Integrity Legal

In a recent posting on ThaiVisa.com, this issue of Thailand’s economic situation was discussed. In recent months, Thailand has been the victim of political turmoil, but many are hopeful that the future will bring tranquility and economic progress. To quote the aforementioned posting:

Bank of Thailand (BOT) Deputy Governor Bandid Nijathaworn yesterday listed the five factors as the global economic momentum, tourism recovery, drought conditions, trends in the policy interest rate and access to funding by small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs). He said businesses, especially SMEs, must monitor these indicators closely, so they can adjust quickly to any situation. Bandid made his remarks at a seminar entitled “Thai SMEs in the Era of a Free Asian Economy”, hosted by Bangkok Bank. He said the first factor was whether the global economy would enjoy a healthy recovery.

The US economy has yet to pick up fully, while some European countries are experiencing public debt problems. However, many Asian countries are seeing strong economic growth, so if the US and European economies do not pick up more in the second half, Thai exports will have to focus more on Asian markets.
The second factor is the tourism industry. It recovered in six months after the 2003 Sars epidemic, five months after the 2004 tsunami and seven months after the 200809 [sic] political turmoil. It is expected to take six months to recover from the latest round of political turmoil, but that will also depend on the global economy and government measures to entice tourists back to Thailand. The third factor is the draught, and it remains to be seen how that will play out. The fourth one is the policy interest rate, which has been kept at a low 1.25 per cent in a bid to boost economic recovery. Many times, the BOT has indicated that if the domestic economy recovers and the global economic crisis abates, it may consider increasing the rate at an appropriate time.

The fifth factor that could affect second half economic growth is SMEs’ loan accessibility. SMEs have yet to enjoy full access to loans, which means they still suffer a high cost burden. Bandid said many commercial banks had stepped in to help SMEs gain easier access to loans. He believes the country’s economy will grow 45 per cent this year. Bandid said while Thailand’s economy showed positive growth in the first quarter, the economy was affected in the second quarter by the political turmoil. Tourism suffered severely from the chaos, but other key sectors were also hurt, such as agriculture, exports and real estate.

Many agree that it will be interesting to watch Thailand’s recovery as many are of the opinion that Thailand is set for further economic growth. Many Expatriates feel that although tourism figures are lower than desired the country’s many natural attractions will act as a catalyst for new growth in tourism. Furthermore, Thailand boasts of better infrastructure relative to many of the other jurisdictions in the region. Also, Thailand’s position as a key actor in the Association of SouthEast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will likely result in a better overall position for the Thai economy moving forward, when compared with other countries in the region.

Finally, Thailand’s positive relationships with countries such as the United States and Japan, as embodied in the US-Thai Amity Treaty and the Japanese-Thai Free Trade Agreement, respectively, are indicative of Thailand’s ability to effectively negotiate longstanding mutually beneficial trade arrangements. Some believe that Thailand’s economic situation remains poised for growth notwithstanding recent disturbances.

For information about business travel to Thailand please see: Thailand business visa.

Tags: Amity Treaty, Thai Business News, Thailand Business News, Thailand Business Visa, US-Thai Treaty of Amity
Posted in Amity Treaty, General Legal Information, News, Thailand Business | No Comments »

Frequently this author uses this blog to post accurate processing time estimates for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) Centers in the United States. USCIS is a key agency tasked with adjudicating Immigration petitions prior to possible Consular adjudication at a US Embassy or US Consulate abroad.

The following was quoted from the USCIS website on June 18, 2010. These are the current processing time estimates for the USCIS service center in California:

The following are estimated processing times for the USCIS Service Center in Vermont:

Those interested in bringing a foreign loved one to the United States on a K1 visa, K3 Visa, CR1 visa, or IR visa are advised to remember that the above processing time estimates do not take into account special circumstances, Consular Processing, I-601 waiver adjudication, or I-212 waiver adjudication. Therefore, those interested in obtaining a US visa are wise to consult a US Immigration lawyer prior to making any decisions as different visa categories can process faster relative to other categories.

Due to recent unrest in the Kingdom of Thailand, those processing through that Consular Post may find that it takes a bit longer to get an appointment compared to more tranquil periods. However, it should be noted that the US Embassy in Thailand has diligently worked to clear the backlog caused by the recent Embassy closure and processing is getting back to a state of relative normality.

