Honduras: Investigation reveals work visa fraud scheme

An investigation has revealed that Jorge Ermin Espinales Torres, a former congressional candidate for the Libertad y Refundación (Libre) party, allegedly sold work visas for amounts ranging from $10,500 to $12,000. These fraudulent transactions involved promising individuals job placements, housing, and transportation in the United States in exchange for large sums of money.

The scheme utilized the term “cupo” (spot) to reserve positions, a practice the Ministry of Labor has warned against since 2020. The Ministry emphasizes that all registration processes for the Programa de Trabajo Temporal en el Extranjero (PTTE) are free of charge and should be conducted through official digital platforms to ensure legal and orderly temporary labor migration.

To avoid scams, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (SETRASS) advises citizens to use the official PTTE platform for registration and warns that no payments should be made to intermediaries to join the program's database.