Saudi requires OFWs to submit biometric data

Filipinos seeking to visit or work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) would need to provide biometric data as the Saudi Arabian government will be introducing a biometric system in the issuance of visa starting 2010.

The move is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to strengthen its security, prevent identity theft, and combat terrorism.

KSA’s biometric service centers would be established in major cities around the world starting 2010. There are about 1.3-million Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia.

“This important initiative has been taken to strengthen the Kingdom’s security and improve services to visa applicants,” KSA Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Prince Khaled bin Saud said, adding that they would provide quick, quality service at reasonable charges.

“These service centers will be established with the support of one or more trading partners and they will be under the supervision of the Ministry and Saudi missions abroad,” he said. “The centers will not only receive visa applications but also take fingerprints and full-face digital photos of the applicant,” he added.

Maj. Gen. Salim Al-Belaihed, Director-General of the Passport Department, urged all foreign workers to get their biometric data registered as soon as possible so that they can avoid hassles in getting their re-entry visas stamped on time.

However, the Saudi Arabian government said the visa applicants should make sure they do not have any decoration such as henna tattoo, or any cuts or other markings on their fingertips before having their biometric data taken. They should also ensure they have no bruises or cuts in the face. The fingerprinting process only takes about five minutes.

The new biometric system is expected to get rid of the long queues and delays at airports for fingerprinting.

There are three fingerprinting centers in Jeddah. These centers are in Dalah Street in Rehab District, Saudi Oger Company in the Corniche District and Abruq Al-Raghama District. Each center can serve 2,000 people everyday.

The fingerprinting centers work in two shifts, the first is from 7 am to 3 pm and the second is from 4 pm to 10 pm. There are also mobile fingerprinting centers which the Passport Department sends to hospitals and large companies that have over 600 foreign workers.

It will be recalled that the United Kingdom (UK) warned of some disruptions in issuing passports in the Philippines as it aims to re-organize its passport operations worldwide.

Under the new system, Britons would have to renew their passports online.

The UK is the first European Union member country to adopt biometrics and has so far rolled out the procedure at its visa issuing centers in many countries worldwide.

Source:
Madel R. Sabater
MB.com

Beware of Outdated Jobs Posted in JobStreet

(Click the image to enlarge, another window will appear, click again)

The Bureau of Immigration arrested an Iraqi and a Kuwaiti national for allegedly recruiting local workers for overseas jobs without the proper permits on Friday November 6, 2009.

The two were arrested by Philippine National Police Task Force Illegal Recruitment and the Bureau of Immigration during a raid of the Marvic Overseas Recruitment office of Midland Plaza Building on Adriatico Street in Malate, Manila.

Despite the cancellation of the agency to operate last September after receiving several complaints that the agency was engaged in illegal recruitment there are still some active ads in JobStreet.com.ph, an online overseas job advertisement, as of Nov. 16. Check this out Outdated Jobs Posted in JobStreet

Source:
ABS-CBNNEWS.com

Beware of job offers in Russia

The POEA warns overseas job applicants against promises of employment in Moscow under the pretext of invitation from the Russian Olympic Committee but using travel agencies as front for deployment.

Foreigners holding commercial visas in Russia are not allowed to work. Applicants who want to work in Russia should undergo the legal process of OFW documentation at the POEA.

Source:
POEA

Nationwide Job Fair Schedule

November 5-6, 2009 at 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Provincial Gov't of Nueva Viscaya. Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya
by: DOLE-PESO Nueva Vizcaya

November 12, 2009 at 9:00 to 6:00 pm
Provincial Gov't of Surigao Del Norte & DOLE Surigao Del Norte
by: Provincial Gov't of Surigao Del Norte & DOLE Surigao Del Norte

November 12, 2009 at 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Municipal Hall, Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental
by: PESO-Gov. Generoso, Davao Oriental

November 27, 2009 at 8:00 am to 3:00 pm
Marikina Sports Park, Sta. Elena, Marikina City
by: WorkAbroad.ph in cooperation with government of Marikina City and PESO

View more events and job fairs here…

DFA provide direct lines for passport applicants

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) provided the public Friday with four direct phone lines to address passport-related inquiries.

In a consular advisory posted on its website (www.dfa.gov.ph), the DFA said it is experiencing "technical difficulties" with passport trunklines 556-0000 and 556-4082.

"Until the technical problems are resolved, kindly inform the public of the following direct lines for passport inquiries," it said.

The direct lines are 556-4080, 556-4081, 556-4078, and 556-2988.

However, the DFA did not elaborate on the nature of the "technical difficulties.

Source:
GMANews

Helpline for Overstaying OFWs

The Unison League of Organizations Inc. (ULO) chairman Fred Dizon announced a new helpline called “Dial Hope” to help overstaying Filipino workers abroad or most commonly known as Tago ng Tago (TNT) to return home and eventually process their documents to legalize their stay on their host countries.

The chairman of ULO said that TNT workers can contact them anytime without charge just need to trust them and explain their side why they have to escape or hide.

“Our lawyer colleagues in Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Canberra), Canada (Vancouver and Montreal), and the US (San Francisco and Las Vegas) will then help the TNT “bargain" with immigration authorities,” says Dizon.

Dizon said TNTs or overstaying Filipinos can call their hotline at (612) 863-8992 and 639205144186 or e-mail them at dialhope1@yahoo.com to tell them about their situation.

