Integrity Legal

สำหรับผู้ที่กำลังหาข้อมูลเกี่ยวกับเอกสารวีซ่าอเมริกาที่เรียกว่า Notice of Action 2 ซึ่งถูกกล่าวถึงบ่อยในกรณีที่เกี่ยวกับคำขอวีซ่าคู่สมรสและวีซ่าคู่หมั้น กะทู้นี้จะอธิบายว่า Notice of Action 2 คืออะไร และมีความหมายอย่างไรกับคำขอวีซ่าที่อยู่ระหว่างพิจารณา

เมื่อยื่นคำขอวีซ่า เอกสารตอบรับฉบับแรกที่ได้รับจาก USCIS คือใบรับเรียกว่า Notice of Action 1 ( NOA 1 ) เพื่อเป็นการแจ้งแก่ผู้ยื่นขอวีซ่าว่า USCIS ได้รับคำขอวีซ่าแล้ว มีบางกรณีที่เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้พิจารณาเรื่องเห็นว่าต้องมีการยื่นหลักฐานเพิ่มเติมก่อนที่เรื่องจะได้รับการพิจารณา ในกรณีเช่นว่านี้ คำขอหลักฐาน ( รู้จักกันในชื่อ RFE ) จะถูกส่งไปยังผู้ยื่นขอวีซ่า อย่างไรก็ตาม ในกรณีส่วนใหญ่ หลักฐานเพิ่มเติมก็ไม่มีความจำเป็นและหากว่าคำขอวีซ่าได้รับการอนุมัติแล้ว Notice of Action 2 ก็จะถูกส่งไปยังผู้ยื่นขอวีซ่า ถ้าคำขอวีซ่าถูกปฏิเสธ ก็จะมีการส่งหนังสือแจ้งไปยังผู้ยื่นเช่นกัน

แม้ว่าจะไม่ค่อยเกิดขึ้นซักเท่าไหร่สำหรับคำขอวีซ่าครอบครัว การปฏิเสธของ USCIS ก็สามารถเกิดขึ้นได้ การปฏิเสธมักเป็นผลมาจากการที่คำร้องนั้นไม่แสดงให้เห็นความสัมพันธ์อันแท้จริงระหว่างผู้ยื่นและผู้รับผลประโยชน์ในขณะที่ยื่น หรือในอีกกรณีคือการที่ยิ่นขอวีซ่าผิดประเภท การสมรสตามประเพณีไทยก็เป็นอีกสาเหตุหนึ่งที่ทำให้เข้าใจทางเลือกในการขอวีซ่าอพยพเมริกาได้อย่างผิดๆ ในประเทศไทย หากว่าการสมรสนั้นมิได้เป็นการจดทะเบียน ณ สำนักทะเบียนอำเภอ ก็ถือว่ามิได้เป็นการสมรสโดยถูกต้องตามกฎหมายในสายตาของ หน่วยงานคนเข้าเมืองสหรัฐอเมริกาและไม่ถือว่าเป็นเหตุที่ทำให้สามารถขอวีซ่าอพยพเข้าเมืองสหรัฐอเมริกาได้

ดังนั้น หากว่าคู่รักที่ได้สมรสกันอย่างไม่เป็นทางการยื่นขอวีซ่า IR 1, CR 1 หรือ K3 คำขอก็จะถูกปฏิเสธเพราะว่ามีคุณสมบัติไม่เพียงพอในการออกวีซ่าให้ อย่างไรก็ตามสำหรับคู่รักในกรณีเหล่านี้ คุณสามารถขอวีซ่า K1 ได้

หลังจากที่ USCIS ออก Notice of Action 2 ให้ คำขอจะถูกส่งต่อไปยัง National Visa Center ในกรณีที่เกี่ยวกับวีซ่าอพยพถาวร NVC จะดึงเรื่องไว้นานพอสมควร อย่างไรก็ตาม หากเป็นกรณี ของวีซ่า K1 NVC จะไม่ดึงเรื่องเอาไว้นานสักเท่าไหร่ แต่จะดำเนินการตรวจสอบทางความมั่นคงและส่งต่อเรื่องไปยังสถานทูตสหรัฐอเมริกา ในกรณีคู่หมั้นชาวไทย จะมีการส่งเรื่องไปยังสถานทูตสหรับอเมริกาประจำกรุงเทพมหานคร กงสุลใหญ่ ประจำเชียงใหม่ จะไม่ดำเนินการวีซ่าอพยพถาวร

Tags: CR1, CR1 Visa Thailand, IR1, IR1 Visa Thailand, K1, K1 Visa Thailand, K3, K3 Visa Thailand, National Visa Center, Notice of Action 2, US Visa Thailand, USCIS
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, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand, USCIS, สถานทูตสหรัฐอเมริกาประจำประเทศไทย, ้วีซ่าอเมริกาจากประเทศไทย | No Comments »

This author has repeatedly discussed the problems arising from the unauthorized practice of law as so called “visa agents” and “visa companies” as well as those masquerading as legitimate attorneys can cause many problems for bi-national couples. With this in mind, we will briefly discuss the proliferation of “Do It Yourself” Kits and the American Visa Process.

