Pinoy dentist in London in hot water over work permits

A Filipino dentist practicing on Harley Street in London’s high-end medical district is being haled to court for allegedly duping her fellow Filipinos to land a job in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Ressie Reyes Macaraeg, who runs Ocean Implants & Cosmetic Dentistry and Ocean Care Recruitment, is at the center of a brewing scandal after at least three Filipinos complained of her alleged dishonest operations.

Every applicant paid £4,000 (P277,171) to Macaraeg to process their papers, but they never got the certificates of sponsorship (COS) they were promised, according to Balita Pinoy.

A COS is needed for work permit applications, which, in turn, are needed to apply for a visa to either enter or remain in the UK.

Balita Pinoy said many of her supposed clients are facing the prospect of being illegal immigrants as their original visas are about to lapse.

Macaraeg disputes fault

While Macaraeg admitted she owed the money claimed, she disputed being at fault. She said she is already arranging for the repayment of the monies owed.

Macaraeg, who maintained she was both a dentist and a recruiter, has also submitted to the court that she intends to defend the claims.

She added she is not an immigration advisor, although she concedes she submitted applications on behalf of clients to the UK Home Office and Border Agency for visas.

But Balita Pinoy said a search of the records of the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner shows no record of either Macaraeg or either of her companies registered with them.

Registration is a requirement under UK law unless the adviser is also a lawyer. — JE, GMA News

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