Filipinos with approved US tourist visa applications and need to get their travel documents faster can now opt to pick up their visas at SM Mall of Asia (MOA).

In a post published in the blog site of US Embassy Manila, they said that while they strive to make the process of interview and printing of visas as fast as possible, they rarely expedite the process and only do so in emergencies.

The usual time it took for the visa to be printed in the passport and delivered is 7 to 10 days. Those who need their passports earlier than that are advised to pick it up from the 2GO outlet at SM Mall of Asia. This option would let them have their passports back after a day or two.

The visa applicant can request this option to the consular officer after the interview. They will then be given a sheet of paper containing the instructions.

This is the sheet of paper given:

According to an announcement made by the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), foreigners including Filipinos who wish to work in Canada can submit their applications for the redesigned Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) starting May 4, 2013. The said program had to be stopped last May 2012 after it reached the yearly quota of 20,000 applications for the period from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012).

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) selects the applicants based on the factors that would determine their ability to succeed in Canada.  It has a point system wherein the highest possible point is 100. To get a passing score, one needs a minimum of 67 points.

Other factors that are measured are the applicant’s age, educational background, work experiences, arranged employment, language ability and adaptability.

According to an announcement made by the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), foreigners including Filipinos who wish to work in Canada can submit their applications for the redesigned Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) starting May 4, 2013. The said program had to be stopped last May 2012 after it reached the yearly quota of 20,000 applications for the period from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012).

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) selects the applicants based on the factors that would determine their ability to succeed in Canada.  It has a point system wherein the highest possible point is 100. To get a passing score, one needs a minimum of 67 points.

Other factors that are measured are the applicant’s age, educational background, work experiences, arranged employment, language ability and adaptability.

Read full article about Canada’s New Federal Skilled Worker Program. 

Filipinos applying for long term visa in United Kingdom (UK) will be required to undergo a tuberculosis (TB) screening starting on February 28. The British Embassy announced this in a news release and said that the new requirement is only applicable for those seeking UK visas that would be longer than six months.

To prove that an applicant doesn’t have TB, they need to present a certificate from an approved International Organization for Migration (IOM) Health Center in the Philippines.

To do this, visa applicants from the Philippines should get in touch with the IOM Health Center in Manila and schedule an appointment. The fee for this is Php3,200.

Their visa application should be submitted together with the TB certificate. Aside from the Philippines, the change in the requirement for long-term UK visa will be implemented in 66 more countries. This is based in World Health Organization (WHO) list of countries where there is high incidence of TB

The same requirement is also required in acquiring visas in US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

To know more about the TB screening and to check the list of approved Health Center facilities in Manila, visit:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/philippines/applying/tb-test/?langname=null

Canada is making things easier for qualified foreign workers who wish to enter their country implementing changes in its immigration policies. For those who are considering starting a career in this North American country, you should at least know the following information:

Tatlong Impormasyong Kailangan Mong Malamang Tungkol sa Canada

1. Alam mo ba na kapag nag-apply ka sa isang employer na naka-base sa sa apat na probinsiya ng Canada (Aleberta, Seskatchawen, British Columbia at Manitoba) ay wala kang babayaran na placement fee? Iyan ay dahil sa Memorandum of Agreement ng POEA sa mga nabanggit na lugar sa Canada!
2. Mas madali na’ng makaalis ang mga Skilled Workers ngayon sa Canada dahil sa Federal Skilled Trades Class Visa!
3. Ang mga latest jobs sa Canada ay nasa mga industriya ng: Healthcare, Hotel and Restaurants at Building and Construction!

The info and image is taken from WorkAbroad.ph Facebook page.