Throughout the internet, it is becoming increasingly easy to find those touting “Kits” to provide guidance to those who are processing their own visa petition and application. First, it should be noted that this author is not concerned by those who opt to process their own US visa petition or US visa application. In fact, the right to unilaterally petition one’s government for benefits is something that should be preserved at all costs. However, some opt to seek counsel in processing their US visa application. In these cases, the use of a “kit” could prove more detrimental than beneficial. For example: most so-called “kits” simply provide information that is already freely available. In many cases, individuals find that when their “kit” arrives it contains information that could easily have been found on either the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) website or the website of the Department of State. In some cases, information found in these “kits” can prove to be less than useful as some have found that information contained in a “visa kit” is out of date.

United States Immigration law encompasses rules and regulations promulgated by multiple government agencies as well as local law in foreign jurisdictions and the local Embassy or Consulate procedures in nearly every country on the planet. It is extremely difficult to imagine a “kit” that could provide guidance for all possible scenarios that could arise throughout the process of obtaining a visa for a foreign loved one.

A case in point, only recently was it announced that the K3 Visa application would be administratively closed. It is hard to imagine that one who purchased a kit right before this change was announced would have up-to-date information regarding the processing of a US marriage visa. This is just one example of how “Kits” cannot be used as effectively as competent legal advice from a professional.

Many “kit” retailers provide a 100% Guarantee or some other form of guarantee. As has been repeated many times on this blog, no ethical individual, attorney or otherwise, can guarantee the outcome of any case pending before USCIS, the National Visa Center, or a US Embassy abroad. Those thinking about purchasing a “Kit” may be wise to simply save their money.

For related information please see: K1 visa.

Tags: American Visa Process, Do it yourself, Do It Yourself Visa Kit, I-129f Kit, I-130 Kit, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Kit, K3 Visa, K3 Visa Thailand, US Visa, US Visa Process, Visa Process
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, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand, USCIS | No Comments »

For regular readers of this blog, it is probably no surprise that some of the most recent USCIS Service Center processing time estimates are being put up as a courtesy to readers and the immigrant community at large. However, we have begun adding other visa category processing time estimates as there may be those in Thailand interested in either the L1 visa for intracompany transferees or the E2 visa for those trading in the United States under the US-Thai Treaty of Amity.

The following are the processing time estimates from the California Service Center as of January 31, 2010:

The following are the processing time estimates for the Vermont Service Center as of January 31, 2010:

Please note that these estimates are for USCIS processing only and do not include processing time for an application at the National Visa Center or at the US Embassy or US Consulate that will ultimately adjudicate a foreign national’s visa application. Please be advised that recent changes implemented by NVC may have a dramatic impact upon the overal K3 Visa process, but these policies should not effect the processing of a K1 visa.

For information about assisting a loved one with US visa obtainment please see: Thai Girlfriend Visa.

Tags: Amity Treaty, CR1 Visa, E2 Visa, E2 Visa Thailand, I-129f, I-130, IR1 Visa, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa, K3 Visa Thailand, L1 Visa, L1 Visa Thailand, Thai Girlfriend Visa, Treaty of Amity, US-Thai Treaty of Amity
Posted in Amity Treaty, CR1 Visa, 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, US Consulate Chiang Mai, 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 Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand, USCIS | 9 Comments »

In a few previous posts of this blog we discussed the current posture of the K3 visa process. At present, K3 visa processing is becoming increasingly erratic as the National Visa Center will no longer process I-129f petitions for K3 visas if the underlying I-130 application arrives before, or at the same time as, the I-129f. It is a credit to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service’s (USCIS) diligence that they are processing I-129f applications as well as I-130 applications in a quick and efficient manner. However, for those looking for expedited marriage visa benefits this efficiency could end up creating an unwanted situation.

The National Visa Center has stated that they will “administratively close” aforementioned I-129f applications. This could lead to a difficult situation for those couples who specifically got married in a jurisdiction in order to process the foreign spouse’s visa application in that jurisdiction’s US Embassy. Under the provisions of the statute creating the K3 Visa, the visa must be processed by the Embassy in the country where the marriage took place. This allowed many couples to “Forum Shop” for the country where they wished the process their visa. For example, if a couple wished to process a visa application in Italy, they could ensure that the K3 visa application would be processed in Italy simply by getting married in Italy.

