Sparks Change

Tips on how to handle an Immigration interview

For us, IMG campaigners, attending a convention, whether local or international is a big thing. It’s not just for fun or pleasure but to gain new knowledge from experts in the financial industry and from IMG-Big 3 (Sir Joen Delas Penas, Sir Noel Arandilla, and Sir Bart Borja). Sometimes, the convention created an explosion among us. One could possibly turn from a nobody to somebody, or from an ordinary to an extraordinary IMG campaigner.

For local conventions, campaigners here in the Philippines have nothing to worry about. All they need to do is be prepared and attend at least two hours ahead of time so they can get the front seats. Those who come from other countries just to attend the local convention had to fight just like the others to be seated in front.

For international conventions, an immigration interview is one of the challenges that every campaigner needs to pass. To avoid getting disapproval, I am sharing a few tips to be able to conquer fear and pass the interview with flying colors.

Pray. Let God gives you the courage to answer confidently all the questions to be asked by the immigration officer.
Smile and Greet the Immigration Officer with a simple “good morning/good afternoon”. Being courteous all the time and smiling have countless positive effects on the surrounding people.
Have all your documents ready and just give what an immigration officer will ask for. But remember to keep the following documents on hand:
- Passport and visa if the receiving country requires it
- Roundtrip flight itinerary (this is required)
- Hotel bookings
- Valid ID such as government IDs, company/school ID, if any
- If employed, a copy of work leave approval
- If self-employed, a copy of BIR or Business Certificate
- IMG Certification and IMG Campaigner’s Poster
- Travel Insurance
- Yellow Card and Vaccination Card
For Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), aside from the basic documents listed above, be ready with the following documents if needed
- The existing contract with your employer
- Proof that you were allowed to take a vacation to attend a convention. If there is no available document, inform your employer that an Immigration Officer might call them to confirm that you’re allowed to attend the convention.
Keep the contact number of important people. These are the people you can call in case Immigration asks for something else from you. This could be a relative, an officemate/employer for OFWs, and/or company HR.hank
Relax and Stop Worrying. Remember that these Immigration Officers are just doing their jobs and they are just human like you.
Have a pen with you and write legibly. You have to fill out a departure and arrival card to be presented to the Immigration Office.
Do not panic and stay calm. Remember the golden rule: “Answer truthfully and everything will be fine.” Immigration officers usually ask questions answerable by “Yes” or “No”. Some common questions are: “Is this your first time traveling?” “Are you traveling alone?’
Do not offer any excess information. Answer briefly and concisely if the question needs an explanation. Let me share a series of questions an Immigration Officer usually ask and how we should respond to these questions:
- What is your work here? I am an IMG Financial Educator?
- What is an IMG Financial Educator? We teach financial literacy or how to save and invest properly to manage our hard-earned money
- Who is paying for your trip? I am paying for my trip.
- Where will you be staying? I will be staying at ______ hotel in Taipei.
- What will you do there? I will attend the IMG convention and will visit some beautiful places in Taipei before/after the convention.
- Can you show me your IMG Portal? Log in to your portal and show it to the Immigration Officer.
Once you pass the interview, thank the Immigration Officer and Smile. This will make their day happy knowing that despite the Q & A process, you give utmost respect to them as public servants. Always be polite wherever you are and whatever you do.

Congratulations and Enjoy the Campaigners Convention. See you on top.

To God be all the highest glory!

IMG CONVENTION OF CHAMPIONS MY KEY TAKEAWAYS

Every time I attended a convention, I always ask myself: what did I learn? Am I happy? Then, what will I do after all my excitements and overflowing new learnings? How long will this enthusiasm last?

Let me share with you some of my key takeaways during the first day of the convention at SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex (30 July 2022). Allow me to express these new learnings in Taglish so I can reach out to all our IMG members.

“Soar High, Only the Ready can Fly.” Kapag naririnig natin ang word na “Soar High,” ibig sabihin bumulusok ka paitaas at abutin mo ang iyong mga pangarap. Kay IMG ang daming oportunidad para maachieve mo lahat ng pangarap mo, ang tanong lang handa ka na bang gawin ang lahat para sa iyong pangarap? Wala namang madaling daan tungo sa tagumpay, lahat pinaghihirapan – gaano ka katibay at katatag sa daang tatahakin mo? Dahil ang mga taong handa sila ang may karapatang magtagumpay.

**Thank you Sir Joen, Sir Noel, and Sir Bart for believing in us and for pushing us to succeed in IMG.**
photo credit: IMG gallery

“Always be with the right people, the right community. The community that dictates success.” Mapalad ako na naririto na kay IMG. Positibo ang pag-iisip ng bawat isa at lahat naglalayong umunlad ang bawa’t kasapi ng grupo. Lahat handang tumulong at umalalay. Would you believe that even a CEO can easily be approached by anyone? Dahil iisa lang ang goal natin–yan ay maging matagumpay ang lahat.

