Tag Archive for: OFW

Step 1: Research and Preparation

Step 2: Acquiring Necessary Credentials

Step 3: Application Process

a globe, a passport, and medical symbols, illustrating the global opportunities for Filipino nurses.

Step 4: Securing a Job Offer and Signing the Contract

Step 5: Visa Application and Pre-Deployment Orientation

Step 6: Deployment and Adjusting to Your New Environment

image of a nurse at an airport, with luggage, depicting the deployment phase and the excitement of traveling to a new country.

In Conclusion

A heartwarming picture of a Filipino nurse interacting with patients from diverse backgrounds, emphasizing cultural exchange and the impact of their work abroad.


OFW support program

Livelihood Development Assistance Program(LDAP)

OFW Children Circle

Financial Awareness Seminar-Small Business Management Training

OFW support program

Enterprise Development Loan Program(OFW-EDLP)

Navigating the H2B Visa

Navigating the H2B Visa

Process for Overseas Filipino Workers in the USA

In an ever-globalizing world, the H2B visa emerges as a crucial pathway for Filipino workers aiming to broaden their professional horizons in the United States, especially in sectors like manufacturing. This in-depth guide to navigating the H2B visa process, catering to both U.S. client companies and ambitious Filipino workers. The H2B visa, a non-immigrant visa, allows U.S. employers to hire foreign nationals for temporary, non-agricultural jobs. It’s a lifeline for many Filipinos seeking international work experience to support their families back home. For the Philippines, a nation where a significant portion of the GDP—over $34 billion in remittances last year alone—is contributed by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), this opportunity is a cornerstone of its economy.

For our client companies in the U.S., identifying workforce needs is critical. U.S. industries often face seasonal peaks or specific project demands that the local workforce cannot meet, which is where OFWs, known for their hard work and adaptability, become invaluable. The H2B visa application process involves detailed documentation and a demonstration of the need for temporary foreign labor.

Navigating the H2B Visa for Filipino

Navigating the H2B visa

Eligibility Criteria for Applicants

To be eligible, Filipino workers must meet certain qualifications, including experience in the relevant field and proficiency in English.

For instance, if a U.S. employer is looking to hire Filipino workers for the hospitality industry, candidates must have prior experience in roles such as hotel staff, kitchen aides, or maintenance personnel. This experience not only demonstrates their ability to perform the required tasks but also indicates familiarity with industry standards and practices. Similarly, for positions in construction or landscaping, Filipino applicants should have experience with relevant tools, equipment, and techniques. Proficiency in English is another key requirement, as it ensures effective communication in the workplace. This is particularly vital in environments where safety instructions, technical terms, or customer interactions are integral to the job.

Application Process for OFWs

This process begins with a job offer from a U.S. employer who has successfully obtained a temporary labor certification for hiring foreign workers. Once an OFW receives a job offer, they must then prepare for the various stages of the application, which includes gathering necessary documents such as a valid passport, work experience certificates, and other qualifications that prove their eligibility for the H2B visa.

After compiling these documents, the next crucial step is the visa application, which is submitted to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the Philippines. This application must be filled out meticulously to avoid any errors that could lead to delays or rejections. According to the U.S. Department of State, the approval rate for Filipino applicants for non-immigrant visas, including the H2B, has been relatively high, with figures often exceeding 80%. This high approval rate underscores the importance of submitting a well-prepared application.

We provide complete assistance, ensuring a smooth transition from the Philippines to the U.S.

Understanding Your Rights and Benefits

It’s essential for OFWs to understand their rights in the U.S., including wage laws, health benefits, and safety regulations. Our agency provides detailed briefings on these aspects.

Cultural Adaptation in the USA

Adjusting to American culture is an exciting yet challenging journey. We provide orientation sessions with insights from OFWs who have successfully adapted, helping new arrivals balance work and life in the U.S. and maintain connections with their families in the Philippines. The stories of those who have triumphed are incredibly inspiring. We share these experiences, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of Filipinos who have found success and personal growth in the U.S.

Furthermore, we delve into the legal nuances of the H2B visa process, offering practical tips for both employers and employees. This includes expert advice on navigating U.S. labor laws and cultural nuances to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation. Emphasizing health and safety standards in the U.S., we guide OFWs on ensuring their well-being while working abroad.

