Integrity Legal

For information in English please see: I-212.

สำหรับผู้ที่เข้าประเทศสหรัฐอเมริกา ด้วยวีซ่าชั่วคราว มักจะต้องมีเจตนาไม่ต้องการอพยพเป็นหลัก หมายความว่า ผู้ที่เข้าประเทศจะต้องตั้งใจว่าจะอยู่ในสหรัฐอเมริกาเป็นการชั่วคราว และไม่มีเจตนาจะลงหลักปักฐานในสหรัฐอเมริกาเป็นการถาวร สหรัฐอเมริกากำหนดให้ต้องมีเจตนาไม่อพยพทั้งกับวีซ่าท่องเที่ยว วีซ่านักเรียน และวีซ่าแลกเปลี่ยน สำหรับแต่ละประเภท ผู้ที่จะเข้าประเทศอาจโดนปฏิเสธวีซ่าตั้งแต่ที่สถานทูต หรือที่ด่านคนเข้าเมืองที่สหรัฐอเมริกาก็ได้ และเนื่องจากความเสี่ยงที่จะโดนปฏิเสธ จึงแนะนำให้ยื่นขอวีซ่าให้ตรงกับเจตนาในการเข้าเมืองของคุณ

ในทางกลับกัน คงจะไม่ดีหากจะขอวีซ่าถาวรหากว่าคู่สมรสมีไม่มีเจตนาที่จะย้ายถิ่นฐานไปสหรัฐอเมริกา ในกรณีเช่นนี้ เจตนาอาจจะเป็นเรื่องที่พิสูจน์ยาก แต่ก็ยังแนะนำให้มีเจตนาที่แท้จริงในการที่จะพำนักอาศัยอยู่ที่สหรัฐเมริกาจะดีกว่า

แต่แม้จะมีปัญหาสองอย่างที่กล่าวมาข้างต้น ก็ยังคงมีทางสายกลาง ให้คุณเลือก ทางสายกลางที่ว่าก็คือทฤษฎีสองเจตนา ทฤษฎีนี้มาจากความคิดที่ว่ามีหลายๆกรณีที่วีซ่าสหรัฐอนุญาติให้คนต่างด้าวอยู่ในสหรัฐอเมริกาเป็นการชั่วคราวในขณะที่มีเจตนาอพยพ ทฤษฎีนี้มาจากความจำเป็นที่เกิดจากกรณีคนต่างด้าวเข้ามาอยู่อาศัยและทำงานในสหรัฐอเมริกาด้วยวีซ่าชั่วคราวและอยากได้กรีนการ์ด หน่วยงานคนเข้าเมืองของสหรํฐเข้าในดีว่ากรณีเช่นนี้ในบางกรณีสมควรได้รับการยอมรับและส่งเสริม

ตัวอย่างของการมองหาประเภทวีซ่าที่เหมาะกับตนเองอีกอย่างหนึ่งคือ กรณีวีซ่า เค วัน วีซ่าคู่หมั้น ซึ่งเป็นวีซ่าไม่ถาวร แต่คนต่างด้าวเข้าสหรัฐอเมริกาเพื่อไปอยู่กับคู่หมั้น เพื่อแต่งงาน และปรับเปลี่ยนสถานภาพเป็นผู้ถือกรีนการ์ดตามลำดับ ดังนั้น วีซ่าเค วัน จึงเป็นวีซ่าที่มีสองเจตนา ซึ่งอนุญาตให้อยู่ชั่วคราวได้ 90 วัน แต่ให้โอกาสในการขอกรีนการ์ด

