It is a sad fact that scammers here in the Philippines continue to hound people using a wide variety of methods. The scammers – both locals and foreigners – have gotten so sophisticated and arrogant, they dared to target Filipinos who are pursuing United States visas. That said, the US Embassy in Manila officially warned Filipinos about visa scams and they clarified that applicants should rely only on official sources of the US when it comes to visa applications and processes, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
The United States Embassy in the Philippines has warned Filipino visa applicants about scammers who claim they can guarantee approval, reminding the public that US visas are issued only after a proper evaluation by consular officers.
In an advisory posted on its official social media pages, the embassy stressed that visa applicants should obtain information only from official US government sources and be wary of individuals offering shortcuts or guaranteed approvals.
“We cannot guarantee visa issuance. If someone guarantees you a visa, it is a scam,” the embassy said.
The embassy emphasized that it does not communicate with applicants through Viber or Telegram, endorse travel agencies or lawyers, accommodate special connections or shortcuts, or guarantee the approval of visa applications.
It reiterated that every application is evaluated individually under US immigration laws, and the final decision rests solely with consular officers.
The embassy advised applicants to rely only on its official website, the U.S. Visa Customer Service Center website, and the US Department of State’s visa page for accurate information on visa requirements and procedures.
It also reminded the public that official embassy emails end only with the @state.gov or @ustraveldocs.com domains.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Were you a victim of scammers with regards to applying for a US visa? Do you know anyone who got scammed over the same purpose?
You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.
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