OWWA Programs & Benefits

OWWA delivers health care, disability and death benefits, scholarships and financial assistance for education and training, workers assistance and on-site services, and social services and family welfare assistance subject to the qualification requirements and availability of OWWA funds.

All benefits and services are over and above the provisions of the employment contract, offer of employers, or the laws of the receiving country.

For a US$25 membership contribution, an OWWA member and/or his family is entitled to the following benefits and services:

I. MEDICAL / HEALTH CARE, DISABILITY AND DEATH BENEFITS

1.1 Health Program for OFWs (HEALTHPRO). Subsidized medical and hospitalization services for OFWs in response to the medical assistance needs of distressed OFWs, whether local or abroad.

1.2 OFW Medical Rehabilitation Program. A special health package to extend sustainable medical rehabilitation services for returning OFWs who are either suffering from any form of mental disorder/illness or physical disability.

1.3 Disability and Dismemberment Benefit. A member is entitled to disability/dismemberment benefit of up to Php 50,000.

1.4 Total Disability Benefit. A member is entitled to Php 100,000.00 in case of total permanent disability.

1.5 Death Benefit. A member is entitled to a benefit of Php 100,000.00 for the duration of his employment contract for death due to natural cause, and Php 200,000.00 for death due to accident.

1.6 Burial Benefit. A burial benefit of Php 20,000.00 shall be provided as a rider in case of the member’s death.

II. EDUCATION AND TRAINING BENEFITS

1. Pre-Departure Education Program (PDEP). The PDEP is a mandatory training for all departing migrant workers. A component of the PDOS is the Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP) where classes on language training, culture familiarization and stress management for the OFWs are held to prepare them for their new life overseas. The components of the PDEP are:

Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP) for household service workers, where classes on language training, culture familiarization and stress management for the OFWs are held to prepare them for their new life overseas.

Country-specific Pre-departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) for OFWs bound for Canada and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Participants are presented with a comprehensive module with sessions on contract familiarization, profile of the country of destination, stages of the OFW’s life, health and safety, airport procedures and government programs.

2. Skills-for-Employment Scholarship Program. The SESP is a technical or vocational training scholarship to qualified OFWs and their beneficiaries. The SESP covers short-term (up to two years) vocational or technician’s course for OFWs and their dependents. A maximum of Php 14,500.00 per course shall be provided to qualified OFWs or their beneficiary.

3. Education for Development Scholarship Program. One hundred fifty (150) college scholarships are awarded to dependents of OFWs to pursue four- to five-year baccalaureate courses. A maximum of Php 60,000.00 per year shall be provided to qualified beneficiaries of OFWs.

4. OFW Dependents Scholarship Program (OFW DSP). OWWA provides financial assistance of Php 20,000.00 per year to poor but deserving dependents of OFWs with a monthly salary of not more than US$400.00/month. Qualifiers enroll in a four- to five-year baccalaureate or associate course leading are entitled to a baccalaureate or associate degree in a state college or university.

5. Seafarers’ Comprehensive Education and Training Programs. Resulting from the maritime industry’s high demand for seafarers and the enhancement of competency for officer positions, OWWA undertakes stop-gap measures to ensure considerable supply of seafarers in the mid-management level and secure the place of our sea-based OFWs in the industry.

5.1 Seafarers’ Upgrading Program. The program intends to provide training assistance to seafarers for upgrading and updating of knowledge and skills through sponsorships. Up to Php 7,500.00 in scholarship grants are available per seafarer.

5.2 Mariners’ Dugtong-Aral. “Dugtong,” which means “bridging” in Filipino, is OWWA’s response to the government’s Bridging Program. The MDA is a scholarship grant given to qualified graduates of BS Mechanical Engineering (BSME) and BS Electrical Engineering (BSEE) who wish to graduate as BS Marine Engineering (BS MarE) and board ocean-going vessels as qualified Marine Officers through referrals made by manning agencies after hurdling the licensure examination.

