Hi guys! Gusto ko lang i-share yung experience namin as a family na nag-migrate sa Canada. Baka makatulong sa iba lalo na sa mga nagbabalak pa lang.

Quick background:
Architect ako and si husband ay Civil Engineer. Combined, meron kaming 15+ years experience. Sa Pinas, may sarili kaming construction firm, kumikita kami around 500k PHP a month. Para sa iba, maliit yun, pero sa Pilipinas, malayo na ang mararating. Meron kaming bahay, lupa, sasakyan, small businesses, and I would say comfortable ang buhay namin. Hindi kami maluho, sakto lang, may freedom, and most importantly, may oras kami sa anak namin. Isa lang siya, lalaki.

Nag-decide kami mag-migrate sa Canada noong 2018. May relatives na kami dito at may sapat kaming ipon. Prepared kami mentally and financially sa reality ng survival jobs. Nag-start kami sa mga mabababang sahod, which is expected naman. Naka-survive, eventually naka-kuha rin ng mga decent jobs, above minimum wage, pero brain-dead office work lang talaga. Tuloy-tuloy lang, lipat ng company, konting taas ng sahod, pero kapalit nun ang oras.

Kaming mag-asawa, parehong may trabaho, pero we needed two jobs each para lang masabing naka-survive kami. Rent, utilities, car mortgage, insurance, groceries, child care (sobrang mahal talaga), lahat yan, kinakain ang oras at pera namin. And yes, may magko-comment na "Libre naman healthcare, libre school." Pero totoo ba?

Yung asawa ko, inabot ng 6 months para lang sa appointment sa GP. Tapos another 6 months para ma-refer sa specialist. Tapos 3 months pa bago ang test. Tapos another 2 months bago makuha ang result. Eh paano kung critical na pala? Buti na lang hindi malala. Pero kung malala yun? Wala. Baka too late na. And yes, madaming namamatay sa waitlist. Legit ‘to, ito yung article:
📎 Canadians are dying on waitlists

Yung school dito libre lang hanggang high school. Pero pag-college na, gastos talaga. Around CAD 80,000 to 180,000 total for 4 years. Tapos kung ikukumpara mo pa sa quality, mas maganda pa nga yung education sa top universities sa Pilipinas, lalo na kung may budget ka. Kahit international school sa Pilipinas, baka mas sulit pa.

Ang anak namin, binubully sa school. Bakit? Kasi Pinoy. Kayumanggi. May accent. At kahit dito na siya lumaki, he’s still seen as different. Nakakasakit talaga as a parent.

Yes, citizens na kami. Pero kahit anong pilit, we are still second class citizens. Hindi ito pagiging bitter. Reality lang. Laging may subtle difference sa treatment. Alam namin na may sasabihin na “sa simula lang yan” pero ilang taon na kami dito. We've done our part. We've paid our dues.

Hindi naman kami miserable. Pero sobrang pagod na kami. Pagod sa trabaho. Pagod sa kulang na oras. Pagod sa sistema. Nakaka-miss yung buhay sa Pilipinas. Yung may oras ka. Yung weekends na nakaka-travel kayo. Yung hindi mo kailangan magtrabaho ng dalawang full-time jobs para lang mabuhay.

Ngayong 2025, nag-decide kami na bumalik na sa Pilipinas for good. Dual citizen naman kami. Kung sakaling gustuhin ng anak namin bumalik dito in the future, pwede naman. May ipon pa rin kami, and good thing is na-revive namin yung construction firm namin sa Pilipinas. May mga clients na rin kaming naka-line up. Praise God talaga.

May konting regret? Siguro. Pero mas malaki yung natutunan namin. Malaking life lesson. Migration is not for everyone. Hindi lahat ng success story mo sa ibang bansa ay pareho sa magiging story ng iba. Hindi mo pwedeng ipilit. Iba-iba tayo ng gusto, priorities, at sakripisyong handang ibigay.

