Integrity Legal

As the world becomes ever more integrated due to economic globalization international organized crime has increased. One issue that has become increasingly concerning for law enforcement agencies around the globe is human trafficking. Many of the people in less developed nations wish to travel to wealthier industrialized countries in order to enjoy the benefits of relatively higher wages. This leads to the growth of “human smugglers” who specialize in assisting illegal immigrants by transporting them from their home country to their desired destination. Unfortunately, a great deal of evidence has been brought to light which suggests that many of these immigrants are placed in conditions which could easily be described as inhumane and many of them are further forced to work under difficult conditions in order to pay back their smugglers for transporting them to their new country.

Recently, the website ThaiVisa.com posted the following:

“Two Japanese men have been arrested in Thailand on suspicion of people smuggling, a police spokesman said Tuesday. The first man, identified by police only by his surname, Bekku, was arrested Monday when he tried to renew his visa. The second man, Tanaka, was arrested later at his apartment in Bangkok. The pair, both in their 60s, are accused of involvement in smuggling people from Thailand and its neighbouring countries. ‘They were arrested on warrants issued by the Japanese police on charges of human smuggling,’ said the spokesman, Major General Manoo Mekmok.”

Under Section 212(a)(2)(H)(i) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act:

Any alien who commits or conspires to commit human trafficking offenses in the United States or outside the United States, or who the consular officer, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of State, or the Attorney General knows or has reason to believe is or has been a knowing aider, abettor, assister, conspirator, or colluder with such a trafficker in severe forms of trafficking in persons, as defined in the section 7102 of title 22, is inadmissible.

Clearly, United States Immigration law takes the issue of human trafficking very seriously as it should since human trafficking is a major issue that causes many deaths each year while concurrently undermining the foundations of international law. Furthermore, those who are found guilty of offenses involving human trafficking are likely to be found inadmissible to the United States of America indefinitely as this ground of inadmissibility cannot be remedied through use of an I-601 waiver.
To learn more about US Immigration please see: US Visa Thailand.

Tags: 212(a)(2)(H)(i), American Immigration Thailand, American Visa Thailand, Attorney General, Excludability, Grounds of Excludability, Grounds of Inadmissibility, Human Smuggling, Human Trafficking, I-601 Waiver, Inadmissibility, Secretary of State, US Immigration, US Immigration Thailand, US Visa Thailand
Posted in Department of Homeland Security, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand, Visa Waiver | No Comments »

Please be advised that the following was posted on the official website of the US Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand:

Updated Warden Message: Curfew Extended, Embassy to Reopen on May 25

(May 23, 2010) This warden message alerts U.S. citizens traveling to and residing in Thailand that the Royal Thai Government through the Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) has announced that it will impose a shortened curfew for at least one more day and will evaluate the need to extend the curfew on a day-to-day basis.  To find out if the Royal Thai Government has extended the curfew, please refer to local media and our website.  We will not send out another email warden message solely regarding the curfew, but will update this message on our website.

The curfew is in place tonight, Sunday, May 23 from 11:00pm to 5:00am.  This curfew applies to the Bangkok metropolitan area and to the Thai provinces listed below.  Royal Thai Government officials may change this list after this Warden Message is sent out, so please refer to media or local officials for the latest information.  Reports indicate that troops have authority to shoot on sight in response to acts of inciting unrest.  American citizens should maintain a low profile and refrain from nighttime outside activity until the situation improves.

If you will be flying out of Bangkok in the next several days, we recommend that you leave for the airport well in advance of the curfew hours.  If you are arriving at a Bangkok airport during curfew hours, we recommend that you stay at the airport until after curfew hours.  Reports indicate that Airports of Thailand (AOT) may coordinate transportation for passengers from Suvarnabhumi Airport to a few central locations in Bangkok during curfew hours.  However, they are evaluating providing this service on a day-to-day basis.  Passengers may not be able to find any transportation from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok during curfew hours and may need to wait until after curfew hours to go to Bangkok.

The U.S. Embassy, including visa operations, will be closed Monday, May 24.  We will reopen all operations, including all consular services, on Tuesday, May 25.  On Monday, May 24, American Citizen Services (ACS) will be at our temporary location at the Westin Grand Sukhumvit.  Please see details in our recent announcement. ACS is also available by phone at 02-205-4049.  For after-hours emergencies, please call 02-205-4000.

