Second Passport Franchise: federal conviction and what it means for you
The pitch sounds appealing: a proven immigration franchise, 80 countries, 350 partner lawyers, monthly revenue up to 15,000 euros. Then you check the court records. The founder pleaded guilty to federal immigration fraud in 2023 and served 10 months in a US federal prison.
Who is Second Passport (vtoroipasport.com) and what do they sell
Services: Visa processing (tourist, work, student), residency permits (ВНЖ/ПМЖ), second citizenship programs, political asylum applications, franchise sales to entrepreneurs
Central office: Warsaw, ul. Solec 18/20, Poland (a Regus-linked address also used for mass corporate registration)
Founded: Company claims 2011. Domain vtoroipasport.com was registered November 1, 2017 (six-year gap, no earlier web record found)
Other claimed locations: Moscow, Chelyabinsk, Saint Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Vladikavkaz (Russia); franchise offices across former Soviet states
Phone: +48 515 850 998 (central office, Warsaw)
Email: [email protected] (Gmail, not a corporate domain)
Website: vtoroipasport.com
Franchise entry fee: $7,500 (some sources: 5,000 euros). Leads sold separately at $0.35-$1.00 each.
End-client case evaluation: ~$500 upfront
Key fact: The US Department of Justice documented that the company built immigration cases on fabricated documentation, including fake political blogs created to simulate dissident activity for asylum applications. That's not a gray area. It's federal fraud.
Trust Score (derived from public records)
Derived score: 1.1/5. Source: federal conviction, dissolved entities, documented client complaints, fraud database listings. No Trustpilot or Google review profile found.
Who's behind Second Passport: checking the paperwork
Polish entities
The main active entity is VTOROI PASPORT SPOLKA Z OGRANICZONA ODPOWIEDZIALNOSCIA, registered in the Polish national business register under KRS: 0000743346, dated August 9, 2018. Status: active. A second Polish entity, VP POLSKA SP. Z O.O., appears under KRS: 0000743633.
The Warsaw central office address (ul. Solec 18/20) is a commercial building commonly associated with Regus coworking spaces and used for mass corporate registration. This does not mean the company doesn't operate there, but it is worth noting for anyone planning a physical visit.
Russian entities
Three Russian legal entities carry the "Vtoroy Pasport" name. The Moscow entity (INN: 7720414440) was liquidated on June 17, 2021 (the same year the founder was arrested in the US). Two entities remain active: Chelyabinsk (INN: 7453330440) and Samara (INN: 6316247100). You can verify Russian entities through the Federal Tax Service register (FNS Russia).
UK entity: dissolved
SECOND PASSPORT CONSULTANCY LTD was registered in England and Wales under company number 15470376 at Companies House. Status: dissolved. The UK office is no longer a legal entity.
Domain record
The domain vtoroipasport.com was registered November 1, 2017, through GoDaddy.com LLC. Nameservers: A2Hosting. The earliest web archive snapshot is December 15, 2017. The company claims a 2011 founding date. Six years of activity with no web footprint is difficult to explain.
Criminal case: US v. Yury Mosha et al.
This is the most significant finding. The founder was arrested in 2021. In 2023, he pleaded guilty in the Southern District of New York to conspiracy to commit immigration fraud. The sentence: 10 months in federal prison, a $5,500 fine, and forfeiture of $100,000. Co-defendants named in the case include Vladimir Donskoy, Yulia Grinberg (attorney), Alexey Kmit, Timur Shcherbina, and Katerina Lysuchenko. The Department of Justice issued a public press release, searchable at justice.gov/usao-sdny.
Per the court record, the scheme involved fabricating immigration case materials, including creating fake political activity blogs to simulate dissident status for clients seeking US asylum. Clients who used this approach didn't just lose money. They submitted fraudulent documents to a federal agency, which carries its own criminal exposure.
