Integrity Legal

A frequently discussed topic on this blog is the US Tourist Visa. The US Embassy Bangkok processes a significant number of US Tourist Visa applications each year. In the past, most non-immigrant visa applications required the submission of form DS-156. Recently, the US State Department announced that the DS-156 should no longer be used  by those seeking a US B2 Tourist Visa:

The new DS-160, Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application, is a fully integrated online application form that is used to collect the necessary application information from a person seeking a nonimmigrant visa. The DS-160 is submitted electronically to the Department of State via the Internet. Consular Officers use the information entered on the DS-160 to process the visa application and, combined with a personal interview, determine an applicant’s eligibility for a nonimmigrant visa.

Apparently, the DS-160 has been introduced in an effort to streamline the visa process for those seeking non-immigrant visas outside of the United States of America. To quote the above announcement further:

All U.S. Embassies and Consulates that process nonimmigrant visas now use the new online DS-160. Therefore, visa applicants will need to apply using the online DS-160 for most, but not all, nonimmigrant visa categories. Review the [State Department] FAQs for exceptions and to find out which nonimmigrant categories continue to use the DS-156 at this time.

There are many who worry that these recent changes will impact other types of applications. This worry seems to be most prevalently felt by those seeking K1 visa benefits or K3 Visa benefits for a foreign fiancee or spouse. That said, consultation with an American legal professional may be necessary in order to determine which forms should be used when filing for certain visa categories. As always, it should be noted that only a licensed American attorney is entitled to assist in American Immigration matters. That said, many find that applying for a US Tourist Visa does not require the assistance of an American lawyer as such assistance would likely add little value to such an application. However, many applicants for US family immigration benefits find that attorney assistance is beneficial.

It should be noted that many applicants find their application for a visa denied pursuant to the Consular Officer’s application of Section 214(b) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act. Such a finding basically means that the applicant was unable to show requisite “strong ties” to their home country and “weak ties” to the United States. Those seeking a visa to the USA should be advised that if immigration is the ultimate goal, then a tourist visa is not the proper travel document. Even if a visa application is approved by a US Consulate overseas, the foreign national could still be placed in expedited removal proceeding upon arrival at the port of entry in the USA if the Customs and Border Protection officers have reason to believe that the applicant is an undisclosed intending immigrant attempting to enter the USA.

Tags: American Department of State, American State Department, Customs and Border Protection, DOS, DS-156, DS-160, expedited removal, K1 Visa, K3 Visa, US Department of State, us embassy bangkok, us embassy thailand, US Tourist Visa, US Tourist Visa Thailand, USCBP
Posted in K1 Visa, K2 Visa, K3 Visa, 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, USCBP | 1 Comment »

In a recent press release it was announced that the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has the capability and resources to implement a program that will check 100% of the domestic airline passengers traveling in the United States  against terrorist watchlists.  To quote the press release directly:

Washington, D.C.—Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced that 100 percent of passengers traveling within the United States and its territories are now being checked against terrorist watchlists through the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Secure Flight program—a major step in fulfilling a key 9/11 Commission recommendation.

Before Secure Flight, airlines conducted passenger watchlist checking. “Secure Flight fulfills a key recommendation of the of the 9/11 Commission Report, enabling TSA to screen passengers directly against government watchlists using passenger name, date of birth, and gender before a boarding pass is issued,” said Secretary Napolitano. “This program is one of our many layers of security—coordinated with our partners in the airline industry and governments around the world—that we leverage to protect the traveling public against threats of terrorism.”

Under Secure Flight, TSA prescreens passenger name, date of birth and gender against government watchlists for domestic and international flights. In addition to facilitating secure travel for all passengers, the program helps prevent the misidentification of passengers who have names similar to individuals on government watchlists.
“We are quite pleased to see the positive outcome from the collaborative work that ATA, its member airlines and TSA have invested in the development of the Secure Flight program,” said Air Transport Association (ATA) President and CEO James C. May. “We are especially pleased that TSA phased program implementation to ensure that commercial airline travelers experience a seamless transition.”

99 percent of passengers will be cleared by Secure Flight to print boarding passes at home by providing their date of birth, gender and name as it appears on the government ID they plan to use when traveling when booking airline tickets. Individuals found to match watchlist parameters will be subjected to secondary screening, a law enforcement interview or prohibition from boarding an aircraft, depending on the specific case.

