For example, you plan to visit your grandmother in Luxembourg, so as not to travel twice, you can also see the sights of Paris and sunbathe on the beaches of Italy or Spain. Provided, of course, you have a special 'pass' – a Schengen visa. That is why many of our fellow citizens show a keen interest in obtaining such a document. This is our story about how demand creates supply.
Imagine a simple advertisement, modestly hanging somewhere on a pole near a bus stop: 'Schengen visas. Fast, guaranteed, cheap.' How would you react? Citizen Naivnaya from the glorious city of Lviv reacted quite positively in a similar situation. She once met a nice man – Bezotkazny from Kyiv – and told him about her business: organizing foreign tours. She also complained about the red tape and bureaucracy in processing all sorts of foreign-required paperwork. 'No problem!' – and the kind man readily offered her immediate help. He said he had an acquaintance in Kyiv – a certain Khalyavkin – who could 'make' any number of Schengen visas. Fast, guaranteed, and cheap – 'only' $300 each (with a prepayment of $180 each).
Citizen Naivnaya could hardly come to her senses from such an offer. And immediately upon returning to Lviv, she began collecting passports and money from everyone interested. The first time around, it was decided to 'benefit' 23 people with the help of the most kind citizen Khalyavkin, whose foreign passports along with the sum of $4,140 were handed over to the 'executor'. By the way, the 'executor' hinted to Naivnaya that he did not like to bother with trifles. Therefore, the more people willing to obtain a Schengen visa, the better.
Of course, the delighted Naivnaya did not hide her benefactor's wishes from friends. And soon her acquaintance in the tourism business – Neterpelivy from Lviv – also wished to speed up the process of obtaining such a necessary visa. And, of course, with the help of the same Khalyavkin. They handed over another 9 foreign passports (and, accordingly, $1,620 in prepayment) to the latter. And for added significance, the process of transferring money and passports took place in one of the Kyiv travel agencies, where partners and good acquaintances of the 'cautious' client worked. Apparently, the parties were pleased with each other, because within a few days Neterpelivy handed over another 18 passports and $3,240 in prepayment...
Well, then the process went roughly as in the well-known Ukrainian saying: 'Enough, father, trading – because there is nothing left to give change!' Citizen Khalyavkin decided to actually start 'manufacturing' Schengen visas. And he approached this matter thoroughly – all visas were made on high-quality imported paper, using a color inkjet printer of the Epson brand, and a genuine Schengen visa was copied as a sample. Moreover, the visas were glued into all passports very neatly. Fast and guaranteed – just as agreed. So about two months after the first conversation, Khalyavkin called Citizen Naivnaya and reported the joyful news – the visas were ready, time to pay in full. And the tourism businesswoman conscientiously handed over the remaining amount of money – $2,760 – to Khalyavkin. And he, in turn, equally conscientiously handed over the results of his labor to her...
However, ungrateful Citizen Naivnaya did not appreciate Khalyavkin's masterful work. Their next meeting of the Lviv residents with the master of artistic printing Khalyavkin took place in the investigator's office.
And here begins the most interesting part. It seems that there were indeed connoisseurs of Khalyavkin's labor. He was found guilty and sentenced to a total of 5 years, but... The court's verdict states: 'On the basis of Article 1, paragraph 'b' of the Law of Ukraine 'On Amnesty', release Khalyavkin from punishment.' And his friend Bezotkazny (well, remember, the one who arranged all the meetings with the 'executor' Khalyavkin) – he is not involved at all! You see, he was sure that Khalyavkin would actually make real visas.
Well, of course, the court ruled to recover from Khalyavkin in favor of the victims Naivnaya and Neterpelivy 29,368 and 31,808 hryvnias respectively (as compensation for material and moral damage). But, first of all, hryvnias... And, secondly, for a virtuoso like Khalyavkin, that amount is just a couple of months' work. So the well-known hero of a well-known film was right: 'Long live our court – the most humane court in the world!'
And for fans of 'freebie' Schengen visas, we advise you to return to the beginning of this page and read about what such documents are and what requirements exist for their processing.