To avoid being victimized by swindlers, the Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO) in London warns Filipinos about their schemes. Here are the guidelines:

• Collection of recruitment fees from applicants are not allowed according to the United Kingdom (UK) employment regulations. Sponsorship fees are also prohibited.

• Beware of job offers coursed through the internet especially if the applicants are required to send out money as payment for work permits, visa processing fees, and other charges.

• The new UK Points Based System (PBS) allows only high skilled professionals to be eligible for work visa to the UK except for job offers that are included in the shortage occupation list. Currently, semi-skilled and low-skilled jobs in the industries of retail business, construction, manufacturing, hospitality and other sectors are no longer open to non-Europeans.
• The UK Immigration no longer issues work permit for entry visa purposes because work permit is no longer required for visa applications under the new UK PBS immigration rule as it is already replaced by the new sponsorship system. The UK Immigration issues sponsorship licenses to UK employers. UK employers then send a certificate of sponsorship to their chosen applicant in the Philippines as candidate's supporting document for online visa applications made with the British Embassy in Manila.

• Travel agencies, immigration consultants, recruitment agencies, solicitors, and other agents in the UK cannot act as sponsor and are also prohibited to process or apply for working visas in the Kingdom in behalf of the applicant.

• Applicants must personally file for UK visa application at the British Embassy in Manila through the UK Visa Application Centre. Filipino candidates must remember that the supporting documents for the said application should come from their UK employer such as the certificate of sponsorship, employment contract, letter from employer to provide maintenance, financial evidence from employer, and others.
• Make sure that the necessary documents furnished by the UK employer are the original copies duly verified and authenticated by POLO-London.

The Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO) in London is nestled at 6 Suffolk Street, London, SW1Y 4HG. Filipinos may also reach them through telephone nos. 0044-(0)20-7451-1832/1833 or via their email polo_london13@yahoo.co.uk

For more guidance, visit this page.  Also, Check www.vfs-uk-ph.com for the simple steps t 

For jobs available in UK, visit www.workabroad.ph. Use POEA mobile application to check the legitimacy of the recruitment agencies and their job offers.  Haven't downloaded the app yet?  Click here if you are using an Android phone and click this link for iPhones.