The Transportation Security Administration began implementing Secure Flight in late 2009 and expects all international carriers with direct flights to the U.S. to begin using Secure Flight by the end of 2010.

This author must applaud the efficiency of both the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the DHS in their efforts to track all domestic air travelers in the United States of America. Although this is unlikely to have a major impact upon foreign nationals traveling to the USA as first time immigrants, it should be noted that when American  security agencies focus their efforts the results can be rather astonishing. This is particularly true in the current information age as DHS and TSA have proven that they can use all of the tools at their disposal to more effectively  implement policies that conform to their mandate.  There are likely many domestic air travelers in the USA who feel reassured by the American government’s constant efforts to increase security.

For related information please see: US Immigration.

Tags: 100% domestic passengers checked against terrorist watchlists, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, domestic travel in the USA, Transportation Security Administration, TSA
Posted in Department of Homeland Security | No Comments »

A frequent topic on this blog is same sex marriage and the intersection of that issue with US Immigration law. Currently, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) effectively prevents Federal recognition of Same Sex Marriages when adjudicating US Immigration petitions. Therefore, different sex couples who are validly married in a jurisdiction in the United States can petition for Immigration benefits if one of the partners is foreign national. This is not the case for same sex couples as same sex partners are currently barred from obtaining US Immigration benefits based upon a bona fide same sex marriage. This issue is being widely discussed in US Immigration circles. An example of this discussion can be found in the most recent edition of The Voice, a publication promulgated by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). The following is an excerpt from a recent article discussing LGBT immigration issues:

“At present, gay and lesbian marriages are recognized in 10 countries. The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, and Sweden recognize marriage equality uniformly throughout their territories.5 Same-sex marriages
also are recognized in some parts of Argentina and Mexico.6 However, DOMA closes the door to same-sex marriage recognition under any federal law, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). So for those couples who have united legally in one of the many countries stated above, DOMA would keep federal immigration laws from legally recognizing those unions upon their immigration to the United States.

Many courts have found that the language of DOMA is clear and unambiguous. But can DOMA be struck down? In addition to suits filed in Massachusetts,8 at least one other high-profile case in California, Perry v. Schwarzenegger, D.Ct.N.D.Cal. case 3:2009cv02292 (filed May 22, 2009), is currently challenging the constitutionality of discrimination against same-sex marriages more generally. If such a case were successful, it might lead courts to strike down DOMA and all anti-gay state marriage amendments, presumably resulting in the clear recognition of all bona fide same sex marriages in the United States.”

Although there are many legal obstacles in the path of equal Immigration rights for same sex couples, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel as a repeal of DOMA would create an opening that could be exploited by advocates for same ex immigration. To quote the aforementioned article:

“In a world without DOMA, U.S. immigration law would clearly recognize the same-sex marriage of a couple residing in a U.S. state that recognizes the marriage. It is also highly likely that the marriages would be recognized for residents of other states with no laws prohibiting same-sex marriage.”

Although repeal of DOMA may not be a perfect legal solution from an Immigration standpoint, a repeal of DOMA in conjunction with the adoption of a statute such as the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) would likely be an optimal solution to the current legal impasse.

For more information please see: Same Sex Visa.

Tags: AILA, American Visa, American Visa Same Sex Couple, Defense of Marriage Act, DOMA, lgbt immigration, Same Sex Marriage, same sex us visa, same sex visa, The Voice, uafa, Uniting American Families Act, US Immigration, US Immigration Law, Us Visa Same Sex Partner
Posted in lgbt immigration, same sex visa, US Visa and Immigration | No Comments »

In previous postings on this blog, we have discussed the naturalization process and the various ways in which individuals can become Citizens of the United States of America. Many believe, erroneously, that once a person is naturalized to US Citizenship, they cannot lose their citizenship. Unfortunately for some, this is not necessarily the case. US law provides for denaturalization under certain circumstances. Generally, denaturalization only occurs in siutuations where the applicant for naturalization was dishonest in their application for US Citizenship. The following is a quote from a recent presss release promulgated by the American Justice Department:

A former member of the Bosnian Serb Army has left the United States to return to Serbia after a federal judge ordered his denaturalization based on concealment during his application for U.S. citizenship that he served in the military during the Bosnian war, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Brian Albritton of the Middle District of Florida and Assistant Secretary John Morton of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Jadranko Gostic, 47 , a former resident of St. Petersburg, Fla., departed the United States on June 1 , 2010. U.S. District Court Judge James Moody in Tampa, Fla., ordered his denaturalization on May 26, 2010. Gostic was indicted in December 2006 on one count of unlawful procurement of citizenship and one count of making false statements. In January 2010, a civil complaint was filed against Gostic alleging illegal procurement of U.S. citizenship and requesting his denaturalization. Court documents allege that Gostic served in the Zvornik Infantry Brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army from April 1992 until December 1995. According to court documents, international tribunals have found that some units of the Zvornik Brigade engaged in war crimes and crimes against humanity , and that they participated in the July 1995 action against the Srebrenica enclave during which some 8,000 Muslim men and boys were executed.