Now, because the future of the K3 Visa remains uncertain, there is a distinct possibility that visa interview “forum shopping” will become a thing of the past. That being said, Immigrant visa applications for documents such as the CR1 visa and the IR1 visa could be sent to the foreign spouse’s country of Nationality as Embassies and Consulates only process third country nationals as a courtesy and if inconvenient will send the application to the Post that must process the application.

Hopefully, these recent changes will not result in problems, but it remains to be seen if this will be the case. That being said, so long as the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service continues to process the I-130 in such a quick manner, it remains likely that the National Visa Center will continue closing K3 cases and thereby forestalling the aforementioned practice of forum shopping. For those foreign fiancees in countries such as Burma (Myanmar) or Cambodia this change in policy could cause hardships as both of these countries’ bureaucracies can make it extremely difficult for a native born woman to marry an American man.

For information about how NVC policy may affect fiance visa processing please see: K1 visa.

Tags: administrative closing, Fiance Visa, Fiance Visa Thailand, Fiancee Visa, Fiancee Visa Thailand, I-129f, I-130, K-1 Visa, K-1 Visa Thailand, K-3 Visa, K-3 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa, K3 Visa Thailand, National Visa Center, USCIS
Posted in CR1 Visa, Fiance Visa Thailand, IR1 Visa, K-3 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa, National Visa Center, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand | 2 Comments »

In a recent posting on this blog we discussed a recent internal rule change at the National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC announced that effective February 1, 2010 they will no longer process I-129f petitions for marriage visa benefits if the underlying I-130 petition arrives prior to, or at the same time as, the supplemental I-129f petition. There are those who are wondering what impact this will have upon visa seekers. For those seeking a K-3 visa, the impact of this recent announcement is very important because in many cases, the NVC will require couples to seek immigrant spouse visas such as the IR-1 visa and the CR-1 visa rather than the expedited K3 visa. However, some may be confused about how this new rule will impact those seeking a fiance visa.

In order to obtain a fiance visa, the US Citizen must file an I-129f petition for a K1 visa. If the initial petition is approved, then it will be forwarded to the National Visa Center for a security clearance. After a security clearance, it will be forwarded to the US Embassy or US Consulate with proper jurisdiction. Confusion may arise because some may be placed under the mistaken impression that the I-129f petition will be administratively closed by NVC in a fiance visa case. This is not the truth, as administrative closures of I-129f petitions are only to happen in the context of applications for the K3 visa and not the K1 visa. This recent rule change will likely have no impact upon the K1 visa process as the rule is designed to change the K3 visa process exclusively.

One upshot of this recent development is that the resources that NVC was expending in processing I-129f petitions for K-3 visas may be diverted to processing Immigrant visas or K1 visas. That being said, it is this author’s opinion that the K1 visa process is quite efficient and NVC usually takes very little time to process K1 visa applications. In most cases where the visa application is to be processed by the US Embassy Thailand, there is a two week waiting time between I-129f petition approval by USCIS and the forwarding of the file from NVC to the US Embassy. By most people’s estimate, this is a reasonable period of time to wait. In the case of Immigrant visas, the NVC processing time is considerably longer as the NVC requires more documentation in Immigrant visa matters compared to non-immigrant visa cases.

Tags: American Embassy Thailand, CR-1 Visa, CR1 Visa, Fiance Visa, Fiance Visa Thailand, Fiancee Visa, IR-1 Visa, IR1 Visa, K-1 Visa, K-3 Visa, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa, K3 Visa Thailand, us embassy bangkok, us embassy thailand, US Visa Thailand
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, US Consulate Chiang Mai, 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 Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand, USCIS | No Comments »

The K3 Visa was designed as an expedited alternative to Immigrant Marriage visas such as the IR1 Visa and the CR1 Visa. At one time, it could take as long as 3 years to process a marriage visa petition, which is why Congress created the K-3 visa category. However, in recent years the need for the K-3 visa has been less acute when compared to the past as the current processing times for the aforementioned Immigrant marriage visas is about 11-12 months. When comparing this to the K3 visa processing time one can see that the K-3 visa is becoming less of a necessity.

With that in mind, the United States Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC) recently made an important announcement with regard to K-3 visas, the following quote is from a State Department publication promulgated by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA):

“Important Notice: Effective February 1st, 2010, when both the I-129F petition for a nonimmigrant K visa and the I-130 petition for an IR-1 (or CR-1) spouse of a U.S. citizen visa have been approved by USCIS and sent to the National Visa Center (NVC), the availability as well as the need for a nonimmigrant K-3 visa ends. If the NVC receives both petitions:

The nonimmigrant K visa will be administratively closed.
The application process explained below will not be applicable and cannot be used.

