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Posts Tagged ‘us embassy bangkok’
17th May 2010
Please be advised that the following was posted on the official website of the United States Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand:
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
U.S. Embassy Consular Section Closed May 17 – May 21, 2010
Due to continuing security concerns in the area and access issues on Wireless Road, the U.S. Embassy is currently operating under emergency personnel staffing only. The Non-immigrant and Immigrant Visa sections will be closed until May 21, 2010. If you have a non-immigrant visa interview appointment scheduled for the period between May 17 to May 21, 2010, your appointment will be rescheduled. As a resolution to the ongoing security situation in the vicinity of the U.S. Embassy is uncertain, it is not currently possible to establish a new appointment time for those impacted by our unscheduled closure. As soon as the U.S. Embassy has determined the situation to be safe for Embassy Consular staff to return to work and for visa applicants to travel to the Embassy for visa appointments, we will advise those impacted through e-mail or phone with details on new appointment dates. Please Note: As a large number of people have been affected by these events, and the volume of appointments that have been scheduled for the upcoming weeks, it will not be possible to consider expedited appointments. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this has caused.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I reschedule my appointment?
At present, we must ask applicants with visa appointments scheduled for the week of May 17 through May 21 to wait until the Embassy has determined when that it is safe to conduct visa appointments. All those impacted by this unexpected closure will be notified through the e-mail address or phone number provided during the visa interview appointment process.
I have a visa appointment scheduled during the week of May 17-May 21. I have urgent travel to the United States, what can I do?
Unfortunately, due to the current security situation, the U.S. Embassy Consular Section is currently closed. We are unable to schedule any visa appointments for the week of May 17-May 21 and will be unable to accommodate expedited appointments. We suggest that you make alternate travel plans.
I have a visa appointment scheduled during the week of May 17-May 21. Can I reschedule my appointment at another U.S. Embassy in a neighboring country?
Each U.S. Embassy has its own scheduling system and requirements for visa applicants. Fees paid in Thailand for the visa interview cannot be used abroad.
I have a visa appointment scheduled during the week of May 17-May 21. Can I reschedule my appointment for the U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai?
The U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai has its own appointment system and you must live within their consular district to schedule an appointment there. Please see http://chiangmai.usconsulate.gov/ for more information.
I have a visa appointment scheduled during the week of May 17-May 21. Can I make a special request?
Due to the current security situation, the U.S. Embassy Consular Section will be closed for the week of May 17 – May 21. As such, we will be unable to reply to visa inquiries and/or special requests during that period. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience our disruption of service has caused.
I am an immigrant visa applicant – can I come in for my scheduled appointment, to drop off documents, or to pick up my visa?
If you had/have an immigrant visa appointment for the week of May 14-May 21, it will be rescheduled. You will be contacted with a new date and time once the Embassy reopens. If you have been told to bring in documents on Mondays or Wednesdays, or to come in to pick up your visa, please do not come in until the Embassy reopens. Please look for announcements on the Embassy website.
Meanwhile, the situation on the ground in Bangkok remains tenuous, to quote The Nation’s website:
Thailand teetered yesterday between a last chance for peace and what could be even bigger urban warfare than has already occurred these past few days. It all hinges on behind-the-scenes talks reportedly taking place and whether increasingly uncontrollable pockets of angry protesters can be reined in.The casualty toll slowed its climb a bit during the day, but many observers believed the night could explode into something worse than the wee hours of yesterday morning.
The conclusion of this dramatic series of events remains, at the time of this writing, unclear. However, all hope that the conflict will be resolved with no further loss of life.
For more information about this unfolding state of affairs please see: US Embassy Bangkok or US Embassy Thailand.
16th May 2010
The US Embassy in Bangkok Thailand posted the following on their official website:
Announcement
Due to the ongoing security situation, the U.S. Embassy, including visa services, will remain closed on Tuesday, May 18. American Citizen Services (ACS) will be available for emergencies only.