นอกจากนี้ วีซ่า เค ทรี เป็นวีซ่าที่มีสองเจตนาเช่นกัน เนื่องจากโดยพื้นฐานแล้วเป็นวีซ่าไม่ถาวร แต่เมื่อเข้าประเทศสหรัฐอเมริกาได้ ผู้ถือวีซ่าจะต้องปรับเปลี่ยนสถานภาพ เนื่องจากวีซ่าเค ทรี ไม่ใช่กรีนการ์ด การใช้วีซ่าเค ทรี เข้าออกสหรัฐได้ถูกยกเลิกไปเมื่อไม่กี่ปีที่ผ่านมาเนื่องจาก ระยะเวลาขอวีซ่าถาวรลดลง ในขณะที่ระยะเวล่าขอวีซ่า เค ทรี เพิ่มขึ้นเล็กน้อย

วีซ่า แอล วัน และ เอช วัน บี สำหรับผู้ทำงาน เป็นอีกตัวอย่างของวีซ่าชั่วคราวที่ให้มีสองเจตนาได้ แม้ว่าวีซ่าประเภทเหล่านี้เป็นไปโดยพื้นฐานการจ้างงาน

สำหรับข้อมูลเพิ่มเติม โปรดดู  วีซ่าอเมริกา

Tags: กฎหมายคนเข้าเมืองอเมริกา, การส่งตัวกลับ, ขอวีซ่าอเมริกาจากประเทศไทย, ทนายความอเมริกัน, ทนายวีซ่าอเมริกา, มาตรา 212(a)(7), วีซ่าชั่วคราวอเมริกา, วีซ่าถาวรอเมริกา, สถานทูตสหรับอเมริกา, สถานทูตอเมริกา, ไอ-212
Posted in US Tourist Visa, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand, สถานทูตสหรัฐอเมริกาประจำประเทศไทย, ้วีซ่าอเมริกาจากประเทศไทย | No Comments »

Visa denial is generally something that most bi-national couples do not wish to discuss, but it is something that should be researched by the prospective visa petitioner as legal grounds of inadmissibility and the I-601 waiver process could be relevant to an individual couple’s Immigration petition and visa application.

In a recent report from the Congressional Research service (distributed by AILA) the issue of visa denial was discussed as the report looked at the reasons for denial and the overall trends in inadmissibility findings:

“Most LPR [Lawful Permanent Residence] petitioners who were excluded on §212(a) grounds from FY1994 through FY2004 were rejected because the Department of State (DOS) determined that the aliens were inadmissible as likely public charges. By FY2004, the proportion of public charge exclusions had fallen but remained the top basis for denial. The lack of proper labor certification was another leading ground for exclusion from FY1994 through FY2004. By FY2008, however, illegal presence and previous orders of removal from the United States was the leading ground.”

The finding of a “public charge” grounds of inadmissibility is related to the affidavit of support. A finding that an alien is likely to be a “public charge” stems from a finding that the sponsor does not have the requisite income and assets necessary to support the alien for whom benefits are being sought. The report goes further to note that Comprehensive Immigration Reform may tackle some of the issues associated with the trends in visa application denials:

“Legislation aimed at comprehensive immigration reform may take a fresh look at the grounds for excluding foreign nationals enacted over the past two decades. Expanding the grounds for inadmissibility, conversely, might be part of the legislative agenda among those who support more restrictive immigration reform policies.”

It is interesting to note that the Immigration system may become more stringent or more lax depending upon the mood of legislators with regard to the issue of immigration. That being said, a more detailed look at the current trends provides insight into the dynamics of the system as a whole:

“[M]ost LPR petitioners who were excluded on §212(a) grounds in FY1996 and FY2000 were rejected because the DOS determined that the aliens were inadmissible as likely public charges. In FY2004, the proportion of public charge exclusions had fallen, but remained the top basis for denial. The lack of proper labor certification was another leading ground for exclusion in FY1996, FY2000, FY2004, and FY2008. By FY2008, however, illegal presence and previous orders of removal from the United States had become the leading ground.”