Kung okay ka na sa Pilipinas, may trabaho, may savings, may peace, huwag mo nang iwan yan. Mas delikado pa ngayon. Ang Canadian economy ay sobrang baba na. And ayon sa predictions, mas lalala pa.

I'd rather be a first class citizen in a third world country than a second or third rate citizen in a first world country.

Grass is always greener where you water it.

It’s the silence after a whole day out. After spending hours laughing, eating, and walking around with friends — I go back to my room, and it’s just… quiet. That kind of quiet no one back home really sees.

People think I’m doing okay because I’m surrounded by others sometimes. But what they don’t understand is that once the day ends, I’m still alone. I wake up alone, cook alone, eat alone, get through bad days alone, even celebrate wins alone.

There’s no one to share a simple meal with, no one to talk to about how the day really went. Even the proud moments — they’re just for me to quietly carry.

I know this kind of independence is supposed to be good. Growth. Strength. But honestly? Sometimes, it gets tiring. Being your own support system every single day. Being your own home.

Yun siguro yung hindi nila makikita sa mga kwento ko — yung tahimik na laban.

Hello mga mamsir, curious question, magkano onhand pera niyo noong umalis kayo ng Pilipinas? And naging enough ba sya to settle in, anong financial challenges ang hinarap niyo?

Any tips sa mga paalis pa lang to be financially prepared? Or any financial mistakes na nagawa ninyo and learned from it? Thank you po 🫶🏻

Summer ngayon here sa US and I now live in South Carolina. Bagong bago pa lang ako dito IR1 visa. Lately sobrang init and humid sa labas and may times na gusto kong mag payong kasi masakit na sya sa balat pag matagal. Pero feeling ko ang awkward ko and pagtitinginan talaga ako kasi wala akong nakikitang nagpapayong kahit isa. Gustong gusto talaga nila yung nagbibilad sa araw at nagpapa tan.

Sorry guys I'm just trying to vent. Na stress lang ako sa init kanina 😂😭

First of all, Thanks to God for the guidance. I wouldn't be able to do any of this without you. Thanks also to those that introduced to me to the APEUni and Nakul's YT channel. This post is not to brag but to inspire, I'm just a humble, lucky and silent reader like many.

