Be wary of bogus Korean visa services, Pinoys advised

MANILA — Filipinos are advised to be wary of fake visa processing services offered online with an intent to lure workers to stay and work in South Korea.

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, which issued the advisory on Monday, said the fake visa processing services seek to target irregular migrants.

These services, which are usually advertised on Facebook, purport to provide assistance to Filipinos who wish to acquire a valid visa and enable them to legally work and stay in Korea. These services are supposed to be provided for “free” or for a “small” attorney’s fee.

According to the Embassy, there is no such service allowed by Korean authorities.

“The Korea Immigration Service (KIS) does not process the visa applications of irregular and undocumented migrants based in Korea,” the embassy said.

“Members of the Filipino Community are encouraged to advise kababayans (compatriots) not to entertain these schemes, nor spread these in social media,” it said.

At present, the Korean government or public institution administers the management of foreign workers. The Korean government, through the Employment Permit System, allows employers who have failed to hire local workforce, to legally employ foreign workers.