Fiance wants to be OFW.... opinions please

[jameyj 73]

My fiance now wants to work overseas somewhere like Dubai or Qatar (she has a sister there).  I have been against the idea because as I hear, such arrangements are normally for two years which throws several monkey wrenches into our plans to be together potentially. 

With our NOA2 was Nov. 13. however, and given the backlog at embassies, like Manila where they appear to be 9-10 months behind (and growing) (probably won't see nay real processing util vaccines are widespread and COVID cases are down, it seems unlikely we would get an interview date until 2022.

If so, a two year OFW commitment could probably be completed without too much disruption to the marital plans. Also, I'm starting to feel like she could really learn some things from such an experience that she needs to, both good and bad. 

 

Relevant thoughts, opinions, experiences are welcome.

[JeanneAdil 7,129]

Just a thought

never stop someone from doing something they want to do

they will always wonder "what if"

my neice is working (from Morocco ) in UAE / she's been there about 2 years

i know only they pay foreign workers less than citizens

but it's work she would not have back in Morocco as jobs are scare

[Allovertheworld 355]

45 minutes ago, jameyj said:

My fiance now wants to work overseas somewhere like Dubai or Qatar (she has a sister there).  I have been against the idea because as I hear, such arrangements are normally for two years which throws several monkey wrenches into our plans to be together potentially. 

With our NOA2 was Nov. 13. however, and given the backlog at embassies, like Manila where they appear to be 9-10 months behind (and growing) (probably won't see nay real processing util vaccines are widespread and COVID cases are down, it seems unlikely we would get an interview date until 2022.

If so, a two year OFW commitment could probably be completed without too much disruption to the marital plans. Also, I'm starting to feel like she could really learn some things from such an experience that she needs to, both good and bad. 

 

Relevant thoughts, opinions, experiences are welcome.

Bad Plan in my opinion.  I do think your timeline is realistic.

 

Depending on her job they usually confiscate their passport so they can't leave, they will tell them they will hold it for safe keeping.  You can google how many domestic workers get beat or killed over there in the Middle East.

 

Have her get a job in the Philippines, they are conditioned to think there is no work there, but I have dated a few girls who worked in Manila and they told me it was pretty easy to find a good job. It's just there Philipines Mentality they are conditioned to think there are no good jobs in Philippines.  

 

If I had a dime every time I heard someone from the Philippines say they are going abroad to work I would be rich

 

Her focus should be waiting on your interview date.

 

 

 

[jameyj 73]

53 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

Just a thought

never stop someone from doing something they want to do

they will always wonder "what if"

my neice is working (from Morocco ) in UAE / she's been there about 2 years

i know only they pay foreign workers less than citizens

but it's work she would not have back in Morocco as jobs are scare

yeah, I don't want to be controlling. I don't want doubt. Go try and see what's better.........

[Chancy 6,247]

1 hour ago, jameyj said:

My fiance now wants to work overseas somewhere like Dubai or Qatar (she has a sister there).

 

Please encourage her to work with a recruiter accredited by POEA.  It's not much, but she should maximize whatever government support she can get.

 

[jameyj 73]

13 minutes ago, Allovertheworld said:

Bad Plan in my opinion.  I do think your timeline is realistic.

 

Depending on her job they usually confiscate their passport so they can't leave, they will tell them they will hold it for safe keeping.  You can google how many domestic workers get beat or killed over there in the Middle East.

 

Have her get a job in the Philippines, they are conditioned to think there is no work there, but I have dated a few girls who worked in Manila and they told me it was pretty easy to find a good job. It's just there Philipines Mentality they are conditioned to think there are no good jobs in Philippines.  

 

If I had a dime every time I heard someone from the Philippines say they are going abroad to work I would be rich

 

Her focus should be waiting on your interview date.

 

 

 

Agree her emphasis should be on me and waiting it out but I can't make her think that. I think the attraction to Qatar is her sister and aunt too there. Manila is just not as attractive. I would tell her ,in no uncertain terms, is she to give her passport to anyone. 

 

Those other negative possibilities are pretty bad and I don't want her anywhere near such things...... sometimes people want to try things out for the adventure, no matter what.

[Allovertheworld 355]

3 hours ago, jameyj said:

yeah, I don't want to be controlling. I don't want doubt. Go try and see what's better.........

