Visa consultancy firm shuttered for alleged illegal recruitment

Local

FOR some Cebuano teachers, it was a promised gateway to the American dream. That dream came crashing down when authorities raided a visa consultancy firm in Cebu City for allegedly engaging in illegal recruitment and charging thousands of dollars in placement fees.

The Department of Migrant Workers-Central Visayas (DMW-7) conducted the raid on Friday, August 1, and issued a closure order against Visa to America Manila Inc. – Cebu after confirming that the firm collected $5,400 to $8,500 from applicants seeking teaching jobs in the U.S. under J1 and H1B visa programs.

These visa packages promised annual salaries ranging from $40,000 to $100,000, depending on qualifications.

DMW-7 Director Jhoaden Lucero said the firm had been referring applicants to employers abroad and conducting recruitment and placement activities despite being registered only as a visa consultancy agency.

“Ang ilahang (their) registered business is for visa consultancy. However, they are offering recruitment and placement activities, which is illegal,” Lucero said.

Lucero emphasized that despite the hefty fees collected from applicants, job placement was not guaranteed.

She raised red flags over the high amounts charged, stressing that such large payments for overseas employment should not be required in the first place.

When the team visited the Cebu office to enforce the closure order, Lucero said they found only at least two employees present.

Cebu City Government Legal Officer Briccio Joseph C. Boholst joined them on site and served as the official witness during the enforcement.

The official, however, did not disclose how many teachers had been their clients, both for legitimate consultancy services and illegal recruitment applications.

Lucero also confirmed that the Cebu operation was part of a simultaneous nationwide closure of eight branches of the same company.

The firm’s other branches are located in Lucena City, Iloilo City, Santiago City in Isabela, Quezon City, Davao City, Zamboanga City, and its main office in Pasig City.

The company’s business model involved offering visa application assistance for two categories: the J1 visa, or Exchange Visitor Visa, and the H1B visa, a U.S. employment visa with dual intent.

While the firm positioned itself as a visa consultancy, the DMW found that it actively participated in recruiting applicants, primarily in the education and hospitality sectors, without the proper license under Philippine labor laws.

Applicants were promised placements through affiliate partner schools and U.S.-based employers.

For the J1 visa, applicants were required to have at least two years of teaching experience and a valid PRC license.

The $5,400 package included a job offer from a U.S. school, SEVIS number and fees, DS-2019 form from a U.S. sponsor, mock interviews, filing, processing, and embassy fees. However, it excluded foreign credential evaluation, airfare, and pocket money. J1 visa holders are generally required to return to their home country after the program ends.

The $8,500 H1B visa package targeted professionals with a minimum of five years of teaching experience. It included a job offer, SEVIS number and fees, a medical exam (required when applying for a green card), U.S. immigration lawyer fees, mock interview sessions, filing, and embassy fees. Like the J1 offering, the H1B package also excluded credential evaluation, airfare, and personal expenses.

While the agency promised job placements, the DMW emphasized that Visa to America Manila Inc. did not guarantee deployment timelines, raising further concerns about the firm's legitimacy.

The investigation began after an individual reported the agency's activities during a Legal Assistance session at the DMW Jobs Fair on June 12, 2025, at Robinsons Galleria.

The case was endorsed to the DMW’s Anti-Illegal Recruitment and Trafficking in Persons (AIRTIP) Programs and Monitoring Division, which recommended the issuance of closure orders.(MyTVCebu)