A team from the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles will be conducting a Consular Outreach Program in Phoenix, Arizona on 28 February 2009 from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Asian Bistro Restaurant, 3553 W. Dunlap Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85051 (SW corner of 35th Ave. & Dunlap Ave.).

This outreach program is being undertaken in cooperation with the Filipino-American Business Chamber of Commerce of Arizona (FABCCA).

The following Consular services will be rendered:

1.  Applications for Machine Readable Passport (Cost: $50) and returned to the applicant by mail at an additional cost of $6.

2.  Applications for the retention and re-acquisition of Philippine citizenship pursuant to Republic Act 9225 or Dual Citizenship Law (Cost: $50). Oath-taking will be scheduled on the same day for qualified applicants.

3.  Notarization of documents (Cost: $25) will be accepted but this will be processed in Los Angeles and returned to the applicant by mail at an additional cost of $6.

4.  Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) Registration. (Gratis)

The Consulate will only accept payments in cash, postal money order or cashier’s check. Personal checks will not be accepted.

Application forms and requirements can be downloaded from the Consulate’s website at www.philippineconsulatela.org

In view of the anticipated high volume of applicants and in order to ensure an orderly flow of operations, this Consular outreach shall be guided by the following:

1.  All Applicants for any of the above consular services are requested to set up an appointment with the Consulate, not later than 25 February 2009, either through fax (213) 639-0990 or through email at losangelespcg@earthlink.net

2.  Passport Applicants should send an advance copy of their passport application forms and data page (bearing the name and photo) of their passports to the Consulate either by fax or by email. Incomplete forms will not be processed.

3.  Dual Citizenship Applicants should send an advance copy of their application forms and supporting documents. Incomplete forms will not be processed.

4.  OAV Registrants should also send an advance copy of their application forms and supporting documents.  Incomplete forms will not be processed.

5. Names of all applicants with pre-processed applications will be posted at the Consulate’s website (www.philippineconsulatela.org) by 26 February 2009.  Personal appearance is required for all applicants.

6.  While walk-in applicants will also be entertained, priority will be given to those with pre-processed applications with the Consulate, as posted in the website. All walk-in applicants are advised to transact their business directly

with Consulate officials and not through travel agencies.  Walk-in applicants are by definition those who did not pass through travel agencies.

For general information, interested parties may wish to call Vice Consul John G. Reyes (Tel: 1-213-637-3003 | losangelespcg@earthlink.net) of the Consulate, or Ms. Marie Cunning (Tel: 1-602-573-6936) or Chito Vilar (Tel: 1-602-488-2679) of FABCCA.

For the information of the public, the Philippine Embassy and Consulates General in the U.S. started to accept and to process applications for Machine Readable Passports (MRP) on June 2, 2008. This is in compliance with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for its member states, including the Philippines, to issue MRPs not later than 1 April 2010.

S ince applications received by the Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the U.S. will be sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila via diplomatic pouch, it will take six weeks for a passport to be released to the applicants, from the time the application is accepted. Personal appearance for all will be required for data verification, finger-printing and signature capture. Applications by mail will no longer be accepted.

In compliance with the new photo requirements for the MRP, applicants are requested to visit the Consulate’s website.

While some countries may still honor valid green Philippine passports beyond 1 April 2010 as bona fide travel documents until they expire, most countries will require travelers to hold either MRP or e-Passport for their sojourn by 2010. 

Thus, all Filipinos, including those with valid green passports, are therefore encouraged to apply for their machine readable passports as early as possible. # # #

Information Section

Philippine Consulate General

Trunkline: 213 639 0980

Directline: 213 637 3028

Website: www.philippineconsulatela.org