Recently, the Philippine Bureau of Immigration launched a special inspection operation targeting the chaos of "affiliated work visas," destroying multiple illegal intermediary networks, deporting dozens of Chinese with fake 9G work visas, and blacklisting them from entering the country for the next five years.
According to official data, since 2024, more than 120 foreigners (mainly from China and Vietnam) have been investigated for work visa affiliation issues. Most of these people applied for the so-called "guaranteed pass, no need to work but can get a work visa" service through domestic intermediaries, actually using fake companies and forged materials to apply for visas.
Mr. Lin (pseudonym) from Fujian, who paid 80,000 yuan to an intermediary, was promised a managed work visa without the need to work, but his visa was canceled and he was deported during a sudden inspection by the immigration bureau because the employer's company had no actual operations. He said, "They even knew where I lived, and I had no chance to appeal."
The investigation found that common practices in work visa affiliation include forging employment relationships, fabricating salary information, and even bribing immigration officers. Once something goes wrong, the intermediary absconds with the money, leaving the victims to bear the legal responsibility alone. More seriously, once blacklisted by the immigration bureau, not only can they not enter the Philippines again, but they may also be notified by other countries, affecting their global visa records and even causing transnational legal issues.
Philippine practicing lawyers remind that many people do not realize that the visa they applied for is invalid until they are deported. Therefore, it is advised to always remember the "three no-touch rules for work visa fraud prevention":
Do not believe in false advertising such as "guaranteed pass without interview, company affiliation";
Do not use unlicensed intermediaries, always check if they have legal qualifications from the immigration bureau;
Do not take shortcuts, always confirm that the employer genuinely exists and can pay taxes and social security.
The Philippines is becoming increasingly strict in visa scrutiny, and being blacklisted can have very serious consequences, not only losing money and freedom but also potentially affecting the future overseas opportunities of relatives. Working abroad should be legal and compliant, and one should not fall into an irreversible abyss for the sake of convenience.
