If it is at all within your power to get your documents through a different Consulate, I would highly advise you do so. I have never had worse service from a Consulate office than that which I experienced trying to get a tourist Visa here.
The application requirements are very ambiguous (the Consulate Officers are apparently at liberty to decide how much money you need to have as "sufficient financial support"), they take an unreasonably long amount of time to process Visas, and there is next to no way to call someone at the office and speak to them verbally unless they call you first. Several of the extensions at the office do not work, have been disconnected, or simply take you straight to an automated voice message machine (which is probably full). It apparently took the office almost two weeks after I sent my passport to the office to even look at the application to realize that I had documents missing. By the way, the document they said they still needed from me was not mentioned at all on the requirements of the application form. Getting my tourist Visa there has been a stressful and unnecessarily long and confusing process.
Seriously, if you can go to any other Consulate, I strongly advise that you do.
7 years ago (26-04-2018)
I originally posted our experience in 2013 but for a unknown reason all reviews under the Philippine Embassy, SF address was deleted. With the same address, it's presently called the Philippine Consulate General.
Hopefully nobody else will experience what we unnecessarily had to deal with. Now the
process of any passport related issues have been clearly explained step by step on their website. Also, I'm hoping they improved their customer service!
Here's our story:
My family and I went to the Philippine Consulate General office to renew our passports. We took the elevator to the 6th floor and waited in line in a room to the left. The 1st contact person gave us incorrect information that we later relayed to the person that took our photos.
After waiting about 40 minutes, our number was called. We repeated what the guy told us and she thought we made it up! She was rude and very condescending. She asked my wife to remove her prescription contacts. My wife didn't bring her case so she had to toss them, then the rude woman took our photos and then she told us to sit down.
Fifteen minutes went by and then thirty and nobody called our name yet! I noticed people that came after us were already leaving. So I approached the cashier and told him that our name as not been called yet. He replied rudely, "Where is your paper work?" I asked my wife, she didn't have it.
The RUDE lady that took our photo was HOLDING IT! We asked her, " Why are you holding it?" " We've been sitting here for 30 minutes wasting our time! She said that she needed my wife to verify her information! By this time we were both upset. I yelled at her. " Why didn't you tell us that in the first place instead of telling us just to have a seat!" She replied, " I told you that I needed you to verify your information. I snapped back at her, " NO you did not , You just told us to have a seat and that's it!" She repeatedly denied telling us "just to have a seat"
Seeing that we were obviously very upset, another person helped us. My wife commented, "I can't let this go without speaking to your manager, I want to see the Deputy General." After we paid the cashier, she asked us to follow her. She escorted us to a room that was furnished with several comfortable couches, a large desk and shelves full of books.
After waiting several minutes,the Deputy Consul General entered the room. He listened to our experience, wrote a few notes, and was very sympathetic and apologetic. He acknowledged that there is poor customer service and in fact, all the employees will be attending on going seminars to improve customer service starting this week. Also. he mentioned that he will have large notices explaining step by step, the work flow, so that every client is aware of the proper procedure for whatever reason visiting the Philippine Consulate. Leaving the office he made sure our business there was taken care of.
SIDE NOTES
1.Parking is walking distance on Post St
2.Bring cash
3. Don't wear contacts, if you do, bring your contact container.
8 years ago (12-02-2018)
Amazing, they provide you with a none working work number. Very shady and makes information so difficult to attain. my daughter went to SFO office to "renew" her passport. She was twice issued a passport that means she had her birth certificate submitted since birth, and still they were asking for an census authenticated birth record. My daughter was born in a foreign land so they were asking for DFA certificate refernce #, Dispatch #, Dispatch Date and Transmittal date. Went to the said link and couldn't fine where to request the necessary information. Bunch of "BS".
8 years ago (23-03-2018)
I wouldnt recommend it..even the staff's doesnt have enough supplies to lend a pen when you go inside to fill a form. Poor service, and i'm very disaapointed!
8 years ago (13-03-2018)
FOLKS, before you go to the consulate make sure your documents are COMPLETE and CORRECT so as not to delay the rest of us wanting our papers done.(DONT SLOW THE ALREADY SLOW PROCESS and BLAME THE EMPLOYEES for your own fault!!!) BRING 16 pcs of forever stamps(if you want your passport mailed back to you, the consulate will provide the mailing envelops courtesy of USPS. You will not be bore waiting as there are 2 tv's one is gma7 and the other is abscbn2. Public parking is $20 for 5 hours in sutter stockton garage. And there are cvs, mcdonalds, thai food, marriot hotel, right.infront of the consulate bldg.
to add Philippine Consulate General map to your website;
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