For further information please see: US Visa Thailand.

Tags: American Visa, Consular Processing, CR1 Visa, How Much Time Does it Take to Get a US Visa, I-212 waiver, I-601 Waiver, IR1 Visa, K1 Visa, K3 Visa, US Consulate, US Embassy, US Visa, US Visa Thailand, USCIS, USCIS Processing Time
Posted in CR1 Visa, IR1 Visa, K-3 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, K2 Visa, K2 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa, L1 Visa, US Consulate Chiang Mai, US Embassy Thailand, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand, USCIS | 30 Comments »

To see this post in English please see: LGBT immigration

ประเด็นที่มีการถกเถียงบ่อยๆบนบอร์ดนี้คือ สิทธิตามกฎหมายคนเข้าเมืองของ เลสเบี้ยน เกย์ ไบเซ็กชวล และ บุคคลแปลงเพศ ไม่นานมานี้กระทรวงต่างประเทศของสหรัฐอเมริกาประกาศระเบียบปฏิบัติใหม่ที่จะนำมาปรับใช้แก่ผู้ที่ต้องการขอมีหนังสือเดินแทนและแจ้งเกิดนอกราชอาณาจักร  เพื่อให้สอดคล้องกับการเปลี่ยนเพศ  ด้านล่างคือข้อความที่ตัดทอนมาโดยตรงจากประกาศ

กระทรวงต่างประเทศสหรํฐมีความยินดีในโอกาสเดือนแห่งศักดิ์ศรีชาวเกย์ เลสเบี้ยน ไบเซ็กชวล บุคคลแปลงเพศ ที่จะประกาศระเบียบนโยบายใหม่เกี่นวกับการเปลี่ยนเพศในหนังสือเดินทางและการแจ้งเกิดนอกราชอาณาจักร เริ่มตั้งแต่วันที่ 10 มิถุนายน เมื่อผู้ขอหนังสือเดินทางแสดงใบรับรองการผ่านการวินิจฉัยของแพทย์ว่าเป็นผู้ที่แปลงเพศโดยถูกต้องทางการแพทย์ หนังสือเดินทางใหม่จะออกให้ตามเพศใหม่ ระเบียบนี้รวมถึงรายละเอียดของข้อมูลที่ต้องมีในใบรับรอง มีความเป็นไปได้ที่จะขอหนังสือเดินทางที่มีกำหนดอายุหากว่ารายงานของแพทย์แสดงว่าผู้ขอหนังสือเดินทางอยู่ในระหว่างกระบวนการแปลงเพศ ไม่ต้องใช้บันทึกการรักษาพยาบาล การผ่าตัดแปลงเพศไม่จำเป็นต้องมีขึ้นก่อนการออกหนังสือเดินทาง การแจ้งเกิดนอกราชอาณาจักรยังสามารถเปลี่ยนแปลงแก้ไขได้ตามเพศใหม่ เช่นเดียวกับผู้ขอหนังสือเดินทางคนอื่นๆ เจ้าหน้าที่ออกหนังสือเดินทาง ณ สถานทูต และกงสุลในต่างประเทศ และ ตัวแทนและศูนย์ออกหนังสือเดินทางในประเทศจะถามคำถามที่จำเป็นเพื่อขอข้อมูลเกี่ยวกับสัญชาติและลักษณะจำเพาะบุคคล

นโยบายและวิธีปฏิบัติใหม่นี้ตั้งอยู่บนพื้นฐานและการปนะนำของ องค์กรสุขอนามัยบุคคลแปลงเพศโลก (WPATH) รับรองโดยแพทย์สภาอเมริกันให้เป็นผู้มีอำนาจในเรื่องนี้

ถึงแม้ว่าประกาศนี้จะทำให้เกิดวินาทีแปลงโฉมของสิทธิผู้แปลงเพศ ยังคงมีหลายๆคนที่รู้สึกเครียดกับปัญหาในการขอวีซ่าเข้าอเมริกาให้แก่คู่รักที่มีความสัมพันธ์แบบรักร่วมเพศโดยถูกต้อง ในปัจจุบัน กฎหมายเช่น พระราชบัญญัติเพื่อการสมรส ( DOMA) ยังไม่มีผลประโยชน์ทางกฎหมายคนเข้าเมืองสำหรับคู่สมรสร่วมเพศต่างสัญชาติ ในขณะที่บุคคลเพศเดียวกันได้รับผลประโยชน์ตามกฎหมายคนเข้าเมืองทั้งที่สมรสภายใต้เงื่อนไขเดียวกับคู่สมรสเพศเดียวกัน หลายคนรู้สึกว่าความแตกต่างนี้ไม่เป็นไปตามรัฐธรรมนูญและผิดกฎหมาย อย่างไรก็ตามประเด็นนี้ยังไม่ได้มีการวิเคาระห์ในศาลอเมริกัน

