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Philippine embassy

Discussion in 'Rant and Rave' started by bigmac, Mar 26, 2019.

  1. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    What a joy. Up at 5 am
    We got here after a short car ride..then a short train ride..then a fast ferry crossing..then a comfortable 2 and a half hour coach trip to Victoria coach station. 30p for a pee.
    Then the shambles started. Been a long time since i used the underground...wrong queue for tickets..till an attended showed us how to use contactless. Usual fast tube service to charing cross.

    Found the embassy easy thanks to Google maps. 10.45..just an hour since we got off the coach. Place is packed solid. Wife gets a ticket...number.67...there on number 6.....

    Yes..this is 2019. No option but to attend the embassy in person for passport tenewal...and no appointments offered.

    So far the day has cost about £100 in travel costs

    Still on number 17and its now 11.30..and they close for lunch.

    I may well die in this sardine tin of a waiting room it stinks in here.
    • Funny Funny x 3
  2. Stupot10
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    Stupot10 Active Member

    We had heard what is was like before we attended last year, stayed overnight then was at the embassy as it opened. We were still there 1 1/2 hours and we had number 9.
  3. Maharg
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    Maharg Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    It is the most frustrating, incompetent place on earth. Enjoy!

    We've always got there before opening because I suspected it would be exactly like this. If you are lucky, someone who is before you in the queue will get so fed up they will leave and then give you their ticket!

    The best thing, of course, is if you wait there all day and then get to the counter, only to be told that the information on their website is incorrect and you need to come back another time!

    The worrying thing is, my wife wants to go there soon to re-affirm her citizenship and register our daughter. Looking forward to that one!
  4. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    And thats exactly what has happened...given a much loeer ticket ..shes past reception and disappeared into the building somewhere.
    Queue is moving fast now..up to 54 already..simply because lots of no shows

    All done! We are out of here..
  5. Bootsonground
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    Bootsonground Guest

    Its like that in almost every public office here...
    Thankfully they don`t mind us sending an employee to do the tedious queuing or sleeping through their useless 10 hour seminars while Im at home watching Netflix drinking copious amounts of cold SMB.
    • Like Like x 1
  6. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    At last back at Victoria coach station....having exited the underground station by the far exit ...walked miles..that rail station occupies a vast site. A sign saying which exit for the coach station is just too much to expect. Changed ticket to the 2.30.

    Still..better than waiting for the 7pm i was booked on.


    Seems the embassy staff were really helpful. All sorted even though i had..apparently printed the wrong form

    Incidentally. @Mattecube ..she was given her current passport back straight away.
  7. Mattecube
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    Mattecube face the sunshine so shadows fall behind you Trusted Member

    Did they invalidate her current passport in any way?
  8. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    No holes punched..corners cut off..just a stamp to say Epassport processed today. Front page photocopied. And to think i paid £6.60 for a tracked return stamped envelope.
  9. Mattecube
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    Mattecube face the sunshine so shadows fall behind you Trusted Member

    Did you see Trafalger Square?
  10. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Walked past it. Some group playing rubbish. Went back and sat on a wall while waiting.
  11. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    back home. beer in hand: shattered. but at 6 this morning i didnt expect to be back till 11 tonight.

    thanks entirely to the person who gave my wife her ticket--number 21. dunno what happened there. my wife paid hers forward her number 67 to a newer arrival with an 80+ ticket.

    as i said above--the embassy staff very polite and helpful. showed my wife how to complete the correct form..photocopied stuff--all in all--a relief. was told 6 weeks for delivery of new one..we will see.
    • Like Like x 1
  12. Druk1
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    Druk1 Well-Known Member

    Always good to hear of someone enjoying their visit to this fantastic city,London has been awarded the accolade of being the best city on earth to visit,was on TV earlier :) Next time spend a weekend :cool:
  13. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    ha ha haa.love the sarcasm. couldnt wait to get back home.

    druk--you and i are complete opposites.
    • Agree Agree x 1
  14. Druk1
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    Druk1 Well-Known Member

    Where do you live?I read ferry crossing and thought Isle of Wight maybe?
  15. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member


    yep--ryde
    • Agree Agree x 1
  16. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    well--surpise surprise--my wife got her new phili passport today. taken 6 weeks--rather than the 8 to 12 quoted. i had been worried the passport department might have insisted she went through the report of marriage procedure. ( which she hasnt )
    • Like Like x 3
  17. Macchiato
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    Macchiato Member

    Nice! I think a dram of the Glenfiddich sounds like a good reward for putting yourself through the London grind Mac! o_O
  18. Anne
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    Anne Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Glad you got your wife's passport sorted. Some of the people at the Embassy were not very nice or shall I say rude. I got my renewed passport on week 7 since application though.

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