Press Releases 04~05

Media Reports on Hanam Students Are Not True

July 20, 2004

Erroneous reports in the press on July 20 indicate that “The dream of Hanam City middle & high school students to receive language training in the U.S. was frustrated because the U.S. Embassy refused to grant them visas, citing their parents’ low income and tax payments.” These stories are not true. The U.S. Embassy has never received applications from this group, and therefore had no reason to refuse visa issuance.

An independent investigation by the U.S. Embassy’s consular office found that some 30 students from Hanam sent a fax to the Embassy’s non-immigration visa section on July 8 through a travel agent, requesting a special emergency interview to enable them to depart Korea for the U.S. on July 22. Because the visa interview schedule was fully booked through August 20, the Embassy called the travel agent the following day, July 9, and explained that a special interview was not possible.

There is no truth to press report that these students “whose parents have little or no property or tax payment records” were “emotionally hurt” by the U.S. Embassy, since visa applications were never made. The Embassy would be happy to consider the students’ case at any date when appointments are available for an interview.

The U.S. Embassy regrets these erroneous reports. In order to prevent such mistakes in the future, we ask that inquiries on issues concerning the Embassy be directed ahead of time to the Public Affairs Office of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, at phone number 397-4637.