Applying for a Philippine Passport in Toronto

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We are travelling in six months time so I decided to renew all our passports which are all expiring in 2014. Travelling to the Philippine Consulate Office in downtown Toronto is a breeze.It took us only 20 minutes to get there. If you are taking the TTC train or bus, the nearest subway is Eglinton. The Philippine Embassy in Toronto is on the 8th floor and upon entry into the embassy, you have to get a number and wait till your number is called.Its a small office considering that it is now in charge of consular services for the sizable Filipino-Canadian population in Ontario (west of Kingston), along with the provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. In the Greater Toronto Area alone, 172,000 people identify as Filipino.

Compared to the Singapore Philippine Embassy, they allow you to bring in your cellphones inside. There is no security that will check your bags. In the Singapore Philippine Embassy, there is a guard post that checks the bags and gets the ID cards of all visitors before you are allowed entry.

Singapore Philippine Embassy at the Embassy row in Nassim Road(below) Prompt Service

The Embassy in Toronto has 2 windows and 1 window for the Cashier. When we went there at 12:30 pm(lunchtime), only 1 window was open. At around 1pm , the 2nd window opened and our number was called.

We only waited for 30 minutes before we were attended to. The person in Window 2 collected our passports and documents and asked us to wait for the Photo taking.He gave us a slip indicating that our passports will be released on March 11.You don't need to bring a passport size picture since they already take the photos in the embassy.

I was however told that the passports might come earlier(it is sent to Manila) and they will mail the new and old passports together if you opt to have it mailed or they will call you to have your passports picked up.

We opted for our passports to be mailed.Make sure that when you buy the Canadian Post envelope in the Pilipino Office on the 6th floor that your envelope can accomodate the number of passports that will be mailed back to you. I made a mistake since the lady at the Office gave me a small envelope (which cost $15) which cant accomodate 6 passports so I have to buy another big A4 envelope for $15 again.

There were two ladies attending to all passport picture taking.After they take your picture and thumbprint, they will ask you to check all the data that they have keyed into the computer and let you sign the document. Then you have to bring all your documents/passports to the Cashier for payment. Cost of Passport Renewal is $69.

The area where they took the passport photos reminded me of the Singapore Philippine Embassy office.

This is how the Toronto Philippine Embassy looks like from inside

I notice that in every Philippine Embassy, they like to squeeze in this ubiquitous book shelf(books I guess are not even read).This book shelf even had 4 bottles with Mt Pinatubo ashes inside as decorations.

Here is the Waiting room inside the Singapore Philippine Embassy

Did you notice those ubiquitous book shelves again? Compared to the long waits at the SIngapore Philippine Embassy, the Toronto embassy is less crowded and the personnel are polite and cheerful.

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY HOUSEKEEPING

My only comment is about housekeeping. The Philippine Embassies in both Singapore and Toronto needs to spring clean(for cobwebs and spiders on the wall and dusts underneath their tables) and unclutter their space.

First of all get rid of the bulky book shelves, worn and discoloured sofas & chairs and the dumb valet that occupies valuable real estate to free up space for the number of visitors they have.I know this costs money but it will make the office look cleaner and spacious.

When I remarked about the housekeeping, my son said..."isn't that typical of Manila??? topsy turvy?" Nuf said.