“The Champions Team will always be a champion and I feel super blessed to belong to this team!”
photo credit: CEO Robert Centinales Niño

“Success is going through sufferings; going through pain and sufferings with God.” Embrace pain. Parang ang hirap di ba na sige lang nasasaktan na ako, pero tanggap ko at yayakapin ko bawa’t sakit para lang magtagumpay. Nung hindi ko pa nakikilala si IMG, ang pananaw ko, pag sobrang sakit na pakakawalan ko na baka kasi “not meant to be” o di kaya hindi ako para sa inaakala kong tagumpay. Bakit ko paulit-ulit na sasaktan ang sarili ko kung kaya ko namang bitawan ang isang pangarap dahil sa isip ko, may naghahantay sa aking higit pa. Pero, iba si IMG,”embrace pain.”kahit pa gaano kasakit yan, pasanin mo lang, tanggapin mo at magpatuloy ka kay IMG kasama si God, dahil isang araw magigising ka na lang na naabot mo na ang pangarap mo, dahil sa buhay ng tao, bahagi talaga yung pain and sufferings. And when you become comfortable with pain, you become unstoppable.

Thank you Bro. Bo Sanchez for such an inspiring message.
photo credit: IMG gallery and SMD Alfonso Delovino

“When you feel seen and appreciated, you soar high.” Sometimes akala natin hindi natin kayang gawin ang isang bagay. Akala natin yung may angking galing lang ang maaring magtagumpay sa buhay. Sometimes, we lose confidence that we can achieve something more dahil hindi mo nakikita yung nakikita ng iba sa iyo. Kay IMG, sobrang blessed tayo dahil sa mga panahong pinanghihinaan ka ng loob at nawawalan ng tiwala sa sarili, andyan ang mga mentors and coaches mo na ngingitian ka, sabay sasabihing “Welcome to IMG!” Kwekwentuhan ka ng kanilang pinagdaanan at ang dalawang kamay nila, iaabot sa iyo para hilahin ka paitaas. Mararamdaman mo ang pagmamahal at dahil sa kanila bumabalik ang tiwala mo sa iyong sarili, then you continue to fight and run until you reach your goals here in IMG.

“Minsan sumagi rin sa isip ko, ano bang kulang sa akin, masipag din naman ako tulad ng iba. Hindi naman ako humihinto sa pagtakbo, pero bakit ang hirap makarating sa finish line? Mabuti na lang narito sila, ginagabayan ako at naniniwala sa kakayahan ko, kaya patuloy lang ang aking pagtakbo.”-SCDB

“You are the pilot. If turbulence comes, you soar high.” If you stay you win, If you quit you lose. Very straight-forward na binanggit eto ni Sir Joen. Ang mga nagsucceed kay IMG, may common characteristics sila–never a quitter and they stay in IMG. Ang gagaling ng mga mentors and coaches natin, mula sa ating team, sa partners training, leaders call, at iba pang mga workshops and webinars. Pero sino nga ba ang tunay na magpapatakbo ng buhay natin dito kay IMG, walang iba kungdi IKAW. Sabi nga, ikaw ang piloto ng IMG-life mo. Kung masama ang panahon, ang tunay na piloto, hindi matatakot, paliparin paitaas ang eroplano, dahil kung mananaig ang takot, at wala kang ginawa, maaring magmalfunctions eto at bumagsak paibaba. Keep soaring high and never give up no matter how you struggle in achieving your goals, and trust yourself that you can do it.

***ME SOARING HIGH – RUNNING FOR MY NEXT PROMOTION***

Am I happy? Obviously “YES,” with the overflowing new learnings and the GALA NIGHT (31 July 2022), what a wondrous experience indeed! Time to party and celebrate, be inspired by the video presentation of the real-life journey of our newly-promoted CEOs, give loud cheers to all our awardees, and simply enjoy the night with the music of Rock Steady and Angeline Quinto. Umaapaw ang kaligayahan at ramdam ko, iisa ang nasa puso at isip natin, isang araw, aakyat din ako ng stage para tanggapin ang aking plaque at ako naman ang iyong papalakpakan.

For now, I will continue to run for my next promotion, I will do the IMG mission, and educate more Filipino families so we will all have a secure future. I see myself growing old here in IMG. Thus, you can always count on me, because I care for you.

COMMUNITYSHIP

Communityship means a feeling of fellowship with others sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals. It is coming together to support one another and allowing each one to learn, gain strength, and show the world that nothing is impossible if together we stands as one in achieving common goals.

