Renew your Philippine passport at DFA NCR Northeast (Ali Mall)

I have heard of news on how difficult it was to schedule for an appointment with DFA, but wasn't really concerned until I realized that our passports expire at the end of this year.



I would consider us lucky to have secured an appointment last February 27, 2018 despite the jam-packed schedule for DFA passport renewal.

TIP: Check the website multiple times a day, and also check out other satellite branches for open slots.  Be sure to have all necessary information ready because the online appointment application will be timed. 

Our appointment was set last April 12, 2018, 10am.  We arrived a few minutes before 9:30am as the appointment form indicates that you should arrive 30 minutes prior to your appointment schedule.

Upon arrival at Alimall, there were tons of people gathered by the mall entrance, as the guards were not yet allowing people to enter the mall.

There was a line on one entrance door where the lady guard was doing a roll call, we got confused as to what that line was for. (We thought it was another line for people who were there for the other government office satellites namely LTO, PAGIBIG, SEC, SSS, NBI, etc.) Apparently, that was the line for walk-ins (courtesy lane) where you need to give an ID upon arrival, that serves as you signing up for a slot for the day. 

Who are eligible for the courtesy lane? a.k.a walk-in application, no need for an online appointment.

1. Senior citizens (60 years and over) plus one (1) travel companion (family member)
2. Minors seven (7) years old and below (with their parents and minor siblings)
3. People with disabilities (PWDs) with PWD ID or visible disability plus one (1) travel companion (family member)
4. Parents (with Solo Parent ID) and their minor children
5. Visibly pregnant women or with medical certificate
6. OFW with sufficient proof of status such as iDOLE Card, valid employment contract, work visa

I went back to the other guard to clarify if we were already allowed inside since we were expected to be there by 9:30am, he finally asked to see my appointment form then let us in, pointing to the side with instructions to fall in line. (He initially said that we will be allowed inside by 10am, good thing I double checked.)

After a while, someone came and asked everyone to form a single line, we went up to level 3 by the stairs, walked further until we reached the DFA office (near the food gallery).  And again asked to fall in line outside.

While it was still dark, this was around 9:40am.

Sea of people waiting for the office to open, 10:50am.

It was a long wait!  Especially when you are standing in line.  My dad who's a senior also stood in line with us for more than an hour!
My brother finally had to ask the guard what was wrong and apparently there was a system error of some sort causing the delay for the ones with online appointment--isn't that ironic? *enters Alanis Morissette*

Meanwhile, walk-in applicants were being sent inside as the technical problem did not affect them.

It was already 10:50am when our line finally moved.

Finally!!!

In all fairness, once we got inside everything went about pretty quickly, the line moved pretty fast and we were done and out of there by 11:26am. Whew!

Below are the steps for the passport renewal process.

Step 1: Checking of requirements. (I had photocopies of identification cards and the data page of the expiring passport plus the application form and appointment form.  Most of which were returned to me, but it's still best to have those ready just in case.

Step 2: Processing
This is where the expiring passport is punched rendering it invalid, and where you will be issued a payment form.  You will choose between regular processing which takes 15 business days or express processing, 7 business days.

Step 3: Cashier/payment
Prepare the exact amount if possible.
950php for regular processing.
1200php for express processing.

Step 4: Encoding
Data encoding, photo capture, digital signature and biometrics.

Step 5: Courier (optional)
You may choose to have your passport shipped to you instead of going back to pick up. The courier fee is 150php PER passport (yes, even if there are three of you and it's going to the same address, it's charged individually).
Should you opt for pick up, you're done after step 4.

Some things that need improvement:
-There is a daily limit (80 people) for walk-in applicants, which is not stated in the DFA website.  It's basically first come first served basis.
-There is no organized numbering system for walk-ins, and no clear signages which causes confusion at the entrance.
-The online appointment secures you a time slot, but it's still on a first come first served basis for that time slot.  It would be nice if a number is assigned upon a confirmed online appointment, which they can eventually skip should the applicant be late for his/her turn.

Pros (DFA NCR Northeast-Ali Mall)
-It's the nearest DFA satellite from our house in QC.
-Processing is efficient.

Cons (DFA NCR Northeast-Ali Mall) 

- No signages at the entrance door of the mall, causing confusion as to if you are lining up at the correct line.
- ‎The office is situated inside the 3rd level of the mall, there is no dedicated entrance so it gets rowdy at the entrance as guards filter the people going inside the building.
- ‎No signages as well outside the DFA office.  If you're in line (a long line that is), you wouldn't know why there are people being let in first or why there is another line on the other side.

Some questions I had in mind prior to the appointment date.
Q1: Do I need to bring a birth certificate as part of the requirements?
A: For regular passport renewal, no.  Unless you recently got married or for some reason changed/updated your name, then yes.

Q2: Am I required to wear something collared?
A: No.  I did so just to be sure but it wasn't required.  But try not to wear anything that's too open necked as you would look naked on your photo. 

Will post an update once the new passport is claimed.

Disclaimer: This post is a review of my experience at DFA ALI MALL branch only, any concerns raised herein does not necessarily apply to the other DFA satellites.

[UPDATED 05/12]
My brother claimed our passports last Monday, May 7.
Yay to 10 year validity!!!
I prepared authorization letters for me and my dad so my brother can just be the one to claim our passports for us.
He waited almost an hour to claim the passports. (Don't know why it still takes that long to be released).