What consular assistance and services are available to Filipinos in Australia?

Consul General Charmaine Rowena Aviquivil explained during a post-arrival orientation for international students in Sydney the importance of understanding how to access vital services from the Philippine Consulates.

Consul General Charmaine Rowena Aviquivil, from the Philippine Consulate Office in Sydney, is informing newly inducted officers of the Association of Pinoy Students in Australia about the available consular services for Filipino migrants.

Key Points

• Aside from Passport, Notarization, and Civil Registration, Consul Emmanuel Guzman explained the process for accessing Assistance to Nationals.
• Vice Consul Frances Cleofas clarified that their service in processing NBI Clearance in the Philippines only involves obtaining fingerprints.
• The newly formed Filipino lawyers group, Abogadong Pinoy, provided free legal consultations to international students.

As Filipinos embrace opportunities and face the challenges of life abroad, consular services provided by Philippine embassies and consulates play a crucial role in ensuring their well-being, safety, and access to essential documentation.

These services cover a wide range of things, from passport services to notarization, NBI clearances, civil registrations, overseas voting, dual citizenship, and helping Filipinos in dire situations, which is known as Assistance to Nationals services.

In a speech during the Post Arrival Orientation Seminar of the newly elected officers of the Association of Pinoy Students in Australia (APSA), Consul General Charmaine Rowena Aviquivil of the Philippine Consulate Office in Sydney shares how important these services are.

“ The consulate office is dedicated to offering programs and services that Filipino students might not be aware of. We're here to assist with passport renewals and the legalisation of documents, should they require these services. “

Psssports

The availability of services offered by consulates can differ from place to place. Passports are a big part of their job but they've seen a slight drop in passport renewal requests this year. ConGen Charmaine explains, "We've seen fewer people renewing passports worldwide, mainly because of the 10-year validity of the new ones that started in 2018. But, we're still helping plenty of Kababayans get dual citizenship."

NBI Clearance

NBI clearances are often required for employment, travel, or immigration purposes. Consulates can assist in processing these documents, saving Filipinos time and effort.

Vice Consul Frances Cleofas points out, "We want to stress that the consulate office assists in fingerprinting services for your NBI Clearance Form only. A consular officer will sign the NBI form, and you'll need to send it to the NBI office in Manila. Alternatively, you can send your completed form and other necessary documents to a trusted friend or relative in the Philippines, along with an authorization letter allowing them to handle the transaction for you."

Assistance to Nationals (ATN)

Consul Emmanuel Guzman also breaks down how to get Assistance to Nationals. He says, "You can ask for help if you're a Filipino in distress in Australia or if you're the next-of-kin of a Filipino in trouble here.

The Philippine Foreign Service Act of 1991 and the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act make it clear that the Department of Foreign Affairs is here to protect and support the rights and welfare of Filipinos abroad."

Consul Guzman also emphasized the importance of preventive measures. While help is available, he encouraged all migrants to prioritise their safety and steer clear of trouble to avoid needing this type of service.