Filing for a passport in the Philippines

[Riggs 0]

Hello all,

My fiancee lives in Bislig in the Philippines, she needs to apply for her passport. I thought I read that they have to apply for the passport in person at the DFA (The Department of Foreign Affairs). does anyone know if that is where she needs to apply? If so, where is the nearest DFA to Bislig?

Thanks so much

Steve

[spartan 2]

Your fiancee should file it at DFA in person. Bislig is located in Mindanao, right? Tell her to go to city hall and ask where to file for a passport cuz I think there is no DFA in Mindanao. DFA is only located in Cebu and Manila. Correct me if I'm wrong. If there's no DFA in Mindanao she should go to Cebu and file it there.

Hello all,

My fiancee lives in Bislig in the Philippines, she needs to apply for her passport. I thought I read that they have to apply for the passport in person at the DFA (The Department of Foreign Affairs). does anyone know if that is where she needs to apply? If so, where is the nearest DFA to Bislig?

Thanks so much

Steve

[geezer 1]

She can also just go to a local travel agent. Most will do all the paperwork, will guide your fiance through the process and speed things up.

[MMW 2]

Bislig is near Davao and she can get her passport there. she will need police clearance, birth cert. NBI clearance, any valid ID she has to assert she is who she is along with passport photos, ID could be voters ID or postal ID.

[geezer 1]

You might also want to consider waiting to file for passport until after you marry and then file in her married name which will save having to change names.

The downside is she will have to attend CFO seminar first before applying for passport. We figured it was best to get it all done with at once, others will no doubt advise differently.

Edited March 1, 2009 by geezer

[michelle425 0]

i think Davao is the nearest..Its located along Jacinto St., near the Ateneo school.. But, I advise you to have someone or an agency which processes passports since it is awfully a long line..

[Princess_Maricar 0]

Hello all,

My fiancee lives in Bislig in the Philippines, she needs to apply for her passport. I thought I read that they have to apply for the passport in person at the DFA (The Department of Foreign Affairs). does anyone know if that is where she needs to apply? If so, where is the nearest DFA to Bislig?

Thanks so much

Steve

Hello Steve,

try to ask your fiancee which place is nearer to her,the cagayan city or Butuan city.

If it is in cagayan...here is the address: DFA Cagayan

Limketkai center (former asian bank Bldg.)

across the parking lot of LTO.

If it is near in Butuan city, then she will ride a cab or tricycle and tell the driver to the DFA.

I forgot the address in Butuan but it is accessable.She will only drop in the arrival area

in butuan city but not in the bus terminal cuz that too far.

Hope it help.

good luck.

[Riggs 0]

You might also want to consider waiting to file for passport until after you marry and then file in her married name which will save having to change names.

The downside is she will have to attend CFO seminar first before applying for passport. We figured it was best to get it all done with at once, others will no doubt advise differently.

that is a good point , about waiting till she is married to file for the passport and apply with her married name or apply for the passport before we are married and then change the have to update the name on her passport after we are married. I wonder which is the better wahy to go? What is involved with updating/changing your name on the passport after marriage?

Wow, everthing is so complicated.

Thanks much

Steve

[Riggs 0]

You might also want to consider waiting to file for passport until after you marry and then file in her married name which will save having to change names.

The downside is she will have to attend CFO seminar first before applying for passport. We figured it was best to get it all done with at once, others will no doubt advise differently.

that is a good point , about waiting till she is married to file for the passport and apply with her married name or apply for the passport before we are married and then change the have to update the name on her passport after we are married. I wonder which is the better wahy to go? What is involved with updating/changing your name on the passport after marriage?

Wow, everthing is so complicated.

Thanks much

Steve

Also,

what is the CFO seminar? and what is involved in that?

thanks

Steve

[over 0]

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/emig_manila.htm

here is a past post by Arnold and Joan

it is fairly in depth and a good description of their experience.

Joan just went through her PDOS and got her CFO sticker. Here are just some tips and observations:

- Get there early. They have limited slots for the session they have. She got there 9:45 and got the last slot for the 10AM session, the people behind her were given 1:30PM slot so had to come back or wait.

- No need to bring your brown envelope, you know - the DO NOT OPEN envelope you get from the Embassy after your interview. Some people had them in hand.

- Bring Passport, make sure you photocopy the passport and visa. Photocopy also the following: NBI clearance, Birth Certificate and CENOMAR. Bring some pictures of you and your fiance together. I read here that some people were asked to show these. Joan was never asked for any of the above except for her passport and visa photocopies.

- No need to bring passport pictures. They take your pictures before the seminar

- We went to PRISM which was close to CFO building so it was easy to get from one to the other to get the sticker after the seminar. Joan noticed there were some who came from St Mary's in QC to get their sticker at CFO. So we're not sure that they were giving stickers at St Mary's too or you still need to get it at CFO. If that's the case then PRISM is a lot closer.

- Bring valid picture ID. They need one in exchange for a visitor's ID at CFO

- Be sure your fiance knows your Address, phone number, Educational background, Year of Migration (if Naturalized), Mother's maiden name of USC,

- One on one counseling wasn't too harsh or bad as I've read. They asked the following questions:

> How, When and Where we met

> USC's Educational Background

> Do we have kids?

> Do you really love him?

> Are you ready for life in the U.S.

Then she was just given advice on what to do if problems arise in the marriage.

The PDOS took 2 hours and 15 minutes. There's a film showing, then you're grouped by destination and given advice and instructions as a group. The one on one counseling followed.

The CFO sticker took another 2 hours. It may be because we went straight there after the 10AM PDOS and it was lunch hour and CFO. I'm still baffled why it takes 2 hours to put a sticker on her passport but oh well... we're done. I suggest you download the PDF application online and fill it up before going to CFO. That way you're ready and don't waste time when you're there.

Well, we've crossed the finish line here finally - whew! - we've already got our plane tickets and will be leaving for US on May 13th. On to the next phase of the journey. Good Luck All!!!!!

hope that helps

[geezer 1]

Remember you do not need a passport to file your Petition. Something like a Postal ID wirh your married name is good enough for filing the petition. So she would have time to get the passport later in your married name if you are feeling pressed for time.

Also you are probably not going to want to wait for NSO copies of the marriage license before filing the I-130 just use a copy of the marriage license you will get from the civil register to file. You will have time to get the docs you need while waiting for your NOA2

Starting the process with all the new stuff is intimidating but hang around here and ask questions and you will get through it fine.

[gracies 0]

Hello all,

My fiancee lives in Bislig in the Philippines, she needs to apply for her passport. I thought I read that they have to apply for the passport in person at the DFA (The Department of Foreign Affairs). does anyone know if that is where she needs to apply? If so, where is the nearest DFA to Bislig?

Thanks so much

Steve

Hi...Good to know that your fiancee is from bislig, i am from bislig too....she can process her passport in DFA Davao...that's the nearest. I will be in USA by May, luckily i already got my visa a month ago presently living in Tokyo.