About 6-8 weeks after we submitted our Application of License for Helsefagarbeider, I received my invoice (faktura). However, I decided to pay the invoice only after my visa interview, which happened 3 weeks ago.
Today, I went to BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands) to pay the amount of NOK1,560. According to our so-called adviser, who once was a General Manager of a certain bank in Norway, we need to add NOK100 as Bank Fees for the International Money Transfer transaction.
At BPI, the banker asked if I have a bank account in their institution. Yes, I do. Next he asked how much dollars should I buy. Their selling rate today is USD1.00 = PHP44.17. I really do not know how much should I purchase since the exchange rate varies almost everyday. Some of my friends, who are already in Norway, paid approximately PHP14,000. I thought the amount is too much. So at the bank today, I was very meticulous in computing for the amount that I should be remitting. Here’s my computation:
|
Item |
NOK |
PHP NOK1.00=PHP7.20 |
USD USD1.00=PHP-44.17 |
| Gebyr for Autorisasjon (License Fee): |
1,560.00 |
||
| Add: Norwegian Bank Fee: |
100.00 |
||
| Total Amount to be Paid |
1,660.00 |
11,952.00 |
270.60 |
| Add: IMF Fee |
14.00 |
||
| Total Amount to Purchase from BPI |
284.60 |
I, therefore decided to buy US$290.00 only. At some point I wanted to increase the amount up to US$300 due to the possibility of PHP decreasing in value as days go by. But I also consider that it may slightly increase, which means I’ll be paying more. So I stick to US$290 only.
According to the banker, they will still be charging about PHP600 for the said transaction. That would mean, they will be subtracting approximately PHP12,809.30 + 600 = PHP13,409.30 from my bank account.
However, BPI’s International Money Transfer system seems to be not cooperating today. I waited for hours at the bank, still my transaction hasn’t been finalized. We’ll see what will happen tomorrow…
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