Information about illegal recruitment:

A number of unfortunate cases have been brought to the attention of many of us regarding the plight of numerous foreign workers that were duped into giving large sums of money to people for promised jobs overseas.  Through this page, we hope to disseminate information for those wishing to find jobs in the U.S., in particular, and around the world, in general, so they may be warned of these illegal activities.

In Texas, for instance, legitimate business entities are governed by Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes Title 32 (click here for more details) and are required to register with the Secretary of State, Corporations Section in order to operate and be subject to taxation.   A very helpful step, therefore, for the intending foreign worker is to make an inquiry either in writing (James Earl Rudder Office Bldg., 1019 Brazos, Austin, Texas 78701, Tel.: 512-463-5555) or on-line through the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts website (click here to visit the site).  Each U.S. state or foreign country should have similar agencies that may be contacted or accessed through the web for business status verification purposes.

In the Philippines, the POEA (Philipine Overseas Employment Administration) maintains a similar website of licensed placement agencies to protect workers from unscrupulous recruiters.   The Philippine government prohibits anybody from conducting recruitment activities (including placing of newspaper advertisement) without applying for a license (click here for the requirements) and slaps stiff fines and/or imprisonment against those who violate this law.

Recently, a Houston-based recruiter was indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Alien Smuggling and Visa Fraud, Mail Fraud and Money Laundering in connection with alleged illegal recruitment of Filipino teachers by bribing school officials with free Asian trips.  Click here to read the details of this indictment.

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