List of Requirements for the Medical Professional

This list is purely based on the list my agency required me to submit

1. Updated Resume
2. 5 pcs 2x2 picture

3. Passport- should be valid for more than 6 months prior to departure date. If not better renew your passport.
SHORTCUT: No need to have an appointment online- it takes time. If you don't have the luxury of time just present your verified contract and booking ticket and you will be directed to the courtesy lane together with the Senior Citizen's and the Disabled and you can get your passport in 7 days.

4. NBI Clearance - One can always go to satellite offices usually in Robinson's Malls but be prepared because the queue starts as early as 4am and they only cater up to 500 applicants. If you don't have a hit you will get your clearance the same day but if you have a hit (same name with a person who has a criminal record) you will be asked to come back after 2 weeks and chances are because of the new system being implemented by the NBI you will have a hit, especially if you had a previous hit, since the system has not been updated since 2010.
SHORTCUT: The fastest is to go to the main branch in U.N Avenue so in case you had a previous "HIT" you can immediately fix it by filling for an Affidavit of Denial and swearing under oath with the administrative officer in the Quality Control Section. Once cleared you can get your clearance from the releasing section in 15 minutes. Note: people in the main branch also queue at 5 am. You can read about NBI FAQs here.

5. DFA Authenticated Documents:

• Highschool Form 138 and Diploma 
• Process: 
• Request from your school a Certified True Copy of your Form 138 and Diploma
• You will be provided of all other documents needed like an S.O and your rank in the graduating class ( the registrar knows which document to provide you just tell them for DFA CAV)
• once you receive the documents you will go to DepEd Regional Office where your school belongs to file the documents (No fees required to file). You need to bring passport size ID. Check the website for additional requirements and for the location of their regional offices here
• You will be given a DFA claim stub. 
• You will claim your red ribboned documents from the DFA Authentication Division.
• When you go to the authentication division. Put your claimstub in the box. Read which box to put it the box for the claim stub is different from the box for the receipts( receipts are the once you will have if you file directly with DFA)
• wait for your name to be called in either Windows 5,6 or 7
• you will be asked to check your documents. If no correction proceed to the cashier. Pay 100php
• once paid proceed to Window 8. Attach your receipt to your documents and put them face down in the window. If you are lucky sometimes there is a lady guard who will assist you.
• Have yourself sit again and wait for your name to be called in Window 4 (which takes a long waiting time)
• Check your documents before leaving. Common misconception is people return the documents because they dont see their names. Your name is written in the lower right hand corner of the document. The name you see in the upper portion of the document is the name of the authentication officer.
• College Transcript of Record and Diploma
• Process:
• Request from your University a certified true copy of your TOR and Diploma will take weeks.
• Fill up necessary forms
• Pay fees.
• You will be given a claim stub. Ask your registrar when do they deliver request to CHED(Commission on Higher Education) because sometimes they pile in request. If you are in a hurry you can request to deliver your documents personally but you have to provide proof of urgency which is either a Verified Contract or a Booking Ticket.
• Check CHED's Website for Regional Offices here.
• Pay minimal fee of 40php.
• Get your DFA claimstub. 
• Claim your documents at DFA. Same process stated above when claiming your highschool documents
• Medicine Transcript of Record and Diploma
• Process
• Request this from your Medical School
• PRC Board Certificate/Board Rating and Professional License
• Process:
• Go to PRC 
• Have your documents assessed at Window 1. Get Necesary forms.
• Pay fees Php75.00 per document Php 200.00 if rush (you can get in 2 hrs)
• Pay documentary stamps
• For Board Rating proceed to Window H (regular processing) Window A (expedite)
• For Board Certificate and PRC ID proceed to Window 16,17,18
• Claim at Window A and Window 14.
• Go to DFA.
• Fill up blue form
• Submit documents at window. 
• Pay fees at the cashier
• Submit receipt at the same window where you submitted the documents.
• Claim on the date indicated on your receipt.
• Other Certificate of Trainings
• Process: 
• This one you need a CANA. The Agency will do this for you.
• Marriage Certificate
• Process:
• same as when having your PRC Authenticated
• This only applies to those job offers with family status
• Birth Certificate of Dependent Children
• Process:
• same as when having your PRC Authenticated
• This only applies to those job offers with family status

Very tiring process but for every document you submit is like pulling one thorn stuck in your chest. READ and GOOGLE it saves time when you know what to do.