Gostic entered the United States in 1999, received lawful permanent residence status in 2002 and was naturalized in 2004. According to court documents, at each stage of the immigration and naturalization process Gostic concealed his service in the Zvornik Brigade, even when specifically asked about his prior military service.

Gostic agreed to admit to the allegations against him, to be denaturalized, to surrender his lawful permanent resident status and to depart the United States. Gostic fulfilled the requirements of this agreement and departed the United States. As a result of his cooperation, the criminal charges against Gostic will be dismissed.

This case was investigated by the ICE Tampa Special-Agent-in-Charge Office and was prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney William Kenety in the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Hansen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

The Criminal Division announced the formation of HRSP on March 30, 2010, as part of the U.S. government’s efforts to bring human rights violators to justice and deny those violators safe haven in the United States. The new section represents a merger of the Criminal Division’s Domestic Security Section (DSS) and the Office of Special Investigations (OSI).

As can be gathered from the above press release, Denaturalization proceedings are not taken lightly by the American government nor is it a matter that is taken lightly by the US Courts. That said, in certain situations, denaturalization is warranted if the naturalized American’s actions require the implementation of such a measure. This is one more prime example of why honesty is the best policy when it comes to US Immigration as dishonesty can “unravel” one’s lawful status in the United States, even if that status is US Citizenship.

For related information please see:  US Visa Thailand or Child Citizenship Act.

Tags: Child Citizenship Act, denaturalization, Justice Department, Naturalization, US Citizenship, US Citizenship by Naturalization, US Visa Thailand
Posted in US Citizenship, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand | No Comments »

In a recent news release from the American Justice Department it was announced that a US Border Patrol Agent has plead guilty to charges that he assaulted a Mexican National and thereby violated that individual’s civil rights. To quote the press release:

U.S. Border Patrol Agent Eduardo Moreno pleaded guilty today in federal court in Tucson, Ariz., to a federal criminal civil rights charge for assaulting a Mexican national who was in his custody, the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced today. Sentencing has been scheduled for Aug. 12, 2010.
The underlying incident occurred on May 10, 2006, while Moreno was on duty at the U.S. Border Patrol Processing Center in Nogales, Ariz. During the plea proceedings and in documents filed in court, Moreno admitted that while escorting the victim at the center, he kicked the victim, struck him in the stomach with a baton, threw him down to ground, and punched him, all without any legitimate law enforcement reason to use force. As a result of the defendant’s actions, the victim suffered bodily injury.

“We place a great deal of trust in federal law enforcement officers, and the Civil Rights Division will aggressively prosecute any officer who violates the rights of others and abuses the power they are given to perform their critical duties,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.

Moreno faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. An additional count in the indictment of making a false statement to federal agents will be dismissed under the plea agreement. This case was investigated by agents of the FBI and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Office of Professional Responsibility. The case is being jointly prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Hansen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona and Trial Attorney Edward Chung of the Civil Rights Division.

This is an unfortunate incident which some feel is symptomatic of an overall problem in the area of US Immigration. Many advocates are calling for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR), if for no other reason than to clarify the finer points of US Immigration law, procedure, and regulation. Hopefully, by creating a discourse about immigration many of the problems plaguing law enforcement agencies and local communities can be adequately addressed to the satisfaction of all concerned.

This author applauds the efforts of the American Justice Department as they seek to make the rule of law binding upon individuals in the USA, government agencies, and government agents alike.

