The Shanghai company that offered US visa counseling services, which was closed for overcharging, has come to realize its problems and is applying for approval, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Thursday.

During a routine press conference, spokesman Liu Jianchao said that since the company closed in April, the Foreign Ministry has asked the US Embassy in China several times to urge the company to abide by the laws and regulations.

The ministry will pay close attention to the process of this issue, Liu noted.

The company provided charged counseling for US visa information and appointment reservation services. Relevant Shanghai departments received some reports from Chinese citizens complaining that the company had overcharged them and thus an ensuing investigation was carried out.

The outcome of the probe revealed that the company's services had never received any permit from the relevant Chinese authorities and the service fee the company charged was also not approved.

Under such circumstances, the relevant Chinese departments asked it to suspend operation immediately.

 (People's Daily May 28, 2004)