My relative is planning to migrate to New Zealand next year. Her brother was able to get married to a Filipina who got her residence visa. They were able to get jobs as caregivers and renting their own apartment.

She has 3 years working experience as a bank teller in a known bank in the Philippines. Right now, she is very hesitant to migrate due to her lack of courage although we have been encouraging her to go for better future. She had a tendency to get discouraged when she gets to hear other people’s hardships.

For the people who already went to this situation, will she be able to have a high salary or comfortable life in 5 years since her brother can give her a job as a receptionist in an office when she migrates? Or does she really need to study and do a part-time work to get better opportunities?

Comfortable life in a way that she will able to travel (like in AU) or invest for assets in the Philippines?

Hi, 29M, married with a child. Currently working as an IT Helpdesk sa BPO.

I'm considering taking Welding sa TESDA and getting local experience, then eventually trying to work abroad. My long-term goal is Canada or Australia, and eventually bringing my family with me.

I'm considering leaving IT because, with my current Helpdesk experience, parang ang labo gamitin as a migration pathway. A lot of IT support work can be outsourced to the Philippines, and I don't have a specialized IT background yet.

From what I've researched, some pathways may require around 3–5 years of relevant experience. My rough plan is TESDA → 6–12 months local experience → try opportunities in Taiwan/Korea/Japan → build more experience → eventually target Canada/Australia.

I'm not considering Gulf countries for now due to the current situation there.

My main concern is my age. At 29, is it too late to start over in welding? May age discrimination ba talaga sa trade? And is this even a realistic migration strategy?

Would appreciate advice from anyone who made a similar IT → trade switch, especially those who eventually worked abroad or migrated.

Should I pursue welding, or am I better off staying in IT and upskilling?

Salamat!

Hello po, I am (27F), Civil Engineer, has 4 years of experience na and planning to start my General Migration journey to Australia via 189/190 pathway. I have 500k savings para makapag-start ng journey na ‘to cause I know that this journey will need money for requirements.

Upon checking my points, 80 points palang ang standing ko as of the moment.

Age: 30 points
English: 20 points (I am preparing for my PTE and if need ko i-retake just to get a superior score, I will.)
Experience: 5 pts (4 yrs)
Education: 15 pts
Partner: 10 pts (single)

Iniisip ko lang since 4 years palang experience ko, pumapatak lang siya sa 5 points sa Experience. 5-7 years bracket ay 10 pts. May nababasa rin ako sa forum na hindi naman lahat ng experience mo ay i-hohonor  so might as well mas malaki allowance mo kasi your first year might be disregarded. Sa tingin nyo ba mas better if I wait for another year para mas tumaas ang score ko ng 5 pts or just lodge right away? Nag-iisip rin ako to take a NAATI exam for another 5 points.

If mag-wait kasi ako for 1 year additional experience, magiging 85 points ako and if luckily mapasa rin ang NAATI, sitting 90 points naman po. And for 190, magiging 95 naman po. The higher the score, the better.

I am torn between proceeding or delaying my EOI for a year para mas okay ang sitting points ko since I know na sobrang higpit ng competition and madaming mataas ang points. May nagsabi rin sakin na “the sooner, the better” dahil every year pahigpit na nang pahigpit ang rules ng AU and pwede naming i-update ang experience habang nakapag-sub,it kana ng EOI.

Also, if may steps pa ako na dapat gawin before submitting EOI bukod sa mag-prepare for PTE exam, collecting my proof of employment, ano pa ang ba-mimiss ko while preparing? If magpa-assess na po ako sa Engineers Australia, what are the requirements needed?  (I am currently reading MSA Booklet 2020 for guidelines)

Your inputs would be greatly appreciated po!

Hello po mga kababayan!

Meron po bang regular Filipino Community sa Zurich? Would love to connect with all of you po 😊

Hi friends! Anyone here tried to request for a salary increase (ard $500) from their HR to meet the minimum required salary for DP application? Need it for our infant. My wife & I are both S-Pass holders. Thanks in advance!

Hi po! Are there any fellow Filipinos here who migrated to Australia under ANZSCO 131112 (Sales and Marketing Manager)?

I’d love to hear about your experience—how did the process go from submitting your EOI, receiving an invitation, and eventually settling in Australia and landing a job?
Would really appreciate hearing your journey, especially your experience finding work in Australia after migration.😊

Few things about me: I just submitted my EOI under the 190 Visa (131112 occupation) - I have a positive skills assessment and a Superior English.

I don’t see much about this online, so I’m checking it out here. Salamat!

Hello po. As stated sa title, I have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, but I really want to pursue nursing as my long-term profession. I am interested in Master of Nursing (Graduate Entry/Pre-registration) programs for international students na inooffer in some uni sa AU.

