Get pass through Philippine Immigration

The last time I posted an article, it was about getting your documents attested in the Qatar embassy, and now I am writing another article while sitting in my bed on a Friday night here in Qatar.

My mom has been working here for almost 20 years now, just like any other filipino bread winner, I went here for the purpose of earning a living. I was lucky enough to receive a call from an Interior design company here in Qatar while in the Philippines; eager to help, I grabbed the opportunity. I fixed all my papers as fast as I could, I travelled Baguio-Tarlac-Manila just to make sure that my documents will be prepared as soon as possible.

The company wants me to start the soonest possible time, so I didn't waste time. I processed my own paper and didn't go to any agency as per HR's instructions. According to her, it will take me too much time registering as OFW as well as them spending a lot of money.

Before they process my working visa, they required supporting documents like OTR, Diploma, and other supporting documents that will be needed to prove that I am entitled the draftsman working visa.  I submitted all the documents they required and searched for some tips on how long a visa can take to be released. Based on my research, it may take 2 weeks to more than one month depending on the requirements you gave them or how your HR processed your papers; well i'm lucky enough to get my visa after 3 days of submitting my documents.

As soon as my working visa was released, I booked a flight to singapore, why?

We all know that we cannot get out of the Philippine immigration if we're carrying a working visa without registering in POEA. So the fastest way is to go out as a tourist. I booked a tour package to singapore to get pass through our immigration.

Is it easy to get pass through immigration?

Listed below are the few possible questions an Immigration officer might ask you:

1. Where's your destination?
2. What's the purpose of your travel?
3. Do you have any friends with you?
4. Have you experienced traveling locally? (just incase it's your first time for an out of the country)
5. What's your work?

Since it's my first time to travel out of the country, the IO immediately gave me a form to fill up and have an interview with other IO's. They are going to ask you a lot of things to confirm if you're lying regarding your travel purposes. The main reason they off-load a passenger is they don't want us to end up miserable in other country especially when we're going out without being registered as an ofw because if something happen to us outside the country we will not get anything from the government as they said.

Anyhow, determined as I am, I just told them i'm going to singapore for tourism purposes since I just graduated 3 months from that time. You really cannot hide the feeling of nervousness once you're already speaking face to face with an immigration officer, my hands are as cold as ice but I tried my best to hide it.

TIPS:

1. They will surely ask you if you're employed, so bring a company ID as proof that you have a work and that you're surely coming back.

2. Ask for a leave form from the company or a proof that you didn't resign from work.

3. If you're planning to go out of the country to look for work and you didn't get to process your papers in the POEA, do not file a resignation letter yet.


I arrived 4 a.m. on the 19th of august 2014 in Hamad International Airport. :) Started working the following day and now have a legal Qatar residence ID and a registered OFW. (after registering in OWWA here in Qatar)

Get your documents attested in the Qatar Embassy HERE.