It is interesting to note that unlawful presence and previous removal had become the leading grounds of inadmissibility cited by the year 2008. This would seem to support the anecdotal evidence and personal experience of this author as more and more prospective entrants to the US seem to be placed in expedited removal proceedings with greater frequency. Also, there seems to be an increasing trend of increasingly zealous enforcement of Immigration law in the USA as illegal aliens are placed in removal proceedings more frequently.

For further information about visa denial please see: K1 visa. For general information about US Immigration from Thailand please see: US Visa Thailand.

Tags: deportation, Deported, expedited removal, removal, us visa denial, US Visa Denial Thailand
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, 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, USCBP, USCIS, USICE | No Comments »

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.

Tags: B-2 Visa, B2 Visa, B2 Visa Thailand, E 2 Visa, E-2 Visa Thailand, E2 Visa, E2 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, L-1 visa, L-1 Visa Thailand, L1 Visa, L1 Visa Thailand, US Embassy, us embassy bangkok, us embassy thailand, US Tourist Visa, US Tourist 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, US Consulate Chiang Mai, US Embassy Thailand, US Tourist Visa, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand | No Comments »

Many people contact this author in order to ask questions about the United States Immigration process. Sometimes, a question becomes so common that I feel the need to post an article about the subject on this blog. The question that has been recently posed with great frequency is: Can I get my Thai girlfriend to the United States on a US tourist visa? Strictly speaking, yes, but this answer needs to be highly qualified. Anyone who is approved for a US tourist visa can go to the United States and request admission, but obtaining approval of a US tourist visa application can be difficult for the boyfriend or girlfriend of an American Citizen. The difficulty arises under the provisions of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act.

Pursuant to Section 214(b) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act a Consular Officer at a United States Embassy or United States Consulate-General is required to make a presumption that a non-immigrant visa applicant is actually an intending immigrant unless they can prove otherwise. This, in turn, leads to a factual analysis by the Consular Officer. The Consular Officer must believe that the applicant has “strong ties” to their home country, or any other country outside of the USA, and “weak ties” to the United States. In many cases, the mere existence of a US Citizen boyfriend or girlfriend will mitigate against any “strong ties” abroad and lead to a visa denial under section 214(b). This reasoning on the part of US Embassy personnel should not be misconstrued as a personal denial. Instead, the officer is legally compelled to deny a tourist visa application if the applicant cannot overcome the presumption imposed by section 214(b).

Many people then ask the question: can this visa denial be appealed? No, although an applicant may ask for a tourist visa application to be reopened. That being said, in virtually all cases, the denial will be upheld. A Consular Officer’s factual findings are not subject to appeal based upon the doctrine of Consular Absolutism. However, a legal finding may be subject to reversal. With that in mind, one should recognize that a visa denial under section 214(b) is a factual determination and therefore not generally subject to reversal.

If a couple truly has a bona fide intention to marry in the USA and apply for adjustment of status, then a tourist visa is really not the correct travel document as it specifically precludes immigrant intent (unlike a dual intent travel document such as a K1 visa or an L1 visa). Therefore, if the couple wishes to marry and adjust status, then a Fiance Visa is a more appropriate travel document. However, the couple must have a truly bona fide intention to marry and not simply a pretextual intention in order to pursue US Immigration benefits.

For further information for about visas in general and the complex issues surrounding family based petitions please see: US Visa Thai Girlfriend.

Tags: Fiance Visa, Fiancee Visa, K-1 Visa, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thai Girfriend, K1 Visa Thailand, Thai Girlfriend Visa, US Tourist Visa Thailand, US Visa Denial Thailand, US visa denied Thai girlfriend, US Visa For Thai, US Visa Thai Girlfriend, US Visa Thailand, visa denial Thai girlfriend
Posted in Adjustment of Status, Fiance Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, 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 | 6 Comments »

There are many people of all nationalities who submit applications for a US Tourist Visa at the US Embassy Thailand. Although these applications are quite common, they are becoming increasingly subject to denial pursuant to section 214(b) of the United States Citizenship and Nationality Act. This provision basically requires that the Consular Officer make a presumption that the tourist visa applicant is an undisclosed immigrant unless the applicant can provide strong evidence to the contrary. This creates the “strong ties” vs. “weak ties” analysis which requires that the applicant show “strong ties” to a country outside of the United States and “weak ties” to the USA. This can be a very problematic provision especially for those Americans who wish to bring a Thai significant other back to the US.

