CONSULAR OUTREACH – LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

Los Angeles, 27 August 2010 – A team from the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles will conduct a Consular Outreach Program in Las Vegas, Nevada on 9-10 October 2010:

Location :

BUGSY’S

Service Hours :

9 October: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

The consular outreach program is being undertaken in cooperation with the

U.P. Alumni Association of Nevada.

1. Applications for Machine Readable Passport

2. Applications for the retention and re-acquisition of Philippine citizenship pursuant to Republic Act 9225 or Dual Citizenship Law (Cost: $50). Oath-taking will be scheduled on the same day for qualified applicants.

3. Notarization/Authentication of Documents (Cost: $25), to be returned to the applicant by mail at an additional cost of $6.

Application forms and requirements can be downloaded from the Consulate’s website at http://www.philippineconsulatela.org/ or obtain them at the

Filipino Business Directory of Las Vegas, 6655 W. Sahara Ave., Suite D-112, Las Vegas, NV 89146.

STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT ONLY (by following the applicable scheduling steps below) AND WITH COMPLETED DOCUMENTS ONLY.

No walk-in applicants will be entertained. All applicants with confirmed appointments are advised to bring all ORIGINAL required documents and to arrive at the venue 15 minutes before their scheduled appointments, for documents verification.

1. Appointment Scheduling Steps for MACHINE-READABLE PASSPORT (MRP) Applicants

a. Complete the passport application form; and,

b. No later than 6 October 2010 or until the Consulate reaches the 600 application limit, send an advance copy of the completed passport application form and data page (bearing the name and photo) of the old passport to the Consulate either by fax (213) 639-0990 (Attn: Las Vegas Outreach) or by email attachment to consular.outreach.lv@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.

2. ?Appointment Scheduling Steps for Dual Citizenship Applicants ?

a. Complete the Dual Citizenship Application form; and,

b. No later than 6 October 2010, send an advance copy of the completed Dual Citizenship application form and supporting documents to the Consulate either by fax (213) 639-0990 (Attn: Las Vegas Outreach) or by email attachment to consular.outreach.lv@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.

3. ?Appointment Scheduling Steps for Notarization/Authentication of Documents ?

a. No later than 6 October 2010, send an advance copy of the completed legal document to the Consulate (Attn: Las Vegas Outreach) either by fax (213) 639-0990 or by email attachment to consular.outreach.lv@gmail.com.

The Consulate regularly updates the appointment schedule posted on the website as they receive the completed applications.

The final list of all applicants with pre-processed applications will be posted at the Consulate’s website (www.philippineconsulatela.org) by 7 October 2010. Personal appearance is required for all applicants for data verification, finger-printing and signature capture. Applications by mail are no longer accepted.

All applicants are advised to transact their business directly with Consulate officials

and not through travel agencies.

Private photographers, who are knowledgeable of the photo requirements for the machine readable passport, will be present at the venue during the Consular Outreach for those who will need photos for passport renewal. To obtain details regarding the new

passport photo requirements, applicants may visit the Consulate’s website (www.philippineconsulatela.org).

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.

Machine Readable Passport: $50 processing fee + $6 for passports to be returned to the applicant by mail

Dual Citizenship: $50 processing fee

Notarization/Authentication: $25 per document + $6 for documents to be returned to the applicant by mail

For information on the venue, interested parties may wish to call Mr. Ceasar Elpidio (Tel: 1-702-451-5051) or Mr. Bernie Benito (Tel: 1-702-528-6298).

For information on consular matters, interested parties may wish to call: Vice Consul John G. Reyes at Tel: (213) 637-3005 / (213) 637-3003 or e-mail: consular.outreach.lv@gmail.com.

For the information of the public, the Philippine Embassy and Consulates General in the U.S. started to accept and to process applications for Machine Readable Passports (MRP) on 2 June 2008. This is in compliance with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for its member states, including the Philippines, to issue MRPs not later than 1 April 2010.

Since applications are sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila via diplomatic pouch, it may take

While some countries may still honor valid green Philippine passports beyond 1 April 2010 as bona fide travel documents until they expire, most countries will require travelers to be holders of either machine readable passports or e-passport for their sojourn by 2010.

In this regard, all Philippine passport holders are advised to renew their Philippine passport six (6) months prior to its expiration, in accordance with ICAO regulations, and to secure their plane tickets only after they have received their new passport.

All Filipinos, including those with valid green passports, are therefore encouraged to apply for their machine readable passports as early as possible.