มีนักนิติบัญญัติอเมริกันบางท่านที่พยายามผลักดันร่างกฎหมายเพื่อยุติความไม่เท่าเทียมกันนี้ เช่นพระราชบัญญัติรวมครอบครัว หลายคนหวังว่า การปฏิรูปกฎหมายคนเข้าเมืองให้ครอบคลุมจะรวมเอาข้อบัญญัติเกี่ยวกับสิทธอทางวีซ่าของคู่รักเพศเดียวกันต่างสัญชาติเข้าไปด้วย

K1 วีซ่า

Tags: DOMA, K1 วีซ่า, lgbt immigration, LGBT passport, Passport transgender, same sex visa, US Passport Transgender
Posted in Thailand Business, สถานทูตสหรัฐอเมริกาประจำประเทศไทย, ้วีซ่าอเมริกาจากประเทศไทย | No Comments »

The Department of State (DOS) is a multifaceted government agency as it is tasked with handling American foreign relations as well as Consular Affairs. That said, an often overlooked aspect of the American State Department’s mandate is refugee assistance. Unfortunately, throughout the world, economic and political turbulence causes the displacement and migration of local populations. In a recent government press release Eric Schwartz, Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, had this to say about DOS’s role in international population migration:

In my first 11 months on the job, many friends, colleagues and counterparts have asked me about the scope of the humanitarian work of the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), which I am honored to lead. For those of you who already know our Bureau well, this note may not be critical reading. For those who don’t, I thought I’d take some time to describe the Bureau and its priorities, and finish by introducing our new Front Office team. Within the Department of State, PRM serves as the principal humanitarian advisor to the Secretary of State, provides key leadership on population and migration issues, and manages two high-impact foreign assistance accounts that totaled over $1.7 billion in FY 2009. Our mandate is to provide protection and solutions to the world’s most vulnerable people: refugees, conflict victims, stateless persons, and vulnerable migrants, and to do so by integrating diplomacy, advocacy and humanitarian assistance programs. In this effort, we seek to help realize the commitments of President Obama and Secretary Clinton to alleviate human suffering and create the conditions for sustainable recovery, and to build a more effective multilateral system for humanitarian response.

It is interesting to note that many of the issues associated with refugee assistance can trace their roots to routine diplomatic issues which is why the Department of State is an ideal mechanism for providing assistance to refugee populations. To quote the aforementioned press release further:

Most of the humanitarian situations to which PRM responds are rooted in political or security challenges. For this reason, our access to foreign heads of government and other key foreign government decision-makers is critical, as it fosters the integration of humanitarian diplomacy within a full range of U.S. government assistance and protection programs, and leverages these programs to achieve critical humanitarian objectives. Over the past many months, I’ve pursued international humanitarian objectives in visits with a range of senior foreign leaders and officials, including with President Fernandez of the Dominican Republic on issues relating to the status of Haitians; the Prime Minister of Jordan and the Vice Foreign Minister of Syria on issues relating to Iraqi and Palestinian refugees; and the President, Defense Minister and Foreign Minister on conditions for internally displaced persons in Sri Lanka.

In this author’s opinion, assisting refugees and displaced individuals is a noble pursuit. Therefore, the efforts of DOS in this regard should be applauded as this type of activity ought to continue as countries around the world strive for greater international harmony.

For related information please see: US Visa Thailand or US Embassy Thailand.

