Faster passport processing for new OFWs

Philippine passport (Photo from http://riyadhpe.dfa.gov.ph/newsroom/press-releases/2284-philippine-embassy-extends-183-484-consular-services-in-2015)

A group of Philippine-based recruiters made an arrangement with the Department of Foreign Affairs to allow would-be overseas Filipino workers to skip the online scheduling to get their new passports.

Alfredo Palmiery, president of the Society of Hong Kong Accredited Recruiters of the Philippines (SHARP), told Hong Kong News the new recruits would be allowed to walk in instead of going online to schedule the date to process their passport.

SHARP is a member of the Federated Associations of Manpower Exporters Inc., which is  made up of 15 industry associations.

Presently, an OFW lane only allows current OFWs to skip the regular waiting lines to renew their passports.

Palmiery said presently, passport applicants, both first-timers and those renewing their passports, would have to wait two to three months to process their application.

“There’s no more waiting period of the would-be OFWs and they could get their passports in one month or shorter. Hopefully, this begins in September,” he said.