Can foreign nationals work in Call centers?

[Peachy]

Hi everyone 

So ive posted last week we're moving to Davao city in a couple of months. We are so excited about this, I would like to ask anyone from here know how we can like extend my fiancés visa when he arrive? He will be given 21 days free visa as a US citizen right? Can we extend the visa? And were planning to work together during our stay here. Is he eligible to work in a call center? Will they give working visa? Thanks guys!

 Peach ❤

[Dave Hounddriver]

Some foreigners, with special skill sets such as management skills, may be eligible to work in call centers.  If he is qualified and needed then he can apply for the job, explain he is on a tourist visa, and if they need his particular skill set then they will arrange for a work visa.  Its not as complicated as some will tell you, but there are a lot of people who want those few jobs (for foreigners) so finding an employer will be a challenge.

About the 21 days, it is 30 free days now.  At that point he can apply for a 29 day extension for about 3,000 pesos.  Some have managed to extend on arrival at the airport but others find it easier to go to the nearest Bureau of Immigration to extend.

[Peachy]

Hi Dave 

I really appreciate your comment - I am also asking some friends who works in Davao and it seemed feasible for him to work. Were both are young couple and very active, and it will be a big adventure for us settling in Philippines. His biggest fears are safety hehe with all those posted by media, but ofcourse I woudnt jeoardize his safety for my convenience. I heard that the expat community in Davao is getting larger, and the city becomes more vibrant from the mast time I visited. We are both very positive hehe... thanks again Dave! Hope to meet ya'll - cheers!

Peach

[scott h]

Peachy, all of us wish you the best of luck. Just promise us one thing, that you will have a fool proof escape plan in case things don't work out right away. And hopefully a good size nest egg. 

[Jollygoodfellow]

3 hours ago, Dave Hounddriver said:

Its not as complicated as some will tell you, but there are a lot of people who want those few jobs (for foreigners) so finding an employer will be a challenge.

I dont think anyone said it was complicated but finding someone willing to take those steps of a work visa is most likely only going to happen for the correct people, IT techs, trainers, management etc as it wont happen for someone whose only skill is to make phone calls. So if wanting to work in a call center on that level one would have to arrange their own work visa. 

[Dave Hounddriver]

2 minutes ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

So if wanting to work in a call center on that level one would have to arrange their own work visa.

How would one go about that?  The only Philippine work visas I know of have to be arranged through your employer and the DTI.

[Jollygoodfellow]

13 minutes ago, Dave Hounddriver said:

How would one go about that?  The only Philippine work visas I know of have to be arranged through your employer and the DTI.

What I meant is that most likely the applicant would be doing all the leg work if they found a business willing to petition their employment, I dont see an employer going to great lengths to hire unskilled foreigners, pay cost etc where they certainly may for a candidate that they have a skilled position for. I am not sure if the OP is a Philippines citizen and or if they intend to marry soon but if that was the case then a 13a will allow him to work. 

This is what one would need to get the work visa.

For the 9(G)

* Letter request from the petitioner – employer
* General application form duly accomplished and notarized (BI Form No. RBR 98-01)
* 2x2 picture to be attached to the application form
* Articles on Incorporation, By-Laws, SEC Certificate of Registration of petitioner
* Alien Employment Permit (AEP) from the Department of Labor and Employment (you may file simultaneously)
* Income Tax Return of petitioner-employer and proof of payment; audited financial statements
* Contract or agreement entered into for the applicant’s service stating term of service and exact compensation and other benefits to be received
* Bio-data of applicant
* Affidavit of support and guarantee executed by the petitioner in favor of the applicant/s
* Certification by the Human Resource Director/Personnel Officer as to the number of foreign nationals employed by the petitioner
* True copy of the applicant’s passport showing admission status and updated stay
* Other supporting documents which will aid in the evaluation of the application
o If you will be accompanied by your spouse and unmarried minor children you will also need:
* Marriage certificate/birth certificates of unmarried minor children if dependents are included in the application
* True copies of the passports of the spouse and unmarried minor children

For the AEP

* Application Form from the DOLE, duly accomplished and must be notarized
* Contract of Employment/Appointment
* Notarized Board Secretary's Certificate on the election of Foreign Nat'l
* Certified Photocopy of passport with visa
* Photocopy of updated Mayor's Permit
* Photocopy of Mayor's Permit (if Mayor's permit is not applicable submit copy of SEC Registration)
* Pictures 2 pcs 1x1 and 2 pcs 2x2
* Other documents (e.g. cover/endorsement letter)

[chris49]

18 hours ago, Dave Hounddriver said:

How would one go about that?  The only Philippine work visas I know of have to be arranged through your employer and the DTI.

My experience Dave.

A foreigner married to a Filipina obtains a 13 a, Permanent Residency Visa. As I understand, an individual on a 13 a would not need a work visa. But they would need all the work requirements for employment. My contact, BXXX, was not kept on his first job, he did not pass his 3 month probationary period. It took him 4 months to do those requirements and when he went to another employee everything had to repeated.

As for the OP, Peachy, I would say she's on a longshot.

So I would also comment to Peachy that over only a few months stay this does not look possible.

As she may know, foreigners can teach English in other Asian counties, eg Thailand, Korea, that's the way I would go and visit Philippines during contract breaks eg 6 months on, 6 months off.

[earthdome]

On a positive note I met a woman from Canada who was able to get a management position supervising call center employees. In her case she had already lived in the Philippines  and learned tagalog before she was hired. Being fluent in tagalog and very knowledgeable about the culture helped her a great deal when managing filipino's.

 

I suggest that your fiancee start a crash course learning tagalog and the culture. Once you two are married he should get a 13A visa asap so he is eligible to work. Having those two things will put him ahead of many other people seeking those same supervisory positions.

[Peachy]

21 hours ago, scott h said:

Peachy, all of us wish you the best of luck. Just promise us one thing, that you will have a fool proof escape plan in case things don't work out right away. And hopefully a good size nest egg. 

hi Scott - good thing is I'm pretty patient lol... well, guess we both just need to stick to each other  when everything fails.