Individuals whose visa appointments have been impacted by the closure of the U.S. Embassy will be contacted through the email address(es) provided during the appointment registration process with information on rescheduling.
Individuals with ACS appointments, please go to the U.S. Embassy website to reschedule. If you have problems rescheduling online, please email us at acsbkk@state.gov or call us at 02-205-4049. For individuals scheduling appointments for the first time, please go to the website to schedule your appointment. Please note that we are unable to make first time appointments over the phone.
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, and thank you for your continued patience and understanding.
As the political situation in Thailand, and Bangkok particularly, remains precarious, it may be wise to avoid travel to the United States Embassy as it is physically located rather close to contested zone in Bangkok. To quote the website ThaiVisa.com:
The worsening violence has turned parts of the city into no-go zones as troops use live ammunition against anti-government demonstrators, who have blocked streets with burning tyres, and fought back with homemade weapons. A member of the official emergency medical centre in Bangkok said two more people had died overnight, including the first member of the military to be killed in the three days of running gunbattles on the city’s streets. He said 244 people had been wounded, including six foreigners. Guests at a luxury hotel in the city of 12 million people were forced to shelter in the basement after the building came under gunfire and was rattled by an explosion in the early hours of Monday morning. Fire gutted three commercial buildings in another area.
It seems to be increasingly self-evident that this most recent round of violence is to have a very detrimental impact upon the operations of businesses, government offices, and foreign legations in Bangkok. Those whose presence is not urgently required in Bangkok are urged to stay outside of the city and those in the city are being urged to stay clear of the protest sites or those areas which are contested. It should be noted that Monday May 17th, and Tuesday May 18th have been officially designated as holidays for Bangkok. To quote again from the website ThaiVisa.com, “The Centre for Resolution of Emergency Situation announced that the Cabinet made Monday and Tuesday special holidays for Bangkok. Deputy PM’s Secretary-General Panithan Watanayakorn said the special holidays are designed for the government to try to ease the situation.”
This author can only hope that this situation will come to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible.
For information about US Immigration from Thailand please see: US Visa Thailand. For information about attorney assistance with Consular Processing please see: US Embassy Thailand.
15th May 2010
Bangkok, Thailand: US Embassy Closure, Situation on the Ground
Posted by : admin
Please be advised that the following announcement was posted on the official website of the United States Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand:
Announcement
Due to the security situation in the vicinity of the U.S. Embassy, the Embassy will be closed for services on Monday, May 17. Visa applicants with appointments scheduled for Monday, May 17 are instructed to come for an interview on Friday, May 21 at the same time as their originally scheduled appointment (e.g. If your appointment was scheduled for 9:00am on Monday, May 17, please come for your appointment at 9:00am on Friday, May 21). Should you be unable to come to the Embassy on Friday, May 21, please make a new appointment through the appointment system on the U.S. Embassy website: http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/non-immigrant_visas/visa-appointments.html.
Please be advised that applicants impacted by this closure are being been notified through the e-mail addresses and/or phone numbers supplied during the appointment registration process. Please check your e-mail INBOX and SPAM folders, as some e-mail software may direct our e-mails to the SPAM folder. Only those applicants who were registered with the Embassy for their original appointments on Monday, May 17 will be permitted entry on Friday, May 21.
We ask that you please appear 30 minutes prior to your appointment time on Friday, May 21 to allow time for the enrollment process. Please check the Embassy website prior to your arrival, should the unrest in the vicinity of the Embassy remain ongoing. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact visasbkk@state.gov.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation.
Non-Immigrant Visa Section
U.S. Embassy, Bangkok, Thailand
In a previous posting on this blog, it was noted that the US Embassy had closed on Friday May 14th in anticipation of possible unrest. Apparently all non-essential US government staff, along with their families, have been allowed to leave Bangkok. To quote from the website Wireupdate.com:
The Department of State has authorized the departure of all non-emergency U.S. government personnel and eligible family members from Bangkok. This replaces the Travel Alert dated April 28, 2010, and is in response to updated information on increased violence and security concerns. The Department of State recommends against travel to Bangkok and non-essential travel to Thailand at this time.