International Marketing Group (IMG) community celebrates with you every time you get promoted and cheering you up when you are not feeling okay because you missed your target. A community that believes in you and always encourages its members not to quit or give up because giving up means losing the opportunity to succeed in life.

I am so blessed to have known IMG and be part of its community. A community of savers, investors, and entrepreneurs. I never thought that I could find such a beautiful community where everyone is so humble, respectful, full of positivity, and holding hands together to pull you up to achieve a common goal. A community that will help you build your solid financial house the right way and how to create long-term investments with your hard-earned money so you can retire peacefully anytime you want to.

With IMG, everyone cares for you no matter who you are and your status in life. They will not look at your credentials. IMG Community, with its great leader/builders and members will journey with you towards a happy, secure, and peaceful tomorrow.

Who would not want to be part of this community? I guess everyone would ask how can I join IMG?

My Vision Boards

“***QUITTING IS NOT AN OPTION. YOUR SUCCESS DEPENDS ON YOUR ACTIONS TODAY!***

International Marketing Group (IMG) gives me new hope and changes my perceptions in life. I am not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. That is why since childhood, I value education. I knew that being educated could help me find a good-paying job. Being successful at work can help my family get out of poverty.

I work and study at the same time. Apart from being a working scholar way back in college, I can’t count how many times I missed lunch just to write a paper for someone so I can have extra money for my other school requirements. I struggle, but I never give up. I need my college diploma. I wanted to conquer the corporate world and become successful. I even took my Masteral degree to prove to others that I deserve the position in the company I worked for more than two decades of my life.

Then, I quit my job to become a freelancer. I thought my connections and experiences in the industry were enough, but I was proven wrong. Then, I met IMG way back in October 2020. I became excited again about this new chapter of my life. I saw and met different people from all walks of life who are now great leaders and mentors in IMG. I was amazed at their beautiful rags-to-riches stories. “Akala ko sa pelikula lang nangyayari ang mga ganoong kwento.” In IMG, dreams come true.

Magic! But it all begins with your decision to take that first step to change and have your will to succeed in life. I started to believe in magic again. I wrote down my biggest WHYs and created my vision boards.

Suntok sa buwan ang 2021 vision board ko, but I still keep moving forward. I still wanted them this 2022. I will have that farm in Antipolo or Tagaytay – the best gift I can give to my parents. I will own some condominium units that will provide a passive income, and I will have that 200K shares in my mutual fund investments. I will travel again, probably in Batanes and back to Siargao with my family when COVID is gone.

Above all, I am looking forward to my SCDB Team – strong, compassionate, and courageous dedicated builders. I will create my MD Factory and continuously duplicate more and more SCDBs in my base shop. I will build, build, build and build for the nth time and the mission of IMG will live forever.

I will never stop until God tells me that my journey in this world is over.

Top 10 Reasons Why I Love IMG!

I keep on sharing IMG’s mission because I care for my family, friends, colleagues, relatives, and other Filipinos. Let me explain briefly the top 10 reasons why I join and love IMG.

1. Ownership. In IMG, I own my business, I own my time, and I have no boss. I have more freedom than working in a corporate world. I can be flexible in running my own business with the help of an IMG proven system.

2. Vesting rights. Since this is my own business, my children can inherit everything I work hard for. If something happens to me, my family can automatically receive the monthly income intended for me.

3. No Boss, Quota, and Time Card – I can decide freely how much income do I really want and work for it as I passionately share IMG mission. No quota to think about, and no worries about being late for work.

4. Permanent Position (No Demotion) – As long as I live, I am the boss, the CEO of my own business.

5. Travel the World for Free. In IMG I can have the opportunity to travel the world for free.

6. Unlimited Income. By simply sharing financial solutions and IMG mission, I feel so blessed to help others. Income follows as I educate and help people get out of poverty.

7. Build your Business Globally. No territorial boundaries. I can work online and offline and anywhere in the world, I can educate every Filipino family. I can build a big base shop globally.

8. Investment Income. In IMG we don’t talk about how much income you have, the most important thing is how much you keep no matter how big or small your income is right now. Are you saving and investing the right way? If you do, even with a global crisis you don’t have to worry because you know that you and your family are secured and protected.

9. System. IMG has a proven system. All I have to do is run the system and be coachable. In IMG, there is an equal opportunity for all members to become successful and wealthy as long as they don’t quit.

10. Helping people achieve financial freedom. I feel so blessed to share the mission of IMG. I simply educate and share the important financial concepts in life such as building a strong financial foundation, the x-curve concept, and the rule of 72. When someone takes action, then mission accomplished. Sharing the IMG mission makes my life meaningful knowing that I have helped someone.

As you reflect, remember that I am your friend and your coach. I will journey with you here in IMG. Join us and spread IMG mission all over the world.