International Student Advisors 4U

World Philippines

Published

beware!

- a college friend of mine is studying in GCU. She said they go to the university once a month. oh, the cost!! What if you've got a placement that's far from Scotland (coz that's where GCU is)? You will incur big travel expenses.

I am going to ask ISA about that placement... I am also thinking of backing out. Thanks for replying. So are you still there in the UK? what degree did you took btw? Isn't that after 2-years of studying you are given a chance to apply for a Tier-1 scheme or a working visa which is also good for another 2-years? That's what ISA is offering right? your reply would be much helpful. thanks

To all those who are planning to apply with ISA beware of this agency.They are very good in promises which are not all true. I have a friend who already had a visa but until now they are still here because according to a reliable source from a student already in the UK which is also a student from T&L , ISA did not pay the tuition fee of all students who was enrolled on that school.The school will not issue extension letter because on not paying the fees.

ISA will ask you to pay this amount and promise you that the CAS will be issued immediately,but that is there tactic to collect more money for them to cover up their outstanding debt with the other schools.I have also a friend who told me that she is still making a follow up regarding her deployment date but the agency are not allowing them to enter the premises and take note the Manager Mr.Peter Sy and the rest of Deployment staff are stupid,they are insensitive.Yes,they deployed applicants but they have to do this especially if the students belongs to a university because if not, they will pay another amount of tuition fee.I been there many times in their office and I observed that old staff are no longer working there.Maybe they cannot take what the company is doing to their applicants.WHAT A SHAME..BIG LIAR.. Imagine they usually conduct provincial orientation because applicants from the province dont know about their reputation.For those who are still processing their applications think ten times if you continue. Collections Dept. are very rude.Money,money for the payment of personal debt and extravagant lifestyle of their bosses. BEWARE..

guys, i'm new here... i came across this thread due to the fact that i am one of those people who'd rather earn money (regardless being a carer which to me is not degrading at all since they are part of the health care sector) than to wait for opportunities here in the philippines which we all know is non-existent...

a month ago i attended at a job fair and got introduced to the idea of working overseas... there were offers in other countries as well such as canada, australia, uae and the uk... the most attractive program for me was the uk program.. so i went and grabbed all flyers from every agency that was present there...

the following day, i went to seven of these agencies... after hearing what they had to say about the program, i noticed some consistencies in their offers...

the BSc International Nursing Program (this ha nothing to do with the NVQ program)

-we will be enrolled in a Uk university (as it is part of the requirement for the issuance of the CAS which is equivalent to 30 pts via point based sytem for a uk visa)

-show money of 500k as of september 2010 (this is equivalent to 10 points which will complete the 40 pt requirement for the point based system)

-as a student, there is a 17.5 hours per week during term time PAID OJT

-as a student, you are allowed to work extra for a maximum of 20 hours per week (which totals to 37.5 working hours per week during term time which is about 30 weeks a year)

-unlimited working hours during off-term time (about 22 weeks a year)

- the placement is provided meaning everything from the house youll be staying to the jobs you will be doing is already taken cared of prior to departure from the philippines (you have the liberty to confirm everything in the UK by calling them directly)

- although they compute the prospective income youll be getting through the minimum wage 5.8pounds (which they claim is about 90-120kpeso/month) you will actually get paid higher than the minimum wage which is 7-8 pounds depending on your workplace

- the areas they deploy their students are strategically chosen to be far from london so that the cost of living wont be as expensive

these are some of the commongrounds these agencies have although there are variations in their packages...

now to me this is an attractive offer since ive been an RN for almost a year now... complete with all the necessary trainings in fact i have undergone spacialized traingings to have an edge so that my resume would look more impressive compared to the rest of the nurses here.... the problem is i live in metro manila and there is indeed shortage of vacancies for nurses.. you even have to pay as much as 6-10k in PUBLIC hospitals to gain entry as a volunteer.. now this to me is abuse to us nurses.... this is more degrading to me than to work as a carer in the UK... at least there, eventhough i wont be getting the experience as a nurse... at least i get paid waaaayyy better.... and to me that's not such a bad thing considering the financial situation of any country today.... the fact that my parents suppoted me for 4 years taking up nursing, i cannot subject them to any more expenditures such as asking money to gain entry for volunteer work and allowances during the volunteer work... thats too much... and im saying this because as an adult theyd expect much from me.. considering that in my case money is not a problem at all... but it would be shameful on my part if as an adult i still depended on my parents...

ive already convinced my parents ta back me up financially for my application.... the agency i chose to apply with is student connect which is the partner of job connections in UK.... because of the things ive read here about ISA i decided not to pursue them...