This author would like to take this opportunity to note the determination and professionalism shown by the staff at the US Embassy in Bangkok up to this point. It has been this author’s experience that up until the most recent rounds of violence, the Embassy continued to conduct activities with grace, efficiency, and fortitude. The officers of the Embassy and the Consulate should be commended for providing extremely diligent service in the midst of an extremely difficult and unpredictable situation. Due to the situation, it is this author’s opinion that the closure of the Embassy and the evacuation of non-essential staff was both necessary and unavoidable.
From anecdotal evidence this author has learned that many areas of Bangkok have been impacted by the worsening violence. This author has heard reports from at least one source which confirms that sporadic and unpredictable gunfire has been exchanged in certain sectors of the city. For this reason, travel into the Bangkok City Center is not recommended at the time of this writing.
The website ThaiVisa.com, on 2010-05-16 07:29:13, is reporting the following:
The facts were 17 had been killed and they were all civilians. By evening, one more death was reported – that of an emergency rescue worker. The response by the government’s Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) came late in the afternoon. CRES officials said the high death toll was a result of reds shooting one another and the government faced the threat of political order being overthrown.
At present, an accurate portrayal of Bangkok is difficult as there is a great deal of uncertainty. Media outlets are having difficulty reporting the news as a sort of “Fog of Confusion” seems to have descended upon parts of the city. This author will continue to try to provide useful updates on this blog if necessary. At present, the Bangkok School System will postpone reopening of schools, previously scheduled for Monday May 17th, until the civil unrest has subsided.
As always, for information about attorney assistance with Consular Processing in Bangkok please see: US Embassy Thailand or US Embassy Bangkok.
13th May 2010
The following message was posted on the website of the United States Embassy in the Kingdom of Thailand:
Warden Message: Embassy Closed Friday, May 14; Update on Possible Outages in Bangkok
(May 13, 2010) This warden message alerts U.S. citizens traveling to and residing in Thailand that the Royal Thai Government through the Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) has announced its plans to close off the demonstration area at the Ratchaprasong rally site in an attempt to disperse the protesters. We understand that beginning today, May 13, at 6:00 p.m., authorities will take the following measures:
–limit transportation services, including the BTS Skytrain, MRTA, canal routes, and possibly bus routes.
–set up check points at all access routes to control and limit access to the rally site. For details on what routes may be affected, please refer to local media.
–cut off electricity, water, and telephone to the rally site and possibly surrounding areas. It is currently unclear how large an area will be affected. It is also unclear how the UDD will respond.
The U.S. Embassy, including visa operations, will be closed tomorrow, Friday, May 14. American Citizen Services (ACS) will be available for emergencies only. If at all possible, the U.S. Embassy recommends against coming to this area on May 14. If U.S. citizens currently have appointments with ACS for May 14, you may go online or call us at 02-205-4049 to reschedule.
U.S. citizens should avoid travel to and lodging in this area and the areas in and around all demonstrations, if possible. If U.S. citizens must travel to these areas, they should exercise special caution and remain vigilant with regard to their personal security. U.S. Embassy personnel who live around this area have been given the option to relocate to housing outside of the affected area until the situation is resolved. U.S. citizens are reminded to exercise caution and vigilance at all times.
The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (aka UDD or “red-shirts”) continues to demonstrate in central Bangkok. The UDD may change or expand their demonstration locations at any time. Various other groups are engaging in pro-government or counter-demonstrations. There have been several clashes between the security forces and the UDD and other demonstrators. These clashes may escalate with no warning. For areas currently affected by demonstrations, please refer to local media. These demonstrations are expected to continue in Bangkok indefinitely.
