I. Overview and Why Due Diligence Matters

Visa and immigration work in the Philippines sits at the intersection of public regulation, consumer protection, data privacy, and—sometimes—legal practice. A “consultancy” can range from a business that only provides document preparation and process guidance to one that crosses into unauthorized practice of law, misrepresents government affiliation, or runs outright scams (e.g., “guaranteed approval,” “inside contacts,” “special lanes,” “fixers”).

Because clients often pay substantial fees and turn over sensitive personal information (passports, birth certificates, IDs, financial records), the two core risks are:

Immigration harm: denied applications, bans, overstays, blacklisting, or fraud findings due to incorrect filings or fabricated documents.
Financial and identity harm: non-delivery of services, overcharging, advance-fee fraud, and misuse of personal data.

Legitimacy is therefore not just “Are they registered?”—it is also Are they allowed to do what they claim, do they disclose fees, do they protect your data, and do their practices comply with Philippine law and government procedures?

II. Understand What “Legit” Can Mean in Philippine Practice

A visa/immigration “consultancy” can be “legit” in different senses:

A. Legit as a business entity (registration and licensing)

A firm may be properly set up as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation and have local permits—yet still engage in unethical or unlawful conduct.

B. Legit as a service provider (scope of services)

A consultancy may be lawful if it stays within permitted activities like:

explaining requirements and procedures,
organizing documents,
booking appointments (where allowed),
preparing forms based on client-provided information,
translating/photocopying/notarization coordination (through proper channels),
general process tracking.

C. Legit as a legal representative (practice of law)

Only licensed Philippine lawyers in good standing may provide legal advice, draft legal pleadings, and represent clients in legal proceedings. Immigration matters can involve legal advice (e.g., interpreting eligibility, responding to adverse findings, handling cancellations/blacklisting, drafting affidavits with legal implications). A non-lawyer consultancy presenting itself as able to “handle everything legally” may be a red flag.

D. Legit as an authorized liaison with government (accreditation/authorization)

Some activities require specific government accreditation/authority (depending on the agency and program). A consultancy that claims it is “authorized by BI,” “partnered with DFA,” or has “inside government access” should be treated skeptically unless it can show verifiable proof.

III. The Core Checklist: How to Verify Legitimacy

Step 1: Identify the exact legal identity of the provider

Ask for and verify:

Full legal name of the business (not just brand name)
Business registration details (SEC, DTI, or CDA, as applicable)
Tax identification and authority to issue receipts/invoices
Office address and landline (not only social media)
Names of owners/officers and the signatory on contracts

Red flags

refuses to disclose the registered name,
only provides a Facebook page and personal e-wallet number,
changes company name frequently,
asks payment to a personal bank account without receipts.

Step 2: Verify business registration and local permits

Request copies (not just screenshots) of:

SEC registration (corporation/partnership) or DTI registration (sole proprietor) or CDA registration (cooperative, if relevant)
Mayor’s/Business Permit for the current year
BIR registration (e.g., Certificate of Registration) and ability to issue official receipts

Practical verification tips

Compare the registered address to the actual office.
Ensure the permit is in the same name as the entity you are dealing with.
Confirm the scope of business stated (some registrations are generic; what matters is transparency and consistency).

Step 3: Confirm whether a lawyer is involved when the service requires legal advice

If the consultancy is offering:

eligibility opinions that depend on legal interpretation,
handling of adverse BI actions (cancellations, exclusions, blacklisting),
drafting affidavits and legal narratives,
representing you in hearings or legal correspondence,

ask:

Name of the lawyer, Roll of Attorneys number, and IBP chapter (Integrated Bar of the Philippines)
proof that the lawyer is in good standing (IBP details/appearance, professional letterhead, and clear engagement)

Warning sign: They say “we have a lawyer” but won’t name them, or they use a lawyer’s name only as a marketing tool without direct engagement and accountability.

Step 4: Scrutinize claims of government “connections,” “guaranteed approval,” or “special lanes”

In the Philippine context, anything resembling:

“guaranteed visa approval,”
“no need for personal appearance,”
“we can fix it,”
“we have people inside,”
“express approval for a fee,”

is a major red flag. Immigration approvals are discretionary and evidence-based. Promises of certainty often indicate misrepresentation, bribery solicitation, document fraud, or advance-fee scams.

Step 5: Insist on a written contract with clear scope, timeline, and fee structure

A legitimate firm should provide a contract/engagement letter that clearly states:

exact scope (what they will and won’t do),
client responsibilities (truthful info, timely submission, attendance),
itemized fees (professional fees vs. government fees),
refund policy and what triggers non-refundability,
timeline estimates with conditions and caveats,
data privacy commitments (how documents are stored, shared, retained),
dispute resolution and venue.

