Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 906)
The main purpose of Executive Order No. 906 is to institute expedite service fees, other service, and/or applicable fees for consular services including passport processing, and to use the proceeds for the DFA Provident Fund to benefit DFA employees.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is authorized to set the expedite service fees, other service, and/or applicable fees in an amount not exceeding the regular fees for consular and other department services.
The expedite service fees apply to all DFA consular services such as passport processing, visa issuance, notarials, certifications, authentications, and other department services that require issuance beyond regular office hours or earlier than the normal processing period.
The revenues from expedite service fees and other applicable fees collected by the DFA shall accrue exclusively to the DFA Provident Fund.
The collection of expedite service fees for the DFA Provident Fund began on March 1, 2010.
The proceeds shall be used exclusively for the operation of the DFA Provident Fund for the benefit of all DFA employees.
The DFA is authorized under existing regulations, including the Foreign Service Act and related mandates, to charge and collect reasonable fees for the processing of passports, visas, notarials, certifications, and other consular issuances both domestically and abroad.
Executive Order No. 641 authorizes the establishment of Provident Funds in government agencies, which provides the basis for funding the DFA Provident Fund with proceeds from service fees as embraced in Executive Order No. 906.
Yes, the expedite service fees and other applicable fees shall not exceed the amount of the DFA's regular fees for the consular services and other department services.
Yes, due to the increasing demand, the Order authorizes DFA personnel to work beyond regular office hours to accommodate expedite service requests.