To accommodate more Filipinos in Dammam, Saudi Arabia who need to renew their passports, the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh announced that they would add four more schedules for mobile consular services or Embassy on Wheels.

Many OFWs in Saudi Arabia are having a hard time renewing their passports because the online appointment schedules from February to July this year are already closed. Those whose passports are expiring need to travel from Dammam to Riyadh for nine hours to get a new passport which is a requirement to be given an iqama (residence certificate).

To solve this problem, the Embassy decided to add more schedule for Embassy on Wheels. They added by one schedule in February, two in March and one in April 2013.

The revised schedules which will be conducted at the Al-Jazeera International School Dammam are February 14-15; Feb. 21-22; March 7-8; March 21-22; March 28-29; April 18-19; and April 25-26.

Applicants with online appointments from February until July 2013 will be re-scheduled to an earlier date. Their new schedule will be sent through email or by contacting them via cellphone.

The online appointment system will be soon be amended to allow for online appointments on these dates at the Embassy website: www.philembassy-riyadh.org.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced to the public that their consular offices based at shopping malls will no longer be available on Sundays. The government agency decided to stop their operations on Sunday because of the low number of clients who seek their services on this day.

Check out the list of DFA satellite offices that will no longer release passports on Sundays.

• DFA NCR-East (SM Megamall)
• DFA NCR-Central (Robinson’s Galleria)
• DFA NCR-West (SM City Manila)
• RCO Cebu
• RCO Pampanga
• RCO General Santos
• RCO Davao
• RCO Baguio City
• RCO Lipa City
• RCO Angeles City

For further inquiries, one can visit http://www.dfa.gov.ph or call 556-0000.

Apply for a passport or renew your existing passport before the year ends. You can even do it faster if you happen to live near the venues of the November and December mobile passport service of the DFA.

Mobile Passport Service: November

Mobile Passport Service: December

Important: Please note that the above schedule may change anytime without further notice so it is best to confirm the schedule by calling the contact numbers given.

Individuals who wish to apply for a passport through mobile service should also submit the application form and requirements at least two weeks in advance so you should call the numbers above for the submission procedure. The rate for mobile passport is the same as the expedite rate and personal appearance is required.

Important Reminders for Passport Mobile Services

• The processing of passports at Mobile Passport Services is guided by the Philippine Passport Act of 1996 and its implementing rules and regulations, other relevant Department Orders, Circulars and Memoranda.
• Participation in the Mobile Passport Services must be coordinated with the Passport Coordinator designated by the Local Government Unit (LGU) in advance. The designated LGU Passport Coordinator will collect copies of the application forms from interested applicants at least two weeks in advance of the scheduled date of the mobile passport service.
• The LGU Passport Coordinator will inform the applicant of the indicative time during which he or she will have to file the passport application on the scheduled date of the Mobile Passport Service.
• Personal appearance is a requirement for all passport applicants.
• The Mobile Passport Service will not accept applications for the replacement of lost valid passports but will entertain applications for lost expired passports.
• The Mobile passport fee is same with the Expedite Rate.

For any details, please call 834-4000. Local Nos. 2406 – 2410 or 836-7750

Overseas Filipino workers (0FWs) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia can renew their Philippine passports as the Philippine Embassy in KSA will again conduct a mobile passport service this month.

The announcement was posted on the official website of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh. This service called “Embassy on Wheels” is done by the Embassy with the help of AFCSCCOM, a Filipino community organization in the area.

The announcement said that the Embassy on Wheels will be held at the Al Jazeera International Philippine School in Dammam on August 11 and 12.

The Embassy said that applicants should bring their old passports and prepare a photocopy of the first page of their passports. They will not be required to submit photos.

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