THE RISK OF FAKING DEGREES

“On September 3, 2005: Post-offices across the UAE have started accepting certificates under the Degree Verification Program which is being carried out in partnership with Integra Screen, one of the world’s leading providers of immigration screening and document verification services.

This follows the appointment of Emirates Post as Integra Screen’s exclusive partner in the UAE Degree Verification Program. The project is being carried out by Integra Screen on behalf of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

The Degree Verification program involves conducting educational background verification for all individuals who are required to produce educational certificates prior to obtaining their UAE residence Visa and working permits.

As the UAE attracts jobseekers from all over the world, it is essential to adopt fool-proof verification techniques to ensure that only genuine candidates are selected for the job market. Emirates Post is glad to support this national initiative by providing convenient single-window services to customers.”

 Dubai has been so strict with regards to the educational background of its expats.  Unlike in the past few years, the Ministry of labor in Dubai has been closely monitoring and screening the qualifications of all job applicants.

According to the Ministry, this has to be done to protect the working environment of Dubai. Many expats were cheating by faking their degrees to get job with much higher salary but without any qualification at all. Their documents seemed to be legal and authenticated but in the actual application they were very poor.

In place where competition of work is at its strongest level, everybody (sorry to say this) can cheat. This is one better way to survive. I don’t condemn my fellow Filipinos who are doing this. Like me, they eat, they drink, they dream. The main core of this issue is at risk. The families at home, the realization of our goals that our country can’t offer were just some basic reasons.  However, I am not saying that only Filipinos are doing this kind of thing. This scenario is a world-wide fact.

For long time, this was the trend. A jobseeker had to go to RECTO to pay for 100 to 150 USD and 2 days later he could have the authenticated documents (Transcript of Records, Diploma, Certificates, and Birth Certificate). With this “authenticated” documents you could have a chance to come in Dubai or any cities of the world and find a work based on your documents. If you were lucky, the Ministry of Labor without any questions, as long as the authenticated documents were stamped and signed by UAE Embassy in Manila, grants you working permit. Enjoy!

But that was before. Today is totally different. Authenticated documents whether they are real or fancy are no longer the basic requirements to earn a job. The UAE had implemented a new rule. There is now the so-called “Degree Verification Program”. Here’s on how to do it: A jobseeker (professional), having a potential employer has to go to the Post-Office and ask for Degree Verification form.  This form, including the mailing envelope costs AED 510.00 or around USD 140.00. After supplying all the information (basically about the school, where you graduated, in what year, what degree/course, seat number and so on and so forth). And of course, you have to sign the form and authorize the UAE Post-office (with its partner, Integra Screen) to do the verification. If the result is favorable, the Ministry grants you working permit and the UAE government gives you residence (employment) visa. Well, that is if you are in good faith. What if, you have these fake documents?