SOON, THEY’RE NO LONGER WORKERS
Some Filipinos went to South Korea to earn a living. Now they may have a chance to build one there.
MWO-Owwa welcomes 139 Filipino workers to South Korea as the Philippine Embassy helps those already employed there explore ways to stay longer and eventually settle permanently.
Photograph courtesy of DMW
Filipino workers in South Korea are being shown how they could turn temporary jobs into a chance to live there permanently.
The Philippine Embassy in Seoul held a seminar on 11 October to explain how Filipinos with E-9 work visas can apply for other types of visas that allow them to stay longer and, eventually, seek permanent residency.
E-9 visas are commonly issued to foreigners working in South Korean factories, farms and other industries. They allow workers to stay for a limited period, subject to immigration rules.
One possible route is the E-7-4 visa, intended for qualified skilled workers.
Applicants must meet requirements that include work experience and other qualifications assessed under a points system.
Getting that visa does not automatically make someone a permanent resident. Additional immigration requirements must be met.
The seminar also introduced workers to South Korea’s Immigration and Integration Program, which offers lessons in Korean language and society. Completing the program can help applicants meet certain immigration requirements.
The event was organized by the Philippine Embassy’s Migrant Workers Office and Owwa Korea, together with the Itaewon Global Village Center.
Filipino workers attended in person and online, while volunteers helped participants register for the integration program.
The embassy has held similar seminars in previous years, reflecting continued interest among Filipino workers in extending their stay legally.
For those who qualify, the process offers something beyond another employment contract: the possibility of settling in the country where they have spent years earning a living.
But approval is not guaranteed, and the embassy has not disclosed how many Filipinos have successfully obtained permanent residency through these routes.