TT - AIT requires face-to-face interviews for kids' US visas

From my archive of press clippings:

Taipei Times

AIT requires face-to-face interviews for kids' US visas


By Jenny W. hsu

STAFF REPORTER


Saturday, Jun 20, 2009, Page 2

“Too often, we have found instances where people who were not Taiwan citizens have been able to obtain genuine Taiwan passports.”— Stephen Young, AIT director

Starting on July 1, Taiwanese passport holders under the age of 14 will require a face-to-face interview with a US immigration officer when applying for a US visa, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"The announcement was posted on the official AIT Web site yesterday, but the AIT was reluctant to comment on whether the policy change was in response to human trafficking arrests made last month.

The ring, headed by Taiwanese and Chinese “snakeheads,” used personal information from Taiwanese Aboriginal children under age 14 but used pictures of underage Chinese girls to apply for Republic of China passports.

The passports were then used to obtain a US visa.

The victims often ended up working in brothels or sweatshops upon arriving in the US, Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency said."

&

"Persons above age 79 are still exempt from the interview process. When asked if the policy change was in response to the recent human trafficking case, AIT spokesman Thomas Hodges yesterday declined to give a direct answer, but referred to comments made by AIT Director Stephen Young.

Asked about the possibility of including Taiwan in the US’ visa-waiver program last December, Young said: “Too often, we have found instances where people who were not Taiwan citizens have been able to obtain genuine Taiwan passports.” "