PRESS RELEASE

MJBA-009-2012

CONSULAR OUTREACH IN DALLAS, TX

15 – 18 March 2012

Los Angeles, 24 January 2012 – A team from the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles will conduct a Consular Outreach Program in Dallas, Texas on 15 – 18 March 2012:

Location :

USA Bowl (South Side Entrance)

10920 Composite Drive, Dallas, TX 75220

Service Hours :

9:00 am – 12:30 pm; 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm

The consular outreach program is being undertaken in cooperation with the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Texas (PACC Texas) under the leadership of Ms. Ethel Mercado, State President, and Ms. Elna Mallari, Region Chair.

The following consular services will be rendered:

• Applications for Electronic Passport (ePassport), to be returned to the applicant by mail.

• Applications for the Retention and Re-acquisition of Philippine citizenship pursuant to Republic Act 9225 or Dual Citizenship Law.  Oath-taking will be scheduled on the same day for qualified applicants.

• Applications for Report of Marriage & Birth will be accepted but these will be processed in Los Angeles and returned to the applicant by mail.

• Application for Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV)

STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT ONLY (by following the applicable scheduling steps below) AND WITH COMPLETED DOCUMENTS ONLY.  NO WALK-IN APPLICANTS WILL BE ENTERTAINED.

Appointment Scheduling Steps for ePassport Applicants

Visit the Philippine Consulate website (www.philippineconsulatela.org).  Download and accomplish the ePassport application form no later than 9 March 2012 or until we receive 560 applications, whichever comes first.  Send an advance copy of the completed ePassport application form and data page (bearing the name and photo) of the expired or expiring passport to the Consulate by fax (213) 639-0990 or by email at outreach.dallas@gmail.com.  Thumbprints (if needed) and signature must be affixed and all pertinent data on the application form must be completed.  INCOMPLETE FORMS WILL NOT BE PROCESSED.

Note:

1. Waiting period for the issuance of the new passport will take around 8 weeks or more (in some cases).
2. Personal appearance is required in all cases (including applicants who are 65 years old and above and minors who are below 18 years old).
3. Do not bring passport pictures.  Passport pictures are to be taken by the Consulate.
4. The applicant must wear decent attire (no sleeveless and/or collarless attire) and without eyeglasses/colored contact lenses.
5. No facial piercings allowed.

Appointment Scheduling Steps for Dual Citizenship Applicants

Visit the Philippine Consulate website (www.philippineconsulatela.org) and print the Dual Citizenship Application form; Complete the Dual Citizenship Application form; and, no later than 9 March 2012 or until we receive 200 applications, send an advance copy of the completed Dual Citizenship application form and supporting documents to the Consulate by fax (213) 639-0990 or by email at outreach.dallas@gmail.com.  Other than the thumbprint and photo which will be done on site, all pertinent data on the application form must be completed.  Otherwise, incomplete forms will not be processed.

Note:

1. Oath-Taking will be scheduled on the same day for qualified applicants.
2. Applicants should take their oath as Dual Citizens in DECENT ATTIRE.  The Consulate shall refuse oath-taking to applicants wearing inappropriate outfit such as:

• Sleeveless shirts
• Skimpy clothes
• Shorts
• Sandos
• Slippers

Appointment Scheduling Steps for Report of Marriage (ROM) & Birth (ROB)

Visit the Philippine Consulate website (www.philippineconsulatela.org) and print the ROM or ROB form; Complete the ROM or ROB form; and, no later than 9 March 2012, send an advance copy (one set only) of the completed form and supporting documents to the Consulate by fax (213) 639-0990 or by email at outreach.dallas@gmail.com.  Incomplete forms will not be processed.

Information FOR ALL APPLICANTS

The Consulate regularly updates the appointment schedule posted on the website upon receipt of completed applications.

The final list of all applicants with confirmed appointment schedule will be posted at the Consulate’s website (www.philippineconsulatela.org) by 12 March 2012.

All applicants are required to PERSONALLY APPEAR during their appointment time for data verification, finger printing and photo/signature capture and must bring all original and copies of required forms documents.

All applicants are advised to transact their business directly with Consulate officials and not through travel agencies.

Fees

Fees must be paid in person at the scheduled appointment.  The Consulate will only accept payments in cash, postal money order or cashier’s check. Personal checks will not be accepted.

Payments should be paid directly to the collecting officer/cashier of the Consulate during the outreach program and inside the venue only. Please be informed that the Consulate has not authorized other people or entities to collect fees for all consular services rendered.

ePassport :

$60 processing fee + $6 for passports to be returned to the applicant by mail

Dual Citizenship :

$50 processing fee

Civil Registry :

$25 processing fee + $6 for documents to be returned to the applicant by mail

Contact Information

For information on consular matters, interested parties may contact Ms. Merle V. Ordillano at (213) 639-0980.

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