Tags: American Department of State, American State Department, DOS, State Department, US Department of State, us embassy thailand, US Visa Thailand
Posted in News, US Consulate Chiang Mai, US Consulate HCMC, US Consulate Singapore, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Bangladesh, US Embassy Burma, US Embassy Cambodia, US Embassy Dhaka, US Embassy Hanoi, US Embassy India, US Embassy Indonesia, US Embassy Jakarta, US Embassy Kathmandu, US Embassy Kuala Lumpur, US Embassy Malaysia, US Embassy Myanmar, US Embassy Nepal, US Embassy New Dehli, US Embassy Phnom Phen, US Embassy Rangoon, US Embassy Singapore, US Embassy Thailand, US Embassy Vietnam, US Embassy Yangon, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand | No Comments »

Frequently on this blog the author tries to post information that may be of relevance to future visa seekers. Below is a schedule of the holidays quoted from the website of the US Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh:

2010 Mission Holiday Schedule Following is the Holiday Schedule for 2010 that will be observed by all U.S. Government agencies in Bangladesh.

HOLIDAYS		DATES MISSION CLOSED
New Year’s Day	American	December 31, 2009	Thursday
Martin Luther King’s Birthday	American	January 17	Sunday+
Washington’s Birthday	American	February 14	Sunday+
Martyr’s Day (Int’l Language Day)	Bangladeshi	February 21	Sunday
Bengali New Year’s Day	Bangladeshi	April 14	Wednesday
Buddha Purnima#	Bangladeshi	May 27	Thursday#
Memorial Day	American	May 30	Sunday+
Independence Day	American	July 4	Sunday
Shab-e-Barat*	Bangladeshi	July 28	Wednesday*
Labor Day	American	September 5	Sunday+
Shab-e-Quadr*	Bangladeshi	September 7	Tuesday*
Eid-ul-Fitr*	Bangladeshi	September 12	Sunday*
Columbus Day	American	October 10	Sunday+
Durga Puja#	Bangladeshi	October 17	Sunday#
Veterans Day	American	November 11	Thursday
Eid-ul-Azha*	Bangladeshi	November 17 & 18	Wednesday* & Thursday
Thanksgiving Day	American	November 25	Thursday
Victory Day	Bangladeshi	December 16	Thursday
Christmas Day	American	December 26	Sunday+

Please note that, although the Bangladesh Government observes more Bangladeshi holidays than those noted above, only these will be observed for purposes of closing the Embassy.

Notes:		(*) Date subject to appearance of the moon.
		(#) Date subject to change as the religious pundits select an auspicious date based the zodiac,  position of star, moon or other celestial bodies.

(+) American holidays that normally fall on Friday, Saturday or Monday will be observed on the following or preceding workday, due to Sunday-Thursday work week in Bangladesh.

For those with business at any US Embassy or US Consulate overseas it is prudent to note that local events on the ground can have a tremendous impact upon US Embassies and Consulates as staff are generally not required to come to the Post and the Post will cease operation under special circumstances. Therefore, those who must travel to a US Embassy to visit American Citizen Services or the Visa Unit are well advised to call-ahead in order to be certain that the Post is open.

In Consular Processing matters,  Consular closures can delay the visa process. That said, those who still have a case pending with USCIS need to be less concerned with the Embassy’s holiday closing schedule and more immediately concerned with the current USCIS processing times. As the US Family Visa process is bifurcated it is wise to note that three major agencies are involved in the adjudication of US visa cases: USCIS, the National Visa Center, and the US Embassy with appropriate jurisdiction over the Beneficiary. Therefore, those seeking answers as to why the process is delayed would be wise to note which agency is currently in possession of the petition or application.

With regard to processing of certain visa categories, recent Department of State fee increases could have an effect upon the overall immigration process. This is of special importance for those seeking a K1 visa or a K3 Visa.

For further related information please see: US Visa Thailand or US fiance visa.

Tags: American Visa Bangladesh, Fiance Visa Bangladesh, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Bangladesh, K3 Visa, K3 Visa Bangladesh, US Consulate Bangladesh, US Consulate Dhaka, US Embassy Bangladesh, US Embassy Dhaka, US Embassy Dhaka Bangladesh, US Fiance Visa, US Visa Bangladesh, US Visa Thailand, USCIS
Posted in K1 Visa, K3 Visa, L1 Visa, US Embassy Bangladesh, US Embassy Dhaka, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand, USCIS | 8 Comments »

On this blog, we regularly discuss the US Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. However, we relatively rarely discuss the US Embassies and Consulates located throughout Southeastern Asia. There are many other American Diplomatic and Consular facilities in Southern Asia and one of those Posts is the US Embassy Jakarta. This Embassy is located in the capital city of Indonesia and routinely processes US visas such as the K1 visa, the K3 Visa, as well as the CR1 and IR1 visa categories. Just like any other US Consulate, the Consulate at the US Embassy in Jakarta is also tasked with adjudicating non-immigrant visa applications for categories such as the B1 visa, the B2 visa, the F1 visa, and the J1 visa (to name just a few).

