At one time, there was a rather large backlog of Immigrant spouse visa petitions (petitions for visas now classified as either a CR1 Visa or an IR1 Visa) at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). Therefore, the United States Congress and President William Jefferson Clinton promulgated and executed legislation colloquially referred to as the “Life Act”. This statute effectively created the visa category known as the K-3 (for derivative dependents the visa category is a K-4 which is similar to the K-2 derivative visa associated with a K1 visa or fiance visa). Since the creation of the K-3 visa, the USCIS has cut down their backlog to the point where immigrant visa petitions are being adjudicated within a matter of months. As a result, there was a rather brief period of time in which USCIS was adjudicating immigrant visa petitions faster that K3 visa petitions. In any case, once USCIS has made their adjudication, such petitions are then sent to the NVC where they are the forwarded on to the US Mission, US Embassy, or US Consulate with appropriate jurisdiction for Consular Processing. At some point, a decision was made to “administratively close” K3 visa applications when the underlying immigrant visa petition arrives at NVC before, or contemporaneously with, the immigrant visa petition. In practical terms, this means that if the adjudicated immigrant visa petition arrives at NVC before the K3 petition, the K3 will be effectively set aside and the bi-national couple will be compelled to proceed with the immigrant visa process.

In a way, this policy makes some sense as the K3 visa’s utility is somewhat negated by the contemporaneous processing of an immigrant visa. As a result, at the time of this writing, there are many who feel that the K3 visa is not a particularly viable option for those Americans wishing to bring their Taiwanese husband or wife to the USA. It should be noted that the K3 visa was always a non-immigrant visa meaning that it did not confer lawful permanent residence upon the bearer when admitted to the USA. Those arriving in the USA on a K3 could choose to either consular process their immigrant visa application or file for adjustment of status in the USA.

For related information please see:  K1 Visa Taiwan or US Marriage Visa.

January 2010

• Friday, January 1: New Year’s Day (U.S. & Local Holiday)
• Monday, January 4: Consular Section In-Service Day (AIT/Taipei)
• Monday, January 18: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. (U.S. Holiday)

February 2010

• Monday, February 1: Consular Section In-Service Day (AIT/Taipei)
• Saturday, February 13 to Friday, February 19: Chinese Lunar New Year Holidays (Local)
• Monday, February 15: Washington’s Birthday (U.S. Holiday)
• Sunday, February 28: Peace Memorial Day (Local)

March 2010

• Monday, March 1: Consular Section In-Service Day (AIT/Taipei)

April 2010

• Thursday, April 1: Consular Section In-Service Day (AIT/Taipei)
• Monday, April 5: Tomb Sweeping Day (Local)

May 2010

• Monday, May 31: Memorial Day (U.S. Holiday)

June 2010

• Wednesday, June 16: Dragon Boat Festival (Local)

July 2010

• Monday, July 5: Independence Day (U.S. Holiday)

September 2010

• Wednesday, September 1: Consular Section In-Service Day (AIT/Taipei)
• Monday, September 6: Labor Day (U.S. Holiday)
• Wednesday, September 22: Mid-Autumn Festival (Local)

October 2010

• Friday, October 1: Consular Section In-Service Day (AIT/Taipei)
• Sunday, October 10: National Holiday (Local)
• Monday, October 11: Columbus Day (U.S. Holiday)

November 2010

• Monday, November 1: Consular Section In-Service Day (AIT/Taipei)
• Thursday, November 11: Veterans Day (U.S. Holiday)
• Thursday, November 25: Thanksgiving Day (U.S. Holiday)

December 2010

• Wednesday, December 1: Consular Section In-Service Day (AIT/Taipei)
• Friday, December 24: Christmas Day-observed  (U.S. Holiday)
• Friday, December 31: New Year’s Day- observed (U.S. Holiday)

Unlike other nations, Taiwan is not the host to a US Embassy or US Consulate-General as the American position regarding Taiwan’s status is ambiguous. That said, the American Institute can provide many of the same services that are provided to Americans Citizens and foreign nationals abroad. For instance, as is the case with many Posts around the world, the American Institute in Taiwan has an American Citizen Services Section for assistance with things such as Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, visa pages, passports, etc.

The Post also has a visa section and applications may be submitted for non-immigrant visa categories such as the B1 visa, F1 visa, J1 visa, and the B2 visa. Furthermore, those seeking an Immigrant visa such as a CR1 Visa or an IR1 visa may apply for such documents at the Immigrant Visa Unit. Those seeking K visas such as the K1 visa and the K3 Visa may seek such travel documents at the Immigrant Visa Unit as well.