Following a series of warnings against fraudulent overseas employment schemes, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has once again issued a stern reminder to the public regarding the illegal operations of Visa to America Manila Inc.
The travel and visa consultancy firm was found to have actively promised and offered jobs in the United States without securing the mandatory licenses or authority from the DMW.
The advisory comes in the wake of numerous complaints lodged through the Senator Raffy Tulfo in Action program. According to the complainants—the majority of whom are professional teachers—the firm promised swift employment in the U.S., guaranteeing departure within just three months.
Victims reported being charged exorbitant processing and family application fees ranging from PhP 370,000 to PhP 500,000. Representatives of the firm allegedly lured applicants with deceptive promises, telling them, “By December of 2024, you will be in America, you will spend Christmas there.”
In response to these fraudulent activities, the DMW executed a closure order on August 1, 2025, shutting down the main office of Visa to America Manila Inc. in Ortigas, Pasig City, alongside its seven regional branches located in Cebu City, Lucena City, Iloilo City, Santiago City (Isabela), Quezon, Davao City, and Zamboanga City.
The DMW confirms that formal legal cases have already been filed and are currently pending in court, including active complaints filed at the Regional Trial Court Branch 284 in Cabarroguis, Quirino.
To ensure a stronger case and to hold the perpetrators fully accountable under the law, the DMW strongly encourages all other victims of Visa to America Manila Inc. to come forward, report their experiences, and file appropriate criminal complaints.
The Department reiterates its call for all aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to remain vigilant and verify the legitimacy of job offers and recruitment agencies through the official DMW website before paying any fees or submitting personal documents.
