Anyone brought a maid from the Philipines recently? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Anyone brought a maid from the Philipines recently?

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 February 2012 - 12:36

Hi, I just got the visa entry paper for the maid and was just expecting I needed to scan a copy to her and leave the original at the airport. She is telling me I need to send the original over to her. Is that true?

I have tried to call the consulate in Dubai several times and they are not picking up the phone so I do not know what to do as I want her to fly here on Sunday. If anyone has information or a contact number at the consulate/embassy it would be very much appreciated

Also, is is true that she will need to have some sort of formal training before she is allowed out? She didn't know about it. She was working in Dubai for three years and then returned to the Philippines for 1 year.

TIA

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EW GURU
Latest post on 15 March 2012 - 22:00
I think about 50% make it out on the pretense that they are going to KL. If they have old UAE visas in their passports, then I think immigration twig on and realise what is happening. As Anon said before, it is the backhanders that they want....those in the know can get through.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 15 March 2012 - 17:04
I'm sorry to hear that this happened to you. A similar thing happened to me over a year ago and I never did end up bringing the maid over here as it was going to cost us lots of money plus a really long wait time.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 March 2012 - 16:58
So, aun update on this in case somebody is in the same situación. She was supposed to arrive today but she did not make it pass immigration! I bought her a return ticket with airasia to kuala lumpur. She told them she was visiting her cousin, she even has an address and contact as she actually lives there. She is then asked to provide a letter from them inviting her over and she said something about needing a visitors visa. Her cousins madam is refusing to allow her to send an invitation letter so I am just furious at all this. She is now in Manila and contacted and agency to bring her here properly. They are telling me it can take up to 30 or 40 days to process but they told her around two weeks. Lets hope for the best, I have invested time and money so not willing to start the process all over again. At least I got refunded most of the price of the ticket from kuala lumpur to Dubai. So my advise to anyone doing this the first time is to get an agency from the beginning and save all the hassle even if you have to pay an agency fee. Such a hard work, I really hope she is as nice as she sounds... As after this I could not cope if it doesn't work out.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 February 2012 - 18:24
Oh, thanks for the note on the airport blimey, I did not reallise it was a different airport/terminal. I am guessing 4 hours is enough time for transfers? Both airports are probably about 20 minutes drive from each other. If she is aware of it, at least she knows that she shouldn't be tardy at LCCT. The moment she collect her bags, she has to get transportation to KLIA. 4 hours is not that long in my opinion. Hence, I would suggest she use taxi to be safe. Budget taxi to KLIA will cost her MYR43.....maybe about AED50. They will take her directly to the main terminal. She can also use airport liner (http://airportcoach.com.my/v1/bus-schedule/airport-liner/) but as I have never used it myself, I can't confirm how quick the service will be ;-) HTH. <em>edited by blimey on 23/02/2012</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 February 2012 - 15:51
Oh, thanks for the note on the airport blimey, I did not reallise it was a different airport/terminal. I am guessing 4 hours is enough time for transfers?
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 February 2012 - 15:25
It was the Sunday i was trying to book her on and the emirates flights (cheaper for us) where all heavily overbooked so could not by a ticket. Thanks a lot for the tip of air Asia, did not know about them, the flights are much cheaper than the ones I was finding and the times much better. You are a superstar!! Decided to fly her here mid March as my in laws are coming in a week so will be easier to train her once they are gone. She is on an employment visa, since I will just have enough time now to DHL the documents, would it be better to send her the original or would it be better to email a copy. Is it ok to board at kuala lumpur without the original? And if she decides to go home on holiday, since she did nt exit properly, do you know if she would need to do some equivalent course in Dubai so she can then exit Manila direct to Dubai? Or can I just get from the consulate the OEC. Thanks so much for your help I have not used Air Asia to travel outside Malaysia for years but I am pretty sure all their flights use LCCT airport now for departure and arrival. Just make sure you remind your maid that she will land at LCCT airport and then will have to go to KLIA for her flight to Dubai. My maid didn't go through such training either. My maid registered with the POEA while she was on holiday as it's cheaper. Her contract has to be stamped by their embassy / POEA here if I am not mistaken. I remember she brought all documents back with her but forgot to do that. Luckily she has sisters here who helped her getting the contract stamped. Sorry, I can't help with the visa. I used agency to bring her here under visit visa.
65
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 February 2012 - 15:03