The existence of an American Citizen boyfriend can be very detrimental for a Thai’s B2 visa application (or any non-immigrant visa application for that matter ex: F-1 visa, J-1 visa, B-1 visa, etc). The detriment arises from the fact that the applicant has a primary relationship with an American and therefore could be construed to have a “strong tie” to the USA. Some couples try to get around this problem by “not mentioning” the existence of a relationship with an American. This is not a good idea, in this author’s opinion, because any dishonesty, even dishonesty by omission, is unethical and could be viewed by the Embassy and/or Consulate as an attempt to defraud the US government. For an American Citizen, a finding of fraud and misrepresentation could lead to penalties, but such a finding could have a highly negative impact upon the applicant’s chances of ever obtaining a US visa in the future as fraud and misrepresentation is considered a legal grounds of inadmissibility to the USA that would likely only be remedied upon the approval of an I601 waiver.

However, the DS-156 form that is used to apply for a US tourist visa does not ask “do you have an American boyfriend/girlfriend?” Instead the forms asks:

“Are Any of The Following Persons in The U.S., or Do They Have U.S. Legal Permanent Residence or U.S. Citizenship? Mark YES or NO and indicate that person’s status in the U.S. (i.e., U.S. legal permanent resident, U.S. citizen, visiting, studying, working, etc.)”

The form then allows the applicant to note family relationships, including “fiance/fiancee.” The reason this is being discussed is due to the fact that the rest of the form’s questions can be relatively easily answered. For example,  one can say with near certainty if they have a US Citizen husband, but “fiance” is another, more opaque, concept. Defining “fiance” is difficult as relationships, prior to marriage, are fairly fluid from a legal standpoint. In this author’s opinion, if the applicant has a romantic relationship with an American Citizen, then this fact should be disclosed to the Consular Officers either in writing or at the visa interview, but if there is any inkling that marriage and adjustment of status may be a possibility, then it may be better to forgo an attempt at a tourist visa, as this is not really the proper travel document, and submit a petition for a K1 visa.

For further information, please see: US Visa Thailand.

Tags: B-2 Visa, B-2 Visa Thailand, B2 Visa, B2 Visa Thailand, Fiance Visa Thailand, Fraud and Misrepresentation, K-1 Visa, K-1 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, US Tourist Visa, US Tourist Visa Thailand, US Visa Thailand
Posted in Adjustment of Status, Fiance Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Thailand, US Tourist Visa, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand | No Comments »

Since the recent worldwide economic downturn the global tourism industry has suffered a great deal. Much can be attributed to the fact that people have less disposable income, but others are of the opinion that increased promotion may be the key to dealing with this issue. In the United States, the government and business leaders have devised a plan to promote more travel to the USA. To quote a recent posting on CNN’s website:

“President Obama signed legislation into law Thursday to create the United States’ first national travel promotion program…The act will create a nonprofit Corporation for Travel Promotion that will promote the United States as a travel destination and explain travel and security policies to international visitors…”

One aspect of the new program that is stirring up some resentment is the addition of a $10 fee that much be paid by those wishing to enter the United States on the visa waiver program (not to be confused with an I-601 waiver of inadmissibility):

“A $10 fee charged to visitors from countries included in the Visa Waiver Program will partially fund the public-private organization. These visitors will pay the fee every two years when they register online using the Department of Homeland Security’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization…”

As readers may recall, The Electronic System For Travel Authorization (ESTA) is used by those who wish to seek entry into the USA on a visa waiver. This system pre-screens foreign entrants for security purposes. As mentioned previously, tourism around the world is declining, but this program may provide stimulus to this sector of the US economy:

“Despite strong global growth in long-haul international travel between 2000 and 2008, the U.S. welcomed 633,000 fewer overseas visitors in 2008 than it did in 2000, according to figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Oxford Economics, an economic consulting and forecasting company, estimates a well-executed promotional program would draw 1.6 million new international visitors annually and generate $4 billion in new visitor spending.”

