Passports in the Philippines - Difficult to get again?

[flicks1998 1,044]

22 hours 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.  

When we were in this situation last December, you almost had to be checking every 10-15 minutes. Things would open up and immediately fill then later there would be another opening but gone very quickly. Once a day won’t cut it as we found out. 
 

There’s a few others on this board with the same experience. 

[Joe Kano 327]

15 hours ago, flicks1998 said:

When we were in this situation last December, you almost had to be checking every 10-15 minutes. Things would open up and immediately fill then later there would be another opening but gone very quickly. Once a day won’t cut it as we found out. 
 

There’s a few others on this board with the same experience. 

I asked my friend for a update on how her search is going, she replied I check almost everyday and nothing.   I think now a fixer is the answer

[Joe Kano 327]

On 7/26/2021 at 1:52 PM, 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.

Here are the latest fees for them, which seem very reasonable to me:

 

PASSPORT PROCESSING NEW & RENEWAL PASSPORT - 1,000 ASSISTANCE FEE 500

[seekingthetruth 1,246]

3 million passport backlog

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/news/799634/dfa-passport-backlog-is-at-3-million/story/?fbclid=IwAR20Z3OCGIQJvF4dc_vDeNmwAZy-0wpi2DFVXm-TXszLetiRNlXbDwxVt8Y

 

[seekingthetruth 1,246]

They have a new TOPS facility here in the SM Olongapo Central.  Good luck with an appointment.

 

https://www.facebook.com/olongapopublicaffairs/posts/4024789740977190

[Joe Kano 327]

On 9/2/2021 at 12:12 AM, seekingthetruth said:

3 million passport backlog

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/news/799634/dfa-passport-backlog-is-at-3-million/story/?fbclid=IwAR20Z3OCGIQJvF4dc_vDeNmwAZy-0wpi2DFVXm-TXszLetiRNlXbDwxVt8Y

 

So they are basically saying a fixer is the way to go

 

I suspect 3 million will turn into 6 million in another few months

[mm2kay 8]

Good Day! I finally got an appointment for my mother in law. They released some dates today. 

[BJ&V 10]

My Philippines  passport got renewed a few months also. I had no problem getting an appointment or maybe I was just fortunate. Payed php950.00 for a regular processing.

[seekingthetruth 1,246]

3 hours ago, mm2kay said:

Good Day! I finally got an appointment for my mother in law. They released some dates today. 

A neighbor got an appointment in Olongapo yesterday morning but when I checked, they were gone.

[mm2kay 8]

4 minutes ago, seekingthetruth said:

A neighbor got an appointment in Olongapo yesterday morning but when I checked, they were gone.

It's tough I've been checking all month in August, then they put only a few days for September, so I stepped up looking every couple hours even losing sleep as the last few days ticked away. Finally got it I think they released it at 8AM Philippines time because it was about 810AM  when I booked it, with very few appointments taken at least at the two locations I was eyeing. 

[seekingthetruth 1,246]

12 minutes ago, mm2kay said:

It's tough I've been checking all month in August, then they put only a few days for September, so I stepped up looking every couple hours even losing sleep as the last few days ticked away. Finally got it I think they released it at 8AM Philippines time because it was about 810AM  when I booked it, with very few appointments taken at least at the two locations I was eyeing. 

I forgot to mention, the neighbor had 4 people trying to get the appointment every day!

[mm2kay 8]

3 minutes ago, seekingthetruth said:

I forgot to mention, the neighbor had 4 people trying to get the appointment every day!

Dang I think it should be easier. I read that there was slots available to DFA employees whom could sign up friends and family, and not to mention all those tour group operators getting slots allotted to them that's some BS. 

[Joe Kano 327]

15 hours ago, BJ&V said:

My Philippines  passport got renewed a few months also. I had no problem getting an appointment or maybe I was just fortunate. Payed php950.00 for a regular processing.

I am gonna have to pay like 3k for a fixxer

[jg121783 3,909]

My wife's passport needs to be renewed and I tried to check appointment availability at the Chicago consulate and it appears no appointments are available on their website unless I am doing something wrong. Anyone know what is going on with passports at the Chicago consulate?

[seekingthetruth 1,246]

I just got an appointment for my daughter at the Olongapo DFA outreach.  There are more available.  Simple renewals only.