Navigating the H2B Visa

The journey through the H2B visa process offers immense opportunities for professional growth and significant contributions to both the Filipino and American economies. At [Your Agency’s Name], we commit to supporting both our client companies and OFWs throughout this journey, ensuring a seamless process and successful tenure in the U.S. Our support extends beyond the visa process as we foster a community of successful, well-supported Filipino workers abroad, offering ongoing assistance and network-building opportunities.

Visas issued to foreigners in the Republic of Korea are divided into A-G series visas(including E7 visa) according to the status of stay as follows.

visa type

Class A: Those staying in accordance with diplomacy, official affairs, or agreements between countries

Category B: Persons permitted to enter the country according to visa waiver agreements, reciprocity, etc.

Type C: Those entering Korea for the purpose of temporary stay within 90 days

Class D: Those staying for activities related to education, culture, and investment

E category: Those staying for activities in specialized fields and non-specialized fields

Class F: Those staying with family, residence, compatriots, permanent residence, and marriage immigration status

Others (H-1, G-1): Those staying for employment or humanitarian reasons according to the agreement

The majority of the factory workers are holding an E-9 visa (non-professional employment) and got a job in Korea through the EPS (Employment Permit System) system operated by the Korean government.

In addition, seasonal workers on farms are workers who work in Korea with E-8 visas (seasonal work) or C-4 visas (short-term employment) hosted by local governments.

Now, we will take a closer look at the E-7 visa (Professional occupations) among the various types of visas.

E7 visa

E7 Employment Visa Occupation Code

In order for a foreigner to work in Korea, the above visa must be issued according to the status of stay and details of activities.

Among them, the most representative work visa is the E7 (Professional occupations) visa, which must be issued to foreign professionals to work in Korea.

Occupations that can be employed with an E7 visa

There are a total of 87 permitted occupations for which E7 visas can be issued, and they are broadly classified into managers, experts, and related workers, office workers, service workers, general skilled workers, and skilled workers.

Professional E-7-1 (67 job types and job codes)

A. Manager: 15 occupations => E-7-1

1) Senior executive of an economic interest group (S110)

2) Corporate senior executives (1120)

3) Management support manager (1212 formerly 1202)

4) Education manager (1312)

5) Insurance and financial manager (1320)

6) Managers related to culture, art, design and video (1340)

7) Information and communication manager (1350)

8) Other professional service managers (1390)

9) Construction and mining manager (1411)

10) Manager related to product production (1413)

11) Managers related to agriculture, forestry and fishery (14901)

12) Sales and sales managers (1511)

13) Transportation manager (1512)

14) Accommodation, travel, entertainment, and sports manager (1521)

15) Food service manager (1522)

B. Experts and related workers: 52 occupations => E-7-1

1) Life Science Specialist (2111)

2) Natural science expert (2112)

3) Social science researcher (2122)

  1. Professionals (E-7-1) (67 occupations)

4) Computer Hardware Technician (2211)

5) Telecommunication Engineering Technician (2212)

6) Computer system design and analyst (2221)

7) System software developer (2222)

8) Application software developer (2223)

9) Web Developer (2224 formerly 2228)

10) Data expert (2231 formerly 2224)

11) Network system developer (2232 formerly 2225)

12) Information Security Specialist (2233 formerly 2226)

13) Architect (2311)

14) Architectural engineering technicians (2312-newly established)

15) Civil engineering expert (2313 formerly 2312)

16) Landscape Engineer (2314 formerly 2313)

17) Urban and transportation experts (2315 formerly 2314)

18) Chemical Engineer (2321)

19) Metal and material engineering technician (2331)

20) Electrical Engineering Technician (2341 formerly 2351)

21) Electronic Engineer (2342 formerly 2352)

22) Mechanical Engineering Technician (2351 formerly 2353)

23) Plant Engineering Technician (23512 formerly 23532)

24) Robotics Specialist (2352)

25) Automobile, Shipbuilding, Airplane, Rail Vehicle Engineering Specialist (S2353)

26) Occupational Safety and Risk Specialist (2364)

27) Environmental Engineering Technician (2371 formerly 2341)

28) Gas and Energy Engineer (2372 formerly 9233)

29) Textile Engineer (2392)

30) Draftsman (2395 formerly 2396)

31) Nurse (2430)

32) University Lecturer (2512)

33) Technical Instructor at Overseas Technical College (2543)

34) Education-related experts (2591 formerly 25919)

35) Teachers of Foreign Schools, Bureau of International Educational Institutions, International Schools, Current Schools, etc. (2599)

36) Legal experts (261)