It remains to be seen how this program will work, but certainly encouragement of tourism is necessary. However, some have questioned how requiring a new fee for travel to the United States will encourage tourism. This is certainly a valid point as increased restrictions on travel for so-called “visa waiver countries” may be one of the reasons behind decreased tourism. There are those who have called ESTA a new type of visa and now that there is a charge for the service it is beginning to become a sort of online visa. That being said, balancing security and economic concerns is difficult.

This new law will likely have very little impact for those from Thailand as Thai nationals do not enjoy “visa waiver” privileges. For this reason Thai nationals must apply for a US tourist visa if they wish to enter the US for recreational purposes. Further, Thais wishing to travel to the US to be with a fiance or spouse must apply for either a K1 visa or a US marriage visa before they will be able to be lawfully admitted.

Tags: Electronic System for Travel Authorization, ESTA, I-601, I-601 Waiver, I-601 Waiver Thailand, I601, I601 Waiver, I601 waiver Thailand, K-1 Visa, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, US Marriage Visa, US Marriage Visa Thailand, US Tourist Visa, US Tourist Visa Thailand, US Visa, US Visa Waiver Program, Visa Waiver, Visa Waiver Program
Posted in K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, US Tourist Visa, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand, US Warrants | 1 Comment »

The method of making an appointment at the US Embassy in Bangkok depends upon the reason for the appointment. For example, the appointment process for obtaining a Consular Report of Birth Abroad is different than the process for obtaining an appointment for a non-immigrant visa interview.

Many expatriates in Thailand seek such services as: Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (a document akin to a birth certificate) , notarization, visa page replacement, and new passport issuance. Virtually all of the issues surrounding these services can be dealt with at the American Citizen Services Section of the United States Embassy in Bangkok.  For those interested in making an appointment with the American Citizen Services Section of the US Embassy in Bangkok, it may be wise to click on this link.

For those who need a non-immigrant visa to the United States a visa interview appointment will likely be required. For those unfamiliar with the US visa process, a non-immigrant visa is granted to an individual who does not have the intention of remaining in the USA. Popular non-immigrant visa categories are the J1 visa, the F1 visa, the B1 visa, and the B2 visa (also known as a Tourist visa). The aforementioned visa categories are not the only non-immigrant visas, but they are currently the most popular among those interviewing at the US Embassy in Bangkok. For those interested in more information about non-immigrant visas please click here.

Another common reason for needing an appointment at the US Embassy in Bangkok is the need to finish the American Immigration process. For those who wish to immigrate to the United States, in order for a US visa to be issued, the applicant must undergo a visa interview. In Thailand, the popular immigrant visas are category CR-1 and IR-1 for Thai spouses. Although not immigrant visas in the strict sense of the word, the K1 visa and the K3 visa are treated as immigrant visas because they are dual intent travel documents. A dual intent visa (travel document) is designed for a foreign national to enter the United States in non-immigrant status with the option of adjusting status to that of an Immigrant at a later date. For many, the Immigrant visa process is time consuming and the final phase of the process can cause anxiety in many applicants. However, for the applicant who tells the truth and is forthright in their application, there is usually no reason to be anxious as the visa interview is nothing more than an exercise of due diligence on the part of the Consular officers. For more on immigrant visas please click here.