of course ive had hesitations... you will always have that thought, the what if??? the doubts.... since the amount of money involved here is no joke..thats why i went through these forums to enlighten me and help me decide...

now since going through these forums did not actually give me answeres but only gave me more questions to daunt me....

since we are all filipinos here, let us all help one another... what phases me is out of the many thousands who have already joined the program.. none has come out happy.... and all the testimonials these agencies posted on their sites are about how fast the visa issuance was.. and nothing about successful a nd content applicants....

giys if you know someone who is already in the uk thriugh this earn while you learn program can you please pm me.. ill try to contack them and try to squeeze info from them... im doing my best to investigate....

on of my plans is that ill try to write to the schools they claim theyre partners with, check the british embassy, and maybe even calls the schools there in the uk... i am 90 percent willing to accept the program but 10 percent hesitant....

we have already confirmed their registratuion through the SEC.. but i know thats not enough... im really willing to do this than to wait here for nothing... but i have to be sure... hope u guys could help me because im already starting my application though i have not put out cash yet....

anybody know anythimg about sudent coonect pls pls pls pm me....

bless us all..

@cozyguard can u pm me pls... i am considering applying at study connect.... i hope we cud communicate because i am curious with what happened to your frend... is he satisfied with her situation in the uk??? is it all worth it... i wud reallylike to know more since im thinking of applying for the uk.... tnx

my friend works for ISA. We attended their orientation and its all **. I personally am not willing to put out such amount just to get a job. Uk is low on employment now. Its your money anyway. Do the math first, you will earn 90-120k pesos a month. How much will you pay for apartment? Food? Water? Electricity? Internet? Transportation? and finally TAXES(income tax, council tax, value added tax, excise duties, motor tax, national insurance, etc...) How much do you think will be left for you?

my friend works for ISA. We attended their orientation and its all **. I personally am not willing to put out such amount just to get a job. Uk is low on employment now. Its your money anyway. Do the math first, you will earn 90-120k pesos a month. How much will you pay for apartment? Food? Water? Electricity? Internet? Transportation? and finally TAXES(income tax, council tax, value added tax, excise duties, motor tax, national insurance, etc...) How much do you think will be left for you?

Lol. How true. I also went to their orientation and I find it too good to be true. A load of **. Thanks but no thanks! I'd rather do hard work without spending huge amount of money from my parents' pockets. The money one spends as a volunteer is far less than what one would've spent here.

@urgexxx69..PM for all your queries..

anyway i'm under ISA with that course of international nursing..which is actually useless..your going to do essay's of thousand words and it's not that easy to pass..even if you finish that course you wont work as a nurse..it's also very expensive to go to university days cause we have to stay in a lodge for a week..the promise of post study work is not guaranteed too..you will be the one to work it out not ISA..and of course you have to pay for it..2k pounds i think..

it's not the work that matters..but the cost of living even if you budget all your expenses it's still not enough..that 100-120k pesos salary a month is too good to be true..accomodation,transportation and food is very expensive here..it's better if you have experience and pass your IELTS..apply as a nurse and you will enjoy your life here and still be able to send money back home..

if you will spend 500k or more for a student visa, i tell you it's a waste of money..with that two years you won't be able to pay your debts..you will go home with no savings..it's a shame but that's the real situation here..

and for your info..watch the news on inquirer.net,people from such agencies were detained as of yesterday..

thank you for the info.... very helpful for us friends... 3 people have already given me negative comments about the program.... my professor who went there under ISA just emailed me today that ISA is indeed giving them a hard time... ill continue my research and ill post new infos here....

im on visa processing and im about to leave last sept.11 for the GCU's opening of class by sept.13.. my visa is still w/ UK embassy with reason idk. w/ all thepost about ISA's unprofessionality, i really agree w/ that. they are good in asking for payment and after getting what they want, they will let you not know what to do next unless u call to their office. btw, im referring to ISA in Makati,Philippines.

anyways, im still hoping that i'll have my visa released because i found out two days ago that the assessors of ISA where detained @ crame. reasons and speculations still unknown. i hope someone here knows why and what will happen to us,applicants as well as those who just left last sept.11? because the money we released is not a joke. its much to be wasted because of unprofessionalism of this staff and the company.

i hope someone will inform me abt the whole scenario of ISA today

Oh, that's just sad. I feel bad for those who got duped and shelled hundreds of the thousands of pesos for this lot of thieves (if they are indeed proven guilty) :(

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Glad something has started to be done about these people that take advantage of others

+ Add a Comment