Visa Scam Hits ‘Hundreds’ Of Filipinos In The UAE

Photo caption: Two persons allegedly involved in jobs and visa scam and transnational crime were arrested by authorities in Manila in July. | Photo by: PNP

Filipino expatriates in the UAE say they have lost thousands of dirhams after paying a Sharjah-based company for self-sponsored/freelance visas and related services that they allege were never delivered.

Several Filipinos told Gulf News they paid Dh6,000 to Dh8,500 to Trip Expert Business and Marketing Solutions, based in Sharjah (north of Dubai), after finding the company through social media, “influencers” or personal referrals.

Some said they received receipts and agreements but later struggled to contact the company or obtain their visas.

One applicant said she paid Dh8,100 (about ₱138,497) for a two-year “self-sponsored visa” after a friend visited the company’s office.

She said the office appeared legit at the time but later appeared to have been abandoned. A Filipino Facebook group put the number of those hit by the scam in the “hundreds”. The Philippine Consulate in Dubai and the Northern Emirates confirmed having received complaints, but did not give a figure.

A self-sponsored visa lets individuals live and work without a traditional employer sponsor in the UAE, through legitimate freelance, remote-work, investor or property-based residency routes.

An alleged victim said visa problems had left her facing more than Dh10,000 (about ₱170,968) in overstay fines. Another victim has filed a complaint with Dubai Police, according to Gulf News.

The daily said it contacted Trip Expert founder Junie Sorsano but had received no response when the report was published.

Sorsano, a vlogger/influencer, started out in the UAE 17 years ago as an ice cream parlor crew and later founded an online company selling Filipino-branded wrist watches, GMA reported.

In July, Philippine authorities arrested two women in Manila accused of illegally recruiting workers for non-existent jobs in the Gulf, following a probe showing at least 18 applicants had collectively paid ₱1.15 million as “processing fees”.

UAE authorities have urged applicants to process visas through official channels or licensed service providers and verify offers before making payments.