A curfew from 11:00pm to 5:00am has been declared in the following provinces:

·       Ayuthaya

·       Bangkok metropolitan area

·       Chaiyaphum

·       Chiang Mai

·       Chiang Rai

·       Chonburi

·       Kalasin

·       Khon Kaen

·       Lampang

·       Mahasarakham

·       Mukdaharn

·       Nakhon Pathom

·       Nakhon Ratchasima

·       Nakhon Sawan

·       Nan

·       Nong Bua Lamphu

·       Nonthaburi

·       Pathum Thani

·       Roi Et

·       Sakon Nakhon

·       Samut Prakarn

·       Sisaket

·       Ubon Ratchathani

·       Udon Thani

U.S. citizens are reminded that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence with little or no warning.  U.S. citizens are urged to avoid the areas that may be targeted for demonstrations and to exercise caution in their movements around Bangkok.

Since May 15, 2010, the Department of State has advised U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to Bangkok and all non-essential travel to the rest of Thailand.  You should review the Department’s most recent Travel Warning for Thailand.

The Department strongly encourages U.S. citizens in Thailand to register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok or through the State Department’s travel registration website. For information on general crime and security issues, U.S. citizens may also consult the Department of State’s Country Specific Information for Thailand and the Worldwide Caution, located at the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website.  U.S. citizens may also obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 from the United States and Canada, or 202-501-4444 from overseas.

The American Citizen Services section of the U.S. Embassy Bangkok is located at 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.  The American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy can be reached by calling 66-2-205-4049 and by e-mail at [email protected].  The emergency after-hours telephone number is 66-2-205-4000.

Please note that the Embassy is scheduled to resume normal operations on Tuesday May 25th. That being said, routine follow-up matters for the Immigrant Visa Unit can only be dealt with on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Therefore, document remittances in response to 221g refusals for travel documents such as the K1 visa or the CR1 Visa will likely only be accepted on Wednesday May 26, 2010.

For more information about recent Post closures in Bangkok please see: US Embassy. For information about attorney assistance with American Immigration matters please see: US Visa Thailand.

Tags: American Visa Thailand, CR1 Visa, CR1 Visa Thailand, Fiance Visa Thailand, Fiancee Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, US Embassy, us embassy bangkok, us embassy thailand, US Visa Thailand
Posted in CR1 Visa, Fiance Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Thailand, US Visa Thailand | 5 Comments »

Please be advised that the following was posted upon the official website of the United States Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand:

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

U.S. Embassy Visa Services Closed May 24, 2010

Due to continuing security concerns in the area and access issues on Wireless Road, the U.S. Embassy is currently operating under emergency personnel staffing only.  The Non-immigrant and Immigrant Visa sections will be closed May 24, 2010.  If you have a non-immigrant visa interview appointment scheduled for May 24, 2010, your appointment will be rescheduled.  As soon as the U.S. Embassy has determined the situation to be safe for Embassy Consular staff to return to work and for visa applicants to travel to the Embassy for visa appointments, we will advise those impacted through e-mail or phone with details on new appointment dates.  Please Note:  As a large number of people have been affected by these events, and the volume of appointments that have been scheduled for the upcoming weeks, it will not be possible to consider expedited appointments.  We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this has caused.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I reschedule my appointment?

At present, we must ask applicants with visa appointments scheduled for the period of May 14 through May 24 to wait until the Embassy has determined when that it is safe to conduct visa appointments.  All those impacted by this unexpected closure will be notified through the e-mail address or phone number provided during the visa interview appointment process.

I had a visa appointment scheduled during the period of May 14 – May 24.  I have urgent travel to the United States, what can I do?

Unfortunately, due to the current security situation, the U.S. Embassy Visa Services is currently closed.  We are unable to reschedule any visa appointments for applicants who had appointments made for the period of May 14 – May 24 and will be unable to accommodate expedited appointments.  We suggest that you make alternate travel plans.

I had a visa appointment scheduled during the period of May 14 – May 24.  Can I reschedule my appointment at another U.S. Embassy in a neighboring country?

