How to apply for a DOST SEI Travel Clearance for Graduate Studies Abroad?

I have secured a lot of DOST-SEI Travel Clearances and securing my dost travel clearance for graduate studies is by far the most difficult thing I had to do!!

Last year, I was awarded a Japanese Government Scholarship for October 2011 and I gave myself 1 month time frame to secure everything. The scholarship is 5 years in duration: a Master's and pHD degree straight program and so it is not your typical 1 week vacation or 1 month training. A simple guarantee letter or cash bond  that you can post in DOST SEI Office does not apply here. If you intend to travel for one year or more, the steps are quite different. And so I was introduced to two NEW and BIG Concepts namely:

1. SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT
2. GSIS SURETY BOND


But wait: Please don't get discouraged. Let me tell you first that I was indeed able to get this clearance within my 1 month deadline, and you can actually finish it sooner than I did if you live near your parents (unlike me, so I had to mail documents to the province back and forth a lot of times). 


Anyway, here are the steps:

STEP 1: Write a request letter showing your scholarship details and if possible provide attachments saying that you are actually a scholarship recipient or accepted to a graduate school abroad (Please wait for samples, I might post some). Address the letter to the director of DOST SEI:

FILMA G. BRAWNER, Ph.D.

Director

Science Education Institute

Department of Science and Technology

Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila

(As of August 2011, or better yet check their site)

STEP 2: Include Certificates of Employment. These documents can be useful if you want to lower the bond amount that you have to post with GSIS. The surety bond amount is calculated as

BOND AMOUNT =TOTAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE RECEIVED x 12% Interest

In my case, I was a scholar for 5 years and the computed BOND AMOUNT was originally around Php 120,000 but because of my 2 years working experience, it was reduced to around Php 93,000.00. But the computation is case to case basis, depending on the type of scholarship and the school you attended.

You make fax or email your letter and the attachments to:

ALICIA L. ASUNCION, MPM

Science and Technology Scholarship Division

Phone   : (02)839-0083, (02)837-1333, (02)837-2071 loc. 2382

Fax         : (02)839-0086

Email     : sei.alasuncion@yahoo.com

STEP 3: Call DOST if they have finished their computations. If they have, VISIT THEM PERSONALLY to get the SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT FORM. It is a form/contract indicating your travel details (for example October 2011 to September 2016, Japan, etc.) and it states that you have to return during the agreed date else your bond will be forfeited. It needs to be signed by you and your parents. One provision in the Supplemental Agreement is that you have to post a SURETY BOND with GSIS based on their computations. DON'T FORGET TO BRING ORIGINAL COPIES OF YOUR REQUEST LETTER IF YOU PREVIOUSLY SENT THEM THROUGH FAX/EMAIL.

STEP 4: BRING SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT to GSIS and Process your SURETY BOND
For this step, you have to have a CO-MAKER (someone to post the bond with you: your mother, father, tito or tita etc.)  GSIS will give you a lot of forms that you have to fill up together with your co-maker. You have to have a lot of documents notarized too. But simply put, you need to post a surety bond sa GSIS equal to DOST's computations.

Is cash needed?
You actually have a choice, in my case we paid in cash to GSIS. But you can use your property titles instead for example land title etc. You can reclaim it after you return.

The GSIS Surety bond must be RENEWED every YEAR!!!!!! That's right. If you will not be here, you can have your parents do it but you have to make it legal. (SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY needed)

STEP 5: Once the SURETY BOND is READY, RETURN Supplemental Agreement form to DOST along with their copy of the GSIS Surety Bond for them to process the travel clearance (pwede through mail). The DOST-SEI Director will sign your Supplemental Agreement and have it notarized.

STEP 6: Get your DOST Travel Clearance for Graduate Studies from DOST after 2-3 days and bring Php 70.00 for notarization fee. The clearance must also be renewed yearly, together with the GSIS Surety Bond


STEP 7. BRING DOST travel clearance to the Bureau of Immigration along with copies of your CONFIRMED tickets (New Policy as of August 2011)


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BUT OF COURSE, you could choose to PAY DOST with the total amount and RECEIVE YOUR FINAL CLEARANCE. The choice is always yours.


Hope this helps. Feel free to ask questions.