Online listing for passport application effective - DFA

The appointment system in applying for passport renewal and for new passports for senior citizens has decongested the Department of Foreign Affairs main office in Pasay City. Claro Cristobal, DFA spokesman, said more than 2, 000 applicants have availed themselves of the online registration for passport application on its second day of implementation. On the first day of the Internet Passport Appointment System on January 14, a total of 1, 106 applicants registered, Cristobal said. Passport applicants formed long queues at the DFA offices in the past weeks not only because it is considered the peak season for traveling but also because of the required personal appearance of applicants for the specimen signature and finger prints for the machine-readable or electronic passport. Passport applicants who availed themselves of the online registration will be entertained beginning Wednesday at the DFA for the processing of their new passports. “Online applicants will not have to wait for a long time on queue, but will be given an allotted time when they can submit all the requirements for a passport," Cristobal said. DFA expects more applicants to schedule their passport application appointment online in the coming days. Initially, the DFA entertains online registration for passport renewal or those with expired or about-to-expire passports and senior citizens. Applicants have to send an e-mail to appointment@dfa.gov.ph and provide the following information: first name, middle name, surname, date of birth, place of birth, number of old passport, expiry date of old passport, and issuance date of old passport. It was intended to reduce the long lines of passport applicants at the DFA offices in Pasay City, which has been swamped with applicants since late November. Cristobal noted that the period between November and March coincides with vacation season when people usually travel overseas. “The usual 3,000 to 3,500 applicants every day had increased by almost twice the number since the peak season for passport application started. Based on record, last December 27, 2007, the DFA has received more than 6,000 passport applicants," Cristobal cited. To further reduce the long lines of applicants, Cristobal appealed to those with no immediate plans of traveling overseas to defer their schedule of application until after March. Processing of rush passports take seven working days and two to three weeks for regular applications. - GMANews.TV