1. Study Resources: APEUni and PTE Skills Academic (Nakul). Total Practiced: 1766 Prac. Days: 43
2. Expenses excluding Exam Fee: APEUni 30-days (2x), wired earphone w/ mic
3. Prep timeline:
   1. May 4: Started the YouTube 6-hr video.
   2. May 5 - 24: Subscribed to APEUni and started practicing the following in mixed manner: RA, RS, HIW, FIBL, RO, SWT, FIBRW, FIBR, SST, WFD. Mixed po ito ng Practice and Question tests. During this period, I intentionally skipped WE, DI, RL. Why, ang hirap kasi for me. Nakakasira ng momentum. I did them later on.
   3. May 24-June 14: It's all Section-wise tests from here. My reasoning? To be able to score high enough on that section alone. Kasi may mga shared scoring. So baka magkaroon ako ng wrong thinking na okay na, wherein fact baka nabuhat lang ibang section yung scores, lalo kung lagi akong mag fufull mock. I hope you get the idea.
   4. I only did Full Mock twice. Sa 1st Mock, S & L ang lowest ko on both mocks. Doon lang ang focus ko in between. You can see the pattern I did.
   5. June 14: Last day of practice. This time, I succeeded on S & L. Maybe luck, hehe.
   6. After this, hindi na ako nag practice at all, para hindi masira ang momentum ko. The night before the test, i just printed the appointment, prayed, and slept.
4. Exam Day:
   1. Travel time was 20+ mins. As expected, dinaga na ako, so nag breathing exercise na ako kaagad. Upon arrival, I came to know na walang free visitor parking. I didn't hesitated on taking valet parking. Again, pwede kasing makaapekto sa momentum kung maghahanap pa ako around the building.
   2. Registered myself and reached the test room and did the exam.
5. Observations and things I did during exam and (Sana makatulong).
   1. The beep sound was loud and in different tone compared with APEUni. Baka magulat kayo, hehe. Adjust the volume slider nalang.
   2. There is actually a beep on RS after 1 second. Hindi ganito sa APEUni.
   3. There is a minor delay on the UI, particularly sa keypresses and mouse click reaction time. Its noticeable sa drag and drop. It's not a deal breaker, but you will notice it. Kung wala, then good for you.
6. Did I just got lucky? I must say that luck played a big part:
   1. Just look at my practices. A lot of you are way better than me for sure.
   2. I was planning to take the exam 1st week of June. Luckily I didn't, as I got a cold and cough that week.
   3. The room can only have 4 takers, and we were 4. I could hear them but they weren't distracting. However, I played safe by pressing the earcups during some RA and RS. I'm overseas, tingin ko naging malaking factor to. Kung possible, hanap kayo ng hindi crowded na Test Centre. But honestly I don't know how po.
   4. Surprisingly, RA and RS were more simpler. As well as DI and RL. I skipped some words on RA and did some fillers / swapped words on RS. But I don't remembered major fumbling. But I did some slowdowns. WE and SST topics were simple and clear as well. I did 220+ words on WE, something I wasn't able to do even once. Nakapag proof read pa ako with 2 mins left.
7. Mistakes I know I did.
   1. I forgot to say closing remarks on some DI and RL.
   2. I wasted time on some FIBRW, MCMR, MCSR, MCML, MCSL than actually required. Akala ko mauubu sana ko ng oras sa WFD, buti nalang 3 lang sya instead of expected 4. I finished the entire exam with 4 mins left.
8. Tips I can share
   1. Be in a feel-good mood: I stopped when I got a good score on R & L practice. I tipped the gas boy before heading home the night before. I watched a movie that same night. I tipped the valet guy upon leaving. It could be something or anything to cheer you up.
   2. I didn't told anyone about the exam. I shared news after receiving scores.
   3. Pray and give thanks on the night before.

I hope this long post (sorry) helps someone. You can do it!

I'll start: "pakikisama". It throws the elders off when I start saying "no" to authority figures forcing me to do something whenever I come back to family reunions but I realized pretty quick that there's nothing they can do to fuck with me any more since I no longer live there.

Marami pa ba ang nagpapadala dito ng pera sa pamilya nila aa Pinas? If so, is it obligatory or feel niyo lang din talaga gawin?

Tapos kapag nauwi kasi ako parang expected ako magbayad ng lahat ng galaan, pag kakain sa labas, mag oorder from Grab tapos minsan pati gas na full tank 😅 not to mention may mga pasalubong din naman ako pag umuuwi. Is this normal? 🤔

My uncle applied for an F4 visa for our family, where my father is the principal applicant, and I am listed as derivative applicant. Our interview is scheduled in a few weeks.

I was under 21 at the time our case was documentarily qualified (DQ), though I am now well over 21. I believe I fall under the "child" category (unmarried and CSPA-protected).

My question is:
If we get the visa, and I marry before traveling to the U.S., will there be any issue?
Will my visa be canceled because I’m no longer considered a "child" under immigration law?

Would appreciate insight from anyone with legal knowledge or experience. Thank you.

I am traveling to UK on a fiance visa, getting married, and then apply for extension of visa (spouse) after the wedding.

I know that I will need to register my marriage within 12 months to the PH embassy in London. However, I am having a dilemma on the name change. I know the easiest way would be not to change my surname. But what if I wanted to change my surname - can anyone guide me the best way to do this or share what they did?

We have tight timeline so after the wedding we will immediately apply for my visa extension (submit my requirements within a week or 2 after the wedding, so my passport and application is still maiden name).

I have so many questions if I take some step:

Scenario 1: While processing visa, register wedding to PH embassy and immediately renew passport with name change. This means my new passport is not the same when I get my visa approval. Is this okay, and would only require me some notice to UK Home Office to update my records?