Tags: American Immigration, American Immigration law, American Justice, Arizone US Immigration, CIR, Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Department of Justice, DOJ, Justice Department, Rule of Law, US Immigration, US Immigration Arizona, US Immigration Law, US Immigration Law Arizona, US Justice Department
Posted in Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Department of Homeland Security, General Legal Information, News, USCBP | No Comments »

To see this information in English please see: K1 visa

สำหรับคนที่พาคู่หมั้นต่างด้าวเข้ามาในอเมริกา คำถามที่มีให้พบอยู่บ่อยๆคือ “ทำอย่างไรหากว่าคู่หมั้นของฉันอยากจะทำงานในอเมริกาก่อนที่จะปรับเปลี่ยนสถานภาพเสร็จ” คำตอบสำหรับคำถามนี้ค่อนข้างจะสลับซับซ้อน เมื่อคู่หมั้นต่างด้าวเข่าสหรัฐอเมริกาด้วยวีซ่าชั่วคราว เควัน หรือ เค ทรี การเข้าเมืองไม่อนุญาติให้ทำงานในสหรัฐอเมริกา จนกว่าคนต่างด้างนั้นจะปรับเปลี่ยนสถานภาพเป็นผู้อยู่อาศัยถาวรได้แล้วเสร็จ (ได้กรีนการ์ด ) หรือได้ขออนุญาตทำงานในสหรัฐ ไม่นานมานี้ USCIS ประกาศว่าเพื่อพยายามลดการเข้าเมืองโดยฉ้อฉล เอกสารอนุญาติทำงานแบบใหม่จะมีการออกให้ ข้อความด้านล่างสรุปมาจากประกาศของ USCIS

USCIS ได้ประกาศในวันนี้ว่าได้ปรับเปลี่ยนดูเอกสารอนุญาตทำงาน หรือแบบ I 766 โดยได้เพิ่มแถบแม่เหล็กเข้าไปด้านหลังบัตรอนุญาตทำงาน ความคืบหน้าในครั้งนี้เป็นอีกหนึ่งความพยายามของ

USCIS ในการที่จะตรวจสอบการเข้าเมืองโดยฉ้อฉล เริ่มมีผลบังคับใช้วันที่ 11 พฤษภาคม USCIS จะเริ่มออกใบอนุญาตทำงานแบบใหม่นี้ แถบแม่เหล็กแบบนี้เป็นไปตามมาตรฐานองค์กรการบิน USCIS ได้เอาแถบบาร์โค๊ดสองแถบด้านหลังบัตรออกไป และย้ายส่วนข้อความไปอยู่ใต้แถบแม่เหล็กบนการ์ด การ์ดแบบใหม่นี้ยังคงลักษณะเพื่อความปลอดภัยที่มีอยู่ไว้ทั้งหมด

ในกรณีส่วนใหญ่ คู่หมั้นหรือคู่สมรสต่างด้าวของคนสัญชาติอเมริกันจะต้องรอกรีนการ์ดก่อนจึงจะสามารถทำงานได้ อย่างไรก็ตาม บางตัวอย่างที่ไม่เข้ากับกรณีนี้เนื่องจากมีคู่หมั้นหรือคู่สมรสชาวอเมริกันมากมายที่ทำงานให้กับบริษัทข้ามชาติ บริษัทข้ามชาติเหล่านี้บางครั้งก็อยากได้ลูกจ้างที่ไม่ใช่ชาวอเมริกันของพวกเขามาทำงานในสาขาที่สหรัฐให้เร็วที่สุดที่จะทำได้ ดังนั้น ก็มีหลายกรณีที่ใบอนุญาตทำงานแบบเร่งด่วนเป็นเรื่องจำเป็น

ในอดีต ผู้ถือวีซ่า เค ทรี จะต้องขอใบอนุญาตทำงานที่ด่านตรวจคนเข้าเมืองที่เข้าสหรัฐ และเนื่งจากวีซ่า เค ทรี เริ่มจะหายไป ดังนั้นวิธีขออนุญาตทำงานแบบนี้จึงพบเห็นได้ไม่บ่อยเท่าแต่ก่อน อีกปัญหาหนึ่งที่เกี่ยวกับการขอใบอนุญาตทำงานก็คือการขอออกนอกประเทศก่อนกำหนด ผู้ถือวีซ่าคู่หมั้นไม่สามารถออกจากสหรัฐอเมริกาได้ก่อนที่จะปรับเปลี่ยนสถาภาพและคงสถานะวีซ่า เค วัน ไว้นอกเสียจากจะขอและได้รับการอนุญาตให้ออกนอกประเทศก่อนกำหนดได้ ในบางกรณี คู่สมรสที่ยื่นขอออกนอกประเทศก่อนกำหนดก็จะยื่นขอใบอนุญาตทำงานเพื่อทำงานในสหรัฐไปด้วยในคราวเดียว