5.3 Incentive Program for Top 200 Maritime Cadets (Cadetship Program). OWWA shall grant a Php 30,000.00 financial incentive to the top 200 cadets of BS Marine Transportation and BS Marine Engineering who passed the Maritime School Assessment Program (MSAP) as part of the education for development scholarship program of OWWA for prospective OWWA members.

5.4 Maritime Educational Development Loan Program (MEDLOP) For Prospective Marine Officers and Engineers with Guaranteed International Onboard Employment (Study Now, Pay Later Scheme). MEDLOP is an interest-free financial assistance to defray costs of tertiary education of prospective Marine Officers and Engineers. The manning agency will be the applicant and sponsor for the MEDLOP and shall select the student to whom it shall extend the loan.

6. OWWA-Microsoft Tulay. “Tulay,” meaning “bridge” in Filipino, is a pioneering project between the OWWA and Microsoft Corporation that brings information and communication technology training to OFWs, to broaden their career opportunities, and facilitate long-distance communication between them and their families. It offers free information and communication technology (ICT) skills training, access to technology and communication via the Internet. At present, there are Community Technology Learning Centers (CTLC) in every OWWA regional welfare office in the Philippines and in some key overseas OWWA posts.

7. Tuloy-Aral Project. The Tuloy-Aral (“continuation of education”) or TAP is an educational assistance project which aids the less fortunate children of former OFWs to enable them to continue their elementary and high school education in the Philippines by providing a US$100 financial support per year to the child-beneficiary. Donors may be OFWs, OFW organizations, and other interested individuals or groups.

8. Tuloy-Kolehiyo. Extended coverage of the established TAP is the Tuloy Kolehiyo (“continuation of college education”) to include the tertiary education leading to either an associate or baccalaureate degree. The beneficiaries are entitled to either semestral stipend or actual costs of tuition and miscellaneous fees, offered by participating educational institutions, but not to exceed the maximum amount Php 15,000 per school year.

III. WORKERS ASSISTANCE AND ON-SITE SERVICES

The OWWA sustains and maintains assistance to members in all its regional and overseas offices. On behalf of the OFW, the OWWA may provide appropriate representation with employers, agents, and host government authorities. Services include:

1. Locating OFW’S whereabouts, providing information and guidance, counseling and conciliation services, medical and legal assistance, community organization, workplace and hospital visitation, outreach missions, etc.

2. Repatriation Program which includes negotiation with employers and agents, repatriation of distressed workers, human remains and belongings, airport assistance, OWWA Halfway House accommodation, and coordination with families through the OWWA Regional Welfare Offices (RWO).

IV. SOCIAL SERVICES AND FAMILY WELFARE ASSISTANCE

1. Reintegration Program. The program is implemented by OWWA through the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) and OWWA’s Regional Welfare Offices and Overseas Posts for the member-OFW’s economic and social reintegration. Member-OFWs and their families are beneficiaries of the reintegration program and can participate in through business counseling, community organizing, financial literacy seminars, capability-building, networking with support institutions, and other social preparation programs activities. Livelihood loans are available to members subject to the policies formulated by the Board.

2. OWWA-NLDC LDPO PROJECT

The OWWA had tied up has an existing tie-up with the National Livelihood Development Corporation (NLDC) to come up with implement the Livelihood Development Program for OFWs (LDPO) to provide OFW families access to capital for their entrepreneurial activities.

3. 24/7 OWWA OPERATIONS CENTER

The OWWA maintains a 24/7 Operations Center designed to quickly respond to OFW and public inquiries on OWWA programs and services. Manned by OWWA personnel who work in shifts, the Operations Center provides information and advice as well as facilitative services to OFWs in distress overseas; follow-up requests for assistance; global developments on worker migration; and coordination with OWWA regional welfare offices on OFW concerns.

