$14,000 to Revive the Rejected Visa

Giving only $3,000 to the employees of the tax office – we rang up the six U.S. telephone number written down on the advertisements titled, “Urgent Business in America?” “Sort out Visa Rejection,” etc. in which four out of the six rang back without displaying its source’s telephone number.

In order to avoid the regulations and attract its main guests, Korean residences in the U.S. insert their advertisement only in newspapers published in the U.S. for Koreans. Usually, Koreans living in the U.S., eager to bring their relatives to the U.S., have turned to these brokers.

The brokers requests $5,000 to $7,000 for their expenses.

“Our Korean agent will carry through the process instead,” said Mr. Kim, who requested $6,000, adding, “The most important thing is the grade A earned income tax. We purchase the genuine ones from the employees of the tax office, paying $4,000 for each person.” He guaranteed that even the ambassador will not figure it out, once he uses the genuine one.

When we asked ”L” Consulting about having been rejected when issuing the visa, they requested $15,000 saying, “If we add more content on the application, there will be no problem, but the price would be a bit more.” “L” Consulting added that they usually issue 300 to 400 illegal visas a month.

The broker, who introduced himself as “Andong Jang,” asked to prepare the related documents and the retaining fee of $250, and show up at the 8th entrance of Myungdong subway station, Seoul.

When the appointed time rolled around, a man, who appeared to be in his fifties, 165 cm tall, was accosted. The broker rang up at the same time. This man introduced himself as a carpenter working in the construction yards. He said that he knows nothing, for he takes only the errands three to four times a week.

These people said that if they succeed in issuing visas, they would come by the customer’s house in two to three days later to get the money adding, “If you do not pay, we will get your passport instead and sell it to China.”

Only the memorizing work matter – In the case of ”Hong” (31), arrested on October 15, she issued a certification of annual income through the brokers and went through the inspection of issuing visa at the U.S. Embassy, but made an error at the interview.

Carrying out the application as a proxy and making out the question and answer list three days before the day of the interview, the broker told “Hong” to memorize it. But “Hong” became nervous, making mistakes when the interviewer asked the telephone number of the company and of the employees.

On November 14, the police arrested the former 7th class tax officer, “Cho” (47), under suspicion of receiving $1,000 to forget the tax receipt and to issue the income certificate of “Hong” at East Suwon tax office, who made use of the tax data of “J” restaurant, which had been under his charge.

However, both “Cho” and “Hong” were not aware of the specific identity of the brokers. Police also checked out that “Ji” (27) had already left for the U.S. in October, making use of the documents “Cho” made for her.

The U.S. Embassy passed on that in 2002, about 400,000 people were issued U.S. visas in Korea, 90 percent of whom are issued B1 and B2 class visas, equivalent to a sightseeing visa. Although Korea issues the fifth biggest number of U.S. visa annually, the new regulations, the Non Immigration Visa (NIV) system has been enacted, which prohibits people from applying for visas through tourist agencies, and it is now harder to issue a U.S. visa.

tesomiom@donga.com