Things to Consider before Deciding to Migrate

Migrating to other countries has been one of the most sought-after options among Filipino families in search of what is referred to as the “greener pasture.”  Many Filipinos are understandably lured to the idea because of the fact that life has become more difficult these days in the Philippines, while countries like Canada, New Zealand, and Australia offer promising opportunities.

According to a news release from the United Nations, migration could be beneficial both to the country of origin and the country of destination if it will be “supported by the right policies.” Take, for example, the Australian society and economy. In a research report by the Productivity Commission found in the Australian immigration’s website, it has been discovered that migration has influenced significantly the society and economy of Australia. The report says the monetary benefit of migration comes from the tax revenues they produce.  Migration has also brought about a “brain gain” in Australia.

If both countries benefit from the phenomenon of international migration, most immigrants have reaped the rewards of the move. Such is Don Espiritu’s experience as an immigrant in Australia. Espiritu used to live in Valenzuela and Marikina and worked as a video, graphics and sound editor in GMA7 before his successful move to Australia with his family. “We migrated here in Melbourne, Australia in 2006 after four years of being married. We initially applied for immigration in Canada because we have a close aunt there but Australia offered a much better and quicker visa option, aside from the fact that we have relatives who strongly encouraged us to move to Australia. The first choice would be to live permanently in California because my wife's family is in the US but the two-decade waiting period was unimaginable, plus there were limited visa options available.”

Espiritu explains how they started their immigration application, and the challenges that went along with the process: “We applied for an immigration visa in Canada but it took six years for them to give their initial response, so while our application was pending at the Canadian Embassy, we applied for an immigration visa in Australia as skilled workers.” He shares that, while the Canadian embassy took long, Australia had already granted them the visas in less than nine months. “When the Canadian embassy sent a response, we were already in Melbourne with our five-month old baby.”

 

Click here to read more about migration as an option for families and points to consider.

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Read on to learn more about migration as an option for families and points to consider.

 

“Expensive is relative,” says Espiritu, when asked if the application and the entire process ripped off their savings. “It depends on how much money you earn and how much money you have saved and are willing to shell out. Every visa immigration application can cost anyone an arm and a leg, so to speak, but we were surprised at how we were able to pool our funds to pay for the application. We were earning average income and we were not wealthy enough to afford all the expenses. Luckily, too, there were some fees that we were not required to pay all at once, but we had to sell practically anything we could, from books to cars upon receipt of our visas,” he elaborates.

Nevertheless, migration has served Espiritu’s family well. “Again, it depends on the perspective of the person. For us, it's worth it because we opened our minds to all the possibilities of living overseas. The moment we arrived on this foreign land, we set no expectations except to go with the flow and make things better. Migrating per se is not always worth it and it's not for everyone. A lot of factors need to be considered,” he clarifies.

So what are the benefits they have been enjoying in the new land? “When my baby is not feeling well, I can always excuse myself from work. No questions asked. When my wife gave birth, we did not pay for any hospital fees. All these have been very helpful because our focus is on the family,” Espiritu says.
Of course, migration has its downsides as well.  Like many others, Espiritu and his family were not spared from the challenges of being a migrant, but things could have been a lot worse. “I guess the disadvantages vary per country. In our case, the only challenge living in Australia, being a First World country, is that the knowledge and skills we earned from the Philippines is hardly recognized because of the high standards of education and work qualification here.  We had to complete further studies and training in order to be at par with their standards.” He points out: “Other than that, all the other challenges would depend on the person itself and how one views migration.  What helped us become successful in migrating when we stopped comparing the life we've had with the life we're having overseas.”

With his successful story of migration, Espiritu expresses his fondness of and gratitude to where he’s at now: “We love Melbourne and love every minute we are here. We are lucky to have been chosen to be here because our objective is to start a family and this country is extremely family-oriented. We are pretty satisfied with what we have achieved in our careers. We were not asking for anything else except to start a family and Australia has been a great venue to begin a new life, at least for us.” At present, Espiritu works part-time in the health care industry in Melbourne.

 

Click here to read on about migrating to Canada, Australia or New Zealand.

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Read on to learn more about migrating to Canada, Australia or New Zealand.

Such stories of success and hope are indeed very encouraging.  If you feel that you are ready to face the ups and downs of a life in another country, see which one fits you:


Is Canada Calling You?
If you want to migrate to Canada, there are several categories in which you can initially assess yourself, such as the following: Skilled Workers and Professionals; Quebec-selected Skilled Workers; Canadian Experience Class; Investors, Entrepreneurs and Self-Employed People; Provincial nominees; and Sponsoring Your Family. From here on, you can check if you are eligible to the specific category you’re applying for. To get to know more about these categories, how to apply, and see if your qualifications fit, you may check out more details at www.cic.gc.ca.


The Allure of Australia
Australia offers different migration options for professionals, skilled workers or family members of citizens. Under the family members category, parents, children, fiancés, partners, and other members of the family of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or even eligible New Zealand citizens may apply. However, according to the Australian immigration website, there are a few visa classes under the family categories that are subject to being queued or capped which would mean longer waiting periods. This happens when a particular visa category has reached its maximum number of visas to be released in a year. In effect, your visa application for that specific category will only be taken into consideration the following year. To know more how you can apply for migrant status in Australia, you may visit www.immi.gov.au.


New Zealand, New Life
Similar to Canada and Australia, New Zealand also offers migration options through the skilled, business and family categories. Each main category has sub-categories where you can streamline your chances of becoming a migrant in New Zealand. For more information, you may check out www.immigration.govt.nz.

However, the rise in migration possibilities has also brought about a rise in fraud agencies offering migration assistance and services.  Be on guard. Here are some things you should watch out for when dealing with these agencies:
•    Do a background check. Make sure the immigration agency is registered as a legal provider in the Philippines and/or in the country of your destination. Get in touch with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration for migrant workers and verify the agency’s status.  
•    They should have an official office address and phone number in their website, and P.O. boxes do not count. Again, do a background check.
•    The immigration agency should be able to issue official receipts for any payments that you make, upfront.  If the supposed immigration agency requires your credit card details upon registering in their website without presenting to you a clear picture of the entire process of fixing your legal papers, don’t take chances.
•    Ask around.  If they require fees that are extremely high, think twice and double check the legality of their services first.

Although there are trusted agencies offering immigration services that may assist you in the course of your application, the safest way to verify is to inquire from the embassy of your destination and begin from there. These embassies have complete information on the application process, accredited agencies and even migration fraud.

Migration is a wonderful option to fulfill your dreams.  As with anything, being armed with information and determination to make it work will help you face the challenges that may go with it.


Photo from sxc.hu