Source: OWWA

How to Apply for Non-immigrant Visa

ALL APPLICANTS, REGARDLESS OF AGE (excluding those applying for diplomatic visas), ARE REQUIRED TO APPEAR AT THE EMBASSY FOR AN INTERVIEW.

The application procedure for first time nonimmigrant visa applicants and applicants who were previously issued a nonimmigrant visa is the same.

If you are not a first time applicant, you may be eligible for an appointment through the Visa Reissuance Program (VRP).  Please read this information to know if you are qualified.

Minor (unmarried 17 years old and below) nonimmigrant visa applicants are required to appear with at least one parent for the interview. If the minor is an orphan or if both parents are outside of the Philippines, then a legal guardian must be present during the interview.

Application Process

1. Payment of Application Fee
2. Required Documents
3. Schedule an interview
4. Go for the Interview
5. If Issued a Visa

Step 1: Payment of Application Fee

Nonimmigrant visa applicants must pay the machine-readable visa application fee shown on the schedules below.  The fee is based on the purpose of the trip or visa category.

Visa Type	Purpose of Travel	MRV Fee
Non-Petition Based Nonimmigrant Visas (except E)
B-1	For general business purposes e.g. to participate in business meetings, negotiate a contract, to appear in a court trial	US $140
B-1	For personal/domestic employees of B, E, F, H, I, J, L, O, P, and Q visa holders and U.S. citizens temporarily assigned to the United States	US $140
B-2	For general pleasure, visit to friends and relatives, medical treatment, and amateur/unpaid participants in cultural or sports events.	US $140
C-1	People transiting through the U.S.	US $140
C-1/D	Crew members	US $140
F	Students in Academic or Language Programs and Dependents	US $140
I	Journalists and Members of the Media	US $140
J	Exchange Visitors and Dependents	US $140
M	Students in Vocational or other Non-Academic Programs and Dependents	US $140
TD	NAFTA Derivative	US $140
Petition-Based Nonimmigrant Visas
CW-1	Transitional Workers in the CNMI	US $150
CW-2	Dependents of Transitional Workers in the CNMI	US $150
H-1B	Temporary Workers in Specialty Occupation	US $150
H-2A	Temporary or Seasonal Agricultural Workers	US $150
H-2B	Temporary or Seasonal Non-Agricultural Workers	US $150
H-3	Trainees other than medical or academic	US $150
H-4	Dependents of Temporary Workers	US $150
L	Intra-Company Transferees and Dependents	US $150
O	Temporary workers with extraordinary ability	US $150
P	Athletes and Entertainers	US $150
Q	Cultural Exchange Visitors	US $150
R	Religious Workers and Dependents	US $150
Treaty Trader and Treaty Investor Nonimmigrant Visas
E-1	Treaty Traders	US $390
E-2	Treaty Investors	US $390
E-2C	Treaty Investors to the CNMI	US $390

To pay the fee, the applicant must have his or her passport number available.  The applicant’s passport number will be tied to the MRV fee paid at the bank.  The payment will be activated four hours after the time the cash payment was made; 24 hours for on-line payment.    

There are three ways to pay the MRV fee:

1. Pay in cash (prevailing Philippine peso equivalent of the machine-readable visa fee) at any branch of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)
2. Pay through online bill payment option provided by BPI for their customers
3. Online payment through Bancnet

The following individuals and visa classifications are exempt from paying the machine-readable visa application fee:

• Diplomatic (A1, A2)
• Official (G1, G2, G3, G4)
• Personal Employees of A and G visa holders (A3, G5)
• NATO and NATO-7
• Transit to and from the United Nations Headquarters District (C2)
• Transit of Foreign Government Officials and Immediate Family (C3)
• Applicants for J visas participating in official U.S. government-sponsored educational and cultural exchanges
• Replacement machine-readable visa when the original visa was not properly affixed or needs to be reissued through no fault of the applicant.

A fee applies to only one visa classification/application. If an applicant wishes to apply for more than one visa simultaneously, corresponding payment per visa class must be made.

