Passports in the Philippines - Difficult to get again?

[Chancy 6,241]

15 hours ago, top_secret said:

She paid a fixer P800 to get her an immediate appointment.  She got an immediate appointment.

 

I can't figure out how this could have been possible except through DFA employees' collusion with the fixer.  The bookings are supposed to be non-transferable, so someone on the inside would need to make changes directly on the booking record to enable the actual applicant to have their info in the system.

 

[payxibka 10,045]

38 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

I can't figure out how this could have been possible except through DFA employees' collusion with the fixer.  The bookings are supposed to be non-transferable, so someone on the inside would need to make changes directly on the booking record to enable the actual applicant to have their info in the system.

 

Aren't bookings also fee paid upfront or did the change that?

[Chancy 6,241]

1 minute ago, payxibka said:

Aren't bookings also fee paid upfront or did the change that?

 

Yes, paid upfront.

 

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

16 hours ago, top_secret said:

My wife renewed her passport in November 2020.  She paid a fixer P800 to get her an immediate appointment.  She got an immediate appointment.  Renewal took her about 3 weeks from start to passport on hand then.

My wife used a fixer in 2018. I think it was 1000php. Best 20 bucks I ever spent. Got tired of hitting refresh trying to find an appointment. Hate feeding the corruption bear but "when in Rome."

[Joe Kano 327]

14 hours ago, seekingthetruth said:

I think this is all about fixers.  They have taken all of the appointments.  Embarrassing to the DFA and the country.

 

I wonder how many slots go unused?  I don't think many Filipinos are travelling during the pandemic, and new passport requests should be way down.

How would one go about finding a fixxer to get a slot?

[seekingthetruth 1,246]

3 hours ago, Chancy said:

 

I can't figure out how this could have been possible except through DFA employees' collusion with the fixer.  The bookings are supposed to be non-transferable, so someone on the inside would need to make changes directly on the booking record to enable the actual applicant to have their info in the system.

 

Here is a speculation....

 

On the booking system, they have "group" bookings.  I just looked and it will take up to 5 at a time.  I can't get that far, but perhaps the person making the group booking can manage the names and other info after the booking.

 

If this was part of the "system", then the inside person just needs to sell a bit of info.  E.g.:  Booking slots will open Tuesday at 10 am.

 

Why do they need "group" booking for a new passport or renewal passport?  I can understand getting visas for a group.

 

Travel agents may be legal fixers.  @Joe Kano if I was looking to use an "agent", I would ask at a travel agent.  Many do immigration work so they might do passport work too.

[top_secret 2,414]

OK,,,,,,  So I asked the wife who she dealt with,,, and she sent me a sketchy Facebook page of course.  Why should I not be surprised at something like that?  While I could not possibly put enough disclaimers, distance myself enough,  or otherwise point out the dangers of dealing with some stranger on Facebook, and am highly hesitant to be associated with in any way shape or form....... I guess she successfully went though these guys for both her last passport and her daughters last passport appointments.  

 

https://www.facebook.com/MBS-Passporting-Booking-Services-469668063833690/

[seekingthetruth 1,246]

I looked at that and at first I thought, all they need is an inside tip on when slots will open, then they grab one for a client.  However, then I scrolled down and saw this:

 

To those who want August slots in NCR we have but PAYMENT FIRST.

PM me if you want

[Joe Kano 327]

1 hour ago, top_secret said:

OK,,,,,,  So I asked the wife who she dealt with,,, and she sent me a sketchy Facebook page of course.  Why should I not be surprised at something like that?  While I could not possibly put enough disclaimers, distance myself enough,  or otherwise point out the dangers of dealing with some stranger on Facebook, and am highly hesitant to be associated with in any way shape or form....... I guess she successfully went though these guys for both her last passport and her daughters last passport appointments.  

 

https://www.facebook.com/MBS-Passporting-Booking-Services-469668063833690/

I sent that link to my friend.

[top_secret 2,414]

Also I previously said my wife paid P800 for the appointment.  When I asked her about it she said it was actually P400 on top of DFA's fee.

[Joe Kano 327]

1 hour ago, top_secret said:

Also I previously said my wife paid P800 for the appointment.  When I asked her about it she said it was actually P400 on top of DFA's fee.

Sounds pretty cheap to me, rather than sit back and search everyday for an opening

[Kby175 115]

On 7/25/2021 at 5:04 AM, Joe Kano said:

I am hearing stories about having hard times getting appointments for getting a passport.  Can anyone confirm this?

My wife has been checking almost daily for the past couple of months to get an appointment to get her passport in Bacolod city, the online appointment system is showing booked for the rest of 2021.  So I would say it's pretty accurate some are having issues getting passports.  

[Joe Kano 327]

43 minutes ago, Kby175 said:

My wife has been checking almost daily for the past couple of months to get an appointment to get her passport in Bacolod city, the online appointment system is showing booked for the rest of 2021.  So I would say it's pretty accurate some are having issues getting passports.  

Yep, That is what I am hearing as well.

 

I guess them fixxer snatched up all the appointments

[Kby175 115]

1 hour ago, Joe Kano said:

Yep, That is what I am hearing as well.

 

I guess them fixxer snatched up all the appointments

Keep all your people locked up in their homes for more than a year you are going to have to get creative trying to earn money. At least that is my bet what happened in this case, their system is not complex enough to see that the appointments are being taken by one person or a small group of people. 

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

23 hours ago, top_secret said:

OK,,,,,,  So I asked the wife who she dealt with,,, and she sent me a sketchy Facebook page of course.  Why should I not be surprised at something like that?  While I could not possibly put enough disclaimers, distance myself enough,  or otherwise point out the dangers of dealing with some stranger on Facebook, and am highly hesitant to be associated with in any way shape or form....... I guess she successfully went though these guys for both her last passport and her daughters last passport appointments.  

 

https://www.facebook.com/MBS-Passporting-Booking-Services-469668063833690/

I couldn't possibly comment 🧐