We had an early day today. We went to DFA San Fernando for my son’s passport renewal. Time flies… We had it via travel agency for Php 2500 vs. the DIY for Php 950+250 (for rush). We were scheduled for 8am. But there were a lot of people already, except, there was a separate line for the travel agency applicants per se on the documents validation step. After the payment, which we skipped with ours being paid for ahead of time by the travel agency, there will be a common queue for everyone for the data encoding and verifying. No need to get photos beforehand, because they do it inside. It’s the final step in the passport processing, prior to releasing. Overall, it took us 1.5 hours to complete everything, and one visit to DFA. So I’m thinking if paying twice that much was worth it, I guess it is! Since my son was Donkey (of Shrek’s) incarnate…”are we there yet?” ;-D
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| Please visit here fore more details on Passport Requirement, Appointment Setting and more. |
Here’s the DFA Philippines link on Passport Application. Will I recommend having it travel-agency assisted? I’m not sure if they have the appointment-setting implemented in the regional offices, but if it is, I think, if you’re really on time or if you come in really early if without an appointment, and your documents are ready (I recommend reading through the DFA/Passport Application Sites), it’ll take half a day or lesser. Also, with the soon-to-open DFA Consular Office in Marquee Mall, it makes everything more accesible. ;-D
Anyway, we had to do this asap, because the travel deals every now and then are just so tempting. I’ll be going into vacation mode next week, but I’ll try to do several posts before then. Have a great day! ;-D
oh mannn reminds me I have yet to renew mine! thanks sis:)
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I guess I'll be going with an agency also when I renew my passport. I am a frequent traveler and I would really need it. And yes, I am also a fan of travel deals. 🙂
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@Charles: Sure, haay me too, mine is due late this year. The 6-months period validity is just grrr….@KC: Come to think of it, yup, travel agency is the way to go! 🙂
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Hi Des!Kami ni Yue nag-travel agency kami last year, mine was renewal tapos his was new. I paid Php 1500 each (rush na ito), inclusive na ang transpo dun. Transpo was the most important sa kin kasi ayoko magcommute going to DFA Lucena when I'm taking Yue along. Based on our experience, going through a TA was more convenient. Mas nauna kaming na-accommodate compared to the DIY applicants. Wala pang one hour tapos na kami sa DFA. 🙂
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Hi Des,Congrats on your winning. You are one lucky girl.Happy Year of the Water Dragon!!!
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