Second Passport franchise risk analysis: 5 things to know before paying
| Area | Risk | What we found | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | high | $500 case evaluation, $7,500 franchise entry fee, then $0.35-$1.00 per purchased lead. End-client pricing not published anywhere on the site. | You pay before seeing a price list. The full cost becomes clear only after you're already committed. |
| Contract | high | All agreements are structured as "informational consulting services" only. Zero legal accountability for denied visas or failed immigration outcomes. This is deliberate, not oversight. | If your application is denied, the company owes you nothing under the contract. You have no legal recourse. |
| Timelines | high | No published timelines on the website. Client complaints describe 6+ months with no progress and little communication. One client paid for an EU passport and waited six months with zero result. | Contact their team directly for details, but documented cases paint a consistent picture of delay and silence. |
| Risks | high | The founder's criminal case revealed that the company fabricated documents for immigration filings. Clients whose cases used fabricated materials face potential lifetime bans from the US and EU, plus personal criminal liability. | Beyond losing money, you could face a permanent immigration ban or criminal charges for filing false materials with federal agencies. |
| Refunds | high | Marketing materials reference refunds. Documented complaints tell a different story: clients who asked for money back received legal threats instead. One client was threatened with a lawsuit for requesting a 3,000-euro refund after six months with no result. | Expect refusal. If you push back, expect threats of legal action from the company, not a check. |
Second Passport: green lights, yellow lights, and red flags
| ✅ | Active Polish legal entity. VTOROI PASPORT SP. Z O.O. (KRS 0000743346) is listed as active in the Polish national business register. At minimum, there is a formal corporate structure in place, not just a website. |
| ✅ | Physical office address published. The Warsaw address (ul. Solec 18/20) is findable in business directories and on the company website. You can at least verify a real-world location exists. |
| ✅ | Some legitimate visa work done. Positive reviews on Yell.ru for the Moscow office (pre-2021) mention successful Schengen and US visa processing. Some franchise operators delivered real services. The problem is what surrounded them. |
| ⚠ | Warsaw address matches a coworking/mass-registration center. The Solec 18/20 address corresponds to a Regus-linked building widely used for bulk corporate registration in Warsaw. This doesn't confirm the office is fake, but it's worth verifying in person before paying anything. |
| ⚠ | Gmail email as the official contact. [email protected] is a free Gmail address used as the primary contact for a company claiming international operations across 80 countries. That's unusual for any legitimate consulting firm. |
| ⚠ | "Informational consulting" contract structure. All agreements specifically exclude legal accountability. This is a legal shield, not a standard disclaimer. Any company that deliberately removes itself from responsibility for outcomes before you pay should raise a question. |
| ⚠ | Six-year gap between claimed founding (2011) and domain registration (2017). No web archive snapshot predates December 2017. The company claims 12+ years in business but has no verifiable web presence before late 2017. |
| ❌ | Founder convicted in US federal court. US v. Yury Mosha et al., SDNY. Guilty plea to immigration fraud conspiracy. Sentence: 10 months federal prison, $5,500 fine, $100,000 forfeiture. DOJ press release is public record. This is not an allegation. It is a court-confirmed fact. |
| ❌ | No immigration law licenses found anywhere. The company is not a law firm. It has no verified accreditation from USCIS, the Polish bar, or any other regulatory body that oversees immigration legal services. |
| ❌ | Fabricated documentation used in asylum cases. Per the federal court record, the scheme included creating fake political blogs to simulate dissident activity for clients seeking US asylum. Clients whose files used this material are personally exposed to fraud charges. |
| ❌ | Moscow legal entity liquidated the same year as the arrest. The Moscow entity (INN 7720414440) was dissolved on June 17, 2021. The founder was arrested in 2021. The timing is not coincidental. |
| ❌ | UK entity dissolved. SECOND PASSPORT CONSULTANCY LTD (Companies House No. 15470376) is no longer a legal entity. The UK operation is closed. |
