Scam Prevention FAQ — How to Protect Yourself as a Bangladeshi Applicant

What is the single most important question to ask any agent?

"What is the EDRPOU code of the Ukrainian employer?" If they cannot produce it, or if the number does not verify at data.gov.ua, stop. This one question eliminates the majority of Ukraine immigration scams, because fake job offers require a real employer — and real employers have verifiable EDRPOU codes.

How do I know if a Ukrainian company is genuinely operating?

Search data.gov.ua for the EDRPOU code. Check: registration status (active vs struck-off), registration date (recent registration = red flag), registered address (verify it exists on Google Maps), director name (does the video contact match the registered director?), charter capital (very low + zero revenue = shell company flag).

Is it safe to pay an agent before I have a verified work permit?

You should never pay a large sum upfront for a "guaranteed" process. A legitimate advisory charges modest documented fees for specific services (document review, verification, assessment). Upfront payments of BDT 2 lakh or more for "guaranteed visa + job" packages are a scam pattern in 99%+ of cases.

Can an agent in Bangladesh speed up my embassy appointment?

No. Bangladeshi agents have no relationship with the Ukrainian Embassy in Dhaka. Embassy appointments are booked directly by the applicant (or their legal representative with written authorisation). Any agent claiming to "arrange" a fast appointment is lying.

I already paid a large fee and now the agent is not responding. What do I do?

(1) Document everything — save all messages, receipts, contracts. (2) File a complaint with BMET (Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training). (3) Report to Bangladesh police (financial crime). (4) Contact BAIRA if the agent is a BAIRA member. (5) Do NOT pay more money to "release" your application — this is a second scam layer.

Can a BAIRA agent guarantee me a Ukrainian visa?

No. No one can guarantee a Ukrainian visa — or any visa. Visa decisions are made by the Ukrainian Embassy in Dhaka. A BAIRA agent who promises a guaranteed visa is either misleading you about what they can deliver or operating fraudulently. This is one of the clearest warning signs of an immigration scam targeting Bangladeshi workers.

Can a BAIRA agent issue a Ukrainian work permit?

No. Ukrainian work permits are issued exclusively by Ukraine's State Employment Service (Державна служба зайнятості). Only a registered Ukrainian employer can apply for a work permit on behalf of a foreign worker. No Bangladeshi recruiting agency, regardless of BAIRA licence status, has the authority to issue Ukrainian work permits. A document labelled "Ukrainian work permit" produced by a Bangladeshi agent should be treated as fraudulent until independently verified.

How do I verify a Ukrainian work permit is genuine?

Genuine Ukrainian work permits carry a unique registration number from the State Employment Service and are traceable in Ukrainian government databases. Kyiv Pathway offers a document verification service ($15) where we check the permit number against official State Employment Service records and provide a written verification report. If your agent refuses to provide the permit number or objects to verification — that is a major red flag.

An agent is asking for BDT 5,00,000 for a Ukraine visa. Is this normal?

No. The legitimate costs for a Ukraine work visa process — including legal fees in Ukraine, consular fee, translations, apostille, BMET clearance, and medical — typically total between BDT 80,000 and BDT 2,50,000 depending on complexity. A single agent charging BDT 5,00,000 or more, especially with a visa guarantee, is almost certainly operating a scam. The high fee is partly how the fraud is profitable — victims often cannot recover what they paid.

The agent has photos of workers in Ukraine and WhatsApp testimonials. Does this prove they are legitimate?

Not reliably. Photos and testimonials can be fabricated or purchased. They can also be genuine from previous cases while the agent is simultaneously running fraudulent operations. Legitimate proof requires verifiable work permits (with numbers that check out), references who can be called independently, and a written contract with refund terms. Photos alone prove nothing.

My work permit document looks official — it has a stamp and signature. Is it safe?

A convincing-looking document is not the same as a genuine document. Scammers produce forgeries that include stamps, signatures, and even Ukrainian government letterhead. Physical appearance is not verification. The only way to verify a Ukrainian work permit is to check the registration number against the State Employment Service database. Use our verification service or have a Ukrainian lawyer verify it directly.

Is it possible to get to Ukraine legally without paying BDT 5,00,000+?

Yes. Legal Ukraine migration through proper channels — employer-applied work permit, eligibility assessment, legitimate visa application — typically costs a fraction of what fraudulent agents charge. The legitimate process is slower (3–5 months from start to work permit issuance) but it is real. Anyone telling you that the only way is through a large upfront payment to them personally is lying.

How can I find a legitimate Ukrainian employer?

Ukrainian employers in sectors hiring Bangladeshi workers (construction, manufacturing, IT) can be found through Ukrainian job boards (rabota.ua, work.ua), recruitment agencies registered in Ukraine, or through verified diaspora networks. A legitimate employer will apply for the work permit through official channels and be willing to have their company registration verified (Ukrainian company registry: usr.minjust.gov.ua). They will not ask you to pay for your own work permit — that cost falls on the employer under Ukrainian law.

What is a legitimate recruiter fee vs extortion?

A legitimate recruiter earns their fee from the employer, not the job-seeker. In the Ukrainian context, lawful recruitment involves the Ukrainian employer paying a placement or search fee to a licensed recruiter. Any agent in Bangladesh charging you — the worker — a fee for "securing" the job or obtaining documents is operating outside lawful practice. Fees for specific, documented advisory services (eligibility assessment, document translation review, visa application assistance) are legitimate when modest and itemised. A single bundled fee of BDT 1,00,000 or more paid upfront before any documents exist is extortion, not a service fee. Always demand an itemised written contract before paying anything.

How do I check if a BAIRA agent's licence is valid?

BAIRA (Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies) maintains a member registry. You can verify an agency's licence status by contacting BAIRA directly at their Dhaka office or through their official website (baira.org.bd). Ask for the agent's BAIRA membership number and verify it against the registry. Note that a valid BAIRA licence only confirms the agency is registered — it does not mean the agent is operating legally or ethically in every case. Many scams are run by licenced BAIRA members. BAIRA licence verification is a necessary check, not a sufficient one. Also verify through BMET's list of approved overseas employment agencies (bmet.gov.bd).

What should I do if I suspect I've been scammed?

Act immediately: (1) Stop all further payments. Do not pay additional fees to "release" documents or "fix" the process — this is a common second-layer fraud. (2) Document everything: screenshots of all WhatsApp, Viber, and Facebook messages; photos of all documents and receipts; bank transfer records. (3) File a written complaint at your nearest Bangladesh police station (Thana) under financial fraud provisions. (4) Report to BMET's enforcement division (bmet.gov.bd) — they have a dedicated complaints process for overseas employment fraud. (5) If the agent is BAIRA-registered, file a written complaint with BAIRA's disciplinary committee. (6) Contact Kyiv Pathway for a free consultation — we can assess the documents you received and provide an honest evaluation of what, if anything, is real.

Can any agent guarantee a Ukraine visa?

No. This is an absolute. No person, organisation, or agency anywhere in the world can guarantee a Ukrainian visa. Visa decisions are made exclusively by Ukrainian consular officers at the Embassy of Ukraine in Dhaka. Consular officers exercise independent discretion in every application. Even a perfect application with all required documents can, in rare cases, result in a request for additional information or an interview. Anyone telling you they can guarantee a visa outcome is either deceiving you or does not understand how consular processing works. Treat any "guaranteed visa" claim as definitive evidence of fraudulent intent.

Verify before you pay anything

Our $15 document verification report checks the permit number against official State Employment Service records. If the permit is fake, we tell you before you lose more money.

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