37) Government and public administration experts (2620)

38) Special Agency Administrative Agent (S2620)

39) Management and Diagnostic Specialist (2715)

40) Finance and insurance professionals (272)

41) Product Planning Specialist (2731)

42) Travel product developer (2732)

43) Advertising and Public Relations Specialist (2733)

44) Research Specialist (2734)

45) Event Planner (2735)

46) Overseas salesperson (2742)

47) Technical salesperson (2743)

48) Technology management expert (S2743)

49) Translator/Interpreter (2814)

50) Announcer (28331)

51) Designer(285)

52) Video designer (S2855)

Semi-professional (E-7-2 job code)

A. Office workers: 5 occupations => E-7-2

1) Duty-free shop or sales clerk in Jeju English Education City (31215)

2) Air transport clerk (31264)

3) Hotel receptionist (3922)

4) Medical Coordinator (S3922)

5) Customer service clerk (3991)

B. Service workers: 4 occupations => E-7-2

1) Transportation service workers (431)

2) Tour Interpreter Guide (43213)

3) Casino Dealer (43291)

4) Chef and cook (441)

General skilled manpower (E-7-3 and job code)

A. General skilled manpower: 8 occupations => E-7-3

1) Animal Keeper (61395)

2) Aquaculture technician (6301)

3) Halal slaughterhouse (7103)

4) Instrument manufacturer and tuner (7303)

5) Shipbuilding welder (7430)

6) Aircraft Mechanic (7521)

7) Ship electric source (76212)

8) Ship Painter (78369)

Skilled skill point system (E-7-4)

B. Skilled workers (point system): 3 occupations

1) Root industry skilled craftsman (S740)

2) Skilled Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (S610)

3) Skilled technicians for general manufacturers and construction companies (S700)

Looking at the list above, you can see that it is possible to hire foreign professionals in more occupations than expected.

Of course, it is not possible to find a job right away just because a company needs it, and it is important to note that employment is possible if the conditions and qualifications specified by the country are met, such as preferential recruitment of local citizens and the number of foreign employees proportional to the number of domestic employees.

Maximum length of stay for E7 visa

One of the advantages of the E7 visa is that it can be continuously extended after 3 years of stay as long as the qualifications are met.

Source: Hi Korea

Are you looking for talented and reliable workers for your business? If so, you might want to consider hiring Filipino employees. The Philippines is one of the most popular destinations for outsourcing and offshoring services, and for good reasons. Here are some of the benefits of hire Filipino employees over other nationalities.

1. Filipinos are highly trainable and fast learners

Filipinos value education and are eager to learn new skills and technologies. They can adapt quickly to different work environments and cultures and are willing to take on challenges and responsibilities. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, the Philippines ranks 52nd out of 141 countries in terms of human capital, which measures the knowledge and skills of the workforce.

2. Filipinos are multi-talented

It’s amazing how Filipinos are skilled and talented in not just one thing. They can be creative, artistic, technical, analytical, or anything in between. They can also handle multiple tasks at once and switch between different roles with ease. Whether you need a web developer, a graphic designer, a writer, a customer service representative, or a virtual assistant, you can find a Filipino worker who can do it all.

3. Filipinos have excellent communication skills

Filipinos are known to be proficient in English, which is widely used as a medium of instruction and business in the country. They also have a neutral accent that makes them easy to understand by native and non-native speakers alike. Moreover, Filipinos are friendly, courteous, and respectful when communicating with clients and customers. They know how to build rapport and trust with their interlocutors.

Hire Filipino Employees

4. Filipinos are analytical thinkers

Filipinos are not just good at following instructions; they can also think critically and creatively to solve problems and improve processes. They have a keen eye for details and quality, and they can spot errors and inconsistencies that others might miss. They also have a strong sense of initiative and innovation, which means they can suggest new ideas and solutions that can benefit your business.

5. Filipinos are very productive

Filipinos are hard-working and dedicated to their jobs. They are willing to go the extra mile to meet deadlines and exceed expectations. They also have a high level of resilience and optimism, which helps them cope with stress and challenges. Furthermore, Filipinos are loyal and committed to their employers. They value long-term relationships and rarely switch jobs unless there is a compelling reason.

These are just some of the advantages of hiring Filipino workers for your business. If you want to tap into this pool of talent and potential, you can contact Clark International Recruitment Corporation(CIRC), one of the best recruitment agencies in the Philippines that can help you find qualified candidates for your needs.