Filipino Visa Ban - lifted?

i already had business visit but i had it last november 6.. i am going to qatar this january 2013 but i am confused if when i'll be in qatar there is a possibility that i can land a job because of the visa ban.. DO i need to worry? I am a nurse.. my work is in qatar.. I applied as direct hire in Hamad hospital.. as soon as I'll be in qatar I could go to the HR for an interview.. Do i need worry the visa ban issue?

Thank you so much for this info!!!! Good news lifts the spirit. God bless all of you who helped me here!

The ban was lifted just this morning. But according to the agency i talked to, Business visa are still banned. You can only request Tourist Visa(1 month).

coming under PERSONAL sponsorship.

There isn't any ban on companies bringing Filipinas.

We've just had to use one of our company visas for a filipina nurse for our Chairman's mother, as they wouldn't issue a visa for filipina under personal sponsorship.

the ban is for "housemaid" filipino visa only

This or a similar visa ban on Filipinas (not the male Filipinos) hasn't been applied only to domestic helpers. The vast majority of companies that I deal with are being forced to hire skilled workers (engineers, techs, admin, etc.) on business visas only because the Qatari government is NOT allowing most companies visas for Filipinas. Most slots for ladies are being given to the men because of this, as each company spends more to send their ladies out of Qatar and back just to renew those business visas (tickets + hotel + taxi + visa = money loss).

Each of the Qatari Arabs that run many of the companies say their mandoobs are complaining that they can NOT get lady work visas for their new Filipina employees. It IS a current problem, but the actual reason for the company work visa ban isn't easy to discover. Unless someone in immigration decided the temporary domestic helper ban applied to ALL Filipinas and made it across the board out of ignorance? Someone will cry that I'm wrong, but I've met nearly 50+ ladies who are in that same limbo status. They don't know if their accommodations should be temporary or stable long-term because they were told that if one day their company cannot renew her or get a work visa, she has to go home. So far proven factual.

And I hope the ban stays for domestic helpers from our country, here and everywhere else.

It's in Gulf Times

I think the issuance only of visa for Filipino maids due to the governments request to increase salary.

The ban applies only to domestic helpers..It has something to do with their minimum salary demanded by PHL. government.

this is for new visa applications...but we'll see this week. After COP18, things might be back to normal.

Last week One of my Philipino Friend got visit visa for his Brother.......... I dont think there is any Bannnnn

He applied with Company NOC letter and within 3-4 days he got it

oh... I've seen this one. What I want to know is if the ban has been lifted.

Thank you! I'll check this one.

http://dohanews.co/post/36733881400/source-in-response-to-requests-for-higher-pay-qatar

There's an article saying it was only temporarily ban. It was on doha news facebook page. Look it up.

Then how come all of the travel agencies we called up keep telling us that they cant process our business or visit visa because of the ban?

there was no ban