Visa application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. No exceptions will be made to this rule.  It is valid for one year after the date of actual payment; the interview must fall within the one-year validity.

Step 2: Required Documents

All basic documentary requirements must be ready BEFORE an appointment can be made. Additional documents may be required, so please read the information below carefully.

The Nonimmigrant Visa Unit does not accept documents BEFORE the interview except for Treaty Trader (E1) and Treaty Investor (E2) visa applications. Any documents received will not be returned and will be destroyed (except the passport).

Basic Requirements:

1.  DS-160 ONLINE NONIMMIGRANT VISA ELECTRONIC APPLICATION – All applicants must complete the DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application. Applicants can access the DS-160 from the Consular Electronic Application Center website.

In order to avoid delays in processing visa applications, visa applicants or their representatives must ensure that the following information is correctly provided: Applicant’s Complete Name (required format is Surname, First Name(s), Middle Name), Applicant’s Passport Information (the passport used in filling out the form must be the same passport presented on the day of the interview), Other Names (for married female applicants, type your complete maiden name), Purpose of Trip (if the answer falls under “Other,” specify the purpose of travel in the blank provided), Primary Occupation (if the answer falls under “Other,” specify the occupation in the blank provided), Contact Person and Contact Address in the United States, Father’s Complete Name,and Mother’s Complete Maiden Name.

2.  PASSPORT – Signed passports must be valid for at least six monthsfrom the date of intended departure from the United States. The passport must be in good condition, i.e., photo lamination is undamaged, and all passport pages are intact.

Applicants must also present all previously issued passports or notarized affidavits of loss, if applicable.

Taiwanese passport holders who do not have Taiwan personal identification numbers listed above the date of birth on the biographic data page in their passports must present their original Philippine residency permit.

3.  PHOTO

One 2" x 2" standard photo.  The photo must be:

• In color
• Sized such that the head is between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm and 35 mm) or 50% and 69% of the image's total height from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. View the Photo Composition Template for more size requirement details.
• Taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance
• Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
• Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera
• With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open
• Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis
  • Uniforms should not be worn in your photo, except religious clothing that is worn daily.
  • Do not wear a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline, unless worn daily for a religious purpose. Your full face must be visible, and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.
  • Headphones, wireless hands-free devices, or similar items are not acceptable in your photo.
  • If you normally wear glasses (without tinted lenses), a hearing device, or similar articles, they may be worn in your photo.
  • Dark glasses or glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable.
  • Glare on glasses is not acceptable in your photo. Glare can be avoided with a slight downward tilt of the glasses or by removing the glasses or by turning off the camera flash.

Please click here for additional information on photo specifications.

Please ensure that your photo meets the requirements stated above.  Failure to provide the correct photo will delay your visa processing.

4.  EXTENSION OF STAY/CHANGE OF STATUS – Please bring copies of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approvals of extension of stay or change of status, if applicable.

5.  PROOF OF RELATIONSHIP (if applying with/for dependent/s)

• Original marriage certificate printed on Philippine National Statistics Office security paper, if applicable (if applying with a spouse and/or child)
• Original birth certificate printed on Philippine National Statistics Office security paper (for dependent/s)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Additional requirements are based on the visa class that a person is applying for. Please look at the Types of Visas page and view the details for each visa class.

Step 3 : Schedule an Interview

Book an appointment by calling (02) 982-5555 and (02) 902-8930for calls within the Philippines and other countries aside from mainland United States or (214) 571-1600 for calls from mainland United States. The call center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, Manila time, except on U.S. and Philippine holidays. Appointments can also be booked online through http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph.

Five or more applicants applying for the same purpose of travel or visa classification, and will travel on the same date are encouraged to apply together as a group.  To request a Group Appointment, follow the steps in our Group Appointment website.  Examples of groups include but are not limited to sports team, school groups, groups travelling for competitions, and service organizations.  Family members traveling together do not qualify for group appointments.