Recently, this author came across an interesting statement from the US Embassy in Indonesia’s website which is quoted here:

The decision whether or not to hire a lawyer is yours alone.  We cannot tell you whether or not to obtain representation, nor can we recommend any specific lawyers.  If you do hire an attorney or other representative, that person may accompany you to your visa interview but may not/not answer questions on your behalf.  You, the applicant, must answer the consular officer’s questions.  If your case is complicated, or if you cannot devote the necessary care to properly prepare, then we encourage you to find a lawyer qualified in immigration law by visiting www.aila.org.

Generally, each Consulate sets its own rules regarding participation by American attorneys in the Consular processing phase of the US Immigration process. Some posts refuse to allow anyone except the beneficiary into the Consulate on the date of interview (this policy is generally based upon space considerations) while others allow virtually unfettered participation by American attorneys. Many ask: which is the better approach? For the most part, there is no “best” approach to Consular processing as each country is unique and certain considerations in one country may lead to one type of policy while different circumstances in another country results in a different policy decision by the US Consulate in that country. Furthermore, circumstances are always fluid and policies can change. For this reason, it is always wise to frequently check the status of the regulations at any facility in which one’s visa petition or application is awaiting adjudication.

Recently discussed fee increases are likely to impact those processing through US Embassies and Consulates worldwide as the Department of State recently raised the fees associated with many visa categories most notably those visas categorized as K visas.

Tags: American Consulate, American Embassy, B1 visa, B2 Visa, CR1 Visa, F1 Visa, IR1 Visa, J1 visa, K1 Visa, K3 Visa, US Consulate, US Consulate Indonesia, US Consulate Jakarta, US Embassy, US Embassy Indonesia, US Embassy Jakarta, US Embassy Jakarta Indonesia
Posted in IR1 Visa, K1 Visa, K2 Visa, K3 Visa, US Embassy Indonesia, US Embassy Jakarta | No Comments »

With the recently announced fee increases associated with K visa applications filed overseas, there are many who feel that serious thought should be given to the type of visa a couple should petition to obtain. In the past, many couples who were thinking of marriage opted to apply for a US fiance visa, also referred to as a K1 visa. That being said, it was recently announced that the application fee for all K visas sought overseas would be increased from $131 to $350. Apparently, the resources accrued are to be used in furtherance of fraud prevention measures as well as implementation of measures meant to streamline the overall visa process. As the fee increase was only recently announced, it remains to be seen how newly acquired fees will be used on the Consular level. With that in mind, it has also been recently announced that USCIS may be raising fees for Immigrant visa petitions. For those who are unfamiliar with this blog, it should be noted that for purposes of traveling to the USA, the K1 visa and the K3 Visa are considered to be immigrant visas even though they do not automatically confer lawful permanent residence to the bearer upon entry in the USA.

Those seeking a US visa would be prudent to seriously consider their options because the costs associated with the process of applying for and obtaining a CR1 visa or an IR1 visa may be lower in some cases when compared to the costs associated with the K1 visa process. When viewed from a long term perspective the CR1 visa, although more time consuming to obtain, confers lawful permanent residence to the bearer upon entry and thereby negates the necessity of adjustment of status which is necessary for those who travel to the US on a K1 visa with the intent to marry the Petitioner and remain in the USA permanently.

In most cases, those wishing to bring a spouse to the USA are wise to bear in mind the fact that K3 visa applications, once a popular travel document for bi-national married couples, are now being administratively closed by the National Visa Center if the underlying I-130 is approved prior to, or at the same time as, the I-129f application. This has lead to many instances of spouses being required by circumstance to process a CR1 or IR1 visa rather than a K3 visa because the NVC simply will not process the K3 application.

For those interested in further information about US Immigration please see: American Visa Thailand.

