20 March 2013 - The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh served more than 350 Filipinos during a consular outreach mission held from March 14 to 15 in Sakaka in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Jouf Region, located 1200 kilometers north of the Saudi capital.
Led by Consul Mohd Noordin N. Lomondot, the Embassy team accepted and processed various consular services including 353 e-Passport applications, two (2) consular documents, five (5) reports of birth, and one (1) lost passport application.
The Embassy reiterates its announcement that the consular outreach in Al-Khobar scheduled for March 21 and 22 has been cancelled. Applicants with appointments on the said dates have been rescheduled to March 28 and 29 and it will be held at the Al Jazeerah International Philippine School in Al Rakah, Al-Khobar.
Applicants affected by the re-scheduling will be informed via email and telephone (if their contact details are available). New schedules may be confirmed through the Embassy’s website, www.philembassy-riyadh.org.
Philippine passport holders are again advised to confirm the date the expiry date of their passport, and to apply for a new passport around nine (9) months before the passport’s expiry. It is not possible to travel to various destinations with a passport that has less than 6 months validity.
The Embassy also reminds applicants to schedule an appointment for the renewal of their passports whether they are applying in Riyadh or during consular outreach missions. An appointment may be secured through the Embassy’s website.
Extension of the validity of passports is no longer possible in accordance with Home Office instructions, except in the following instances:
- Death in the family requiring the OFW and members of his/her dependent family to urgently travel to the Philippines;
- Medical emergencies requiring the OFW and member of his/her dependent family to urgently travel to the Philippines or another country for medical treatment;
- OFWs returning to the employers abroad with valid employment contracts processed by the POEA; and
- Those going home on final exit visas.
In the above instances, the applicant for an extension must provide proof of urgency such as copy of the death certificate, medical certificate, final exit or letter of the employer indicating that the Filipino employee will leave the Kingdom on final exit, along with plane tickets with confirmed flight details. END