Pinoy Care Visa Center Inc. (Source: WEB)
For more than a decade now, Pinoycare Visa Center Inc. has been helping Filipinos find better job opportunities overseas.
Prisca Niña O. Mabatid, president and chief executive officer, said she started the business in 1999 with just one office table and two chairs.
Through word of mouth and referrals, Pinoycare grew its network to 12 branches in the Philippines and international offices in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Singapore, Malaysia and Canada.
An office was recently opened in Qatar. Pinoycare also plans to open offices in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
Mabatid was recently awarded Small Business Entrepreneur for the Service Sector during the 2015 Grand Chamber Awards, the culminating event of the Cebu Business Month celebration of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).
Mabatid said it was not the first time that the company received an award, but she stressed it is a great honor for her to be recognized by CCCI.
“It is overwhelming, and I’m very happy. Receiving the award has inspired me to do more and work harder,” she said. She said around 2,000 jobs are available to Filipinos in both Canada and New Zealand.
“Filipinos have to grab this chance and opportunity to venture into these two countries if they want to have a second home away from the Philippines,” she said.
She added that now is the “perfect time” because both countries are open for immigrant visa. Given the wide variety of jobs available, she said most Filipinos will be qualified for at least one job.
Pinoycare is also endorsing a new pathway for younger people, particularly fresh graduates, to enter Canada and New Zealand – through student visa. Students enter the countries as students and upon entering, will be issued a work permit, she added.
It is a one-year study-and-work program, after which they can easily apply for a permanent residence visa.
Mabatid said Canada and New Zealand’s openness to immigrants is likely to continue until 2017 or 2018.
She said it is vital to get this message out to the public while there is still a large window of opportunity for Filipinos.
The company will take care of everything, including visa processing and job matching, she said.
For students, Pinoycare will also provide assistance in matching them with the right course and school. The company is accredited by several schools in both Canada and New Zealand.
“This will be a stress-free process for immigrants,” she said.