ASSISTANCE-TO-NATIONALS (ATN)
The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco provides Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) services to Filipino citizens in distress in the following states under its consular jurisdiction: Alaska, Northern California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Northern Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. ATN services may include welfare, repatriation, travel document issuance, and other related assistance to distressed Filipino citizens.
One of the recurring programs of the Consulate’s ATN Section is a free legal aid clinic at the Philippine Center in San Francisco every first Friday of the month, held in partnership with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) California Chapter.
The Consulate regularly invites the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (DOL-WHD) to its consular outreach missions, to increase awareness on U.S. federal minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor requirements, among others.
Filipino citizens who are Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the above-mentioned states may seek labor- and employment-related assistance from the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) Office in Los Angeles, formerly known as the Philippine Overseas Labor Office or POLO, which covers jurisdiction over the U.S. West Coast. MWO Los Angeles is under the newly created Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in the Philippines.
According to Philippine law, an OFW “refers to a Filipino who is to be engaged, is engaged, or has been engaged in remunerated activity in a country of which he or she is not an immigrant, citizen, or permanent resident or is not awaiting naturalization, recognition, or admission, whether land-based or sea-based regardless of status; excluding a Filipino engaged under a government-recognized exchange visitor program for cultural and educational purposes.”
Quick Listing of U.S. Federal and Local Helplines
| | |
|---|---|
| Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco | Call 415-433-6666 (weekdays except holidays, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Pacific Time) or 415-269-2090 (emergency) Email [email protected] Download the ATN Request Form |
| Philippine Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Los Angeles, formerly the Philippine Overseas Labor Office or POLO Covers the jurisdiction of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco | Call 213-223-1120 Email [email protected] |
| Philippine Social Security System (SSS) Office in Los Angeles Covers the jurisdiction of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco | Call 213-432-7402 Email [email protected] |
| U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (DOL-WHD) | Visit website for the contact listing of DOL-WHD’s local offices: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/contact/local-offices |
| U.S. Emergency Hotline | Call 911 |
| U.S. National Suicide Prevention and Crisis Lifeline | Call 988 Visit website: 988lifeline.org |
| U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline | Call 1-888-373-7888 Text “HELP” or “INFO” to 233733 Visit website: humantraffickinghotline.org |
| U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotlines | Call 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 206-518-9361 (for the hearing impaired) Text “START” to 88788 Visit website: www.thehotline.org |
Resources
- Consulate webpage on Gender and Development (GAD)
- Consulate webpage on getting a Consular Mortuary Certificate (for human remains that will be brought to the Philippines)
- Consulate webpage on other Philippine government services (e.g., Employment Contract Verification, OWWA Membership Application, SSS Annual Confirmation of Pensioners or ACOP)
ABOUT ASSISTANCE TO NATIONALS
The Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) refers to the assistance provided by the Philippine Government to distressed Overseas Filipinos (OFs).
Overseas Filipinos in distress may include regular workers, permanent migrants, undocumented workers, and other distressed Filipinos. The consular jurisdiction of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco covers Alaska, Northern California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Northern Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
ATN services include, but are not limited to:
- Repatriation of distressed OFs to the Philippines
- Shipment of remains or cremains and personal belongings of deceased OFs to the Philippines
- Welfare assistance, which may include food, care packages, basic supplies and financial assistance
- Medical Repatriation to the Philippines
- Medical assistance, including hospital visits
- Jail visitation and monitoring of cases of detained OFs
- Ascertaining of whereabouts and conditions of missing OFs
- Referral to relevant offices and coordination on employment-related concerns
- Assistance to victims of Trafficking in Persons and Violence against Women and Children (VAWC) cases
- Other necessary assistance to distressed OFs
A. Duly Accomplished Request for Assistance Form (RAF)
B. Proof of Philippine Citizenship
Primary: Valid Philippine passport (note: Filipinos whose passports have not yet expired but who have already obtained a foreign citizenship will be guided on the steps for reacquiring/retaining their Filipino citizenship under RA 9225)
Supporting: any of the following, as appropriate:
- If a permanent resident, valid Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
- If a Dual Citizen, Dual Certificates (Identification Certificate, Oath of Allegiance, and/or Order of Approval)
- If neither a permanent resident nor a dual citizen, any Philippine Government-issued ID (Driver’s License, PRC ID, SSS ID, etc)
C. Additional Requirements (For specific ATN services)
Shipment of Remains of Deceased OF
- Death Certificate of Deceased OF
- Three (3) quotations from service providers for embalming/cremation and transport of the remains/cremains
Welfare Assistance
- Breakdown of assistance being requested
- Applicable supporting documents
Medical Repatriation
- Medical Record
- Certificate of Fitness to Travel issued by the attending physician
- Medical Information Form (MEDIF) issued by the airline
Medical Assistance
- Medical Record
- Hospital Bill
Note: The Philippine Consulate General may request other supporting documents which are necessary to provide the requested ATN service.
An Overseas Filipino in distress or his/her Next-of-Kin (NOK) may request ATN services by submitting a duly accomplished Request for Assistance Form (RAF). This request will be submitted by the Consulate to the Department of Foreign Affairs, which has the authority to approve ATN Fund disbursements to ensure appropriate oversight, accountability and uniform application of ATN Fund guidelines.
Each request is assessed based on the urgency, completeness of documentation, and the extent of coordination required with relevant authorities. The timeline may therefore vary, but all cases are treated urgently and diligently, with due consideration of data privacy laws.
The assistance is extended on a case-by-case basis, subject to verification of circumstances, eligibility, and the availability of other sources of support, consistent with existing ATN guidelines. Hence, the amount shall be calibrated based on the actual needs, prevailing conditions, and the specific circumstances of each case.
An OF in distress, who is unable to engage the services of a private counsel/lawyer, and who is in a country where there is no system of legal aid and public defenders, or where there is no access to counsel de officio, or any lawyer provided by the foreign government, may avail of the Legal Assistance Fund (LAF).