Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Passport renewal at DFA satellite office at Ali Mall, Cubao

your picture and signature will be encoded on this section
I was glad upon learning that I could renew my passport at DFA satellite office at 2nd floor of Ali Mall in Cubao, Quezon City. It means I don't have to travel as far as DFA Pasay or fall in long queue at DFA office in POEA. My old passport was in fact valid until 2017 but I had only 2 blank pages remaining and my work visa would be pasted eventually on one of these two remaining pages after a few weeks thus I had no option but to have a new passport with me when I go back to work on January. Moreover, my wife and I would be in Bangkok on 2nd of January for business trip hence the necessity of a new passport.

I booked an appointment for passport renewal at DFA Ali Mall as early as October. I printed the form and waited for my appointment day on 15th of December. Fortunately, I was able to grab a slot on that day; my passport would be released on 29th of December which was the last working day for government offices in 2014. Otherwise I would be forced to wait until 2015 to have my passport renewed due to New Year holidays.

If by chance any untoward event happens during my passport renewal then chances are my wife and I wouldn't be able to leave on 2nd of January since I won't be able to use a punched passport to travel abroad. 

In addition, the whole family was on holiday trip in Baguio City from Christmas day until 29th of December. Because of this, we had no option but to leave our hotel in Baguio as early as 9:30 am so I could claim my passport before DFA Ali Mall closes at 7 pm; DFA Ali Mall follows mall's normal operating time.

The only consolation I got was the efficiency of DFA Ali Mall staff including the guards; it took me almost three hours to complete the entire process. My appointment was at 11:00 am but due to Christmas traffic I arrived at half past eleven. The security guard nonetheless allowed me to enter immediately upon seeing my appointment time on my printed passport renewal form. He beckoned me to proceed immediately to registration desk for initial inspection of my documents where a tiny stub was attached after registering on the logbook.

There are three steps to follow when renewing your passport.

First step is the receiving section. The receiving staff will inspect all your documents and enter your data on their database. The queue is quite long depending on the number of receiving staff on duty. Once you have completed this procedure then you are on your way on having your passport renewed.

The second step is payment section or cashier. Due to fast transaction the queue here is usually a bit shorter compare to receiving and encoding sections. I paid 1,200 pesos for express processing (7 working days) since I need my passport ASAP. However, if you are not in a hurry you can avail their regular processing (15 working days) for 950 pesos.

After the second step don't leave the place yet. You need to have your picture and signature encoded; another long queue. After encoding your picture and signature the staff would ask you to inspect a computer print-out showing your personal details. Ensure that there is no error on the print-out or else it would be more tedious to correct an error on your personal detail once your passport has been issued.

When you have completed these three steps then you have an option to avail their express delivery service by a private courier. You can pay 120 pesos at the nearby desk to avail this service. In my case, I opted to collect my passport personally.

Moreover, there is a separate queue for senior citizens, pregnant ladies and persons with disability.

Thanks to newly opened TPLEX, our travel time from Baguio to Manila was reduced by two hours. Instead of going directly to Ali Mall, I dropped the kids in our home because I forgot to bring the claim stub given to me. Another pain in the ass mistake on my part but I was able to arrive at DFA Ali Mall with plenty of time to spare.

drop your claim stub in a small box then wait for your name to be called

The releasing and authentication section is located beside the passport processing area though it has a separate door. Simply drop your claim stub at the small carton and wait for your name to be called. Once you have received your passport check for any error then sign at the log book. It took me less than an hour to claim my new passport.

By the way, I heard that some persons would fall in line in lieu of other late-arriving applicants thus you have to remember the face of the person in front of you to prevent others from jumping the queue. Also, toilet is located at the lower floor; you may use the escalator at nearby food court. You can leave your queue but inform the person beside you to reserve your seat whenever the queue moves.

For more details visit their website: DFA Ali Mall - Passport


Update as of September 9, 2017:


My eldest son renewed his passport this afternoon. His appointment was 2 pm but was allowed to enter the DFA office at 1 pm.