It was the Sunday i was trying to book her on and the emirates flights (cheaper for us) where all heavily overbooked so could not by a ticket. Thanks a lot for the tip of air Asia, did not know about them, the flights are much cheaper than the ones I was finding and the times much better. You are a superstar!! Decided to fly her here mid March as my in laws are coming in a week so will be easier to train her once they are gone. She is on an employment visa, since I will just have enough time now to DHL the documents, would it be better to send her the original or would it be better to email a copy. Is it ok to board at kuala lumpur without the original? And if she decides to go home on holiday, since she did nt exit properly, do you know if she would need to do some equivalent course in Dubai so she can then exit Manila direct to Dubai? Or can I just get from the consulate the OEC. Thanks so much for your help
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 February 2012 - 09:21
What day are you trying to send her? I'm finding a direct flight on Emirates from KUL on Saturday for 600$. Gulf, Qatar and Etihad are also options. Is she coming on a visit visa? Or an employment visa? She could also fly to Jakarta. What I might do if I were you is send her on Saturday, Air Asia arriving KUL at 1450. If you book the return on the 25 of March, the flght will cost $235 USD round trip. And then send her on the Emirates flight leaving at 730pm arriving 1030pm, $664. Make sure she brings some USD for the airport in KUL. <em>edited by glenfiddich on 22/02/2012</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 February 2012 - 09:15
She said just Manila. I found flights to Kuala Lumpur but then from there to Dubai all the direct flights are sold out and the others very expensive plus the journey would end up being 2 days or more overall! Is there any other country where she could fly to from Philippines? Thanks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 21 February 2012 - 09:57
She lives like 8 hrs north from Manila so when I talked to her we always talked about Manila airport, did not really realise therewhere other Yeah, ask her about her nearest airport. It only costs about 25$ to fly internally within the Philippines so much, much easier to have her fly.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 February 2012 - 09:49
She lives like 8 hrs north from Manila so when I talked to her we always talked about Manila airport, did not really realise therewhere other
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EW GURU
Latest post on 21 February 2012 - 09:41
Thanks, i am going to do that. Looking for flights to Kuala lumpur, the cheapest I get is 1850aed return to kuala lumpur plus the flight to Dubai. It is so expensive! Is that what you usually pay? Where is she flying from? Cebu? Iloilo? Shouldn't be more than $300 USD. <em>edited by glenfiddich on 21/02/2012</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 February 2012 - 09:40
Thanks, i am going to do that. Looking for flights to Kuala lumpur, the cheapest I get is 1850aed return to kuala lumpur plus the flight to Dubai. It is so expensive! Is that what you usually pay?
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EW GURU
Latest post on 21 February 2012 - 08:50
Yes, I got her a employment visa, not just a tourist visa. It just seem like the easy way is to send her via kuala lumpur then. glenfiddich, are you sure she only needs a copy of the visa if I do it that way? I do not think they will be very happy here to give me the OEC if she has not done that training and she lives 9 hours from Manila so going to be hard for her to do it the proper way. I am very new in Dubai and my first maid which I took on someone's recommendation on EW (so have not met her) so I am finding it very stressful, and I want her here by Sunday! We just did it a few weeks ago - and twice before that. Worked like a charm. Tell your housekeeper to tell immigration that she is going to Kuala Lumpur to visit family. Buy her a round trip ticket to KUL on Philippine Air or Cebu Air (so she can prove she is planning to return to Manila - it only costs an extra 100 or so) and then buy her a separate ticket to Dubai - we brought airs on Gulf Air, I think, my friend on Oman Air - and make sure she has a copy of her visa to show the airline in Kuala Lumpur. We got our visa on Monday and brought our maid on Tuesday. Couldn't have been easier. <em>edited by glenfiddich on 21/02/2012</em>
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 21 February 2012 - 06:46
Sorry, another question. Is it the actual airline in Manila who gives all this troubles on leaving or is it their immigration department or police or whatever It is the immigration department. I actually spoke to one on the phone when they wouldn't let my prospective maid leave Manila. I begged him to let her get on the plane and he just kept saying no, that he would not let her get on the plane. I have heard they can be bribed.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 February 2012 - 22:19
Sorry, another question. Is it the actual airline in Manila who gives all this troubles on leaving or is it their immigration department or police or whatever
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 February 2012 - 22:16
Yes, I got her a employment visa, not just a tourist visa. It just seem like the easy way is to send her via kuala lumpur then. glenfiddich, are you sure she only needs a copy of the visa if I do it that way? I do not think they will be very happy here to give me the OEC if she has not done that training and she lives 9 hours from Manila so going to be hard for her to do it the proper way. I am very new in Dubai and my first maid which I took on someone's recommendation on EW (so have not met her) so I am finding it very stressful, and I want her here by Sunday!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 20 February 2012 - 22:01