The NVC will contact the petitioner and you with instructions for processing your IR-1 (or CR-1) immigrant visa. For more information on the immigrant visa process review the Immigrant Visa for a Spouse webpage. If the NVC does not receive your I-130 petition and I-129F at the same time, the NVC will process your I-129F petition. Then NVC will send the petition to the embassy or consulate in the country where the marriage took place. If your marriage took place in the U.S., the NVC will send the petition to the embassy or consulate that issues visas in your country of nationality. If your marriage took place in a country that does not have an American embassy, or the embassy does not issue visas, the NVC will send your petition to the embassy or consulate that normally processes visas for citizens of that country. For example, if your marriage took place in Iran where the U.S. does not have an embassy your petition would be sent to Turkey.”

There are some who are likely asking themselves: What does this all mean? USCIS adjudicates all visa petitions and, upon approval, forwards them to the National Visa Center (NVC). NVC processes all K3 visa applications before they go to the Consulate or Embassy abroad (for those applications which are to be processed in Thailand, the NVC handles the application prior to receipt by the US Embassy Bangkok).

In essence, the NVC will no longer process K-3 visa applications if an Immigrant visa application is received by the NVC prior to, or at the same time as, a K3 application. As a practical matter, all K-3 petitions have an Immigrant visa counterpart. It is believed that, most of the time, the NVC receives these applications either in tandem or nearly simultaneously. There may be a few instances where a K-3 application will make it to NVC prior to the Immigrant visa application, but for the most part this is not the case. As a result, it is highly likely that the K-3 visa will no longer be available to those seeking marriage visa benefits because the Immigrant visa application will reach the NVC prior to, or at the same time as, the K-3 application.

Tags: CR-1 Visa, CR1 Visa, IR-1 Visa, IR1 Visa, K-3 Visa, K-3 Visa Thailand, K-3 Visas, K3 Visa, K3 Visa administratively closed, K3 Visa Thailand, K3 Visas, National Visa Center, NVC, US Visa, US Visa Thailand, US Visas, US visas Thailand
Posted in CR1 Visa, IR1 Visa, K-3 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa, National Visa Center, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Thailand, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand, USCIS | 2 Comments »

What is NVC?

The process for obtaining US Immigration benefits can be cumbersome at times,  but overall is generally smooth provided one understands the process or retains the services of an attorney with experience in immigration matters.

An often asked question regarding the visa process is: what is NVC and what do they do? NVC is an acronym that stands for National Visa Center. The National Visa Center is government office under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of State. NVC is located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The mandate of the National Visa Center is to process visa applications and ensure that visa petitions filed inside of the US for beneficiaries living abroad are transferred to the post with jurisdiction over the beneficiary’s home.

The National Visa Center is also responsible for collecting immigrant visa fees as well as certain documentation that will be needed in order for the consular officer to effectively adjudicate a US Visa application.

NVC processing: Non-Immigrant vs. Immigrant Visas

National Visa Center processing is more complicated and time consuming when it comes to US Immigrant Visas as opposed to Non-Immigrant visas. One of the activities that the National Visa Center routinely does is security clearances and background checks on those seeking to come to the United States. Since September 11, 2001 the National Visa Center has played an integral part in ensuring that visa applicants are properly screened in order to be assured that they do not pose a threat to United States security.

The National Visa Center (NVC) is sometimes confused with the NBC or National Benefits Center which is tasked by USCIS with maintaining processing pre-interview documentation for immigration interviews in the USA.

For those seeking to bring a Thai fiance to the United States on a K1 Visa, the processing at the National Visa Center will likely be faster than for those seeking to obtain an immigrant visa for their Thai loved one. This also holds true for the K3 Visa from Thailand for the supplemental I-129f petition. In any case, after the visa petition is approved by USCIS it is forwarded on to the National Visa Center and upon approval from that agency will be sent to the US Embassy or Consulate General.

Depending upon the caseload of the NVC at any given time it can take anywhere between 2 and 8 weeks to process a petition and forward it to a post abroad. However, this is merely an estimate and the processing time for all US agencies varies.

When filing a US Visa petition locally at USCIS in Bangkok, the National Visa Center does not enter into the process as the petition is forwarded literally across the street to the US Embassy in Bangkok.

(Note: Nothing in this document should be viewed as creating an Attorney-Client Relationship. Also, nothing written herein should be taken as a substitute for individualized legal advice from a licensed attorney.)

Tags: CR1 Visa, IR1 Visa, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Process, K3 Visa, National Visa Center, NVC, us embassy bangkok, US Visa Thailand
Posted in Fiance Visa Thailand, National Visa Center, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand | 3 Comments »