Like any visa application process, there are certain steps you need to follow in order to ensure a successful application. Make sure that you have prepared all the required and supporting documents, as well as paid the necessary fees. You can view the list of required and supporting documents for the J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa here.
Below are the steps to apply for a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa:
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Opening opportunities for knowledge and skills exchange is essential to the career of any student or professional. These opportunities may not always be limited to the Philippines– in fact, broadening one’s horizon in a foreign country is an experience that many should take advantage of. If you’re a student or professional in the Philippines, visa concerns remain one of the biggest hurdles to taking up further studies and training abroad. The visa application process can be long and arduous, and only proper preparation can result in an approved visa.
The Philippines has friendly relationships with a lot of countries, which at the very least increases the chances of visa approval. One of the types of visa Filipino citizens can apply for is the J-1 visa. The U.S. Government’s Exchange Visitor Program and J1 visa means that participants have the opportunity to engage with U.S. culture, strengthen their English language skills, and learn and build new skills that will help them further their careers. The J1 visa stands out from other visa types by allowing successful applicants the opportunity for professional growth that may not have been available to them otherwise.
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The second casino and resort to rise in the Entertainment City complex, City of Dreams saw its doors open with a soft opening on December 14, 2014, and a grand opening on February 2, 2015. It celebrated its inauguration with a bang through the Concert of Dreams, which featured local talents like Gary Valenciano and Zsa Zsa Padilla, as well as international stars like Ne-Yo and Kelly Rowland.
City of Dreams is a sister resort to City of Dreams in Macau, but it has its own unique Manila flair that makes it stand out. The resort has six hotel towers with 938 rooms, including Nobu Hotel, Nuwa (formerly known as Crown Towers), and a Hyatt Regency Hotel.
In addition to this, City of Dreams is also a gamer’s haven, with 289 gaming tables, 1,620 slot machines, and 176 electronic table games. For shopaholics, it’s also home to The Shops at the Boulevard, an almost 80,000 square meter shopping mall housing the best local and international brands around. Families will also enjoy DreamPlay, a theme park located in the complex that was developed in partnership with DreamWorks Animation, as well as The Garage, a VR play and dining experience that’ll knock your socks off.
One of the most awe-inspiring sites in the City of Dreams complex includes the Fortune Egg, a dome-like building that houses two of the best international nightclubs in Manila. Visitors can choose between Chaos or Pangaea, both of which were developed by the group of “International King of Clubs” Michael Van Cleef Ault.
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When it comes to glitz and glamor in the Philippines, Solaire Resort and Casino has quickly climbed to the top of the list after its opening in 2013. The first of four resorts to operate in Manila’s Entertainment City, Solaire first opened its doors on March 16, 2013, with 800 guest rooms, suites, and villas.
It currently holds the distinction of being the tallest hotel in the Manila Bay area, and features a column-free grand ballroom that can accommodate 1,300 guests, 8 function rooms and 2 boardrooms with audiovisual equipment, leisure, live entertainment, dining, and retail hubs, and the Theatre at Solaire, which houses 1,740 seats and a retail space of 60,000 square meters. Last but definitely not the least, Solaire also boasts an 18,500 square meter gaming area with 1,620 slot machines and 360 gaming tables.
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Bright lights, gaming and leisure, and balmy, tropical weather— these words don’t just describe entertainment tourism stalwarts like Las Vegas and Macau. When it comes to leisure, there’s a new kid on the proverbial block, and it looks like it’s aiming to be a powerhouse. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)’s Entertainment City has been in operation for several years, and is well on its way to transforming the face of Philippine tourism.
With integrated resorts and casinos, as well as dozens of high-end shopping and dining prospects, Entertainment City showcases the best of Philippine entertainment tourism. Here’s a primer on what you can expect from the glitz and glamor of this expanding gaming and entertainment complex.
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The Philippines is home to a long and rich history of excellence in visual arts. This tradition started as early as the 19th century with Damian Domingo, also known as the Father of Filipino Painting, who was the first Filipino to paint a self-portrait. He was followed by greats such as Juan Luna, who painted the world-renowned Spoliarium, andFabián de la Rosa, uncle and mentor to Fernando Amorsolo.
Mastery of the visual arts has been passed down through the decades, and the Philippine government has sought to reward that through the Order of National Artists. The Order of National Artists, also known as Orden ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining, is the highest national recognition given to Filipinos who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of arts in the Philippines. Jointly administered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), it’s an honor conferred by the President of the Republic based on recommendations by both institutions. Here’s a list of the greatest names in Philippine visual arts who have been given this honor.
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The new year is the season for trying out new experiences, and nothing is more life-affirming or transformative than developing an appreciation for the arts. According to writer Thomas Merton, “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” It provides a deeper look into the human psyche, and allows us to share and foster creativity and connection with each other. From the visual arts to performance arts like ballet and musicals, art has brought together people of all ages, genders, creeds, and races throughout history.
As we approach the National Arts Month in February, it becomes more and more apparent that the Philippines is a country with a rich history of the visual arts. Greats like Juan Luna, Jose Joya, Araceli Dans , and many more have made their mark on the local arts scene over the decades. And even today, the tradition is alive and kicking, as you can see in our article ’24 Philippine Artists Shaping Local Contemporary Art’. If you’re curious about what’s going on in the Philippine arts scene, 2020 is your chance to broaden your horizons. To start off your art appreciation journey, here are twenty Philippine art galleries that are showcasing the best and brightest of the local modern arts scene.
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Every culture has its own history of brewing and distilling liquor and spirits from local ingredients. When Ferdinand Magellan and the rest of the Spanish conquistadors first arrived in the Philippine islands, natives offered them local goods like fish, figs, and coconuts. They also gave them a jar of local alcohol, which historians claim was either arack, which is wine made from palm, or tuba, wine made from fermented coconut nectar.
The culture of drinking in the Philippines has continued into the present, with different bars, pubs, speakeasies, restaurants, and the like serving a wide variety of liquor and alcoholic concoctions. If you’re looking to explore locally-made spirits and wines made from native ingredients and rooted in cultural history and tradition, here’s a list of common Filipino drinks worth trying out.
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The representation of Asian Americans in popular media has only been getting better with this generation of movers and shakers in Hollywood. After an overwhelmingly positive response from audiences for the world premiere of Crazy Rich Asians, more and more creators have been looking for ways to focus the spotlight on Asian communities in pop culture.
Even Filipino artists with talent and charisma in the showbiz industry have been finding themselves getting more roles then ever. Hawaii native Jacob Batalon, whose parents are Filipino, recently made news as one of the few Filipino actors to appear in a Marvel film. Jacob Batalon starred in both Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019) as Ned Leeds, Peter Parker’s best friend.
Even before the premiere of the Spider-Man movie series, Filipino actors, musicians, entertainers, and the like have been working hard in Hollywood, building their craft and make a name for themselves. Here are 10 other Filipino celebrities who’ve made it in the United States.
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The migration of Filipinos to other countries has a long history. An article from the Pulitzer Center notes that the Philippines is one of the major sources around the world for migrant workers in the seafaring, domestic work, and nursing sectors. Although many Filipino families are sustained by temporary labor migration, plenty of Filipinos have also made their homes in countries around the world, including the United States.
According to the Migration Policy Institute, there are currently 1,942,000 Filipinos in the immigrant population in the United States as of 2016. Some of them have found a home overseas, making names for themselves as entrepreneurs. Here’s a list of Filipinos who successfully established businesses in America.
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