Big trouble is brewing! The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has shut down 8 offices of a company that was allegedly tricking people into thinking they could easily get teaching jobs in the United States.
They weren’t just warning them — they actually locked the doors and shut the business down!
🔐 Offices Padlocked in Davao, Zamboanga, Cebu & More
On August 1, 2025, DMW officers and police arrived at one of the branches in Barangay Maa, Davao City, and officially closed the office. They even put a padlock on the door!
Another office in Zamboanga City was also shut down, and the one in Cebu was closed too — this time with the help of Cebu’s city legal team.
This wasn’t just one small office. This company had 8 branches around the Philippines. And now, they’re all in serious hot water. 💥
🧑🏫 Big Promises, But No Real Proof
The agency was allegedly offering job opportunities in the U.S. for people who wanted to work as:
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👩🏫 Teachers
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🏨 Hospitality workers (like in hotels or restaurants)
They told applicants they could earn between $40,000 to $100,000 per year — that’s about P2.3 million to P5.8 million in Filipino money! Sounds amazing, right?
But here’s the catch:
DMW says the company wasn’t licensed to do this kind of recruitment.
“Only recruitment agencies that we gave licenses to are allowed to do this,” said DMW Region 11 Director Maria Carolina Agdamag.
“This company, Visa for America, is not a licensed agency.”
🛂 J-1 and H1B Visas Offered… But No Clear Jobs
The agency was reportedly offering two types of U.S. visas:
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J-1 Visa – for exchange visitors
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H1B Visa – for skilled workers
But even though they claimed they’d help process your visa and find you a job, they didn’t say when people would actually leave or start working. 🚫✈️
😕 Employees Say They Didn’t Know
Surprisingly, some workers inside the company didn’t even realize they were doing something wrong.
“The employees said they thought they were just doing visa consulting,” Agdamag explained.
“They didn’t know it might count as illegal recruitment.”
Still, if complaints are filed, people involved in the operations could be charged with illegal recruitment — and that’s a serious crime.
🕵️♀️ Cebu Investigates, Public Warned to Be Careful
In Cebu, the city government is now checking if the company even had permission to run its business there. 🧐
Meanwhile, the DMW is telling everyone:
“Be careful! Always check if the agency is licensed before you give money or documents.”
“Visit the agency in person if you can,” said Atty. Marieta Labong Dela Cruz, head of the DMW Adjudication Bureau.
“And always ask for an official receipt when you pay anything.”
📣 Victims: Speak Up Now!
If you’ve ever:
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Paid this agency 💸
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Sent them your personal documents 📑
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Believed they would get you a job abroad 🌍
👉 DMW is asking you to file a complaint immediately.
This will help the investigation and possibly stop other people from being fooled too.
🚨 What’s the Lesson?
Even if something sounds like a dream job, always make sure:
✅ The agency has a license from DMW
✅ You ask for official receipts
✅ You understand everything you’re signing
✅ You don’t hand over money or documents blindly
Because sometimes, behind the promises, there could be big danger.