Read more…
New Helpline Sought for Overstaying Filipinos Abroad

Source:
www.OFWGuide.com

How to Acquire Singaporean Visa

Singapore
Singapore, although do not have the majestic lights like those in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, it is indeed a relaxing place because of its fairly green place. You can enjoy going around the city day and night without worrying about your safety since it is one of lowest rate of criminality in the world.

Types of Visa
Before you can enter in Singapore, either for travel or working purposes or you want to stay permanently, you must secure the proper visa to avoid any trouble that would ruin your stay in Singapore.

Visa Requirements
Before going to the Singapore Embassy or Consulate to apply for your visa make sure that you have accomplished the documents that are required.

Requirements for Singapore Tourist Visa and Business Visa

• Original passport and two photocopies of Passport (from Page 1 to passport validity date with at least 6 months validity)
• Completed Visa Application Form (Form No. 14) with one recent passport-sized photograph
• A photocopy of confirmed onward AIR-TICKET; Reservation itineraries from a travel agent and open tickets are not acceptable
• A valid visa to the next destination should be obtained (if applicable)
• A Letter of Employment from employer stating how long you have been employed, in what capacity and gross salary drawn monthly
• Completed Letter of Introduction (Form 39A) from a Singapore registered company or Singapore citizen/Singapore Permanent Resident is required
• (For Business Visa only) Letter of invitation from the company in Singapore. Letter should be issued on the company's letterhead, indicating the purpose of your visit, duration of your stay and the name & contact information of the liaison person in Singapore

For US citizens
U.S. citizens are not required to secure a visa to visit Singapore either for business or for social visit purposes. Provided that they can present the following requirements:

• A valid U.S. passport with at least 6 months validity remaining
• Valid entry visa to the next destination (if required);
• Confirmed onward return air ticket; and
• Sufficient funds for the period of stay in Singapore.

Read more:
How to Acquire Singaporean Visa

Source:
www.OFWGuide.com

Macau targets overstaying foreigners

A new immigration regulation penalizes foreigners, including Filipino tourists, who overstay in Macau, Special Administrative Region (SAR) for more than 30 days after their permit expires with a fine of 200MOP (US$26.00) per day. Offenders who commit the same violation within 180 days will not be able to “legalize” this overstaying by paying fines and will have to leave Macau immediately. Illegal immigrants will be deported and prohibited from entering Macau, SAR for a certain period as indicated in the deportation order.

Filipino tourists with the intention to overstay in Macau for purposes of looking for job are advised to use the legal cannel for seeking overseas employment.

Source:
POEA

POEA: Beware of recruitment agencies with cancelled or suspended licenses

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) warned overseas jobseekers to be careful in dealing with recruitment agencies with cancelled or suspended licenses that are still actively recruiting for overseas jobs.

The POEA, as of September 14, 2009, has cancelled the licenses of 454 recruitment agencies since the start of its operations and placed 44 others under preventive suspension. For 2008 and the first eight months of 2009 alone, the POEA cancelled 76 licenses and suspended or fined 57 agencies as a result of recruitment violations.

Please click HERE to verify status of recruitment agencies.

What’s Good with E-Passport?

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary said Alberto Romulo overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will no longer be humiliated with the new electronic passport or the e-passport.

Secretary Romulo also added that e-passport will be hassle-free and spares OFWs from embarrassment in other countries.

According to the secretary, OFWs will be waved with hardly any questions asked and can just pass through the immigration of the host country without any problem – unlike previous instances when many of them are held there for a long time. And if they will be asked, it would only be something like how long they will be staying in the country.

The e-passport will be availed within three to four days for Php950 each.

The DFA also clarified that both the manually scripted passports and machine-readable passports will remain valid until their expiration date.

Source:
GMANews.TV

PhilHealth now caters OFWs in Hong Kong

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is proud to announce that their services including membership updates and renewal, claims and benefits, and premium remittance concerns.

PhilHealth mobile officers will get in touch with Filipino organizations in Hong Kong so that OFWs will be informed with the agency’s programs and services.

PhilHealth Vice President and Bicol regional director Orlando Inigo explained that a confinement of an OFW shall be paid based on the benefit rates of a Level 3 hospital, with the validity period of his contribution being the eligibility requirement.

Aside from Hong Kong, PhilHealth will also extends its programs and services in Macau, Singapore and Saudi Arabia, OFWs hot destinations.

OFWs Beware of Reprocessing Scheme

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and would be OFWs are warned to keep away from recruiters who are using reprocessing or repro scheme.

According to the Philippine Association of Service Exporters Inc. (PASEI) President Victor Fernandez Jr, repro means using a particular job order to recruit a workers but when the worker reached in the work place will be given a different job.

Fernandez cited an example that most Filipinas were recruited as dishwasher or dressmaker but they will end up working as domestic helpers.

“The malpractice of repro is being utilized by some unscrupulous agencies to circumvent the household reform package instituted by the (Department of Labor and Employment) whereby the salaries of workers will increase so with the age requirement," said Fernandez.

Campaign Against Repro (CARE) a memorandum of agreement signed by PASEI with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) which aims to find better solution to the increasing numbers of repro cases.

“What we are waiting now is for the POEA to implement this as soon as possible. POEA should crack down and punish those disobedient agencies which have been participating in ‘repro job orders," said the recruitment leader.

Nini Lanto, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration officer in Jeddah, said 90% of OFW runaways in the shelter at the Philippine Consulate General compound are victims of repro and most of them are domestic helpers.

“It’s high time that all responsible agencies in the recruitment sector must work together to stop the malpractice of repro," said Lanto.

Source:
Kimberly Jane T. Tan
GMANews.TV