U.S. citizens are reminded that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence with little or no warning. U.S. citizens are urged to avoid the areas that may be targeted for demonstrations and to exercise caution in their movements around Bangkok.
The Department strongly encourages U.S. citizens in Thailand to register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok or through the State Department’s travel registration website. For information on general crime and security issues, U.S. citizens may also consult the Department of State’s Country Specific Information for Thailand and the Worldwide Caution, located at the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website. U.S. citizens may also obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 from the United States and Canada, or 202-501-4444 from overseas.
The American Citizen Services section of the U.S. Embassy Bangkok is located at 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. The American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy can be reached by calling 66-2-205-4049 and by e-mail at acsbkk@state.gov. The emergency after-hours telephone number is 66-2-205-4000.
The U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai is located at 387 Wichayanond Road in Chiang Mai. The American Citizen Services Unit of the Consulate General can be reached by calling 66-53-107-777 and by e-mail at acschn@state.gov. The after-hours emergency telephone number is 66-81-881-1878.
For information about attorney assistance with Consular Processing in visa matters please see other pages on this website or click here: US Embassy Thailand or US Embassy.
1st May 2010
On this blog, we try to provide up to date information regarding the processing time estimates of certain family based, and in limited instances non-family based, United States Immigration Petitions.
Below are the current processing time estimates from the USCIS Service Center in California as of February 28, 2010:
| I-129F | Petition for Alien Fiance(e) | K-1/K-2 – Not yet married – fiance and/or dependent child | 5 Months |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-129F | Petition for Alien Fiance(e) | K-3/K-4 – Already married – spouse and/or dependent child | 5 Months |
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative | U.S. citizen filing for a spouse, parent, or child under 21 | 5 Months |
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative | U.S. citizen filing for an unmarried son or daughter over 21 | July 09, 2005 |
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative | U.S. citizen filing for a married son or daughter over 21 | May 24, 2002 |
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative | U.S. citizen filing for a brother or sister | March 02, 2001 |
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative | Permanent resident filling for a spouse or child under 21 | June 02, 2007 |
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative | Permanent resident filling for an unmarried son or daughter over 21 | March 02, 2003 |
| I-131 | Application for Travel Document | All other applicants for advance parole | 3 Months |
| I-129 | Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker | E – Treaty traders and investors | 2 Months |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-129 | Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker | L – Intracompany transfers | 1 Month |
The following are processing time estimates for the USCIS Vermont Service Center as of February 28, 2010:
| I-129F | Petition for Alien Fiance(e) | K-1/K-2 – Not yet married – fiance and/or dependent child | 5 Months |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-129F | Petition for Alien Fiance(e) | K-3/K-4 – Already married – spouse and/or dependent child | 5 Months |
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative | U.S. citizen filing for a spouse, parent, or child under 21 | 5 Months |
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative | U.S. citizen filing for an unmarried son or daughter over 21 | February 13, 2009 |
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative | U.S. citizen filing for a married son or daughter over 21 | January 23, 2009 |
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative | U.S. citizen filing for a brother or sister | January 16, 2009 |
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative | Permanent resident filling for a spouse or child under 21 | November 05, 2008 |
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative | Permanent resident filling for an unmarried son or daughter over 21 | February 27, 2009 |
| I-131 | Application for Travel Document | All other applicants for advance parole | 3 Months |
| I-129 | Petition for A Nonimmigrant Worker | L – Intracompany transfers | 1 Month |
|---|
These estimates should not be viewed as accurate for each individual case as each case is unique and some cases take more time to process through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and others may take considerably little time to process through the Service Center. In any case, the assistance of a US Visa Lawyer can be helpful to clients as an authorized representative is entitled to correspond with USCIS on behalf of clients and can thereby streamline the overall visa process.
It should be noted that these estimates do not include the time that it takes to get the case processed through a US Embassy or US Consulate overseas. For those processing a Thai case, it usually takes about 6-8 weeks to process through the US Embassy Thailand.