Actually it is your job and duty to be in control.  This is the culture in Philippines where the father or man of the house makes the decisions.

 

Remember you are dealing with a different culture, and things are done differently  

[Chancy 6,247]

1 minute ago, Allovertheworld said:

Actually it is your job and duty to be in control.  This is the culture in Philippines where the father or man of the house makes the decisions.

 

What era are you living in?  The 1950s?

 

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

5 hours ago, jameyj said:

Agree her emphasis should be on me and waiting it out but I can't make her think that. I think the attraction to Qatar is her sister and aunt too there. Manila is just not as attractive. I would tell her ,in no uncertain terms, is she to give her passport to anyone. 

 

Those other negative possibilities are pretty bad and I don't want her anywhere near such things...... sometimes people want to try things out for the adventure, no matter what.

Qatar can be a good country for OFWs to work in IF they work with a accredited agency and not a fly by not one. But many countries aren't allow that many OFWs to work right now and the OFWs already there are having a hard time as is. My brother in law just started back to work in October after being out of work for 5 months. What would she be doing in Qatar? 

Also what you tell her about not giving up her passport to anyone is just not feasible for the GCC countries like Qatar. When I worked in Qatar even as a American expat I had to give up my passport to the company I was working in at the time. 

 

When my wife and I started thinking about  doing the K1 process I asked her if she wanted to go back to Doha or stay in the Philippines? We decided jointly that her staying in the Philippines and not going back would be the best thing for her and us. Where in Pinas is she from if you don't mind me asking?

[hopefulfor2021 31]

18 hours ago, jameyj said:

My fiance now wants to work overseas somewhere like Dubai or Qatar (she has a sister there).  I have been against the idea because as I hear, such arrangements are normally for two years which throws several monkey wrenches into our plans to be together potentially. 

With our NOA2 was Nov. 13. however, and given the backlog at embassies, like Manila where they appear to be 9-10 months behind (and growing) (probably won't see nay real processing util vaccines are widespread and COVID cases are down, it seems unlikely we would get an interview date until 2022.

If so, a two year OFW commitment could probably be completed without too much disruption to the marital plans. Also, I'm starting to feel like she could really learn some things from such an experience that she needs to, both good and bad. 

 

Relevant thoughts, opinions, experiences are welcome.

Nothing to lose exploring jobs, maybe she could find one with a commitment of less than 2 years. Only con is that there will always be a risk w/ traveling - re: covid. Try asking her what she needs - does she need a job? Specifically at Dubai or Qatar? Does she want to be w/ her family? Or just a steady stream of income? 

With the backlogs at the embassy, I can't blame her for making the most out of her "waiting" time. You just need to discuss everything with her to make sure you guys are on the same page.

[Adventine 3,223]

13 minutes ago, hopefulfor2021 said:

Nothing to lose exploring jobs, maybe she could find one with a commitment of less than 2 years. Only con is that there will always be a risk w/ traveling - re: covid. Try asking her what she needs - does she need a job? Specifically at Dubai or Qatar? Does she want to be w/ her family? Or just a steady stream of income? 

With the backlogs at the embassy, I can't blame her for making the most out of her "waiting" time. You just need to discuss everything with her to make sure you guys are on the same page.

 

Yes, this is actually an excellent opportunity for the OP and his fiancée to have a serious talk about shared goals for the future. The goal is to eventually get the visa approved - how to best maximize the time while waiting? This is a question that touches on their shared finances, career plans, and priorities. 

 

By the way, is the fiancée absolutely sure that she will secure a good job abroad? In these times and with so many countries in recession, how secure would any job abroad be?

 

To offer my own experience, my fiancé and I agreed that I would stay in my current job in the Philippines. This ensures I have an uninterrupted stream of my own income, keeps my career "consistent" (no long periods of unemployment and a nice long history of steady jobs), both of which will serve our relationship well in the long-term. I will already have an extended period of unemployment after I arrive in the States on the K1 visa. We're financially prepared for that, but I don't see the need to have two or more periods of no employment on my resumé, when I eventually apply for US based jobs.

 

Also thinking ahead, with all the sudden border closures/openings/reopenings/reclosures, you  do not want your fiancée to be stuck abroad and unable to return to the Philippines on time for the interview. That would be horrible.

