My POEA Experience

It was three days before my girlfriend's flight to Singapore. She already had a plane ticket. She needed to obtain an e-receipt/OEC from POEA as soon as possible. My flight on the other hand is scheduled some time in December. Since I will be going to POEA soon anyway, we decided to go there together.

Day 1, November 10, 2006 (Friday)

It was about 9 AM, when we arrived at the POEA office. We asked the guard at the lobby area where to register our names for the Name Hire workers. Name Hire workers are workers who found an overseas work or overseas employer without the assistance or participation of a recruitment agency. Unfortunately, we arrived there too late for the morning batch. They only accept 40 people per batch, AM batch and PM batch. So we registered our names in the PM batch. We were numbers 32 and 33. Had we gotten there a bit later, we would've probably not been able to register for the PM batch. Since my girlfriend's flight is near, we spoke to the guard and asked if there's any way to expedite my girlfriend's e-receipt issuance. He then told us to go to the second floor and ask the guard there what he can do for us. We went to the second floor and the guard told us to have my girfriend speak with the Director. I waited outside the office while my girlfriend's inside speaking with the Director. She was asked to show her plane ticket and fortunately, she was granted to bypass waiting for the PM batch. Unfortunately, I was not accomodated. My girlfriend's next step is to go to the PDOS (Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar). She presented her PDOS referral slip to the PDOS office and since she presented her plane ticket to the officer she was allowed to join the seminar even if she was already late. She then asked the PDOS guard if I can join her even if I don't have my PDOS referral slip yet. The guard told us that it's okay. After the seminar, we registered our names in the attendance sheet. I registered my name even though I didn't have the referral slip yet hoping that I will be exempted to attend the afternoon session. After the attendance sheet was collected, we were asked to wait for the certificate of attendance. The referral slip is required to be surrendered before you can get the certificate. Since I don't have it yet, I told the officer that I'll just return in the afternoon to give her the referral slip. Fortunately, she exempted me from attending the afternoon session. After the PDOS, we checked the bulletin board for the accredited clinics for the medical examination. We decided to go to Biomedix Clinic located at 3/F Robinson's Galleria West Wing near the dental clinics. We had lunch then we went to the clinic. I left my girlfriend at the clinic for her medical exam. I then went back to POEA for the PM batch. At the POEA, I waited for the guard to allow us to go to the second floor for Name Hire document evaluation/verification. At exactly 1Pm, we were instructed to go upstairs and wait for our names to be called at Windows 6 or 8. When my name was called, I submitted the required documents* compiled in a long folder. I then waited for another 2 hours for the evaluation of my documents. When my name was called, the evaluator told me that there are lacking provisions in my employment agreement particularly on the repatriation of the worker's remains in case of death. So she gave me a form and instructed me to have the form signed by my employer. The evaluator also told me that I can waive this provision by having my immediate relative sign the affidavit/waiver form that she gave me as well. She also gave me the medical exam referral slip and the PDOS referral slip. I then went to the PDOS office to claim my PDOS certificate of attendance. I then went back to Biomedix at around 4PM to have my medical exam. I was instructed to photocopy the medical referral form and submit a 2x2 ID picture for the medical certificate. The medical exam consists of physical exam, laboratory exam (blood, stool and urine samples will be collected) and psychological exam. I paid PhP 850 for the regular processing. I finished my medical exam at around 7PM.

*Required documents (to be compiled in a long folder):

• Passport (Original and Photocopies of the first page and the visa)
• Employment Contract/Agreement (Original and Photocopy of all pages)
• Form I-797B (NOA), Form I-129 and LCA (Photocopies)
• 2"x2" ID Picture

Day 2, November 11, 2006 (Saturday)

My girlfriend requested to have her medical exam results rushed but since she socialized with the doctors and staff and became close to them, she was waived of the rush processing fee. Her results was available the next day. And since I was recognized by the nurse as her boyfriend, my results was expedited as well. Lucky me, indeed. The medical exam results will be picked up and submitted to POEA personally. Since POEA is closed on Saturdays, we are compelled to go back on Monday. My girlfriend had to rebook her flight.

Day 3, November 13, 2006 (Monday)

We went back to POEA in the morning to submit the medical exam result and PDOS certificate together with the long envelope with the required documents. The medical certificate needs to be photocopied as well. I also submitted the waiver since I didn't want to wait for my employer to sign the form and go back another day. The affidavit/waiver needs to be signed by a POEA representative. I went inside their office to have it signed. I then went back to Window 9 to submit the documents. I was given an OFW info sheet to fill out. I waited for another hour. Afterwhich, I submitted the info sheet. The officer then returned to me the original documents and instructed me to go to another window for payment. I paid PhP 7,175 all in all. We were instructed to go to the Philhealth office at the ground floor near the canteen to update our records with Philhealth as an OFW. After Philhealth, we went to the OFW ID card processing booth at the lobby area to have our picture taken for the OFW ID. Photocopy of the first page of the passport is required. The ID was printed in less than 10 minutes.

My US Embassy Experience

I woke up at 4:00AM. My interview schedule was scheduled at 7:00AM. I arrived at the US Embassy around 5:30AM. They started letting people in at around 6:00AM. We were instructed to go to the baggage screening area. Cellphones are prohibited inside so it has to be left at the counter. A valid ID must be presented to claim them back after the interview. I was instructed to get a number at Window 1. I presented my passport and other documents. The officer checked the completeness of my answers in the application form. After checking, the officer gave me a number. I went to the Pavillion area to wait for my number to be called. When my number was called, I was instructed to go to the Interview area to wait yet again. After waiting yet again, my number was called yet again for fingerprint scanning. I stated my name and birthdate before the fingerprint scanning process. The officer is a bit strict about the entire fingerprint scanning thing. I remember the officer telling the other applicants "Press harder, press harder, like this oh. Mmm, like this". She did not complain however when it's my turn to scan my fingerprints. I did press harder, that's why. So anyways, after fingerprint scanning, I went back to where I was seated at the interview area and waited yet again for my number to be called. I was there early so we were the first batch to be interviewed. Once the clock hits 8AM, the Visa officers will immediately start the interviewing. When I was called, here's the dialogue between me and the Visa officer (VO) as far as I can remember them:

VO: Good Morning, How are you?
Me: Fine, how about you?
VO: So-so (smiling).
VO: May I see your documents?
Me: Sure, do you want all of them?
VO: Go ahead.
Me: (slipped all the documents under the window)
Me: Oh by the way, my employer wants me to give you this as well (handed over the sealed short brown envelope)
VO: Thanks. (browsed the documents). So your company name is xXx?
Me: Yes, that's correct.
VO: Isn't it xXx has some other offices aside from its location in
xXx?
Me: I'm not sure about that. What I do know is that their main office is in xXx.
VO: Okay. (browsed the documents again, then asked...) What's your position there and what will you be doing?
Me: (explained everything)
VO: Okay.
Yada, yada, yada.

After answering her questions, she opened the sealed envelope. Browsed the documents found inside the envelope, then uttered the words, "Okay, that does it." (then handed me the yellow slip)

VO: Go back to the pavillion and present this slip to arrange for your passport delivery. Have a nice day."
Me: You too. Thanks.

Voila! Visa Approved!