NYT Exposes Abuses by U.S. Organizations
Recruiting Trainees Through J-1 Visas for Commission Profits
Violations of Working Hours and Industrial Accidents Rampant
Case of Korean University Student Highlighted...Currently in Litigation
State De
As the U.S. Department of State has resumed the visa issuance process for foreign students and trainees, which had been temporarily suspended, a long line of people waiting to receive visas is forming in front of the U.S. Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul on June 23, 2025. Photo by Jo Yongjun
There have been cases where the J-1 (non-immigrant exchange visitor) visa program, which is issued for the purpose of cultural exchange in the United States, has been exploited by unscrupulous organizations and used as a form of "modern-day slavery." Foundations in the U.S. recruit trainees using the J-1 visa as bait, collect fees in exchange for connecting them with companies in the U.S., profit from selling insurance, and turn a blind eye to labor exploitation issues.
According to the New York Times (NYT) on December 25 (local time), more than 300,000 people enter the United States each year on a J-1 visa. The J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa issued for the purpose of cultural exchange and training, and is granted to interns, researchers, and others. The NYT explained that, due to the U.S. government's inadequate regulation of the J-1 visa, there are numerous cases of unfair profits and conflicts of interest.
The NYT highlighted the case of a Korean university student, identified as Kang, as one of the victims. In 2023, Kang entered the United States after seeing promotional materials for the J-1 visa, which described it as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." To obtain the J-1 visa, Kang paid a fee of about $5,000 (approximately 725,000 KRW) to an organization called "J-1 Visa Exchange."
Kang was assigned to work at a steel mill in Indiana. There, he received almost no job training and was forced to clean septic tanks. Although he had expected an internship focused on cultural exchange and training, the reality was very different. When Kang complained to the company, he was fired. He is currently pursuing legal action in the United States. Throughout this process, the "sponsor" provided no assistance at all.
Organizations like "J-1 Visa Exchange" typically recruit university students and trainees in Korea through job fairs and similar events. These organizations act as intermediaries, connecting J-1 visa students and trainees with companies in the United States, and are referred to as "sponsors." Many sponsors operate as for-profit or non-profit foundations.
The "World International Student Exchange" (WISE), established in 1990, is a representative example. By 2023, WISE was recruiting 3,300 J-1 visa workers annually. The organization earned $4.9 million (about 7.1 billion KRW) in fees alone during this process.
Foreign students recruited by the WISE Foundation in 2012 and brought to the United States also suffered harm. They were sent to a seafood processing plant in Alaska, where they endured grueling labor for up to 19 hours a day. They reported the foundation to the Department of State, which oversees the J-1 visa program.
In 2019, other foreign students were sent to a pig farm in Nebraska, where they worked 12 hours a day. One trainee pointed out, "There were problems with working hours, and if you got injured on the job, you couldn't go to the hospital." Those who reported the situation to the Department of State said they were threatened with deportation if they protested, adding, "It felt like slavery."
In 2024, a serious industrial accident occurred. A German student working at a farm in Oklahoma suffered a severe disability when a truck tire exploded, causing a skull fracture.
While such abuses continued, foundation operators profited from the fees collected from J-1 visa holders and companies. David Dahl, the founder of the WISE Foundation, received $520,000 (about 750 million KRW) per year and moved into a mansion of more than 200 pyeong (approximately 7,000 square feet). According to the NYT's investigation, the foundation's board consisted of the founder's wife, parents, and other relatives.
The American Institute For Foreign Study maximized profits not only by collecting fees but also by selling insurance. After setting up a separate company to provide accident and travel insurance, they required J-1 visa holders to purchase insurance for up to $100 (about 150,000 KRW) per month, in addition to recruitment fees. The NYT criticized, "Sponsors can charge students and trainees any amount they want, with no cap on costs."
The NYT pointed out that the Department of State is aware of the sponsors' problematic practices but only conducts superficial oversight. In 2013, the U.S. Congress attempted to pass a bill banning recruitment fees for foreign worker programs, including the J-1 visa, but it was voted down due to lobbying by sponsors.
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