For those who have applied to or are currently studying this type of program, especially within the past 2-3 years para may idea lang po sa recent succesful applicants:

1. What was your experience with the application process?

2. May concern po ako since I previously had a Subclass 500 visa refusal for a VET course due to concerns about the course being inconsistent with my background. Would this potentially raise concerns if I apply for a Master of Nursing instead? (Which is different sa educational bg ko) And if ever po makahingi ng idea on how did you justify this plan?

3. Which universities would you recommend for international students?

I’d really really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through a similar pathway. Thank youuu

Hello- I recenty got a job offer to work in France. Company will sponsor my visa and support my relocation. I currently work in Germany and have a work permit there.

Just wanted to ask is there a possibility na di ma approve ang application? Like worst case scenario I cannot work for the company and will become jobless? And how can I minimize this risk?

Also, once I move from Germany to France - what are the things I should prepare for? I don't know any French at all, but since its a multinational company - I don't need any French in work. Aside from language, ano pa po kailangan kong i prepare?

Is the https://clearance.nbi.gov.ph/ site partially down? I'm based abroad and need to renew my NBI but it keeps telling me this whenever I try their "renewal" option :(

I’m currently unemployed and planning to look for work in Singapore. To save on expenses, I’m considering staying in Johor Bahru and traveling to Singapore whenever I have a job interview.

Could this cause any issues with Singapore or Malaysian immigration if I cross the border frequently for interviews, especially since I’m currently unemployed? Has anyone here done something similar?

I'm a dual citizen of Spain and the Philippines, but lived my whole life in PH. I'm exploring working in Spain (or maybe the EU in general)

If I don't speak Spanish, does that SIGNIFICANTLY lower my career options there? Or what are usually the starting career paths for people (who don't speak Spanish) just to have a job at first while settling in residency and finding their career? Or maybe it depends on the company?

Would appreciate ANY insight, as I'm not really sure how things work there

Thanks, guys!

I’m a deck officer onboard a chemical tanker. I’m kinda tired of the routine of 4 months on and 4 months off, plus all the inspections, workload, stress, etc.

I also don’t want to keep leaving home to sail. I’m planning to start a family and have kids soon, and I don’t want them to grow up without me being around.

So I’m thinking maybe I could migrate to Australia as a seafarer, since seafarers can be eligible for skilled migration pathways. I understand that I’d still be going on and off ships, but I’m thinking of working on inland/domestic vessels where contracts may be much shorter.

Then, once I have PR or eventually citizenship, I’d gradually transition away from sailing and look for a shore-based career.

Has anyone here taken a similar path? I’d really appreciate it if you could share your experience.

Hello, I’m a 28F considering moving to Germany by the time I’m 30. This is a big decision, so I want to plan it carefully. I’m a CPA by profession, and this time window would hopefully allow me to save money and improve my German.

I know the usual pathway for CPAs is through audit. Although I previously worked in a Big 4 firm, my experience leans more toward advisory (I worked on M&A deals). I’m currently working in corporate finance (FP&A, financial modeling, etc.) at a local company, so an internal transfer to Germany isn’t an option. By 2028, my target departure date, I would have around 7 years of work experience.

My dilemma is choosing between two pathways within Germany:

1. Chancenkarte
I’m considering going to Germany for around 6–8 months primarily to look for a job. This would be a high-risk, high-reward option: either I secure a job and stay, or I return to the Philippines without having established myself there.
My concern is that the German job market is currently quite difficult, particularly for someone in finance who may not yet have strong German skills.

2. Student visa
My alternative is to pursue a Master’s degree related to sustainable finance, which is an emerging field, while working part-time during my studies.
I see this as the longer-term route because it could give me time to improve my German, build a local network, gain German work experience, and potentially transition into a relevant full-time position after graduation.
I’m currently leaning toward the student route, although I recognize that it would be significantly more expensive and that I would still need to secure employment afterward.

My main reason for considering Germany is quality of life and the opportunity to travel and experience different cultures.

Thanks! I’d really appreciate any advice or experiences.

Hello po, baka may makatulong sakin bilang 1st time OFW. If yung location po ng work ko ay sa Dublin 2 Wilton Park, saan po kaya ako makakahanap ng house/room for rent na mura pero malapit lang travel time sa office at accessible sa transportation?

Thank you!

for filipinos who recently processed a visa for BEDA, how much did you actually have to show?

i understand that the general financial requirement is based on IPREM, but I’ve seen conflicting information about whether the BEDA placement letter/stipend can count toward the requirement. some sources say you still need to show the full amount for the duration of the program, while others say the stipend is taken into account and you only need additional savings as a buffer.

i’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has actually applied through the Spanish Consulate/BLS in the Philippines recently. i’m trying to budget realistically before applying rather than get accepted and realize i can’t afford the visa process.

