DMW shuts down eight Visa to America Manila Inc. branches for illegal recruitment

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) shut down eight branches of Visa to America Manila Inc., including two in Mindanao, for illegally recruiting Filipino workers without a DMW license on Friday, August 1.

Hans Leo Cacdac, secretary of the DMW, led the closure operation at the firm's main office in Ortigas, Pasig City, while branches were also closed in Davao and Zamboanga cities.

The company offered H-1B and J-1 visa assistance packages to teachers for jobs in the US with annual salaries ranging from $40,000 to $100,000 (approximately P2.3 million to P5.8 million), charging up to PHP500,000 without a valid license.

DMW simultaneously padlocked branches in Cebu, Lucena, Iloilo, Santiago, Quezon City, Davao, Zamboanga, and other parts of the country after receiving complaints from victims who paid as much as PHP400,000 to PHP600,000 without receiving further information or deployment schedules.

DMW-11 Director Maria Carolina Agdamag warned that only licensed recruitment agencies can conduct such activities, and those found violating this regulation may face charges for illegal recruitment.

Clients who have transacted with the agency are urged to file a complaint if they submitted documents or made payments.