Tags: American Visa Thailand, CR1 Visa, CR1 Visa Thailand, IR1 Visa, IR1 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Costs, K1 Visa Fees, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa, K3 Visa Thailand, US Visa Costs, US Visa Fees, USCIS Costs, USCIS Fee hike, USCIS Fee Increase
Posted in CR1 Visa, Fiance Visa Thailand, IR1 Visa, K-3 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, K2 Visa, K2 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa, National Visa Center, News, US Consulate Chiang Mai, US Consulate HCMC, US Consulate Singapore, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Burma, US Embassy Cambodia, US Embassy Hanoi, US Embassy India, US Embassy Indonesia, US Embassy Jakarta, US Embassy Kathmandu, US Embassy Kuala Lumpur, US Embassy Malaysia, US Embassy Myanmar, US Embassy Nepal, US Embassy New Dehli, US Embassy Phnom Phen, US Embassy Rangoon, US Embassy Singapore, US Embassy Thailand, US Embassy Vietnam, US Embassy Yangon, US Tourist Visa, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand, USCIS, Weird Law | No Comments »

In a recent transcript from a news conference held by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) it was announced that USCIS may be increasing many of the fees associated with US Immigration petitions. The following is a direct quote from the aforementioned news conference transcript:

While we received appropriations from Congress, budget cuts of approximately $160 million have not bridged the remaining gap between costs and anticipated revenue. A fee adjustment, as detailed in the proposed rule, is therefore necessary to address that gap.

Although few seem to doubt the fact that USCIS has experienced a revenue shortfall, many seem to be perturbed by the announcement of fee increases. The following is quoted from the AILA Leadership blog:

Yesterday, due to lower than projected fee revenues, USCIS proposed a fee increase that will amount to an average increase of  10% across the board.  USCIS will issue the formal proposal on Friday and there will be a 45 day comment period.  This, in combination with the 66% fee increase that was implemented in 2007, constitutes a tremendous hit in the pocketbook for a variety of users of immigration services. For example, an I-130 petition for an alien relative will jump from $355 to $420, under this proposal, thus impacting those who want to be reunited with family members.  An I-131 application for a travel document goes up by $55, and an application for an employment authorization document increases by $40.  Adjustment of status fees will increase by $55.  Businesses will also bear some of the brunt, with I-140 petitions for immigrant workers increasing over $100, premium processing going up by $225 and a brand new fee of $6,230 to establish a Regional Center under the EB-5 program. And –perhaps the coup de grace—fees for filing I-290 Notices of Appeal will increase from $585 to $630, a $45 dollar increase that will allow us to continue to file appeals that take over 2 years to adjudicate and generally conclude with either a rubber stamping of the original decision, or as in a handful of recent AAO decisions, a tortured legal analysis resulting in increasingly restrictive interpretations of the law.

The tone of the above quote leaves some readers feeling as though the author is rather upset about the recently proposed fee increase. The following passages from the aforementioned post on the AILA Leadership blog leaves little to the imagination regarding some practitioners feelings with regard to the proposed fee increases:

Why do these fee increases feel like a punch in the stomach to immigration practitioners?  Because they come at a time when the quality of decision-making and the ability to correct even the simplest errors or address basic problems with USCIS are at an all-time low. A small sampling of the problems we have all experienced with alarming increased frequency over the past few years…Application of new extra-regulatory standards in case adjudication…Adjudication of issues not within the province of USCIS…A “pick and choose” attitude with respect to previously issued long-standing agency guidance…Lack of accessibility of agency officials and decision-makers…Lack of predictability in decision-making…Lack of respect for the role of counsel in various proceedings: Examples:  Practitioners report that they are sometimes not copied on RFE’s, and that district offices from time to time have barred attorneys from accompanying their clients to adjustment interviews.

Although USCIS adjudicates cases on an individual basis and no single practitioner can make a generalized statement about USCIS adjudication generally, there appears to be an increasingly common feeling among immigration practitioners that agencies associated with Immigration adjudication are becoming rather unpredictable.

Also of possible interest to those seeking certain family based visas such as the K1 visa and the K3 Visa is the fact that the US Department of State has recently raised the fees associated with such applications when adjudicated by US Consulates abroad. The previous fee for K visa applications was $131, but under the newly promulgated rules the K visa application fee has been raised to $350. Those seeking K3 visas are unlikely to be adversely impacted by the recent fee increase as K3 visa applications are currently being “administratively closed,” in many cases, by the National Visa Center. That said, those seeking a K1 Fiance Visa will likely be required to pay the increased fee in order to have their K1 visa application adjudicated.

