The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in the Philippines has warned overseas jobseekers against an illegal student visa scheme by recruitment agencies, reports PhilStar Global. DMW Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said there are recruitment companies that are offering overseas jobs and require exorbitant processing fees, but only provide student visa instead of a working visa. “Deployment of workers abroad in the guise of student visa processing is considered an illegal recruitment,” he said. The Department has also included immigration consultancy firms offering student visas in its crackdown on illegal recruitment.

The government was able to shut down a number of immigration consultancy firms found engaging in such scheme, according to Cacdac. “The number one indicator is if you are applying for work and don’t have plans to study. If you are offered student visa arrangement, there is something wrong there,” he said. Cacdac added that the Department of Foreign Affairs would extend assistance to victims who are already abroad.

Last week, victims of a large-scale illegal student visa scheme went to the DMW to seek assistance. The victims said they were required to pay at least PHP 100,000 (USD 1,828) for the processing of student visas to Canada.