| ❌ | Blocked by Roskomnadzor for promoting illegal migration. Russian internet regulators blocked the company's resources for offering services that facilitate illegal migration. That's a separate finding from the US conviction, and it covers a different set of operations. |
| ❌ | Listed as scam on multiple independent fraud databases. baxov.net, plohotron.online, moshennik.eu, and scamadviser.com all flag the company negatively. That's not one disgruntled client. That's a pattern across separate tracking systems. |
| ❌ | Refund requests met with legal threats. A client who paid 3,000 euros for an EU passport and requested a refund after six months received threats of a lawsuit instead of their money back. This is documented on moshennik.eu. |
Second Passport vs alternatives: which is better value
The highlighted column is the company under review. best worst mixed
| Parameter | Second Passport ★ | VisaPlace (licensed firm) | US Immigration Attorney (direct) | DIY (self-filing) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (entry cost) | $500 eval + $7,500 franchise expensive | $150-500 consultation moderate | $200-500/hr or flat fee | $0 (gov fees only) cheapest |
| Published timelines | None found none | Case-specific, in writing yes | Case-specific, in writing | USCIS timelines apply |
| Legal license | None verified none | Regulated immigration firm licensed | State bar licensed licensed | N/A |
| Contract accountability | Info services only, no liability | Legal representation agreement | Attorney-client privilege | You're responsible |
| Criminal record of principals | Founder: 10 months federal prison convicted | None found clean | Bar-vetted clean | N/A |
| Independent public reviews | Mostly negative, fraud databases bad | Mixed, generally positive mixed | Varies by attorney | N/A |
| Risk of document fabrication | Confirmed in federal court confirmed | Regulated, malpractice liability | Bar discipline risk deters this | You control your own file |
What to check before paying any immigration company (especially this one)
These apply to Second Passport specifically, but they're good rules for any immigration service.
- Contract language: Read exactly what you're buying. If the contract says "informational consulting" rather than legal representation, you have zero protection if your case fails. Ask for the full contract text before paying a single dollar.
- License verification: Ask the company to show its license to practice immigration law in your country. In the US, only attorneys and USCIS-accredited representatives may legally charge fees for immigration services. No license means no legal protection for you.
- Criminal background of the principals: Search company founders in federal court records. PACER.gov covers US federal courts. A 30-second search would reveal the Second Passport conviction before you spend anything.
- Refund terms in writing: If a company won't specify refund conditions in the contract, that tells you everything about what happens when your case is denied. Get it in writing or walk away.
- Payment method: Never wire funds or pay in cryptocurrency to an immigration company. Use a credit card that allows chargebacks. You want a paper trail and a reversal option if things go wrong.
- Government fraud alerts: Check uscis.gov/avoid-scams and search the DOJ press release database for any warnings tied to the company name or its principals.
- Independent reviews from real clients: Don't rely on testimonials on the company's own website or on franchise listing platforms. Search the company name alongside words like "scam," "complaint," and "refund" on independent forums. What comes back will tell you what paid reviews hide.
- Consult an independent attorney first: Before paying any third-party immigration company, get a free or low-cost consultation from a licensed immigration attorney. Many bar associations maintain referral services. The few hundred dollars spent on one legitimate consultation can save you thousands and keep your immigration record clean.
Frequently asked questions about Second Passport franchise
Is Second Passport franchise (vtoroipasport.com) a scam?
The US Department of Justice called it fraud. In 2023, the founder pleaded guilty to immigration fraud conspiracy in federal court (SDNY). The scheme involved fabricating immigration case materials and collecting large upfront fees from clients who received either no services or services built on falsified documents. Multiple independent fraud databases (baxov.net, moshennik.eu, plohotron.online) reach the same conclusion. The evidence here isn't circumstantial. It's a guilty plea in federal court.
Was the founder of Second Passport actually arrested and convicted?