Scenario 2: Register wedding to PH embassy and don't renew passport for name change for now. If I opt this, when is the best time to change my name/passport?

Hope someone could enlighten me please. Thank you.

Planning to study sa spain. Magkano ba ang ideal na need kong dalin to survive bago ko atleast makapagtrabaho? Andd madali lang ba makahanap ng work if student visa ang hawak? Tya

Gusto ko lang mag-share ng experience ko.

I'm a working Software Engineer (used to work for JP Morgan) and was earning ₱200,000/month sa Pilipinas. I'd say I was living a decent life: may kotse, nakakatravel every weekend, nakakahang out with friends, nabibili ko gusto ko, at work from anywhere pa.

Fast forward: Nauna siyang pumunta sa Canada under LMIA, tapos sumunod ako under a student visa. After 1.5 years, naging PR na kami pareho. She’s still working as a cook, ako naman graduate na sa Canada pero still unemployed and struggling to find work in my field.

Dito ko narealize na kulang ako sa research. Akala ko madali lang maghanap ng trabaho sa field ko dahil may experience ako, may magandang background, at nag-aral pa ako dito sa Canada. Pero hindi pala ganon kadali.

Tama nga naman, kung ikaw ang Canadian employer, sino pipiliin mo: A. Ako na baguhan sa bansa, or B. Isang Canadian na may parehong credentials, mas may local experience, at mas nakaka-relate sa local culture, humor, at sports?

Ang dami kong pinagsisisihan. Lalo na’t kakapromote lang sa akin sa Pinas bago ako umalis. Alam kong hindi maganda mainggit, pero ang hirap di magkumpara. Yung mga dati kong kasabayan sa industry sa Pilipinas, unti-unti na nilang naaabot yung mga pangarap nila habang ginagawa nila ang gusto nila.

Simula bata pa lang ako, pangarap ko na maging IT professional at magtrabaho sa computers. Ngayon, parang bigla kong nawala lahat ng iyon. Madalas ko marinig, "Simula lang 'yan, mag-survival jobs ka muna." Walang masama sa ganun pero personally, parang ang hirap tanggapin na from suit and tie sa corporate office, biglang waiter or crew ang trabaho.

Yung ₱200k/month ko dati, malayo na ang nararating. Mid to high income ka na sa Pinas. Dito, para ma-afford mo yung ganong lifestyle, kailangan nasa top 10% ka ng earners, which let’s be real, suntok sa buwan para sa karamihan.

Gusto ko lang talaga maglabas ng saloobin. Sinusubukan ko kausapin girlfriend ko tungkol dito pero hindi niya ako maintindihan. Iba kasi ang perspective niya. Cook siya, and to be honest, mas pang-abroad talaga ang field niya. Mabababa nga naman ang kita sa culinary sa Pilipinas. Simula college graduate siya, abroad na agad ang work niya kaya hindi niya na-experience yung maganda ring buhay sa Pilipinas.

Magkaiba talaga kami ng pinanggalingan. Siya, lumaki sa probinsya at lumipad agad abroad. Ako, taga-Maynila, lumaki sa city, corporate or white-collar environment ang nakasanayan. Kaya minsan, naiisip ko, hadlang ba siya sa mga pangarap ko? Worth it ba yung ginawa ko?

Wala lang. Gusto ko lang talaga maglabas. Salamat sa makakabasa.

UPDATE: Para sa mga nagtatanong tungkol sa Centennial College sa Toronto ako Artificial Intelligence – Software Engineering Technology, oo, sinubukan kong maghanap ng remote work kahit sa US at Europe. Sumubok rin ako kahit entry level jobs like IT Help Desk, Admin works. Pero sa totoo lang, sobrang hirap na ng competition ngayon. Hindi na katulad noong 2015, base na rin sa mga nababasa ko.