Tags: K1 Visa, K1 visa application, K3 Visa, US Visa Costs, US Visa Fees, USCIS, USCIS fees
Posted in CR1 Visa, Department of Homeland Security, Fiance Visa Thailand, IR1 Visa, K-3 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, K2 Visa, K2 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa, L1 Visa, National Visa Center, News, USCIS | 3 Comments »

A frequently discussed topic on this blog is that of LGBT immigration rights. Recently the United States Department of State made an announcement about new guidelines that will be implemented with regard to those seeking corrected passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad to reflect gender change. The following is a direct quote from the announcement:

The U.S. Department of State is pleased to use the occasion of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Month to announce its new policy guidelines regarding gender change in passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad. Beginning June 10, when a passport applicant presents a certification from an attending medical physician that the applicant has undergone appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition, the passport will reflect the new gender. The guidelines include detailed information about what information the certification must include. It is also possible to obtain a limited-validity passport if the physician’s statement shows the applicant is in the process of gender transition. No additional medical records are required. Sexual reassignment surgery is no longer a prerequisite for passport issuance. A Consular Report of Birth Abroad can also be amended with the new gender. As with all passport applicants, passport issuing officers at embassies and consulates abroad and domestic passport agencies and centers will only ask appropriate questions to obtain information necessary to determine citizenship and identity.

The new policy and procedures are based on standards and recommendations of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), recognized by the American Medical Association as the authority in this field.

Although this announcement marks a watershed moment for transgender rights, there are many who feel that a more pressing issue is that of US visa benefits for those couples in a bona fide LGBT relationship. At present, statutes such as the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) preclude Immigration benefits for bi-national same sex couples. Meanwhile, different sex couples enjoy immigration benefits notwithstanding the fact that same sex couples may have been married under exactly the same conditions as their different sex counterparts. Many feel that this disparity is unconstitutional and illegal. However, this assertion has yet to be fully analyzed by US Courts.

There are some American legislators who are attempting to deal with this perceived inequality through passage of legislation such as the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA). Some hope that so-called Comprehensive Immigration Reform will include some provision for same sex bi-national couples hoping to obtain same sex visa benefits.

Tags: consular report of birth abroad, CRBA, lgbt immigration, Same Sex Marriage, same sex visa, Transgender Passport, us passport, US Visa
Posted in lgbt immigration, same sex visa | No Comments »

หัวข้อที่ถกเถียงกันบ่อยบนบอร์ดนี้ก็คือ หัวข้อวีซ่าท่องเที่ยว สถานทูตสหรัฐอเมริกาประจำกรุงเทพมหานครจะออกวีซ่าท่องเที่ยวเป็นจำนวนมากในแต่ละแ ในอดีต คำร้องขอวีซ่าชั่วคราวจะต้องมีการยื่นแบบ DS-156 แต่ไม่นานมานี้ กระทรวงต่างประเทศได้ประกาศว่าไม่ให้ใช้ฟอร์ม DS-156 กับการขอวีซ่าท่องเที่ยว บีทู (B2)อีกต่อไป

ฟอร์ม DS-160 แบบใหม่ เป็นฟอร์มคำขอวีซ่าชั่วคราวแบบอิเล็กทรอนิกส์ เป็นฟอร์มออนไลน์ที่ใช้บันทึกข้อมูลที่จำเป็นของผู้ขอวีซ่าชั่วคราว ฟอร์ม DS-160 นี้สามารถยื่นผ่านระบบอินเตอร์เนตไปยังกระทรวงต่างประเทศของสหรัฐโดยตรง เจ้าหน้าที่กงสุลจะอาศัยข้อมูลจากฟอร์ม DS-160 ที่ยื่นเพื่อใช้ประกอบการพิจารณาคำขอวีซ่า ประกอบกับการสัมภาษณ์แบบตัวต่อตัว เพื่อตัดสินว่าผู้ยื่นขอมีคุณสมบัติได้รับวีซ่าชั่วคราวหรือไม่

เห็นได้ชัดว่า ฟอร์ม DS-160 ได้ถูกนำมาใช้เพื่อรวบรัดขั้นตอนการขอวีซ่าของผู้ต้องการขอวีซ่าชั่วคราวเพื่อเข้าประเทศสหรัฐอเมริกา ผู้เขียนได้ตัดตอนข้อความที่ประกาศไว้มาให้อ่านกันดังต่อไปนี้

