sad to say, yes, red or machine readable passport ang kailangan...anyways, me time ka pa, better do it now, my passports expiration date was nov 2011, i got my ppr last may 14...mabuti na lang, i already made an appointment last april 7 and and nakuha kong schedule ay may 12..haist, nakuha ko ang passport ko(expedite processing - 10 days worth 1200, na naging 13 days, dahil nasira daw ang printer ng dfa) ng may 28......and i sent it immediately sa embassy...kahit pa sabado kinabukasan......so probably ngayon pa lang un idedeliver...may nakalagay sa passport request letter na dapat machine readable na...kaya, mas dapat paschedule ka na habang nagiintay ka pa, dahil ang bagal ng dfa...