For further information in Thai please see:  K1 วีซ่า

Tags: American Visa Information in Thai, I-1766, I-766, I766, United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, US Visa from Thailand in Thai Language, US Visa Information in Thai, US Visa Thailand, US Visa Thailand in Thai Language, US Visas Thai Language, USCIS, สถานทูตสหรัฐอเมริกาประจำประเทศไทย, ้วีซ่าอเมริกาจากประเทศไทย
Posted in US Visa Thailand, USCIS, สถานทูตสหรัฐอเมริกาประจำประเทศไทย, ้วีซ่าอเมริกาจากประเทศไทย | No Comments »

To view this post in English please see: US Immigration.

กระทู้นี้จะพูดถึงปัญหาเกี่ยวกับกฎหมายคนเข้าเมืองของสหรัฐ อย่างไรก็ตาม ผู้เขียนต้องยอมรับว่าไม่ได้พูดถึงแง่คิดด้านปุถุชนปกติเกี่ยวกับกระบวนการคนเข้าเมืองและวีซ่า ขณะที่กำลังเขียนอยู่นี้ก็มีความพยายามที่จะเปลี่ยนแปลงอย่างสุดโต่งของกฎหมายคนเข้าเมืองอเมริกัน ซึ่งน่าจะเกิดขึ้นผ่านกระบวนการปฏิรุปกฎหมายคนเข้าเมืองและสัญชาติ และกฎหมายอื่นๆให้ครอบคลุมเหตุผลในการปฏิรูปก็ต่างกันไปตามแต่ปัจเจกบุคคลหรือองค์การ นั่นหมายความว่า ข้อความที่ตัดทอนมาจากข่าวในเว็บไซต์ยะฮู ด้านล่างนี้ชี้ชัดในแง่มุมของปุถุชนเดกี่ยวกับปัญหาที่เกี่ยวกับการปฏิรุปกฎหมายคนเข้าเมืองให้ครอบคลุม

เดซี่ คูวาส์ อายุเจ็ดขวบตื่นเต้นเมื่อเห็นตัวเองอยู่บนจอทีวีกับสตรีหมายเลขหนึ่ง มิเชลล์ โอบามา โดยที่ไม่เข้าใจสถานการณ์ที่ยากลำบากที่เธอทำให้พ่อแม่ชาวเปรูที่อยู่โดยผิดกฎหมายต้องประสบ “เธอหัวเราะ กระโดดขึ้นลง เธอตื่นเต้น” หลังจากการพบกันโดยบังเอิญที่โรงเรียนประถมของเดซี่ที่วอชิงตันดีซี คุณตาของเด็กน้อย เจนาโร จุยกา บอกกับผู้สื่อข่าวว่า การออกที่วีทำให้เด็กสาว ป 2 ตัวน้อยกลายเป็นกระบอกเสียงของผู้อพยพที่อยู่โดยผิดกฎหมายในสหรัฐอีกกว่าสิบสองล้านคน  และเป็นหน้าเป็นตาให้แก่ประธานาธิปดีเปรูที่ได้มาเยือนวอชิงตันเมื่อวันอังคาร “แม่หนูบอกว่า บารัค โอบามา จะไล่ทุกคนที่ไม่มีเอกสารออกไปให้หมด” เดซี่บอกแก่สุภาพสตรีหมายเลขหนึ่งเมื่อวันที่ 19 พฤษภาคม ที่โรงเรียนประถมเคหะนิวแฮมเชียร์ ในซิลเวอร์สปริง แมรี่แลนด์ “อืม บางทีเราอาจจะต้องทำอะไรซักอย่าง เพื่อให้คนสามารถอยู่ที่นี่ได้โดยมีเอกสารที่ถูกต้องนะจ๊ะ” มิเชลล์ โอบามา ตอบ “แต่ว่าแม่หนูไม่มีเอกสาร” เดซี่ ผู้ซึ่งเป็นอเมริกันโดยกำเนิดตอบ  แม่ของเธอหน้าถอดสีทันที เธอร้องไห้และวิ่งไปโทรหาพ่อแม่ในลิมา และก็รีบไปหลบเนื่องจากกลัวว่าจะถูกส่งตัวกลับ มีช่วงเวลาตึงเครียดสำหรับคนที่เป็นเหมือนแม่ของเดซี่ แม่บ้านที่มาสหรัฐกับสามีช่างไม้ของเธอตอนที่ท้องเดซี่ได้สองเดือน พ่อแม่ของเดซี่กลัวมาตรการคนเข้าเมืองของสหรัฐ ซึ่งสำหรับคนละตินอเมริกันมีให้เห็นเป็นเยี่ยงอย่างโดยกฎหมายอริโซนาที่มีผลบังคับใช้เมื่อกรกฎาคมที่ผ่านมา ให้สิทธิตำรวจในการเรียกขอดูเอกสารประจำตัวบุคคลต้องสงสัยว่าเข้าเมืองโดยผิดกฎหมายได้ กระทรวงความมั่นคงของสหรัฐได้รับปากว่าจะไม่ไล่ล่าพ่อแม่ของเดซี่ การสืบสวนคนเข้าเมือง กล่าวไว้ว่า “เพื่อให้แน่ใจว่ากฎหมายได้รับการปฏิบัติตามไม่ใช่ตามการถามตอบในห้องเรียน” อย่างไรก็ตามแม่ของเดซีได้ขอร้องต่อผู้สื่อข่าวไม่ให้เปิดเผยชื่อเธอและสามีในเหตุการณ์วันที่ 19 พฤษภาคม

