minamimusings

(Note: I wrote this last year. Forgot to publish it after. This is a small post for people who want to know what to expect during their DFA appointments.) Before anything else, make sure you read very well all the reminders, such as Dress Code and their page on What to Expect written on the Department of Foreign Affairs' passport site . It's a good thing I really took note of my DFA appointment March 22. (My previous blog post on getting the appointment is here .) Almost panicked because I thought I was lacking requirements, such as NBI clearance. It turns out, I didn't really need it. Anyway, this is a "What to Expect" based on my experience: 1. You have to get there 30 minutes before your schedule. If you're early for that, they supposedly won't let you in. However, when I arrived, there was already quite a line of people for the 11am slot. No worries. There are seats, and the people are segregated into their appointment schedules. The seats ar...

I've decided to apply for a US Visa this year. But I was advised to have my passport changed first. My current one carries my maiden name. When I go to the embassy for an interview, they said it might be better if I already present one with my married surname, so there aren't issues. Two years ago, when my husband (then, my fiance) and I renewed our passports, we only had to call a number, give our info, pay at the bank, wait for our documents and pictures to be picked up by someone, go to the Department of Foreign Affairs to finish processing and then our new passport would be delivered a week or so after. It was pretty hassle-free compared to the old days. Now, you have to go to their site . You can still opt to call, but they're mostly busy (when I called anyway). In truth, the organization of the site is pretty convenient. You set an appointment here and fill out a form. Make sure you understand the requirements going in! At the end, they'll ask you to choose a da...