For further information please see: Fiance Visa Thailand.
11th April 2010
US Embassy in Thailand Releases Statement About Recent Unrest
Posted by : admin
The following was posted on the website of the US Embassy in Thailand:
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release
April 10, 2010
2010/418
Statement by P.J. Crowley, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs
“The United States deeply regrets the violence on the streets of Bangkok April 10, and the loss of life. Violence is not an acceptable means of resolving political differences. We call on the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) and the Thai security forces to show restraint going forward. The United States firmly believes both sides can and should work out disagreements peacefully through earnest negotiation. We once again stress the importance of all players in Thailand working to resolve differences in a way that strengthens democracy and rule of law. We strongly support the Thai nation and its people during this difficult period.” [Bold and Italics added]
30th March 2010
US Embassy in Bangkok and WebChat With Visa Seekers
Posted by : admin
It is common knowledge that many people seek United States travel documents from the US Embassy Thailand. However, are those who have complex questions regarding United States Tourist visas and in many cases, these questions can only be answered by either an attorney or a Foreign Service Officer. Thanks to the internet, there are more and more opportunities for those with sought out knowledge to communicate with those who need specific questions answered. The website Thaivisa.com is reporting that the US Embassy in Bangkok has initiated a live chat program to allow the public to interact directly with Embassy personnel online:
“U.S. Embassy Bangkok Non-Immigrant Visa Webchat
Interested in visiting the U.S. as a tourist? Looking to study in the U.S.? If you have questions about non-immigrant visas to the U.S. here is your chance to ask! The U.S. Embassy Bangkok Consular Section will be online to answer questions about non-immigrant visa services for Thai citizens and residents of Thailand. Join us for this special webchat!
Date: Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Time: 6:00-7:00pm (Bangkok time)
To participate:
1. Go to https://statedept.connectsolutions.com/bangkok
2. Enter as a Guest (Type your name)
3. Submit your questions (We accept questions and comments in advance of, and at any time during the program)
We look forward to chatting with you then!
Please Note: At this time questions can be submitted in English only.”
Although this chat session has already occurred one should note that this is a terrific resource for those interested in a tourist visa as it allows for an applicant to have their inquiries answered in real time by one who is knowledgeable about US visa matters. It is interesting to note that the Thaivisa.com posting only makes reference to the the US Tourist Visa and not other visa categories. This is probably due to the fact that employment based visas such as the E2 visa or the L1 visa are granted after an assessment of the unique set of facts and issues in a given case so it would be difficult to discuss such visas through the internet. That being said, tourist visa adjudications are based upon the facts in the case, but judging an applicant’s likelihood of obtaining a US visa is often easier, compared to employment based cases, due to section 214(b) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act. Family based visa applications for visas such as the K1 visa, the K3 Visa, the IR1 visa and the CR1 Visa are also adjudicated based upon the facts of the case and in many cases the likelihood of ultimate approval is not easy to determine unless one delves deeply into the details of the case. This could explain why these types of applications do not appear to be the intended topic of discussion in the aforementioned live chat session.
Hopefully, this will become a regular addition to the already quality service provided by the US Embassy in Bangkok.
27th March 2010
Department of State Discusses Fee Increases for Consular Services
Posted by : admin
In a few recent blog posts, this author has discussed the proposed fee increases for services offered at US Diplomatic and Consular Posts abroad. Apparently, the Department of State will be increasing the fees associated with Passport procurement. Also, those who wish to obtain new pages in their passport will no longer be able to have pages added free of charge. Finally, although on a slightly different topic, the fees for non-immigrant family based visas is to be raised as well. For those who are unfamiliar with the details of US Immigration the US Fiance Visa (also called the K1 visa) and the Non-Immigrant US Marriage visa (Also called a K3 Visa) are issued at American Embassies overseas.
