PASIG CITY – Filipinos wanting to work in the United States beware.

The Department of Migrant Workers has simultaneously shut down the main office and eight branches of a visa consultancy firm nationwide after it was found to be illegally recruiting Filipino workers, specifically teachers, for jobs in the United States.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac himself and Undersecretary Bernard Olalia led in padlocking  the main office of the Visa to America Manila Inc. in Ortigas, Pasig City, which has been found offering job placements to the US under the H-1B and J-1 visa categories with salaries ranging from $40,000 to $100,000 but without a DMW license.

J1 visa is granted to individuals joining educational and cultural exchange programs, while H-1B is given to those seeking employment in “specialty occupations” in the US.

“Ang modus nila is supposedly visa assistance, travel consultancy, mga ganyan, visa consultancy, pero sa totoo, sila’y nagma-match, sila’y nag-offer ng trabaho para sa abroad na walang lisensya ng DMW (Their modus operandi is supposedly visa assistance, travel consultancy, things like that, visa consultancy, but in reality, they are matching, they are offering jobs abroad without a DMW license),” Cacdac said.

“Ang estilo nila is visa assistance package, US$8,500, so lalabas yan sa almost half a million pesos. But really sa mga surveillance namin which was face-to-face and virtual surveillance, P300,000 to P500,000 ang package (Their style is visa assistance package, US$8,500, so it will come out to almost half a million pesos. But from our surveillance, which was face-to-face and virtual surveillance, the package is P300,000 to PHP500,000). Mainly teachers,” he added.

Their modus operandi is supposedly visa assistance, travel consultancy, things like that, visa consultancy, but in reality, they are matching, they are offering jobs abroad without a DMW license,” Cacdac said.

Cacdac said the DMW’s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) simultaneously padlocked the company’s branches in Cebu City, Lucena City, Iloilo City, Santiago City, Quezon City, Davao City, and Zamboanga City.

He said a victim approached the DMW during its Independence Day job fair event and reported the company, disclosing that the company asked for a hefty amount for the visa package, which was later revealed to be equivalent to a placement fee.

Cacdac said the DMW will file criminal charges against the firm’s owners, including all its staff and employees, for large-scale illegal recruitment, which is non-bailable.

Cacdac warned the public not to fall victim to seemingly legitimate offers, even if the office looks professional, or bears the names of popular destinations like the US.

He advised job seekers to always verify if a recruiter is licensed through the DMW website.