According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), about 4,500 Filipinos leave this country everyday to work abroad and the United States remains one of the most popular destinations.

Some job-seekers rely on POEA’s direct hiring scheme.  Many also seek the assistance of local recruitment agencies for their employment processing and documentation. A recruitment agency can help, but there are some factors you should consider when working with a recruitment agency.

1. POEA accreditation. All recruitment agencies are required to be accredited.  You can check the status of an agency’s license online at POEA Agency Verification.

 2. POEA regulations state that overseas positions require a valid job order (JO). You can search available JOs at the POEA JO Portal.

 3. The Visa fee, Airplane Ticket, OWWA Membership Fee and POEA Processing Fees must be shouldered either by the agency or by the employer, and not by you.  See POEA guidelines for more on what is and is not allowed.  

 4. U.S. immigration and labor laws state that petitioners and agencies cannot charge you fees. If you are being charged a placement fee or an agency asks for money before returning your passport, please write to us at CONSManilaNIV@state.gov.

 All applicants for non-immigrant visas to work in the United States, even with documentation from the POEA and an employer, still need to interview with a consular officer to ensure they are qualified. Please remember that there is no secret in applying for a U.S. Visa. – all the necessary information is available at the Embassy website.

2.      I’m from… Virginia

3.      My home state/city is known for… history (Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, historic plantations, Monticello, James Madison’s home, Arlington Cemetery); wine; nature (Blue Ridge Parkway, Shenandoah National Park, Chincoteague/Assateague Island, Great Falls)

4.      My favorite thing about my home state is… it’s diversity – of people, geography and communities.  Northern Virginia is part of the suburbs of Washington, DC.  It is home to powerful politicians, wealthy consultants and contractors, dedicated public servants, and scores of recent immigrants.  The beach communities of Virginia are dominated by Norfolk where the Naval Air Station is home to many U.S. service members, and the nearby colonial areas are home to “old money” and historical families.  Central Virginia is home to the capital of the State, Richmond, and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.  The University is very historical (founded by Thomas Jefferson) and one of the best in the region.  There are also lots of horse farms and wineries in this region.  And Southwest Virginia is very agricultural, with beautiful rural small towns and the small-community spirit.

5.      If you came to visit me, I’d take you… Central Virginia.  We’d see history at Monticello and the University of Virginia, we’d see beautiful countryside as we tour wineries, we’d boat and play on Lake Anna, and we’d put on hats and white gloves and watch the Foxfield horse races.

6.      Things you have to try before you leave… Virginia ham biscuits

7.       My favorite place in the U.S. is… Virginia, of course!

8.      You’ll have to take home…   Virginia wine.

9.       My advice to immigrant visa applicants:  Take your time when you arrive.  It’s a challenge to set up a new life in a new place.  There’s a lot to learn, nothing happens the way you think it will, it takes time to make friends and establish community connections.  Don’t expect it all to fall into place quickly and easily.  It’ll take time, but in the end it’s worth the effort!

Have a look, and write us a comment if you have any questions that we haven’t thought of yet!

Applicants who need to submit additional documentation should proceed to the 2GO outlets at Robinsons Place Manila or SM Mall of Asia. Alternatively, the documentation may be sent to the U.S. Embassy via any branch of 2GO courier service (Attn: Immigrant Visa Unit) together with a copy of our 221g refusal letter (MNL-IV-22A).

Returning resident applicants, however, may continue to submit completed returning resident application forms at Window 38 every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. For more information on the Returning Resident process, click here.

Applicants with specific questions regarding their case should contact the Immigrant Visa unit by email at IVManilaReplies@state.gov.

To qualify for a group appointment, your group of three to ten people must:
• apply for B1/B2 visa
• travel together for the same purpose,
• travel on or around the same date

Examples of groups include sports teams, choir groups, school groups, and groups traveling for competitions. Please note that family members traveling together do not qualify. If your group has more than 10 members, you have to make a separate request for them. If you have too many people on one application, the request for group appointment will be refused.

Going as a group? Request for group appointments

If the Embassy approves the request, you will receive an email with instructions on how to schedule the group appointment. Please ensure that each group member has not booked or scheduled an individual appointment yet or they will not be added to the group unless you cancel the existing appointment.

To request a Group Appointment, please complete the steps online and appear for your interview. For general information regarding group appointments, please visit the online appointment website or call the Embassy call center.

If you’ve traveled with a group before, tell us about your experience!

Alternatively, you may contact the Embassy’s call center at (632) 982-5555 or (632) 902-8930 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Monday through Friday) to reschedule your own appointment.

Checking your case status online is fast and easy:

1. Go to the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website: https://ceac.state.gov/CEAC/,
2. Under “Nonimmigrant”, click “Check My Visa Application Status”,
3. Choose from the drop down menu your interview location (Philippines, Manila),
4. Enter the CEAC Barcode.