สถานทูตของสหรัฐอเมริกาและกงสุลทั้งหมดที่ดำเนินการคำขอวีซ่าชั่วคราวให้ใช้แบบฟอร์มออนไลน์ DS-160 แบบใหม่ ดังนั้นผู้ขอวีซ่าจะต้องใช้แบบฟอร์ม DS-160 ออนไลน์นี้กับการขอวีซ่าชั่วคราวเกือบทุกประเภท แต่ไม่ทั้งหมด โปรดดูหมวด ถาม-ตอบของกระทรวงการต่างประเทศ สำหรับข้อยกเว้นและเพื่อให้ทราบว่าวีซ่าชั่วคราวประเภทใดบ้างที่ยังคงใช้แบบฟอร์ม DS-156 ในขณะนี้

มีหลายๆคนที่กังวลว่าการเปลี่ยนแปลงที่เพิ่งเกิดขึ้นนี้จะส่งผลกระทบกับคำขอวีซ่าประเภทอื่นๆ ความกังวลนี้มักจะเกิดขึ้นกับผู้ที่จะขอวีซ่า K1 หรือ K3 สำหรับคู่หมั้นหรือคู่สมรสต่างชาติ นั่นหมายความว่าคุณอาจจะต้องปรึกษากับที่ปรึกษาชาวอเมริกันที่เชี่ยวชาญเสียก่อนว่าคุณควรจะยื่นแบบฟอร์มประเภทอะไรจึงจะเหมาะกับวีซ่าประเภทที่คุณต้องการยื่นขอ และเช่นเคย คุณควรหมายเหตุไว้ว่าทนายความอเมริกันที่มีใบอนุญาตเท่านั้นที่จะสามารถให้ความช่วยเหลือด้านกฎหมายคนเข้าเมืองอเมริกันได้อย่างถูกกฎหมาย หลายๆคนอาจจะเห็นว่าการขอวีซ่าท่องเที่ยวไม่ต้องอาศัยความช่วยเหลือจากทนายอเมริกัน เนื่องจากจะทำให้เสียค่าใช้จ่ายมากขึ้นปล่าวๆ อย่างไรก็ตาม คำขอวีซ่าสำหรับบุคคลในครอบครัวของชาวอเมริกันบางประเภทนั้น การขอความช่วยเหลือจากทนายอาจจะเป็นประโยชน์มากทีเดียว

ยังควรหมายเหตุไว้อีกว่าผู้ขอวีซ่าหลายๆคนถูกปฏิเสธวีซ่าจากเจ้าหน้าที่กงสุลอาศัยเหตุตาม พระราชบัญญัติคนเข้าเมืองและสัญชาติของอเมริกา มาตรา 214(b) ซึ่งหมายความว่าผู้ขอวีซ่าไม่สามารถพิสูจน์ความสัมพันธ์อันแน่นแฟ้นกับประเทศบ้านเกิด และความสัมพันธ์ที่เปราะบางกับสหรัฐอเมริกา ผู้ที่ขอวีซ่าไปสหรัฐอเมริกาควรจำไว้ว่าหากว่าการอพยพเป็นเป้าหมายสุดท้ายของคุณแล้วละก็ การขอวีซ่าท่องเที่ยวอาจจะไม่ใช่วีซ่าประเภทที่เหมาะกับคุณ แม้ว่าวีซ่าจะได้รับการอนุมัติโดยกงสุลสหรัฐอเมริกาในต่างประเทศ แต่บุคคลต่างด้าวมีสิทธิที่จะถูกส่งตัวกลับเมื่อไปถึงด่านตรวจคนเข้าเมืองในสหรัฐอเมริกา หากว่า เจ้าหน้าที่ด่านตรวจคนเข้าเมืองและศุลกากรมีเหตุผลให้เชื่อได้ว่าผู้ขอวีซ่านั้นเป็นผู้ที่แฝงไปด้วยเจตนาอพยพเข้าสหรัฐอเมริกาเป็นการถาวร

Tags: 214(b), B2, DS-156, DS-160, K1, K3
Posted in สถานทูตสหรัฐอเมริกาประจำประเทศไทย, ้วีซ่าอเมริกาจากประเทศไทย | No Comments »