Red flags

“No contract needed.”
vague “package” pricing with hidden add-ons,
refusal to put refund policy in writing,
pressure to pay in full upfront without milestones.

Step 6: Demand official receipts and traceable payment channels

In the Philippines, consumers should expect:

official receipt (OR) or valid invoice for payments,
company bank account name matching the entity,
acknowledgment of payments with reference numbers.

Red flags

payment only via cash, personal GCash/Maya, or personal accounts,
“discount” if no receipt,
refusal to issue OR.

Step 7: Evaluate the firm’s document-handling and anti-fraud stance

A legitimate consultancy should:

refuse fabricated documents,
warn against “fixers,”
explain that you must sign and confirm information,
provide copies of what gets filed/submitted,
return original documents promptly with a checklist.

Red flags

offers “template bank statements,” “sponsor letters,” or “employment certificates,”
asks you to sign blank forms or affidavits,
won’t give you copies of submissions,
discourages you from contacting the agency directly.

Step 8: Check physical presence and professional operations

Not all legitimate firms have large offices, but you should be able to verify:

a real office address (or disclosed remote-work setup),
stable contact details,
consistent personnel and documentation procedures,
clear complaint-handling process.

Red flags

constantly changing meeting locations,
“pop-up” offices,
no verifiable staff identities,
refuses video calls or office visits while requesting sensitive originals.

IV. Philippine Legal Framework: What Laws and Rules Commonly Apply

This section explains the main legal concepts a client should understand. It is not exhaustive of all agency regulations, but it covers the most relevant legal anchors in Philippine context.

A. Consumer protection and unfair/deceptive acts

If the consultancy markets services to the public, it may be subject to Philippine consumer protection principles against misrepresentation, deceptive sales acts, and unfair practices—especially when it makes false claims about approval, affiliation, pricing, or outcomes.

Typical violations in visa scams

advertising “DFA-accredited” or “BI partner” without basis,
bait-and-switch pricing,
fake “government fee” markups.

B. Estafa (swindling) and fraud-related offenses

When money is taken through deceit or false pretenses—particularly with promises of processing that never occurs—criminal liability may arise under laws penalizing fraud and swindling behavior.

Common patterns

“processing fee” collected, no filing made,
fake receipts/appointment confirmations,
repeated requests for additional fees to “release” the visa.

C. Falsification and use of falsified documents

Providing fake supporting documents can expose both the preparer and the client to serious legal consequences (criminal and administrative), and can lead to visa denial, blacklisting, or future inadmissibility depending on the destination and agency.

A legitimate firm will be strict about document authenticity and will refuse to fabricate.

D. Data privacy and handling of sensitive personal information

Visa processing involves sensitive personal data. Under Philippine data privacy principles, service providers should:

collect only necessary data,
use it only for stated purposes,
secure and limit access,
have a retention and disposal policy,
respond to data subject concerns.

Red flags

asking for unrelated data,
storing unencrypted passport scans in shared drives without controls,
sharing documents with “partners” without consent.

E. Unauthorized practice of law (UPL) concerns

Non-lawyers who hold themselves out as able to provide legal representation, legal advice, or legal drafting may create UPL issues. This matters to clients because:

you may lose recourse if advice was given by an unaccountable non-lawyer,
you may be harmed by incorrect legal interpretations,
filings involving affidavits and sworn statements can have legal consequences.

A proper setup is one where:

non-lawyer staff do administrative support, and
a named lawyer provides legal services under a clear engagement.

F. Immigration agency rules and anti-fixer policies

Philippine government agencies involved in immigration and travel documentation often have strong anti-fixer messaging. If a consultancy’s “value proposition” is circumvention, special access, or bribery, treat it as illegitimate and dangerous.

V. Practical Verification: Questions to Ask and Documents to Request

A. Identity and registration

What is your registered business name and registration number?
Are you registered with SEC/DTI/CDA and BIR?
Do you issue official receipts?
Who signs the contract—owner/officer—and can I see valid ID?

B. Scope and process

What exactly will you do versus what I must do?
Will you submit anything on my behalf? If yes, what authority do you require?
Will you give me copies of all submissions and reference numbers?
How do you handle government fees—do I pay directly or through you?

C. Lawyer involvement (if relevant)

Are you a lawyer? If not, which lawyer is responsible for legal advice?
Will the lawyer meet me and sign communications?
How are complaints handled if advice was wrong?

D. Risk and compliance

Do you ever propose alternative documents if requirements are lacking?
What is your policy on authenticity and misrepresentation?
What happens if the agency requests additional information or schedules an interview?