The Department of State issued some statements in a supplement regarding the proposed rule that would increase the fees for Consular Services:
“The Department of State (“Department”) published two proposed rules in the Federal Register on December 14, 2009 (74 FR 66076, Public Notice 6851, RIN 1400-AC57), and on February 9, 2010 (75 FR 6321, Public Notice 6887, RIN 1400-AC58), proposing to amend sections of part 22 of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services. The Department’s proposed rules solicited comments, and a number of comments requested additional detail on the Consular Services Cost of Service Study (CoSS) as well as time to comment on that detail. In response, the Department is providing the additional written detail below.”
The Department of State should be commended for taking the time to explain to the public the policy reasons for a fee increase. In many ways, a fee increase is periodically necessary as each US Embassy and/or US Consulate must serve the needs of the Americans using the post while at the same time stay within a budget. Balancing these two objectives can be difficult at times. The statement went further in describing the reasons behind the increase in fees, but used an analogy to make the point:
“Example: Imagine a government agency that has a single facility it uses to prepare and issue a single product–a driver’s license. In this simple scenario, every cost associated with that facility (the salaries of employees, the electricity to power the computer terminals, the cost of a blank driver’s license, etc.) can be attributed directly to the cost of producing that single item. If that agency wants to ensure that it is charging a “self- sustaining” price for driver’s licenses, it only has to divide its total costs for a given time period by an estimate of the number of driver’s licenses to be produced during that same time period.”
As this analogy points out, if an organization is just producing one product, then determining the cost of the product is relatively easy:
“However, if that agency issues multiple products (driver’s licenses, non-driver ID cards, etc.), has employees that work on other activities besides licenses (for example, accepting payment for traffic tickets), and operates out of multiple facilities it shares with other agencies, it becomes much more complex for the agency to determine exactly how much it costs to produce any single product. In those instances, the agency would need to know what percent of time its employees spend on each service and how much of its overhead (rent, utilities, facilities maintenance, etc.) are consumed in delivering each service to determine the cost of producing each of its various products–the driver’s license, the non-driver ID card, etc. Using an ABC model would allow the agency to develop those costs.”
Apparently, the Department of State, through use of modeling, has discovered the true cost of their services and is attempting to adjust their fees accordingly. It remains to be seen how thee changes will impact expats and Americans using United States Consular Posts abroad. In Thailand, it is this author’s opinion, that this fee increase will have the biggest impact upon the American Citizen Services Unit of the US Embassy Bangkok and the US Consulate Chiang Mai as those respective units deal with issues like new passport issuance on a regular basis.
10th March 2010
CRBA: Consular Reports of Birth Abroad and Consequences of Denial
Posted by : admin
Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA) are similar to birth certificates in that they note that a child was born, but they differ in their reason for issuance. A Consular Report of Birth Abroad also notes that a child was born an American Citizen. There are two ways that a child can be born an American Citizen. One way is by birth in the United States. Although, the American Immigration and Nationality Act defines “United States” (for purposes of US Immigration) as all of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico birth in the non-US states or the District of Columbia may or may not cause the transmission of automatic Citizenship depending upon the situation. That being said, birth in the 50 US states definitely confers automatic Citizenship. However, there is another method of transmission of United States Citizenship and that is by blood. A United States Citizen may transmit their citizenship to their child outside of the US if at least one of the child’s parent’s meets the legal requirements for Citizenship transmission. This can become complicated as automatic citizenship transmission can be dependent upon many factors.
In order to obtain a Consular Report of Birth Abroad an applicant usually makes an appointment with the American Citizen Services Section of the appropriate US Embassy or US Consulate. In Thailand, the CRBA interview would likely take place at either the US Embassy in Bangkok or the US Consulate General in Chiang Mai.