หลายๆคนหวังว่า “หนทางไปสู่การมีสัญชาติ” ของคนต่างด้าวที่ไม่มีเอกสารในอเมริการ นั้นจะสามารถมีผลได้ผ่านการปฏิรูปกฎหมายคนเข้าเมืองเท่านั้น มีอีกหลายๆคนที่รู้สึกว่าไม่นานมานี้ร่างกฎหมายปฏิรูปกฎหมายคนเข้าเมืองให้ครอบคลุมที่เพิ่งเสนอไปนั้นยังไม่เพียงพอต่อการแก้ไขความไม่เท่าเทียมที่มีให้เห็นในกฎหมายคนเข้าเมืองอเมริกัน เสียงเรียกร้องให้มีการปฏิรูปต่อไปนั่นสังเกตเห็นได้จากการเคลื่อนไหวด้านกฎหมายคนเข้าเมืองของกลุ่มรักร่วมเพศ เลสเบี้ยน ไบเซ็กชวล และบุคคลแปลงเพศ

หวังว่าเราจะได้เห็นโฉมหน้าการปฏิรูปกฎหมายคนเข้าเมืองเร็วๆนี้ แต่ในขณะเดียวกัยเราอาจจะเรียนรู้บางอย่างได้จากเหตุการณ์นี้เนื่องจากแสดงให้เห็นว่า แม้แต่เด็กก้อมองเห็น “ ช่องว่างของความเท่าเทียมกัน “ ซึ่งดูเหมือนว่าจะมีอยู่ในกฎหมายคนเข้าเมืองของอเมริกา

For related information in English please see: US Visa Thailand. For information in Thai please see: K1 วีซ่า.

Tags: CIR, Comprehensive Immigration Reform, K1 วีซ่า, US Immigration, US Visa For Thai, US Visa Thailand, วีซ่า K1
Posted in สถานทูตสหรัฐอเมริกาประจำประเทศไทย, ้วีซ่าอเมริกาจากประเทศไทย | No Comments »

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as the name suggests, is tasked with, among other things, monitoring US internal and external security mainly from the perspective of Immigration. One component agency of the Department of Homeland Security is the US Customs and Border Protection Service (USCBP). This agency is tasked with securing US Ports of Entry by monitoring those entering the USA in order to counter possible terrorist threats to the American people. In a recently promulgated press release, the Department of Homeland Security announced that new cooperative measures have been initiated in concert with the French Republic. The following is an excerpt from the aforementioned press release:

Washington, D.C. – Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced that the United States and France have established an arrangement to implement the Immigration Advisory Program (IAP)–which allows for the identification of high-risk travelers at foreign airports before they board aircraft bound for the United States–at Paris’ Charles De Gaulle International Airport. “Terrorism is a global threat that requires an international response,” said Secretary Napolitano. “This collaboration will enhance both the United States’ and France’s capabilities to protect our immigration systems as well as the global aviation network from abuse by terrorists and transnational criminals.” IAP allows specialized U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel posted in foreign airports to utilize current targeting and passenger analysis information and/or an assessment of passengers’ documentation to identify high-risk persons bound for the United States and make “no board” recommendations to carriers and host governments. The arrangement–formalized over the weekend by DHS Assistant Secretary for Policy David Heyman and French Minister of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Mutually-Supportive Development Eric Besson–will help combat the use of fraudulent travel documents, prevent terrorists and other criminals from entering the United States, disrupt human smuggling and strengthen cooperation between CBP and French officials. A formal signing of the IAP arrangement will follow in August.