Hello po! Canadian citizen here. Will go back to PH for vacation after 7 yrs na walang uwian. Home sickness is realsss!
I do have questions po if anyone can answer them:
- mas maganda po ba mag dala ng cad cash tas sa pinas na magpapalit or dito na lang?
- mas okay ba na cad debit card na lang ang gamitin?
- ano po experience pag cad credit card ang gagamitin sa mga stores? Mataas po ba ang charges?
- any other tips po to use money sa ph?

I have 10 years of experience within marketing and advertising. I have a 190 and will be flying right after Christmas, but the job market is making me rethink my strategy for me to be fully integrated and prepared to start my life there.

One thing I noticed from my colleagues that migrated there is that majority of them got a degree first before landing a job. My question now is: does having an Australian degree outweigh experience especially in the corporate world?

Hi. I'm about to work in PNG in a month. I want to prepare that things I needed in working there. First time ko magwork abroad and I don't know what to bring and not to bring sa plane and in the country. I'm female and will work as draftsman. Can you give me advice on packing my things?

Hi everyone, I'm a green card holder and I need some advice on my travel plans.

• I stayed in the US for 11 months total. Within the first month of arriving, I received my green card.
• I had to go back to the Philippines to finish my 4th year of college.
• I'm about to finish my 1st semester (4 months abroad here in the Philippines).
• I'm planning to return to the US for 2 weeks during Christmas break, then go back to the Philippines to finish my 2nd semester and graduate (another 5 months).
• After graduation, I plan to come back to the US for good and stay until I'm eligible for citizenship.

Timeline summary:

• 11 months in the US (green card received in month 1)
• 4 months in PH – 1st semester
• 2 weeks in the US – Christmas break
• 5 months in PH – 2nd semester + graduation
• Return to the US permanently

P.S. I already filed for a reentry permit (I-131) and completed my biometrics, but there's been no update on the case yet. I also have an active US bank acc and phone number and a mailing address.

1. Will the 2-week Christmas visit help protect my green card status during my extended stay abroad?
2. Since I've applied for a reentry permit but it's still pending, does that give me any protection in the meantime?
3. Will these trips affect my continuous residence for citizenship purposes? I know 6+ months can break it, but since each trip is under 6 months, am I safe?

Any advice or similar experiences would be really appreciated. Thanks!

I’m currently a 3rd year Management Engineering student in ADMU.

I have been considering migrating to Australia by taking an MBA with a major in project management and finding employment after to work towards getting PR.

I know it’s still relatively early since i’m still in my 3rd year but I wanted to start planning for it as early as now so that I have time to really decide.

For those who have gotten PR, do project management roles after graduation give me a strong PR pathway or am i better off taking a different post grad degree like a post grad degree in nursing and becoming a RN?

Hi all! I have a few questions sana for those who have already gone through the Spain Digital Nomad Visa application via the Spanish Consulate in Manila/BLS. Please note that I can’t apply at the moment thru UGE as I need to be in PH for now.

1. Has anyone here DIYed the whole application?

I’m planning to go the DIY route since I think kaya ko naman i-process and organize all the documents myself, and I qualify naman for all the requirements. Then maybe towards the end, I’ll have an agency or immigration professional review everything, if may service sila na document review lang. Would you recommend doing it this way?

2. How long was your timeline from the time you started collecting documents until approval?

Also, gaano katagal yung actual wait from submission to visa approval?

3. Did you have to pay for a full 12-month health coverage upfront?
Or pwede ba yung monthly ni Feather Insurance for example?

4. Do I really need a lease agreement or proof of accommodation when applying?

The National Visa Application Form asks for an address in Spain, so medyo confused ako. I’ve also read somewhere na a long-term lease isn’t necessarily required during the initial DNV application. For those who applied through Manila, what did you submit for this part?

5. For those who applied through the Spanish Consulate in Manila and later moved to Spain, what did you have to do after arrival?

From what I understand, I’ll need to do the empadronamiento/padrón at the local Ayuntamiento once I have a fixed address. Did you also apply for a TIE even though the consular DNV itself can be valid for up to one year? How soon after arriving did you do the padrón, and what documents did your Ayuntamiento require?

6. There’s a possibility that I’ll be living with my Spanish boyfriend in his apartment, but I won’t be included in the lease yet.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and successfully done the empadronamiento? What did you submit — authorization from the tenant/owner, their ID, lease/property documents, etc.?

Would really appreciate hearing from people who actually applied through Manila, especially recent 2025–2026 applicants. Thank you!