Open work permit holder wants to go back home for a vacation but no employer

[sheris14]

Hi I am an open work permit holder planning to go back home for a 2 month vacation. re-entry permit was approved. i found out that i have to get an OEC in the Phippines and one requirement is to have a certificate of employment and i dont have an employer right now. I am a stay at home mom with two kids. Any advice? please.......

 

[SenoritaBella]

Check with the CIC call center. It is certainly a risk, since without an employment letter there really is no basis for you to be allowed into Canada. I recall one guy(from India) in the CEC section applied for a TRV without an employment letter and was rejected, except they sent his passport to the border people on the West coast since he lived there. Not sure what happened after.

If I were you, I would try to get a job now which can enable you apply and obtain a temporary resident visa before you travel.

 

[Leon]

You definitely need to have a valid TRV in order to be able to return but the OEC seems to be a Filipino requirement to allow you to leave the Philippines in the first place. I am not sure why a country would try to restrict its own people from leaving if they want to. Would you be allowed to travel from the Philippines to say Hong Kong without an OEC? Then from Hong Kong to Canada?

 

[ragluf]

You definitely need to have a valid TRV in order to be able to return but the OEC seems to be a Filipino requirement to allow you to leave the Philippines in the first place. I am not sure why a country would try to restrict its own people from leaving if they want to. Would you be allowed to travel from the Philippines to say Hong Kong without an OEC? Then from Hong Kong to Canada?

@ Leon,
Aiming to clarify what the OEC is - it has been a source of much confusion. FYI the OEC is an exit requirement for temporary foreign workers from the Philippines - it is not a blanket restriction on citizens travelling or exiting the country. Its origins are is borne out of the 'labor-export' policies of the PH government since the '70's oil-boom in the Middle East due to mass hiring by employment agencies. It is a part of policy and regulations intended to protect TFWs, as they are still citizens of the PH; workers insurance, health and social insurance are part of benefits under these programs.

Although the intent has been muddled since then, and has become an impediment to direct hires, and sad to say, the administration of the program has fallen to a sad state in these times, still the OEC is part of exit regulations for workers exiting the country. There are exceptions to these regulations though.

Also, the transit of workers or those holding worker visas via non-visa or visa-exempt ports (i.e. HK, Bangkok, Jakarta, KL or any ASEAN port) enroute to the final destination has already been under the watch of Immigration officials in the PH. Should the PH traveller , with a worker visa, not satisfy the immigration officer of the intent of exiting the country, or should there be an inkling of intent to circumvent the exit regulations of the PH for workers, then immigration officials may hold departure of the traveller and obtain more information.

@ sheris14 - please clarify if this is a spousal open work permit, if this is you will not need an OEC. I am assuming this is an SOWP based on your description of being a stay-at-home mom.

/all the best ....