How to get a DOST SEI Travel Clearance for OFFICIAL TRIPS?

Here are the easy steps you need to make to secure a DOST SEI travel clearance for OFFICIAL TRIPS.


Examples of OFFICIAL TRIPS for DOST SEI Travel Clearance include:
Case A: Out of the country training or short-term jobs sponsored by your company (I have done this for our training in Malaysia last 2010)
Case B: Competitions abroad (or as for my case, performances abroad but I was not required a clearance that time)
Case C:.Attendance to Conferences or Symposiums
Case D:. Cultural/Student Exchange Programs (I have done this as well last 2009)


STEP 1. Write a letter addressed to the director of DOST Science Education Institute stating the following:
     a. Reason for your travel
      b.Travel Destination
     c. Date and Duration of your travel


STEP 2. Secure a LETTER OF GUARANTEE from your company, sponsor, school or recognized organizations, as an attachment for your request for a DOST SEI Travel Clearance.

For Case A, I got one from my boss along with supporting documents such as Training Itineraries etc.
For Case D, I got one from our College Secretary as it was an official university event along with supporting documents such as the invitation letter, endorsement from the Dean etc.

The important part of the letter is this statement:

"Should the scholar fails to return in the country within the given period of time, our company guarantees the refund to DOST-SEI the amount equivalent to the period left unserved of the said scholar"


Heavy right?? ^_^



STEP 3. SUBMIT your requirements for a DOST SEI Travel Clearance to DOST SEI through FAX

If you live near Bicutan or within Manila area, you may hand carry  your requirements to DOST SEI. But I suggest that you send these papers (Step 1 and 2) through fax and CALL to check if they have received it. They would then tell you when your travel clearance will be available (usually after 2-3 working days) and only then should you bring your original documents.

STEP 4. Once it is available, Get the Endorsement Letter from DOST addressed to the Commissioner of  the Bureau of Immigrations (Note this is not the clearance yet, it has to be approved by the Bureau of Immigration)

This is a sealed letter bearing the SEI logo saying that DOST SEI is endorsing your travel.DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. One time, they would not release my clearance because I forgot to bring the original papers. So much for traveling expenses.


TAKE NOTE: DOST SEI transferred to a new building (Click here)!!! (As of my recent visit last July 24, 2011) They are now within the main DOST complex, but not far from the original address of 3F PTRI Bldg., Bicutan

STEP 5. Bring the Endorsement Letter from DOST SEI to Bureau of Immigration to be issued a TRAVEL ORDER

They say payments are usually made for this step but for my case, I just got my number and waited to be called. During my turn, I just presented the letter from DOST and the person in charge already said it was okay and I was permitted to leave after a few minutes. No more payment. I am not sure if this is applicable for vacations etc.

So above are the easy steps to get a DOST SEI travel clearance for Official Trips. Good luck with your clearance from DOST!

DOST SEI Scholar: Is it okay to travel abroad?

Back in the year 2006 when I was a sophomore in college, my folk dance troupe was invited to perform in Yokohama and Tokyo, Japan for 1 week. Three of us were DOST scholars then - 1 person already graduating and aware of her travel restrictions and  2 others (including me) who are oblivious to possible travel bans which could send all our dreams of going abroad to the drain.

Did we secure a  DOST SEI TRAVEL CLEARANCE?

OF COURSE NOT!!! We were CLUELESS ABOUT TRAVEL CLEARANCES!!! So we happily packed our bags, learned a few Japanese phrases, and fattened our wallets with yen.

And so what happened? Did we make it past the IMMIGRATION OFFICER without the DOST Travel Clearance? YES and NO. Well, two different things actually happened:

A. The graduating person was detected as a DOST scholar and she was called for questioning

B. The 2 of us sophomores were free and undetected.Buti na lang. So we kept quiet about our identities (jumping for joy inside because we were okay to travel)


Was she allowed to travel? 

Everybody was on PANIC MOde kasi within an hour, fly na kami sa Japan Airlines.
Everybody was worried, our choreographer was mad because if she does not make it, we would have to rechoreograph. Also, what if the 2 of us would get detected????

Luckily, we had a guardian (school principal) who took charge of the situation and negotioated with the immigration officer. Within those precious minutes she was able to furnish and submit requirements to DOST, instructing people only via her cellphone, and have DOST fax a copy of the travel clearance to the Immigration office.

Eventually, she was given a go signal at parang nabunutan ng tinik ang lahat. Pero paano kung hindi nahabol?

Lesson: Let us recall that as DOST Scholars we have to render service to the country equal to the number of years the scholarship was enjoyed and as such, we have certain travel restrictions. They said that names of DOST Scholars who have nearly completed their degrees (which explains why we were exempted) are forwarded to the Bureau of Immigration and issued a travel hold order.

But YES, we are still allowed to travel may it be for business or vacation.Some say they have been in and out of the country without the travel clearance, and remained undetected. I say these kind of things may really be uncontrollable, true for some but may not be the case for you. I suggest we go for the legal way. Let us secure our DOST travel clearance. I have done it 4 times already and it is not as difficult as some may think.