In a decisive move to protect aspiring overseas workers from exploitation, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has shut down the operations of a controversial US visa consulting firm found to be operating without a valid government license.
The firm, Visa to America Manila, Inc., which claims to specialize in helping Filipinos migrate to the United States, was ordered to cease operations after an official investigation revealed it was unlawfully recruiting workers for overseas employment. DMW enforcement teams personally served the closure notice at the company’s main office located in Ortigas, Pasig City.
Aside from its central hub, the company was also operating satellite offices in Quezon City, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Zamboanga, and Santiago City in Isabela, along with a branch in Washington D.C.
The DMW flagged the company for offering job placements—particularly in teaching and hospitality—with alleged salaries between $40,000 to $100,000 per year, all while bypassing government regulations and licensing procedures.
“What Visa to America Manila was doing amounts to illegal recruitment,” said a DMW official. “No private entity can lawfully offer overseas job placements without proper accreditation and oversight from our agency.”
Despite promoting itself as a firm with “31 years of immigration expertise” and a roster of immigration lawyers and consultants, the DMW emphasized that such credentials are not a substitute for legal compliance in the Philippines.
The move comes as part of a broader push by the Philippine government to tighten its oversight of agencies involved in overseas employment, especially amid growing reports of fraudulent visa schemes.
Compounding the issue is the United States’ recent tightening of its visa policies, which now require all non-immigrant applicants to make their social media accounts publicly viewable to aid in vetting. This policy shift has increased the vulnerability of Filipino applicants to agencies that promise “guaranteed” placements or shortcuts.
The DMW is urging the public to verify the accreditation status of recruitment firms before engaging in any visa processing or employment offers abroad. Migrant workers are also encouraged to report suspicious agencies through the DMW’s official channels.
“This crackdown is a reminder that no promise of a high-paying job abroad is worth the risk if it’s done outside legal pathways,” the agency stressed. “We will continue to go after unauthorized recruiters to protect Filipino workers.”
An official investigation is underway to determine if the firm’s executives will face criminal charges for illegal recruitment and misrepresentation.