For applicants interviewed before January 14, 2013, you may use the 14-digit Control Number provided at the top of your 221(g) letter.

Have you received a 221(g) letter?  Share with us what what you did and how it went.

However, there are instances that your application will be under further administrative processing. It means that the Consular Officer did not have all of the information required to determine if you are eligible for a US visa.

At the end of the interview, the Consular Officer will give you a 221(g) letter and will tell you if the visa application requires further administrative processing, or will ask you to submit additional supporting document/s or requested additional information.

But how will you avoid getting this letter?

It is very important that you bring all original documents that will demonstrate your strong ties here in the Philippines. And you must make sure to answer all the Consular Officers questions.

So be prepared for the interview!

If you have a 221(g) letter, you can check your U.S visa status on line. Please go to Check My Visa Application Status and input your CEAC barcode number.

We hope you continue reading in 2013.  And keep your questions coming. We are here to help.

Is there a topic you would like more information on? Let us know!   

Si Bong Voyage, ang ating habang panahong immigrant visa applicant ay kasalukuyang nasa U.S. Embassy para sa kanyang visa interbyu.

Consul Jimmy Murdochs: Magandang Umaga, Mr Voyage.  Dahil ikaw ay nagaaplay ngayon para sa iyong E3 employment visa, ang tanong ko, ikaw ba ay tumira o nagtrabaho sa labas ng Pilipinas dati?

An example of an Omani police clearance

Bong Voyage: Opo, ako ay nagtrabahong bilang nars sa Singapore, Saudi Arabia at United Kingdom.

Consul Jimmy Murdochs: Napakahusay na karanasan.  Gaano ka katagal tumira sa mg lugar na ito?

Bong Voyage: Hhmmm, sa Singapore halos dalawang taon, sa Saudi Arabia, tatlong taon at sa U.K. mga anim na buwan lang.

Consul Jimmy Murdochs: Nakakuha ka ba ngPolice clearances mula sa Singapore at Saudi Arabia?

Bong Voyage: Hindi po Sir, hindi ko po alam na kailangan ang mga dokumentong ito para sa aking visa.  Kailangan ko po ba mula Singapore at Saudi? At yung sa U.K.? nagtrabaho din ako doon.

Consul Jimmy Murdochs: Ang police clearances ay kailangan sa lahat ng aplikante ng immigrant visa na tumira sa banyagang bansa sa panahong lampas sa isang taon.  Ang iyong anim na buwan sa U.K. ay hindi kinakailangan ng police clearance.  Karagdagan pa, ang police clearances ay hindi makukuha ng mga aplikanteng hinid kasalukuyang nakatira sa Saudi Arabia.  Sa kabilang banda, ang Singapore police clearance ay maaaring makuha maging ng mga kasalukuyang hindi naninirahan doon, kaya aming hihilingin na ikaw ay kumuha nito.

Ang mga batayan sa pagkuha ng police clearances mula sa mga dayuhang bansang tinirhan ng mga aplikante kung minsan ay nakakalito!  Pag-uwi mo ng bahay, maari mo konsultahin ang aming website para sa mga espesipikong paraan kung papano makakakuha ng police clearances mulas sa ibat’ ibang bansa.  I clik  here at tingnan sa ilalim ng “police” para sa mga bansang iyong dating  tinirhan.

Bong Voyage: Ok, sa tingin ko para sa akin, kailangan ko ng Singapore police clearance? Ang ibig bang sabihin non hindi ako maiisyuhan ng E3 visa ngayong araw na ito?

Consul Jimmy Murdochs: Tama ka, Mr. Voyage.  Ang iyong kaso ay pansamantalang refused hanggang iyong ma i submit ang kinakailangang police clearance mula sa Singapore.  Kapag natanggap na namin ang dokumentong ito, rerebyuhin namin kung mayroong criminal history na maaaring maging dahilan upang ikaw ay hindi maaring tanggapin sa U.S.  Kung ang iyong police record ay magpapakita na wala kang mga kriminal na paghatol, aming ipagpapatuloy ang pagproseso ng iyong aplikasyon sa visa.

Bong Voyage: Ah, ganon pala.  Maraming salamat! Sa tingin ko ako ay isang hakbang na malapit na upang mataggap ko ang aking visa!

Note: Philippine Police (NBI) o police clearances mula sa dayuhang mga bansa ay nararapat na naayon sa kasalukuyang pangalan ng aplikante, pangalan na naaayon sa birth certificate, pangalan sa pagkadalaga, at anumang aliases o palayaw, kasama ang iba’t ibang spelling na ginamit o ginagamit sa mga pangalang nabanggit.

Para makabasa ng karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa NBI clearances. Tingnan ang aming Blog Posts “NBI Written Explanations” at “NBI Clearances and Other Names Used.”