E. Data privacy

Where do you store my documents?
Who has access?
When do you delete them?
Do you share data with third parties, and on what basis?

VI. Common Scam Patterns in the Philippines and How to Spot Them

1) “Guaranteed visa” and “sure approval”

No one can guarantee approval. A consultant can only improve completeness and presentation, not override discretion.

2) “No appearance needed” for processes that normally require it

If personal appearance, biometrics, or interview is normally required, bypass claims are suspicious unless supported by official, verifiable policy.

3) Fake government receipts, appointment slots, or reference numbers

Ask for:

original transaction confirmation,
verifiable reference numbers,
direct access to official portals where feasible.

4) Overstating accreditation

Phrases like “accredited by embassy” can be misleading. Some embassies use authorized service providers, but that is not the same as a private “consultancy” being accredited.

5) Holding original passports and IDs without clear safeguards

Some processes require passport handling, but it must be documented:

written acknowledgment receipt,
secure storage,
clear return schedule.

6) Pressure tactics

“Promo ends today,” “slots running out,” “pay now or your case will be denied”—often designed to prevent verification.

VII. Safer Ways to Engage a Consultancy (Risk-Reducing Practices)

A. Pay in milestones, not purely upfront

Structure payments to align with deliverables:

initial assessment,
document compilation,
submission/filing,
post-submission follow-up.

B. Keep originals, submit certified copies when allowed

Only surrender originals when a process explicitly requires it, and always get a written receipt.

C. Maintain your own file

Keep:

scanned copies of everything,
receipts and invoices,
email threads and chat logs,
submission confirmations.

D. Use direct payment for government fees where possible

If an agency allows direct payment, pay directly to reduce risk of fee skimming and to improve transparency.

E. Do not allow false statements “for convenience”

Even small “adjustments” (inflated income, fake employment) can have severe consequences.

VIII. What to Do if You Suspect a Consultancy Is Not Legit

A. Stop further payments and secure your documents

Ask for return of originals immediately.
Request a written accounting of funds received and services performed.
Save all evidence: receipts, chats, call logs, names, account numbers.

B. Verify directly with the relevant agency or official channels

If you suspect something is off, confirm your application status through official contact points or portals (where available).

C. Consider administrative and legal remedies

Depending on facts, possible actions include:

filing a complaint with consumer protection authorities for deceptive practices,
filing criminal complaints where fraud, estafa, or falsification is involved,
pursuing civil remedies for breach of contract and damages,
reporting data privacy issues if personal data was mishandled.

The appropriate route depends on:

whether there was deception at the time of taking money,
whether documents were forged or misused,
whether a contract existed and what it provides,
the amount of loss and evidence available.

D. If there is immigration harm, correct it quickly

Where a flawed filing has been made in your name, immediate remedial steps can reduce damage:

obtain copies of what was submitted,
consult a qualified professional (often a lawyer for adverse actions),
prepare truthful corrections and explanations where needed.

IX. Special Context: Overseas Job/Placement “Visa Assistance” Claims

Many Philippine scams tie visas to employment abroad. Distinguish:

immigration assistance (visa process) vs.
recruitment/placement (promising overseas jobs).

If a “consultancy” is also offering overseas employment placement, additional rules can apply and the risk profile rises. Typical red flags include:

large “placement” or “processing” fees without transparent employer documentation,
vague job offers, no verifiable employer,
pressure to surrender passport early,
promises that visas will be obtained “through connections.”

Treat job-plus-visa bundles with extra caution and verify each component separately.

X. Model Red-Flag Scoring Guide (Practical Tool)

Consider the following as a quick internal scoring method:

High-risk (any one may be enough to walk away):

guaranteed approval / inside connections
proposes fabricated documents
refuses contract / refuses receipts
won’t disclose legal identity or registered name
asks for large payment to personal accounts only

Medium-risk (requires strong proof and safeguards):

vague “package” fees
cannot name responsible personnel
won’t provide copies of submissions
holds originals without written acknowledgment

Low-risk indicators (positive signs):

transparent registration and receipts
written contract with itemized costs
clear boundaries of service scope
documented data protection practices
consistent advice aligned with official requirements, no shortcuts

XI. Key Takeaways

A real office and social media presence are not enough; verify legal identity, receipts, and contracts.
Be wary of “fixer logic”: guarantees, shortcuts, and connections are hallmark red flags.
If the service involves legal interpretation or adverse immigration actions, ensure a licensed lawyer is accountable.
Demand copies, reference numbers, and traceable payments.
Protect your personal data: strong consultancies behave like custodians of sensitive information, not casual handlers of passport scans.