Advocates for The International Advisory Program (IAP) seem to hope that the program will streamline the process by which government personnel identify possible threats in the form of criminals entering the USA. Of particular interest is that the program seems focused upon deterring and suppressing the use of false travel documents. It would also appear that new initiatives will be undertaken to decrease human trafficking to the USA. This has become an ever-increasing concern among immigration officials as more foreign nationals attempt to enter the USA illegally through use of organizations that attempt to “smuggle” them through US ports. This author applauds the efforts of officials in both the USA and France as they attempt to better ensure the safety of international travelers.

For information regarding US Immigration from Thailand please see: US Visa Thailand or K1 Visa Thailand.

Tags: CBP, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, Fake Passport, False Travel Documents, Human Trafficking, IAP, Immigration Advisory Program, US Immigration, US Immigration Thailand, US-French Relations, USCBP, USCIS, USDHS
Posted in Department of Homeland Security, USCBP | No Comments »

This blog routinely discusses issues surrounding United States Immigration Law. However, this author must admit that we often fail to mention the human side of the Immigration and visa process. At the time of this writing the United States appears to be on the verge of making radical changes to the makeup of American Immigration law. This will likely occur through Comprehensive Immigration Reform of the US Immigration and Nationality Act and other pertinent legislation. The reasons for seeking reform vary depending upon the individual or organization. That said, the following excerpt from a news story posted on Yahoo.com poignantly elucidates the human aspect of the issues surrounding Comprehensive Immigration Reform (also known as CIR):

Seven-year-old Daisy Cuevas, thrilled to see herself on television with U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, didn’t quite understand the predicament in which she had innocently placed her undocumented Peruvian parents. “She laughed, she jumped up and down. She was excited” after the encounter at Daisy’s suburban Washington, D.C., elementary school, the girl’s maternal grandfather, Genaro Juica, told The Associated Press. The TV appearance made the pigtailed second grader a voice of the estimated 12 million immigrants living in the United States illegally — and a source of pride for Peru’s president, who visits Washington on Tuesday. “My mom says that Barack Obama is taking away everybody that doesn’t have papers,” Daisy told the U.S. first lady on May 19 at the New Hampshire Estates Elementary School in Silver Spring, Maryland. “Well, that’s something that we have to work on, right, to make sure that people can be here with the right kind of papers,” Michelle Obama replied. “But my mom doesn’t have papers,” said Daisy, a U.S. citizen by virtue of her birth. The color immediately drained from her mother’s face. She ran crying to call her parents in Lima, then went into hiding, fearful of being deported. These are tense times for people like Daisy’s mother, a maid who arrived in the United States with her carpenter husband when she was two months pregnant with Daisy. Daisy’s parents are fearful of U.S. anti-immigrant sentiment, which for many Latin Americans is epitomized by an Arizona law taking effect in July that gives police the right to demand ID papers of anyone suspected of being in the country illegally. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said it is not pursuing Daisy’s parents. Immigration investigations, it said in a statement, “are based on making sure the law is followed and not on a question-and-answer discussion in a classroom.” Nonetheless, Daisy’s mother asked the AP after the May 19 incident not to name her or her husband.

Many of those hoping for a “path to citizenship” for undocumented aliens in America feel that rectification of US Immigration policy can only be effected through reforming the Immigration laws. There are others who feel that the recently proposed CIR legislation does not go far enough in rectifying the inequities that currently exist under American Immigration law. A clarion call for further reform is especially noticeable from the LGBT immigration movement.

Hopefully, we will see Immigration reform soon, but in the meantime we may be able to learn something from this incident as it would appear that even children can see the “Equity Gap” that currently seems to exist in the realm of United States Immigration.

Tags: American Immigration, American Immigration law, American Visa, CIR, Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Daisy Cuevas, Department of Homeland Security, Equity Gap, lgbt immigration, Michelle Obama, US Department of Homeland Security, US Immigration, US Immigration Law, US Visa
Posted in Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Department of Homeland Security, General Legal Information, Legal Opinion, lgbt immigration, News | No Comments »