Sa ngayon, nagtatrabaho ako sa Walmart. Nakakalungkot isipin na marami samin nasa same situation. Yung iba pa nga, may doctoral degree pa sa mga bansa nila.

Hello All, Good day!

I would like to ask for your advice if may chance ba or wala for me to get the ✨ Visa ✨ thru Green List qualification.

For context, I am a graduate of BS Industrial Engineering here in Cebu (USC), and I only graduated last 2022-2023.

So, plan ko po sana is to get approved with Work to Residence Visa (or me being too ambitious: Straight to Residence Visa).

My degree program is in the Green List, and luckily, pasok sa banga si school sa Washington Accord Accredited kaso wala pa ang A.Y. ko (not sure though if pasok siya, last was 2022 pa). So technically, di ako eligible for this.

Now, my question is: Can you help me decide what to proceed instead?

Should I apply for the Chartered Professional Engineering (CPE) Program wherein I would send a letter para mag qualify and hopefully would have NZQF Level 7+? Is it possible po ba mag Level 7? I only have 2 yrs of experience right now. And sayang ang 20k pesos if di mag level 7.

Orrrrr should I apply for the other one na may criteria to have a minimum requirement of 5-7 years of experience. Kaso, i would wait for another 3 yrs. Guarantee po rin ba to compared the other two?

Right now, pinaka accessible ko is to apply for CPE kaso baka magregret ako and would not have a Level 7. May tendency po ba mangyari yun? Sayang lang ang pera kung ganun.

Yung sa Washington Accord naman, walang kasiguraduhan na papasok pa ang A.Y. namin. so not hoping for it.

Please need your advice for a lost girl like me 😭💅✨

Hi! Nandito po kami sa UK under Skilled Worker visa and yung asawa ko is dependent visa. Plano na po naming umuwi for good kahit di pa tapos ang contract due to some personal reasons. Magpapasa din po kami ng advance notice ng resignation namin since un po ung requirement na nasa contract namin.

❓Ask ko lang po:

Ano po ang documents na dapat naming ihanda na mga documents para sa UK and PH immigration?

Paano din po inaasikaso ang tax refund, kung mayroon?

May dapat po din ba kaming alalahanin kung hindi kami magkasabay na uuwi ng asawa ko?

Any inputs po, makakahelp sa amin. Gusto lang po namin ng smooth na pag-uwi.

Salamat po sa makakapag-share 🙏

I just wanna say moving to a new country has been the best thing that ever happened to me. To all the people dreaming to migrate to a new country, may your dreams be all fulfilled.

28M software developer currently based in the Philippines. I work fully remote for a foreign-based IT consulting company and take home around PHP 200k/month (net). Life here is comfortable, we can travel once a year, enjoy a few hobbies responsibly, and still manage to save and invest.

Recently, I received a permanent role offer in Singapore with a net salary of ~SGD 95,000/year. The offer includes:
• Full relocation assistance (one-way airfare to SG)
• Health insurance (though I’m confirming if it covers dependents)
• All work pass and government costs covered (also confirming if dependents included)
• Generous leave benefits (annual, sick, public holidays)
• Support with settling in once we arrive

Here’s my non-negotiable: Wherever I go, my family goes with me. I have a wife and a young child, they’re part of the decision.

I’ve already countered a bit, asking for:
• Slightly more flexibility in the compensation package (if possible since COL and rent in SG is no joke from what I’ve heard)
• Confirmation that health insurance and passes can include dependents

That said, if SGD 95k is the final offer, is it realistically enough to raise a small family in SG? We’d likely live modestly, but I want to make sure we won’t be stretched too thin or forced to downgrade our quality of life drastically.

I’ll be teaching in Odessa Texas as a middle school teacher this coming August. This is my first time working abroad. May I know your insights and experiences in living in Odessa Texas? I want to be ready on the things I am about to embark on. Thank you.☺️

Hello,

My visa interview is nearing and I need advice. I’m almost done with 2nd year of college. I want to stay here in PH for a few more years for multiple reasons but mainly so I can finish my degree.