Things to Consider Before Accepting a Job Offer

Most of the Jobs available for medical professionals are bound for Middle East. I have received several calls claiming that they saw my resume on jobstreet and workabroad ( which I posted since 2003 right after I finished my OB-GYN residency) during the time when I was still looking for a job. Ninety nine percent of the time they will ask you to come for an interview, there is ready visa and that the employer is coming to town.

But wait don't get too excited first keep this things in mind:
1.) Get the Name of the Agency
2.) Check if the agency is listed in POEA as an authorized recruitment agency and check the validity of their accreditation.
3.) Get the Name of the Employer. Surf the name of the clinic over the net to make sure that such institution exist.
4.) NEVER attend a pre interview. Attend only actual interviews with the employer and not the agency owner (Do not waste your efforts because your questions will never be answered) so make sure you are meeting the employer personally.
5.) ASK how much is the offer even a rough estimate. Do not accept the reason "It is the employer that will determine your salary based on your qualifications" because if this agency have sent medical professionals before you at least they have an idea how much was the offer. Just tell them " Were you able to send doctors before? Can you give me a rough estimate on the offer to the previous doctors?" Dont be afraid to ask, at least you have an idea if you still wanted to proceed with the interview based on the salary offer or not. If you have good qualifications chances are you will get more than what is being offered.

Assuming that you accepted the JOB and you signed a contract then what's next? You will be given a list of requirements that you needed to submit. Remember you will be working on a very limited time so it pays to know what requirements are needed and which one to get first. Be Prepared.

You can check the list of requirements for medical professional here.

What are the estimate expense you will incur while processing your papers?
 Let me give you a rough estimate:
1.) Placement fee equivalent to your 1 month salary to be deducted in 6 months. ( You can beg the employer and agency to deduct it for 12 months if you think its to heavy on the pocket)
2.) Agency Processing fee for the DFA Authentication of "some" of your credentials ( I mean some because you will have to apply for the DFA authentication of your other documents). I will discuss the process of having a DFA CAV in details in another post and stamping at Saudi Embassy. This ranges from 10-15k.
3.) Medical Exam usually Php 3,000.00
4.) Pre Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) Php 100.00
5.) NBI Clearance Php 115.00 if you still dont have any
6.) Passport 900.00 Regular(14 days) and 1200.00 rush (7 days)
7.) DFA Certification Authentication and Verification(CAV) or most popularly known as "RED RIBBON" Php 100.00 per document Php 200.00 if rush which you can get the following day.

So before you can earn you will spend a lot but don't worry, after every storm comes a rainbow. :)

About My Coat and Abaya

I would be a hypocrite if I say I am not worried at all. In ten days, I will be facing a major turn around in my life. Almost a month back I have accepted my faith and chose this road, there is no turning back.

In this blog I would take you through my journey from the moment I have decided to give up my established career and accepted a Job Offer in Buraidah KSA, the process of securing necessary documents and the struggles in between.

This blog would also cover all my experiences as a medical professional in the most conservative part of the world and how I will adapt and accept changes.

The initial title of this blog was White and Black just like the Yin and the Yang. White stands for my doctor's coat and the black stands for the Abaya ( an overcoat that women in Saudi wear in public places). I then decided to make it simpler and change the blog title to "My Coat and Abaya" to spare my readers of the guessing game.

I designed the header myself and I hope you like it. The background I choose yellow for obvious reasons. My coat and abaya both representing me and the yellow background depicting the sun in the desert where I will soon be.

This would be my 3rd blog. I have been maintaining 2 blogs related to my practice since 2009 but this one I am so excited about because everything that I will write here will be new to me and I hope that you will find information here useful.

Happy Reading!