Are you a work permit holder who wants to transfer to another job but you’re re not prepared to pay thousand bucks again in agency? Or are you a filipino who have job offer from Singapore but you don’t have money for agency fees?

 Here’s my risky experience with over 6 consecutive years working back here in Singapore for 3 different jobs as a work permit holder. 

I have a job offer from an agency in Singapore year 2013, they gave me an option either I’m going a tour or make it through another agency in Philippines. If I choose to tour I have only pay about 50k pesos to that agency in Sg, but if I choose to go through another agency in Philippines I’ll definitely spend over 100k pesos plus those fares going to POEA and PDOS (di ko pa kabisado ang manila at malayo ang probinsya ko) and of course the medical.

I chose to take agency because I said its my first time to go abroad, I borrow money from everyone just to process everything the agency needs. When I arrive in Singapore my agency in Sg brought me for medical, whatt? medical again? (narealised ko wala din pala kwenta yung medical ko sa Pinas at gumastos ako ng 5,000 para dun). The medical result will only be honored from those Singapore authorised clinic/lab test for foreign workers. Before I left Philippines I’d to pay all the agency fees there. In Singapore agency I paid it by monthly salary deduction and it dragged me down for my monthly budget. From this seeking job abroad I’d spent more or less 100k pesos, Yeah! and you know which more I spent a lot? its my expenses in Philippines. 

After 2yrs, my job contract finished, but before that months ago, I tried to look for another job with the help of my previous agency in Sg, I still chose to go back in Singapore( hindi na sapat ang sahod sa Pinas para sakin), Since I’m a work permit holder, I need to go back in my own country, and ohhh I miss home! 

When my Sg agency found new job offer for me and process my application then my IPA released from MOM. Im thinking again, where should I get money to pay agency in Philippines and the one I hate most is to travel in Manila to reach out for agency to process my papers, medical and for Pdos.(Getting owwa in Philippines have lots of rules and assessments and will only end up in suggesting agency that will process your paper, that’s also what the POLO will advise you). This time I decided to tour, but not directly going to Sg. Yes! because I know immigration in the Philippines is very STRICT. I made a thorough research about immigration questions if you’re making a tour. Why not directly to Sg? because everyone knows Sg is a small country, with my two years in Sg it’s so impossible that i didn’t explore every corner of it. 

I chose Hongkong, (me air ticket promo eh haha). I did book a return ticket from Ph to Hk, Hk to Ph for worth of 4,500 (3days). Then I separately book from Hk to Sg. 3days prior to my flight, I prepared myself with all the possible questions, a lot! One thing I’ve set into my mind is I must think that I’m really going to HK to tour for me to remove all the worrisome stuffs because they said they could detect that, could reflect into your eyes. I don’t even have a hotel booking in Hk, I’m not currently employed in Philippines, I have P40k enough to pay my agency in Singapore and allowance. 

Time of judgment. When its my turn, the immigration officer ask what will I do in Hk, I answered mamasyal. He said where? A:Disneyland and ocean park; Q: have you been to other country? A: yes; Q: where? A: Singapore. At the back of my mind, lol they can see it which country I’ve been. Q: do you have work here? A: Not yet employed. Q: whats the reason you go HK? A: mamasyal, a treat for myself. The immigration keep on repeating same question and about my flight. After that he stamped! Woooh! (relieve.) Do note that you must memorize your return ticket and just answer what they’re asking. When I passed the immigration, i said Thank Lord, I really smile big ! When I reached HK, I went to Disneyland (picture, picture) then at night time my flight bound to Singapore. Upon reaching, I just show my IPA in Singapore immigration, then done. After 6 months, I’ve got my owwa in Phil. Embassy with no hassle at all and only cost of 1,500 pesos.

For not even having one year working with my current job, I’m trying to seek for another job again here and there, applying online and passing resume to Every HR during my day off. When I assured that I was accepted in the new job, I pass my resignation letter because it’s a one month notice. Since I’m a work permit holder I needed to exit Singapore again for them to process my IPA. I’ve always chose to go home of course, after 3weeks of a vacation like in Philippines, I left motherland again as a tourist. This time, it’s bound to Macao (cheap air ticket), then Macao to Sg. As usual, showing my IPA in Sg immigration. 

With this way of going back to Singapore to work, I saved a lot of money, unlike when you go through agency in Philippines for POEA/OWWA processing and spend a lot, then your agency in Singapore will get your salary every month, this will really make you a poor ofw. It’s better instead that your budget for the agency in Philippines will be used as your money in travelling to other country then to Sg then that money will pay your agency fee in Singapore. Thus, your salary will be yours fully, nothing to worry about the salary deduction.

However, its all about of taking the risk in the immigration, if you’re hesitated with it you’re probably high risk to be offloaded. It’s all about your confidence and determination.