Edited December 27, 2020 by Adventine

[Allovertheworld 355]

11 hours ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

Also what you tell her about not giving up her passport to anyone is just not feasible for the GCC countries like Qatar. When I worked in Qatar even as a American expat I had to give up my passport to the company I was working in at the time. 

 

Were you comfortable giving up your passport?  I sure wouldn't. 

 

What if you decide you want to leave, go home, take a trip to another country? Do you have to ask your employer permissions? And ask for you passport so you can travel?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 27, 2020 by Allovertheworld

[seekingthetruth 1,255]

18 hours ago, Allovertheworld said:

Depending on her job they usually confiscate their passport so they can't leave, they will tell them they will hold it for safe keeping.  You can google how many domestic workers get beat or killed over there in the Middle East.

I agree, depending on the job.  Household help is often abused.  Working in a high end hotel might be safer.

 

However, the OFW job market is not good now due to Covid.  Unless she has a specialty skill in high demand, she may have to get in line.

 

Philippines repatriates over 300,000 OFWs since onset of COVID-19 outbreak

 

MANILA: More than 300,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been repatriated by the government in the past 10 months, with plans to facilitate the return of thousands more who have been impacted by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in their host countries, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday.
The DFA statement added that 13,537 OFWs had been brought home last week, the highest weekly total since repatriation efforts began in February.
“This is the biggest repatriation effort in the history of the DFA and of the Philippines,” Sarah Lou Arriola, DFA undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs, said in a statement.
“We thank the indefatigable efforts of our DFA personnel who have been working 24/7 since February. We also thank our Foreign Service Posts and our partner government agencies for their invaluable contribution to the DFA’s repatriation efforts,” she added.
With the latest arrivals, the number of overseas Filipino returnees reached 300,838, out of which 90,621 are sea-based workers, while 210,217 (69.88 percent) worked on the land.
One of the 59 flights facilitated by the DFA in the past week was a Philippine Airlines chartered flight, which transported 319 distressed Filipino workers from Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
It was the fifth DFA-chartered flight to repatriate stranded Filipinos from Saudi Arabia’s eastern region.
The department, through its embassy in Port Moresby, also assisted in the safe return of OFWs from the Solomon Islands, while a collaboration with the Philippine Embassy in Amman resulted in the successful repatriation of 18 Filipinos from Jordan.
The DFA assured Filipinos who remain stranded abroad that the agency was working “doubly hard to ensure they will be given a chance to return to the Philippines.”
In a televised interview on Friday, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Hans Cacdac said the government aimed to repatriate 70,000 to 80,000 more OFWs by the end of the year.
He added that the number could go higher as more OFWs sought to be home during the holiday season.
Upon their arrival in the Philippines, all returnees are being aided by the government to travel back to their respective provinces.
At the same time, OFWs whose employment was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are given a one-time cash assistance of P10,000 ($200) under the Department of Labor and Employment’s “Abot-Kamay ang Pagtulong” program.
The government has allocated P1.8 billion to benefit repatriated OFWs and those in the host country.
Also, the government will be providing a one-time educational, financial assistance of P30,000 to student dependents of displaced or deceased OFWs as well.
Last week, the government partnered with a private company to help OFWs resume normalcy by giving them access to livelihood assistance to establish a small business, such as sari-sari stores, eateries, meat-processing units, water-refilling station, and farms to raise livestock.

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1777491/world

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

2 hours ago, Allovertheworld said:

Were you comfortable giving up your passport?  I sure wouldn't. 

 

What if you decide you want to leave, go home, take a trip to another country? Do you have to ask your employer permissions? And ask for you passport so you can travel?

No, I wasn't comfortable doing it but that is what was supposed to happen in order for the company to process our work visas. All I can say is that I was lucky because I am a American and I was working for a American company so that helped. I have heard of horror stories of people not being able to go home for years because their employer their passport. 

 

Yes to all those things. Qatar and Dubai require a letter from your employer for you to switch jobs/companies or even to leave the country. My company lost their contract about 7 months after me being there and they would not allow me to stay in Qatar with another company I had lined up to work at because "I had not been there long enough".

 

Luckily for me we got our passport back after 4 months because we got our work permits as well.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

OP, What is she going to do in Qatar if she goes there? 

 

Don't allow her to go there to work illegally or for a fly by night agency because I have heard some horror stories when it comes to this.