The entire passport renewal process took 1.5 hours only; one hour spent at the queue at evaluation counter. He submitted photocopy of his passport pages 1 and 2 only, No need for birth certificate according to him. However, be aware that his old passport was already machine readable (with sim logo at the front).

I asked the lady guard about their office hours, she replied that passport processing would close once all the applicants for that day have completed their applications. She added that only the passport releasing has fixed operating hours which is from 12 pm to 5 pm.




46 comments:

  1. hi, may i ask if you were required to give an nbi clearance? or what documents specifically were requested from you when you renewed your passport? i have an nbi clearance that's still valid until feb.2017 but it's for employment purpose and not valid for travel abroad. i'm thinking if i would need a new one that's specifically for passport renewal, or if the one i have would already suffice as i believe it's only for identification purposes. thanks!

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  2. paanu po pg mali po ung gender anu po gagawin.?

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    Replies
    1. I think sa NSO pa lang dapat ay ma correct na. Only NSO copy ang tinatanggap sa DFAal

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  3. Pwede po walk in ang baby sa passport application? 2 months old po. Thank you

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  4. Thanks welscua for the complete info. I really appreciate the details of what you have written. God bless.

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  5. open ba dfa tom? wala ako macontact talag don. :(

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  6. do you accept scanned copy ng nso certificate?

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  7. Tumatanggap pa rin ba na walk in ang dfa ali mall

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    Replies
    1. If you are an OFW you can do walk in sa DFA, POEA Main office

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  8. No. You need to make online appointment.

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    Replies
    1. Paano mag parebon ng nbi international thanks

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  9. My walk in b pra sa baby sa ali mall? Thanks

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    Replies
    1. You need to make an online appointment even for minor.

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    2. I want to make an appointment, but the online website is not working. all dates are tagged as "time not available"

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    3. as per dfa's website, Minors ages 7 and below can use the courtesy lane but there should be an appointment.

      however, 1y.o and below (months old) infants are exempted and do not need to have a scheduled appointment. just bring the accomplished application form and the baby's birth certificate.
      .
      note that the parent can tag-along on the courtesy lane if the parent is also applying for new passport or is for renewal of passport.. hope it helps.

      https://www.dfa.gov.ph/2013-04-04-07-00-57

      https://consular.dfa.gov.ph/general-requirements

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  10. i have my schedule for passport renewal in DFA Ali Mall. unfortunately my appointment schedule was accidentally deleted from my yahoo mail. i dont have my schedule code that would be required if i go online. how can i know the date of my schedule?

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  11. pano po malalaman ang schedule na bigay ng dfa kung nawala mo na ang kopya mo at hindi matandaan kung kailan ang petsa ng renewal appointmen

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    Replies
    1. try checking your email po. sinesend po ng dfa ang confirmation sa email na binigay mo nung nag fill up at nag schedule po kayo ng appointment. good luck!

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  12. Hello po mam/sir..ask ko lang po idea nyo if pwede po ba sa alli mall ako mgdirect kukuha ng passport rush kc May 5 ung flight ko eh nadelay ung nso ko na nanote tan ng gender na female sa gilid ng nso...april25 daw release nya sa manila..tapus na po ako ng online kaso sa baguio tapus sinulatan nila sa remarks ng application form ko ung nso na dapat may note na female sa gilid and then ibabalik ko sa kanila pg meron na no need online ulit..ask ko lng if pwede direct nlng ako sa alli mall kaya kc 15days releasing pg sa baguio kc dito din manila mangagaling...ano po advice nyo salamat

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  13. Good day maam / sir, ask ko lang po if kailangan pa ng NBI clearance sa first time passport applicant? Thank you po!

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  14. pano po ba mae re sched or ma edit or cancel yung appointment na ginwa kung mali yung email add na binigay kaya di din makaopen ng email at mali nga po yung binigay nailagay na email problem di na majkagawa ng bago po appointment at nag record na name

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  15. pwede po ba ang new applicant sa alimall? o for renewal lang?

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    Replies
    1. meron po bang releasing every Saturday? ngaon po kase yung sched namin kayalang baka hindi kame maka punta today.thanks.