Tags: B1 Visa Thailand, B2 Visa Thailand, F1 Visa Thailand, J1 Visa Thailand, K-1 Visa, K-1 Visa Thailand, K-3 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa, K3 Visa Thailand, US Tourist Visa Thailand, US Visa Thailand, US Visa Thailand Appointment
Posted in Adjustment of Status, CR1 Visa, Fiance Visa Thailand, IR1 Visa, J1 Visa Thailand, K-3 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa, US Consulate Chiang Mai, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Thailand, US Tourist Visa, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand | No Comments »

In previous postings on this blog the holiday closing schedule for US Embassies and Consulates have been posted in order to promulgate information about the dates that posts will be open for the regular transaction of business. This is done in an effort to forestall futile trips to the Embassy by those who are unaware of the times it will be closed. In general, a US Embassy or US Consulate overseas will be closed in recognition of both National Holidays in the United States of America as well as those national holidays recognized by the host country. Below is a schedule of holiday closures for the United States Embassy in New Delhi, India:

Date	Day	Holiday	Type
January 1	Friday	New Year’s Day	American
January 5	Tuesday	Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday	Indian
January 18	Monday	Martin Luther King’s Birthday	American
January 26	Tuesday	Republic Day	Indian
February 12	Friday	Mahashivratri	Indian
February 15	Monday	Washington’s Birthday	American
March 1	Monday	Holi	Indian
April 2	Friday	Good Friday	Indian
May 31	Monday	Memorial Day	American
July 5*	Monday	Independence Day	American
August 24	Tuesday	Raksha Bandhan	Indian
September 2	Thursday	Janmashtami	Indian
September 6	Monday	Labor Day	American
October 11	Monday	Columbus Day	American
November 5	Friday	Diwali	Indian
November 11	Thursday	Veterans’ Day	American
November 17	Wednesday	Idu’l Zuha (Bakrid)	Indian
November 25	Thursday	Thanksgiving Day	American
December 17	Friday	Muharram	Indian
December 24**	Friday	Christmas Day	American

* in lieu of July 4, Sunday
** in lieu of December 25, Saturday

The above information is quoted from the website of the US Embassy in New Dehli. It should be noted that an Embassy can close for reasons other than recognition of official holidays so it would be wise to check the Embassy’s website directly before traveling to the Embassy as local conditions could require the Post to be closed with little notice. For those interested in checking the official website of the US Embassy in India, please click: here.

Many people travel to a US Embassy in another country in order to obtain documentation that cannot be obtained from another location. For example, those who need a new passport, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or an American Notary overseas go to the American Citizen Services Section of a US Embassy abroad in order to obtain this type of documentation. Prospective immigrants travel to an Embassy in order to interview for US Visas such as the K1 visa, the K3 visa, or an Immigrant visa. No matter what one’s reasons are for traveling to the Embassy, foreknowledge of their hours of operation could avert frustration.

Tags: American Citizen Services, consular report of birth abroad, Holiday Closing Us Embassy New Dehli India, Immigrant Visa, K-1 Visa, K-3 Visa, K1 Visa, K3 Visa, US Embassy India, US Embassy New Dehli
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As explained in previous posts on this blog, the United States Embassies and Consulates overseas generally close for both national US holidays as well as those holidays recognized by the host country. The US Embassy in Indonesia closes in recognition of many Indonesian holidays as well as American holidays. Below is the scheduled closings for the US Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia. The following holiday schedule is posted on the American Embassy in Jakarta’s website:

Oftentimes it is difficult to go to a US Embassy abroad for those who are living, working, or traveling through a foreign country. Expatriates and prospective immigrants who have lives to lead in the host country often find that going to the US Embassy requires a whole day to get an important issue resolved. Therefore, we have provided the above information on this blog in an effort to forestall a fruitless trip to an Embassy due to lack of foreknowledge on the part of American expats regarding the Post’s operating hours.

That being said, a Diplomatic or Consular Post is not required to be open at all times and there are times when Embassies and Consulates close without warning. For this reason, it may be prudent to go directly to the United States Embassy website in order to check if the post will be open at a certain time. To proceed to the US Embassy in Jakarta’s official website please click here.