Inglesilla, per experience, it is necessary for your would-be-helper to have the original visa with her or there is a chance that she will not be allowed to board the plane by Philippine Immigration officers. See, at the airport, they actually scan the original UAE visa to determine if it is valid or not. A mere copy of the visa is not a guarantee that she will in fact be allowed to leave the country. I could be wrong, but even if you book her on a flight via any other country, her final destination will still be the UAE. Thus, she will be subject to the same documentary requirements. I am assuming you got her a working visa and not just a tourist visa (with the intent of fixing her papers when she arrives here), right? As for the OEC (Overseas Employment Certificate), she needs to get this from the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Agency), and is a requirement as well for her to be allowed to leave the country. If she has her original visa and the OEC, her trip going to the UAE should be problem free. If you book her a flight to Kuala Lumpur, and a separate flight to Dubai, her final destination when leaving Manila is Kuala Lumpur. Well, no matter, do it your way ...
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 February 2012 - 21:56
Inglesilla, per experience, it is necessary for your would-be-helper to have the original visa with her or there is a chance that she will not be allowed to board the plane by Philippine Immigration officers. See, at the airport, they actually scan the original UAE visa to determine if it is valid or not. A mere copy of the visa is not a guarantee that she will in fact be allowed to leave the country. I could be wrong, but even if you book her on a flight via any other country, her final destination will still be the UAE. Thus, she will be subject to the same documentary requirements. I am assuming you got her a working visa and not just a tourist visa (with the intent of fixing her papers when she arrives here), right? As for the OEC (Overseas Employment Certificate), she needs to get this from the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Agency), and is a requirement as well for her to be allowed to leave the country. If she has her original visa and the OEC, her trip going to the UAE should be problem free.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 20 February 2012 - 21:05
Don't be silly! Keep her original documents here, book her a flight to Kuala Lumpur and a separate flight from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai and she can leave tomorrow. There are no restrictions on Filipinas going to Malaysia (only to the Gulf states) so they have no reason to prevent her leaving. She'll need an emailed copy of her visa - make her print two copies so she can give one to the airline in Malaysia and one for here, just in case. Easy peasy.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 February 2012 - 20:56
OMG what a nightmare, what is an EOC? Went today to pick up her employment entry visa which has been done via my husband's work. To DHL the documents to her will take two weeks to her town so will send to Manila instead and get her to arrive a day early and stay at a hotel. I asked them about this new thing of training and he said she would be allowed out no problem, so now I am very confused as they told me they never has an issue with anyone coming from Philipines. Need to book her flight tonight so I can post it all tomorrow so I am very confused Kept calling again the philipines consulate, to all the numbers in the different websites and they do not pick up the phone!! Thanks all for your help
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EW GURU
Latest post on 20 February 2012 - 20:26
Just send her through Kuala Lumpur. Slightly longer travel time, but no documents needed.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 February 2012 - 19:31
Does she have her EOC? Without that document she will never be allowed to leave Manila. I thought the rules for the philippines now was that a maid coming to work for a new sponsor, that they had to come through an agency and via agency they were to be sent through some classes. We brought one in from philippines a couple months ago, and they had to have all of the forms from us plus the form from the agency before they would issue her the EOC to board the plane. The agency in the philippines put her through a couple of classes that were required, but were useless. They taught them how to count to 10 in arabic, and a few other things, but nothing extraordinary.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 20 February 2012 - 14:12
It doesnt matter what nationality the housemaid is, she still needs the original entry permit to enter the country so you will need to send this to her. My maid is from Indonesia and it was sent to her as well. regarding the qualifications I would contact the Phillipine Consulate in dubai. here is a link to the website where it has the contact number and email adress http://www.pcgdubai.net/contact-us/
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 February 2012 - 12:55
Thank you, I already read that post but that is about Ethiopian and my question is about Philipines, and as I said I have been calling the consulate for 2 weeks now and they do not answer the phone so perhaps someone has a contact number that actually works?
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 20 February 2012 - 12:51
This will answer your question regarding the entry permit http://www.expatwoman.com/forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=172884 Regarding the Qualifications I would check with the phillipine consultate in Dubai as this rule is something to do with the Phillapines and not dubai .
 
 

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