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  16. Paanu po pag edit nung application. May kulang po sa pangalan

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  17. Ano po kailangan na ipakitang requirements pag new applicants ka po

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  18. Kailangan ba talaga ng verification ng appointment? 2 months na akong nagset ng appointment pero wala pa din akong natatanggap na verification code sa email ko, san ko naman makukuha ang verification code na yun? Salamat sa mga tutulong.

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  19. Kung 3:00pm po nakaschedule at dumating ng 4:30 makakakuha pa rin pi b ng passport? What time po ang cut off na kc po minsan matraffic at manggagaling p po ng school e. Thanx

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  20. Yes, papapasukin ka pa rin naman dahil medyo late ang closing nila since nag open sila ng mall time din.

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  21. I just checked the DFA website and it says:

    NO APPOINTMENT IS NEEDED for the following:

    Senior Citizen with Senior Citizen ID
    Person with Disability (PWDs) with PWD ID or visible disability
    Solo Parent with Valid Solo Parent ID
    Pregnant women with medical certificate
    Minors seven (7) years old and below
    You may avail of the PRIORITY LANE at DFA Aseana or at any DFA Satellite Office or Regional Consular Office to apply for your passport.

    So I'm going to the DFA Ali Mall to check if my two year old can apply for a passport even without an appointment.

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    Replies
    1. Hi rosey, are you able to apply for your child passport through courtesy lane? I have PWD id and planning to renew my passport since i dont have to have schedule. Wondering if my husband can also renew his passport together even he dont have appointment. Thank you.

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  22. ask ko Lang what process for red ribbon of marriage cert and requirements? and available ba on Saturday? need NG help thanks sa response..

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  23. Tanong ko lang po kung need pa mag paappointment khit renewal and anong documents po ang ddalhin? Thank you

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  24. Help nman po, gusto ko lang malaman kung need pa po mag paappointment kahit renewal? Nag check kc ako puro full na schedule, need ko po marenew kagad passport ko and ano po ang documents n kailangan? Thank you

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    Replies
    1. Mahirap talaga mag appointment sa ngayon. Yung anak ko ay June pa sya nagpa appointment, September ang available at that time. Try other DFA satellite offices sa probinsya if nagmamadali ka.

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  25. Need mo pa rin kung hindi ka nag fall sa exemption like senio citizen, single parent, OFW, etc.. Kung machine readable na passport mo ay photocopy na lang ng passport mo, pages 2 and 3. Pero kung ang old passport mo ay hindi pa machine readable then PSA copy ng birth certificate.

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  26. Pano po pwede gawin? D pa po expired passport ko, Dec 2019 pa po kaya lang, sbi ng agency ko need ko na daw iparenew pra Hindi magkaproblema, possible po ba marenew ko sya kahit Hindi expired and nag check ako ng schedule pero wla po available

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    Replies
    1. Red flag yang agency mo. Valid yung passport mo then gusto pa renew. Better inquire sa DFA office. Punta ka sa POEA para ma check kung okay ang agency mo then mag inquire ka sa DFA sa POEA. Kung wala ng available appointment DFA na lang makakatulong sayo.

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  27. Hi ask lang? open po ba releasing sa dfa ali mall every saturday?

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  28. sir welscua.ask lang.mg renew aq ng passport.nkapg apointment nq sa alimall.ng idownload ko na un application form.mli pla ung na input ko sa birthplace.sa old passport ko na irerenew ay tama pero dto sa bgo ngkmli aq input.pde ko ba pabago un sa mismong araw ng apointment ko.salamat

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    Replies
    1. I think puede kasi may encoding process pa dun and you will be given a chance to inspect ng data bago nila encode.

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  29. salamat po.un kc tlga problema ko.mdyo na excite kc ko na ngkarun ng slot kya sa pgmmdli.mli n pla na input ko.me time limit kc ung pg input sa online.na eexpire pg sbra tgal.january pq hnap slot.bgla ngkarun ng araw n un.maraming salamat po sa sagot

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  30. IS OFFICE OPEN DURING SATURDAYS?

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