The Philippine Embassy announced yesterday that it would open a field office at Elite International School (EIS) in the Kingdom’s capital.

Ambassador Ezzedin H. Tago said the field office will be for travel documents, release and extension of lost and found passports and search requests for surrendered passports.

He also reminded Filipinos that the current grace period of the Saudi government for correcting residency and labor documentation ends on July 3.

The Filipino envoy added that those who do not have new sponsors, especially those without a valid passport, are advised to go home to the Philippines before the end of the grace period.

“They can still return to Saudi Arabia in future if they are able to obtain valid visas,” he said.

He said that those who are going home during the grace period need travel documents. For this purpose they need a color photo with white background, preferably passport size, a completed passport application form available at the field office and from the embassy website, and a copy of an old passport or other supporting documents. No fees will be charged.

He added that those who received calls from the embassy can claim their found and surrendered passports at the consular field office. The passport will be released only to the person it was issued to. No representatives will be allowed. This service is also free of charge.

Those who want to extend the validity of their found and surrendered passports can also do so at the consular field office. The extended validity will be for one year. The fee is SR 80, he said.

He added that Filipinos can also go to the consular field office and submit a request, via a drop-box, to find his or her surrendered passport in the embassy’s database.

“He should wait for a call from the embassy regarding his request. Request forms are available at the field office. The service is free of charge,” Tago added.