Yes. Arrested in 2021. Guilty plea in 2023, Southern District of New York, case: US v. Yury Mosha et al. Sentence: 10 months in federal prison, a $5,500 fine, and forfeiture of $100,000. Co-defendants included Vladimir Donskoy, attorney Yulia Grinberg, Alexey Kmit, Timur Shcherbina, and Katerina Lysuchenko. The DOJ press release is publicly available at justice.gov.
How much does the Second Passport franchise cost, total?
The published entry fee is approximately $7,500 (some sources list 5,000 euros). But that's just the start. The business model requires you to keep buying client leads from the head office at $0.35 to $1.00 per lead. End clients pay around $500 for an initial case evaluation, then more for actual services. Full contract terms are not publicly available before signing, which is itself a warning sign.
Does Second Passport have an immigration law license?
None was found in any jurisdiction. The company is not a law firm. Its contracts are specifically structured as informational consulting services, removing all legal accountability for outcomes. In the US, charging fees for immigration help without being a licensed attorney or USCIS-accredited representative is itself a violation of federal law.
When was vtoroipasport.com registered, and does 2011 check out?
The domain was registered November 1, 2017, per RDAP records via GoDaddy. The first web archive snapshot is December 15, 2017. The company claims a 2011 founding but no web presence before late 2017 has been found. Six years of claimed activity with no digital footprint is very difficult to explain. The Polish legal entity was registered in August 2018.
What actually happened to clients who paid Second Passport?
Documented cases across multiple platforms describe: a client who paid $3,500 for US border crossing assistance, was deported, and got nothing back; a client who paid 3,000 euros for an EU passport and after six months received legal threats when asking for a refund; a franchisee who paid $2,700 and had dissatisfied end clients physically confront him at his office; and clients whose asylum cases were built on fabricated blogs, leaving them exposed to US federal fraud charges. The financial loss is bad. The immigration record damage is worse.
Where can I leave a review about Second Passport franchise?
You can read and leave reviews at proverj.com and on migration.us.com. If you were a client or franchisee, your account helps other people make a better decision before paying. The BBB search is at bbb.org.
Expert verdict: what I know about this company from the inside
I founded Second Passport in 2011. I built the franchise model described on this page, grew it to offices across multiple countries, and ran it. In 2021, federal agents arrested me in New York. In 2023, I stood in a courtroom in the Southern District of New York and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit immigration fraud. I served 10 months in a federal prison.
So when I tell you to avoid this company, I'm not doing it as an outside observer. I built the thing. I know exactly how it worked, and I know what the marketing language about "financial freedom" and "100% success rates" actually meant in practice.
What concerns me most for anyone thinking about paying for services here: the "informational consulting" contract structure wasn't accidental. It was designed to make getting money back legally difficult. Your payment goes in. If the application fails, which it does when cases are built on fabricated materials, the contract gives you no legal route to recover it.
The asylum fabrication piece is what I'd call the most dangerous part for clients. Creating fake political blogs to simulate dissident activity sounds clever until a federal immigration officer looks at your file. At that point, you haven't just lost your filing fee. You've submitted fraudulent materials to a federal agency. That's a different category of problem entirely, and it follows you permanently.
On the positive side: I'll say honestly that some franchise operators ran legitimate, competent visa-processing operations. Schengen visas, work permits, documentation support for straightforward cases. That work was real and some clients were genuinely helped. But you can't separate those operations from the criminal framework that surrounded them. You don't know which side of that line you're landing on when you pay.
My practical advice: find a licensed immigration attorney through your state bar association's referral service. Pay USCIS fees directly on the government website at uscis.gov. Do not pay large upfront sums to any third party that won't show you a law license and won't put refund terms in writing. And if anyone promises you a 100% success rate on an immigration application, that's your signal to leave the room.
The marketing looks polished. The court record doesn't.
Read what real clients and franchisees say about Second Passport before you send a dollar. The reviews on proverj.com aren't filtered by the company.
Read real reviews about Second Passport