What concerns us in this post is the prospect of a Consular Report of Birth Abroad Denial. If, by law, an American Citizen cannot transmit their Citizenship to their child automatically because the US Citizen parent did not spend enough time physically present in the US at the time of the child’s birth, then a Consular Report of Birth Abroad may not be issued and the child may not be entitled to a US passport. It should be noted that in some cases a parent cannot prove up their actual presence in the United States, but later procures proof. In this case, it may be possible to re-apply for the CRBA and, assuming the new evidence is acceptable to the Consular Officer, thereby legally prove transmission of Citizenship. However, there are some cases where the transmission of Citizenship either cannot be proven or did not, in fact, occur. In situations such as these, Americans are basically left with one option: they may petition for an Immigrant visa for their child. An American Citizen may petition for Immigrant visa benefits for their child and upon approval of a visa application and petition, the child may enter the United States with their US Citizen parent. Under the provisions of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 if the child enters with their US Citizen parent in order to take up residence, then the “foreign” child becomes a US Citizen by operation of law upon lawful admission.
In this situation, the child may then obtain a Certificate of Citizenship (similar to a Naturalization Certificate) in order to prove their status.
For related information please see: US Visa Denial or CR1 Visa.
5th March 2010
Deputy Assistant US Secretary of State Discusses Increased Passport Fees
Posted by : admin
Recently we reported on this blog that the fees associated with passport issuance are likely to be increased in the near future. In a recent press release Brenda S. Sprague, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Passport Services, discussed the proposed fee increase and the policy reasons underlying the American State Department’s proposal for an increase in fees associated with American passports:
“Over the last five years, the demand for passports has increased to an average of 15 million applications per year. On February 9th, the State Department published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to increase certain fees related to U.S. passport and passport card applications. The proposed fee change is based on a comprehensive cost-ofservices study, completed in June, 2009, that was the most detailed and exhaustive study the U.S. State Department has ever conducted of its for-fee services, and updates the schedule of fees from four years ago.”
Many who are reading about this fee increase for the first time are probably wondering what the cost of passports would be under the recent proposed rule:
“Under the proposed fee schedule, the total cost for a first-time applicant aged 16 and older, who is applying for a passport book will be have $135. For those younger than 16, the price will be $105. The cost of a passport card for a first-time applicant 16 or older is $55. And for those younger than age 16, the price is $40. Passport books and cards for people who are 16 or older are valid for 10 years, books and cards issued to individuals younger than 16 are available for five years.”
When discussing this issue with American expatriates in Thailand, the initial reaction regarding this fee increase is: what are they increasing the fess and what will the new funding be used for? Hopefully the following excerpt will shed light on this issue:
“Passport fees are critically important to our keeping up with the latest developments in technology. Research and development, production, and implementation of new technologies for use in our U.S. passport books and cards must be an ongoing priority if we are to keep one step ahead of the resourceful and technologically savvy criminals, terrorists groups, and subversive elements bent on doing our nation harm. The fees cover the costs of fraud prevention initiatives such as facial recognition to help us to detect look-alike fraud and data-sharing programs that permit us to verify the validity of social security numbers, driver’s licenses, birth records, and naturalization certificates. Passport fees also help to cover the costs of providing emergency services for American citizens overseas in crises situations, something that our U.S. citizens stranded in Haiti undoubtedly appreciated.”
This issue is of critical importance to those who have American Citizen children outside of the USA. In Thailand, the usual protocol at the US Embassy in Bangkok or the US Consulate in Chiang Mai is for an American Citizen to first apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad. After this document is obtained from the American Citizen Services Section of the US Consulate in Bangkok, then a passport can be issued. However, the recently proposed rule would also increase the fees associated with Consular Reports of Birth Abroad as well. That being said, the rule has yet to be adopted as there is still an official comment period so these issues have yet to be fully resolved, but it is highly likely that the rule will be implemented and the fees will be raised apparently in an to reflect what the State Department claims are the increased costs of promulgating these travel documents.
For information about American Immigration from Thailand please see: US Visa Thailand.
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