if they have plans on travelling any time soon. For those that needs to ammend their passport, you will now need to apply for a new passport as well, so there is no choice but apply in person in London, they don't care where you come from and how much it is to travel down there but you must come in person, it is imperative cause they need to get your finger prints. It actually doesn't take long to apply that's the only consolation. Btw, you all can have your photos taken in London since I checked all over and no one does a royal blue background that the embassy now requires around here. Also, you don't necessarily need to pick up the passport in person specially if you don't live anywhere near. Just bring with you a stamped Royal Mail special delivery envelope and they will send it back to you instead.

Btw, gingxrick I live in Motherwell - Fife is quite a bit away from us though...

Cheers guys!

[nparvus1202]

According to news at Philippine Embassy London dated 25 June 2008, it syas...

"Based on a trial run by the Department of Foreign Affairs on applications received from Philippine foreign service posts, the Embassy is assured by the DFA that the new passports may be claimed within a few weeks after processing."

Still good.

[Dee31]

I have had my passport renewed here in Philippines, and its true... new or renewal passport applicant should apply in person because of the new MRP. I went to DFA around 7am and finish at about 3pm... no breaks! I will never ever go through with it again. Uggh! :(

[dondi]

I applied for dual citizensip and new passport at the same time on 3 July in London. Got my dual citizenship papers on the same day. Was told new MRP would take 4-6 weeks to process.

Received an email from the embassy on 18 July saying my new MRP is ready for pick-up. So it takes around 15 days.

Not sure if this processing time is true for all but this gives you an idea..

[mars_ellis]

Received my passport through Special Delivery last Thursday, so it's true it doesn't really take all that long as they have said it would take (4-6 weeks). Maybe it's all just a precaution but Thank God I got mine just in time! It only took approximately less than 2 weeks so it's great!... Here's hoping I get my US visa now....

[gazlou]

According to news at Philippine Embassy London dated 25 June 2008, it syas...

"Based on a trial run by the Department of Foreign Affairs on applications received from Philippine foreign service posts, the Embassy is assured by the DFA that the new passports may be claimed within a few weeks after processing."

Still good.

Thank God for that, better than waiting for 2 months.