Applicants who will book an interview online will be asked to create a profile which will be used to access their appointment record and edit applicant information before their interview date.

The call center and the online appointment website can also provide general information about visa application procedures and technical assistance related to scheduling an appointment.

 

 

Step 4: Go for the Interview

All applicants must appear at the Embassy for interview, except government officials traveling on official business and applying for A1, A2, G1, G2, or G4 visas.  Applicants are requested to arrive at the Embassy gate 15 minutes before the time listed on the appointment letter.

Applicants must bring all the basic application requirements including the interview appointment letter, DS-160 confirmation page, valid passport, one 2” x 2” photo, and all prior passports and U.S. visas, if available. It is helpful to bring a government-recognized photo ID (in addition to the passport) to present upon entry.

Embassy personnel are available to provide assistance at each stage.  Applicants who require interpreters must inform the interviewing officer on the day of their interview.  There is no need to bring a relative or a friend to act as an interpreter as the Embassy can provide language assistance when an applicant requests for it.

Important note: American citizens and US Legal Permanent Residents are not allowed to accompany nonimmigrant visa applicants to the interviewing area. 

Step 5: If Issued a visa

A consular officer will inform the applicant at the conclusion of the interview whether he/she qualifies for a U.S. visa.  If a visa is approved, the passport with U.S. visa will be delivered by the courier service at the address provided when the made the appointment.  If the applicant is not present at the time of the delivery of the passport, the applicant must leave an authorization letter to a representative and a government-recognized photo ID for both representative and applicant.  Both the applicant and the representative must sign the authorization letter.

Source: usembassy.gov

How to get a passport

 PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRST-TIME APPLICANTS:

• Personal Appearance is required.

• Duly accomplished application form.

• Birth Certificate (BC) in Security Paper (SECPA) issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) or Certified True Copy (CTC) of BC issued by the Local Civil Registrar duly authenticated by NSO.

• Proof of identity / Supporting documents indicating full name, date and place of birth and citizenship

• Other Supporting documents.

Additional Requirements:

• For married women, who want to use surname of their spouse

• Marriage Contract (MC) in Security Paper issued by NSO or Certified True Copy issued by the Local Civil Registrar duly authenticated by NSO.

• For married women who would like to revert back to their maiden name

If already widowed: Death Certificate of the deceased husband;

• If marriage is annulled: Certified true copy and photocopy of the first page and the dispositive portion of the judgment on annulment and NSO-issued MC with the annotation on the annulment decree;

• If divorced: Certified true copy and photocopy of the first page and the dispositive portion of the judgment on divorce secured by foreign spouse authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate where the divorce is obtained.

For Minors (below 18 years old)

• Personal appearance of either parent (if minor is of legitimate status).

• Personal appearance of mother (if minor is of illegitimate status)

If minor is NOT traveling with either parent:

• Original and photocopy of DSWD Clearance

• Affidavit of Support and Consent

If both parents are abroad:

• Affidavit of support and consent (must be authenticated by the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate General if not executed before a Consul).

• Special Power of Attorney (must be authenticated by the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate General if not executed before a Consul designating the representative by name and authorizing him to apply for a passport on behalf of the minor).

• Passport and photocopy of the passport of the traveling companion of the minor.

• Identification Card and photocopy thereof of the duly authorized person.

For Muslim applicants

• For those whose births were registered:

Please refer to requirements for first time passport applicants.

For those whose births were not registered:

• Late registered Birth Certificate (BC) in Security Paper (SECPA) issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO)

• Original and photocopy of Voter's Affidavit or other supporting documents indicating date and place of birth and citizenship, identity and tribal affiliation.

• Certificate from the Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA)

PASSPORT FEES

Regular Processing (ePass)- P950 (25 working days)

Expedite Processing- P1200 (15 working days)

SOURCE: dfa.gov.ph