International Student Advisors 4U

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beware!

Ladygie24 - it takes 4-6 weeks..as long as you have all the documents/requirements you need and the money paid..then you will be sent to the visa submission..but make it 2 months..at least..me and my cousin applied with ISA last march, however we took sooooooo much time with the documents and payment..delayed everything..until after summer vacation..we passed our documents for visa processing last august 6 and received our approved visa..=)

yaniii -- how long did it take for you to get your visa? I mean, after you went to the embassy and submitted your requirements.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

5cats, Silverdragon and others___ i thank you for your warnings and word of caution. But I've thought it through and found that there's no better alternative.

I can understand what you are saying but feel that it will work against you as you will not be gaining RN experience. Why not think of Australia or Canada where you can go as a RN even if you have to do some sort of course at least the end result is working as a RN. Immigration to the UK is getting harder and harder especially at the moment when the economic climate is tough with many many UK residents out of work. People do not realise how expensive it can be living in the UK. Public transport doesn't always work at the time you want it to work. Running a car isn't cheap, relying on taxis is expensive plus other bills to take into account

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yaniii -- how long did it take for you to get your visa? I mean, after you went to the embassy and submitted your requirements.

ladygie24 - we submitted aug.6 then received our passports with visas last aug.18..less than 2 weeks..

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Specializes in intensive care, recovery, anesthetics.

Just to add, you cannot convert pounds into pesos, that gives you a completely wrong picture. Why do you think is everybody who can, working working overtime in the UK? Certainly not for fun, as a so called student, you are not allowed to work that much.

Plus, why haven't we heard from anybody who's actually done it and posted here before? No happy posts, like yeah I've done it, it's so cool, or whatever.

Same btw with other posters who happily announced their move to Canada, and then bang, nothing heard of anymore. Don't you think there's a reason for that?

5cats

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Just to add, you cannot convert pounds into pesos, that gives you a completely wrong picture. Why do you think is everybody who can, working working overtime in the UK? Certainly not for fun, as a so called student, you are not allowed to work that much.

Plus, why haven't we heard from anybody who's actually done it and posted here before? No happy posts, like yeah I've done it, it's so cool, or whatever.

Same btw with other posters who happily announced their move to Canada, and then bang, nothing heard of anymore. Don't you think there's a reason for that?

5cats

I'm concerned about this too. I mean, this program has been going on for quite some time, right? Why hasn't anyone who's already in the UK through this program share with us the good news..

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ladygie24 - we submitted aug.6 then received our passports with visas last aug.18..less than 2 weeks..

--wow that's fast ^^ i hope mine will take as long as yours.. Btw, are you in UK now?

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Silverdragon102 - i've set my sights in Australia too :) maybe iL go there after 2-3 years of being in UK. Just that Australia will change its system by early next year. I dont want to be sandwiched in the middle. Besides, the entire process of going there takes quite some time, some even taking 2 years. So i thought, instead of being idle while waiting, why not go to UK and work? At least, iL be able to gain valuable experience (though it may not be counted. But sad to say, volunteering here in the Phils. doesn't also count as work experience) and confidence as I am a newly grad nurse.

I don't intend to migrate to UK. I just want the exposure and the learning environment. ;)

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Each one is entitled to his or her opinion about this matter, for some people going via this route will help them in their future endeavors and be able to help their families and earn a decent living not as nurses but carers! however, for others it's just a waste of time and money because its just a scheme to make money and have cheap labor from desperate nurses who badly need jobs here in the Philippines.

With due respect 5cats and badbach, you seem like you have a better plan for some nurses here taking this student visa route.you sound like everyone that are into to this student-visa scheme are a bunch of idiots who do not know anything.I know friends who are already there and each one of them has their own stories to tell good and bad, yes its true that it is expensive and you really cannot earn alot from being a student but its a case to case basis! there are also things to consider like opportunities that would open up for you rather than being here in the Philippines or some may have relatives living there who would gladly help you out..It's a matter of DISKARTE on how you would deal with things when your're there.if your not good with this,then let it be, dont impose on others that its not a good idea,if you dont have anything good to offer them.:wink2: all the best to all! peace out!