For those American Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents  overseas who wish to obtain a new passport, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a notarized document, or other services at the Embassy it may be possible to make an appointment with American Citizen Services (ACS). This provides convenience to the individual as well as the post as the Consular personnel can anticipate the needs of the Citizen and plan accordingly.

Tags: American Citizen Services, American Embassy Indonesia, American Embassy Jakarta, American Visa Indonesia, Holiday Closings US Embassy Indonesia, Holiday Schedule, US Embassy Indonesia, US Embassy Jakarta, US Visa Indonesia
Posted in CR1 Visa, IR1 Visa, K1 Visa, K2 Visa, K3 Visa, US Embassy Indonesia, US Embassy Jakarta, US Tourist Visa, US Visa and Immigration | No Comments »

In cases where a US visa application is denied it may be possible to remedy the visa denial by applying for a waiver if the denial was based upon a legal grounds of inadmissibility. This type of waiver is called an I-601 waiver. At one time, if a United States visa applicant was infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), then they would be denied a visa visa based upon this factor alone, if no other issues existed that called for a denial. However, recently the United States Immigration authorities have changed this rule. To quote a document promulgated by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA):

“[I]nfection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is no longer a ground of inadmissibility. If you have the HIV infection, you are no longer inadmissible to the United States, and are no longer required to file Form I-601 because of your HIV infection. As part of the revisions to Form I-601, any reference to HIV infection in the form and the instructions were removed.”

This is not the only rule change that has been recently promulgated as the filing instructions themselves have recently changed in order to more accurately reflect the proper filing locations as well as other regulatory modifications.

“In addition, USCIS… announced that there are revised filing instructions and addresses for applicants filing Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Ground of Inadmissibility. The change of filing location is part of an overall effort to transition the intake of benefit forms from USCIS local offices and Service Centers to USCIS Lockbox facilities. By centralizing form and fee intake to a Lockbox environment, USCIS can provide customers with more efficient and effective initial processing of applications and fees.”

The “lockbox” method is currently employed when processing immigrant visa applications such as the IR-1 visa and the CR-1 visa. This allows USCIS to streamline the application process as all applications are submitted to one location. K1 visa applications as well as K3 marriage visa applications are submitted directly to the USCIS Service Center with appropriate jurisdiction.

In situations where an I-601 waiver application is submitted overseas, the application is usually submitted at the US Embassy or US Consulate where the visa is denied. This allows the Consular Officer to make a recommendation regarding the waiver application. Those interested in US visa waivers should note that only licensed United States attorneys or accredited representatives are allowed to represent clients before both the United States Embassy and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). That being said, only an attorney is entitled to charge fees for such services as accredited representatives are usually not-for-profit agencies who only charge a nominal fee (if anything) when assisting immigrants. Those who are not licensed to represent clients is US Immigration matters cannot charge a fee to represent clients in Immigration proceedings pursuant to US law.  For more information please click here.

For more information about American visas and the remedies available upon application denial please see: US Visa Denial.

Tags: 601 Waiver, HIV Waiver, I-601 Waiver, I601 Waiver, Inadmissibility, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa Thailand, US Visa Attorney, us visa attorney bangkok, us visa attorney thailand, us visa denial, us visa lawyer, us visa lawyer bangkok, us visa lawyer thailand, US Visa Thailand, US Visa Waiver
Posted in CR1 Visa, Fiance Visa Thailand, IR1 Visa, K-3 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K3 Visa, US Consulate Chiang Mai, US Consulate Singapore, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Burma, US Embassy Cambodia, US Embassy Hanoi, US Embassy Kathmandu, US Embassy Kuala Lumpur, US Embassy Malaysia, US Embassy Myanmar, US Embassy Nepal, 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, Visa Waiver | No Comments »