My Passport Application Attempts

I know its been a while since I've posted an entry here at this Blog, since I've been busy and a lot of things happened. Hopefully within this year, that i could blog my experience travelling outside the country.

Something inside me urged to do a post, Due to that i was able to process my passport after 3 attempts. Yes! you read that right 3 attempts, before actually getting it all done.

First Attempt:
May 2014.
Some of my friends advised me that it's just easy. But on that day i wasn't able to get all the requirements that i needed, the lady from the front desk even told me that if there's a way that i could gather the supporting documents, that i could just get back later even if i had my schedule on 2 PM. At that point i already felt discouraged to push through processing it that day, since its very hard to get those documents and talk about long line of waiting. So i end up just swiping my credit card anywhere just so that i could forget about the Passport.

Second Attempt:
Feb 13 2015, which is actually Friday the 13th.
I made sure i got all the supporting documents ready. I brought my SSS digitized ID, TIN ID, Barangay Certificate, Proof of Voter's Identification, Transcript of Records, BIR Form 2316, Community Tax Certificate, and of course my Birth Certificate.

Everything was going smoothly, but apparently the guy who's verifying my documents said that there's something wrong with my Birth Certificate. So I closely looked at it...

The SEW incident that ruined my day,

(Insert Profane Word/s), Even i only realized that it was written like that. Alas, it ruined my F-ing day, saying that the name wasnt clearly written. It actually looks like "SEW" not SEN. I actually even told the old guy that maybe he could just process it, if in case it doesn't get processed because of that document its fine. He said that he can't. I was actually sensing that he's about to tell me something not in my favor, and i was correct. He said that i should get a copy of LCR, Where in fact i don't know the difference besides the Green-colored paper that it will be printed on. So Again i gave up trying to process that Passport on the day but this incident made me feel more Furious compared to the first time cos i know that i brought all the documents that i needed. Just because of that "SEW",  it really ruined my day. I even blamed the person who wrote that on my birth certificate. I was asking myself why didn't they write it more accurately so that it could be understood better. I even thought that Friday the 13th really sucks. So then i just rescheduled my appointment again after almost 2 months because March is mostly booked on my preferred time slots.
Before the appointment i booked on April, I brought up to my siblings that i will attempt again to process the freaking passport and i might have to go to NSO so that i could correct the wrong inputs on my document. My brother checked on my Birth certificate saying that there's something typed
above the Field that was wrongly written, i closely looked at it and...

How blind am i for me not to see it right away.

I immediately blamed myself for not even trying to defend myself with the old guy to tell him that there is a guide above it. Now I know that at least I should have thoroughly checked the document. But i also had that feeling that probably it's not yet the right time and that old guy is a bit intimidating. So i told myself on that day, that i will again use the same credentials and if i got rejected again the only thing that i could do is have it probably corrected.

The 3rd Attempt:
April 12, 2015.
Feeling Nervous on that day that i got there earlier than i was. I immediately thought that i should not verify my documents with that same old guy since he's a bit too keen on the details. So at the Verification Section which is the Step 1 in processing the passport. I smiled a bit when i knew that i was lead to window 4 knowing that the old guy is on Window 1. This time its a lady who verified my credentials. I'm not sure but i tried to look very kind at that time just so that she will go easy on me. and atlast, She approved all my documents. After leaving that window i feel relieved. Next steps were easy. Step 2 is the payment which cost me 950.00, after getting the receipt i went to the Encoding Part which is the step 3. All your info will be typed in, your thumb mark and your picture be taken. So just a piece of advice, if you're gonna style your hair ensure that your eyebrows will still be seen and a bit if your forehead. So at the end of processing, the encoder will write the time and day on your receipt on when you'll get your passport.

(insert song "We are the Champions")

After that day i felt so ecstatic, it felt like i won a battle. I know how hard it is to be told for you to go back and get other documents.

Can't wait to claim the passport.

Additional Info:

• Passport is only good for 5 Years, but is a proof of identification accepted internationally and locally.
• The time that i got my passport processed since originally it only takes 2 weeks for regular processing and 1 week for Rush Processing, apparently since they were having some issues and i don't know the main reason is. Processing time were doubled so Regular Processing will take 4 weeks which is almost a month and 2 weeks for Rush Processing.

Good thing is that at least the processing fee didn't change.

TIPS:

• If you're going to set an appointment, it will be better for you take the earliest time, at least you're sure that you'll be processed within the day.
• It would be better if you get an NBI clearance and/or Police Clearance.
• Postal ID is not yet acceptable, so ensure that you have other IDs as well.
• If you're gonna present TOR (Transcript of Records) as your supporting documents, make sure you have your School ID or Alumni ID.
• It will be better if you could wear something with collar when you get your Picture taken.

PASSPORT FEES:
Regular Processing : 950.00 / 2 weeks (originally)  / 4 weeks (temporarily)
Rush Processing :   1200.00 / 1 week  (originally)  / 2 weeks (temporarily)

After encoding they'll ask you if you want your passport be delivered to you.
For Pickup no additional cost.
But if you want it to be delivered to you via Courier (LBC) additional 150.00.

For  setting up appointments with DFA: http://www.passport.com.ph/
For Requirements: http://www.passport.com.ph/requirements

If you have any Thoughts, Suggestions, Questions please feel free to comment down below and i will surely do my best to reply.

Stay tune for my next post, Hope it will be about taking my first trip Out of the Country.

:)