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5cats -- has there been anyone in this forum who actually applied with ISA and worked in UK? Probably the reason why there are no happy posters saying its cool or what, is because there is none. A friend of mine as a batch-mate who went there last January and she said that the NHS is a good learning experience. You can pay back all your debts in less than a year. That is to say, that NHS pays more than nursing care homes although you cannot work overtime. I've calculated my probable earnings and expenses, and i think i would survive there. Anyways, it just depends on our lifestyle. We Filipinos are very much resourceful that we can easily adapt to different environments. If others can do it, why can't i?

Silverdragon -- as for the transportation, there is no need since its either we'll live within the NHS premises (they have a place where their employees live) or in an apartment just a walking distance from the hospital. :)

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
5cats -- has there been anyone in this forum who actually applied with ISA and worked in UK? Probably the reason why there are no happy posters saying its cool or what, is because there is none. A friend of mine as a batch-mate who went there last January and she said that the NHS is a good learning experience. You can pay back all your debts in less than a year. That is to say, that NHS pays more than nursing care homes although you cannot work overtime. I've calculated my probable earnings and expenses, and i think i would survive there. Anyways, it just depends on our lifestyle. We Filipinos are very much resourceful that we can easily adapt to different environments. If others can do it, why can't i?

Silverdragon -- as for the transportation, there is no need since its either we'll live within the NHS premises (they have a place where their employees live) or in an apartment just a walking distance from the hospital. :)

Believe me transportation will be required and it will not be cheap. I also find it hard to believe that many hospitals these days have accommodation as the hospitals I used to work in stopped providing for anyone less than a doctor. Students etc had to find alternative accommodation. How are you working for the NHS?

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24 Aug. 2009

I am a nurse, graduated from one of the nursing schools in the Philippines. I am enrolled in UK's NVQ in Health & Social Care level 3 but I am presently in Canada for a vacation. I am just staying home today so had time to "play around" with my computer and came around this interesting forum. Please allow me to give you first hand experience:

I am a registered nurse in the Philippines;have a family - one child. I couldn't find any nursing job in the Philippines even if I was willing to go on volunteer without pay ( as Filipino nurses know, we even have to pay the hospital just to be taken in as volunteer !). I failed in my many attempts. Only available job it seems, is the call center. Then I heard of this NVQ program. So, I decided to take this opportunity.

What is life here in the UK? - it is hard work but the money that I send to my family back home compensates for all the hardship. Take note that in order for you to have savings to send home, you must go into extra jobs (baby sitting, cleaning homes,etc). For NVQ students, our work hours is limited to 40 hours a week. However, I am fortunate that my nursing home allows us to work more than that, at times ( I work up to 55 hours a week sometimes)

There are a looooot of Filipino nurses enrolled at this program here. There are sad stories though. Some I met had to look for their own placement provider because the one assigned to them by the agent in Manila is far from their educational provider hence they spend so much for their transportation ( we attend classes now as required under the new system); others waited for 2 to 3 months before they were assigned to a placement provider. They claim their agent in the Philippines did not inform them about this so they ended up asking their families back home to send them money. Therefore, I caution all of you interested to come here, to be very very careful in choosing your agents.

I read in the internet (UKBA website ) that a student visa can already be converted into work permit once I gain a level 3 certificate and once an employer registered with the UKBA is willing to sponsor me. There is a pay scale that the employer should follow though.... but I am willing to accept lower than that for as long as I can convert my sudent visa into work permit. Furtheremore, after a couple of years stay here will qualify me to apply for Permanent residence. These I have to check some more when I get back to the UK.

Continuous loneliness and longing for family is my number one enemy here. But thanks to the high technology, I see and talk to my family as often as I am able to. I have to persevere becasue I know there is nothing good waiting for me in the Philippines.

Does this make me less of a nurse ? What is in a name really ? Can a name provide food in the table? Can a name bring me to go on vacation to Canada ? (others choose to go to Belgium)

Word of Caution : If you are not ready for hard work and loneliness ,I suggest just stay where you are.

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Good for you,mate !!! All the best.

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