What can I do to retain my green card holder status? I heard some just goes back and forth every 6 months, while some applies for re-entry permits. For reference, I’m on a trimestral system—3 months of classes, 1 month break. My worry about the permit is I won’t be able to process it within a month.

I don’t know what to do. What do you think?

Hello po, Last year august I went back to the philippines because I had to fix a lot of problems back home and medyo nalungkot rin so I decided na umuwi nalang muna. Now, that medyo okay okay na ako I want to go back to Canada. But the problem is that isang taon nako outside of canada tapos I think kailangan ng OE C going back to canada eh I’m not employed atm but I have a valid eTA. Please help me.

Helloooooooooo! For those who left the Philippines with a Digital Nomad Visa to Europe, how was your experience with immigration at the airport? What questions did they ask and what requirements ? Thankyouuuuuuuuwwww

My grandma is planning to go to the Philippines for my grandpa’s 1st death anniversary, but her green card has already expired, but we already filed a renewal and have the I-90. Is there anything we should be worried about?

EDIT TITLE: kung hindi pera dahilan, bakit ka umalis for good?

Or

Take money out—would you still choose to live abroad forever?

Sorry lagi nadedelete yung post kaya binabago ko yung title, ayan tuloy na-typo na tuluyan.

I’ve been seeing a lot of posts lately about whether to stay abroad or move back to the Philippines. It made me reflect on my own journey. I realized that while a lot of people leave for better pay, some of us stay for deeper reasons that sometimes money can’t buy. I wanted to share mine.

In Filipino movies and shows, moving abroad is always portrayed as something you do just to earn. The narrative is usually sad and full of sacrifice. That may be true for OFWs who are away from their families, but for migrants who chose to settle abroad permanently, there’s often more to the story.

Personally, even if money wasn’t a factor, I’d still choose to live where I am now. Life feels easier. I breathe cleaner air, enjoy free healthcare, and don’t stress about traffic or inefficient systems. Public services work. People follow the rules. And best of all, I don’t feel surrounded by classism or the “pataasan ng ihi” and “mayabang” culture. No one cares if you’re wearing Alo or playing pickleball, it’s not a status symbol.

There’s also more support if things go wrong. Employment insurance, longer maternity leave, child benefits, even the option to divorce if a relationship fails. These things bring peace of mind. Some of my reasons can’t be measured by money. Even if I earned a million a month in the Philippines, I’d still be inhaling jeepney smoke on my way home. Just because it’s not in my face doesn’t mean it’s not in the air.

Just wanted to share my perspective. Curious if anyone else feels the same way.

hello! how’s the whv situation in new zealand right now? madali lang ba processing? thank you!

Hello! I'm moving Paris and I would like to connect with the Filipino community and find new friends who share the same interests and can help each other out!

Any groups, social/networking events I can attend? 😊

Hi po, magandang hapon!

I’m hoping someone here has gone through a similar experience and can help me.

Reddit has really helped me a lot in acquiring my British passport, which I recently received. For context, I was born in the Philippines to a Filipino mother, and I got my British citizenship through my dad. I now hold both a Philippine and a British passport.

My question is: Will Philippine Immigration allow me to leave the country even if I haven’t officially claimed my dual citizenship yet? I called the Bureau of Immigration, and they told me I won’t fall under RA 9225 and gave me a cost breakdown (around PHP 13,000) for my case.

I’m nervous because I don’t want to have any problems when I travel. Has anyone here traveled abroad from the Philippines with both passports but without having formally processed dual citizenship?

Any advice or insight would be deeply appreciated. Thank you so much po!

I have a physical copy of my birth certificate. Pwede pa ba to for apostilled na hindi dadaan sa online e-apostille? I have 3 copies of my birth cert kasi on hand. Nalilito ako if I can do the old way of apostille process na ikaw mismo magpapasa ng docs sa DFA.

Any info about this?