US Embassy: No secret, no special formula to getting a US visa 

The United States Embassy in Manila recently launched a "Walang Sikreto" (No Secret) campaign to let Filipinos know that there is no secret formula to getting a US visa. In an email to GMA News Online, Tina Malone, Information Officer of the US Embassy, said: “There really is no secret or special formula to getting a US visa.” The "Walang Sikreto" campaign, launched on October 16, aims to deter fraudulent individuals who are preying on Filipinos applying for a US visa.

 

The campaign aims to make Filipinos aware that the official and best source of information about US visas is the website of the US Embassy.

 

Malone said the embassy launched the campaign because Filipinos fall prey to scammers as they try to get a US visa.

 

“Too many Filipinos get scammed by sending money to individuals whom they have never met, who promise to arrange visa interviews, but the visa interview never materializes,” she said.

Visa fixers Malone said in the past, the US Embassy focused its efforts on catching visa applicants who have used visa fixers.

 

In most of the cases, the applicants borrowed money to pay visa fixers but did not receive a visa.

 

However, the US Embassy realized that it was better to get to the root of the problem.

 

“[W]e have decided to emphasize greater prevention in protecting Filipino applicants from losing their money and becoming permanently barred from traveling to the United States by using visa fixers or being scammed,” Malone explained.     "Walang Sikreto"

 

In an earlier news release, the US Embassy said the “Walang Sikreto” campaign has four goals: 

 

 

Most of the targets of visa scams are tourists, students, and aspiring temporary workers who are usually gullible to “surefire formulas,” the US Embassy noted.

 

What to avoid

 

Malone warned the public that if something “sounds too good to be true, it isn’t true.”

 

She said there several scamming styles but one stands out as the most common modus operandi.

 

“An individual, “a friend of a friend,” or a travel agent promises or guarantees to get someone a U.S. visa. The visa fixer charges the individual 20,000 to 100,000 pesos or more to help the individual,” she said.

 

“In many of the visa scams you will never meet the person.  All contact will be through the phone or e-mail,” she added.

 

Malone also mentioned that visa fixers usually claim to have a contact inside the Embassy who will help you get your visa.

 

“Don’t believe them!” she warned.

 

“In the end, the visa applicant [who trusts scammers] loses all of his or her money and ends up being banned permanently from traveling to the United States,” she said. Go to US Embassy website   

 

To prevent being scammed, Malone said applicants should go to the embassy website and use the information and resources there to apply for a visa.

 

“Do not use an agency or individual who makes special promises or guarantees to get you a visa or encourages you to lie or misrepresent yourself,” she said.  

 

“Do not respond to text messages or e-mails which promise to get you a US visa,” she added. - VVP, GMA News