Each U.S. Embassy has its own scheduling system and requirements for visa applicants.  Fees paid in Thailand for the visa interview cannot be used abroad.

I had a visa appointment scheduled during the period of May 14 – May 24.  Can I reschedule my appointment for the U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai?

The U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai has its own appointment system and you must live within their consular district to schedule an appointment there.  Please see http://chiangmai.usconsulate.gov/ for more information.

I had a visa appointment scheduled during the period of May 14 – May 24.  Can I make a special request?

Due to the current security situation, the U.S. Embassy Visa Services will be closed for the period of May 14 – May 24.  As such, we will be unable to reply to visa inquiries and/or special requests during that period.  We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience our disruption of service has caused.

I am an immigrant visa applicant – can I come in for my scheduled appointment, to drop off documents, or to pick up my visa?

If you had/have an immigrant visa appointment for the period of May 14 – May 24, it will be rescheduled.  You will be contacted with a new date and time once the Embassy reopens.  If you have been told to bring in documents on Mondays or Wednesdays, or to come in to pick up your visa, please do not come in until the Embassy reopens.  Please look for announcements on the Embassy website.

The documentation mentioned above is likely referencing 221g refusals or requests for other types of documentation related to the issuance of travel documents such as, but not limited to, the K1 visa, the K3 Visa, or Immigrant visas such as the CR1 Visa and the IR1 Visa.

For further information about American attorney assistance in Immigration matters as well as Consular Processing in Bangkok, Thailand please see: US Embassy Bangkok and/or US Embassy Thailand.

Tags: 221(g) refusal, 221g, 221g denial, CR1 Visa, Fiance Visa Thailand, IR1 Visa, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa, K3 Visa Thailand, Thailand, us embassy bangkok, us embassy thailand, US Immigration Thailand, US Marriage Visa Thailand, US Visa Thailand
Posted in CR1 Visa, Fiance Visa Thailand, IR1 Visa, K-3 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Thailand, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand | 1 Comment »

The following was posted on the official website of the US Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand:

At the time of this writing, the US Embassy in Bangkok is closed to those seeking routine services due to the unrest in the areas near the Embassy compound. In Bangkok, the situation seems to have stabilized. However, the city remains tense as most Bangkok residents seem to be hoping for an end to the unpleasantness and a return to relative normality.

On a related note, the Thai Tourism Industry is preparing for a major downturn moving forward. To quote the website ThaiVisa.com:

Thailand’s violent political turmoil has had a “disastrous” effect on the vital tourism sector, the country’s finance minister said Friday, stressing that the overall economy remained sound. “Tourism in value terms accounts for six percent of our GDP,” Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij told a Tokyo conference, adding that the sector also accounts for “as much as 15 to 20 percent of the total employment.” “And clearly, with the events that took place over the past several weeks, and the pictures of these events flashing across TV screens across the world, it is going to have a very disastrous impact on tourism.” Thai security forces on Wednesday crushed a six-week protest by anti-government protesters in street battles that left 15 people dead and saw arsonists torch some 36 key buildings across the capital Bangkok. The stock exchange and the nation’s biggest shopping mall were among locations torched in the chaotic aftermath of the campaign to end the “Red Shirt” protesters’ occupation of Bangkok’s top retail district. Korn said that “we anticipate that the impact on the GDP of the protest so far is probably between 0.3 and 0.5 percent of GDP.” However, he stressed that the wider economic picture was sound in the kingdom, telling the conference that “we expect the formal Q1 (first quarter) figure to be in two digits” this year.

As we have previously discussed on this blog, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has waived fees for Thai Tourist Visas. However, the fees associated with applications for the Thai business visa and the Thai O visa remain the same.

For further information about attorney assistance with Consular Processing of US visa applications please see: US Embassy. For further information about closure of the US Embassy in Thailand please see: US Embassy Bangkok. Finally, to learn more about Thai Immigration please see: Thai Visa.

Tags: Bangkok Riots, O visa, Thai Business Visa, Thai Immigration, Thai Tourist Visa, Thai Visa, Thailand Business Visa, Thailand o visa, Thailand Riots, Thailand Tourism, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Bangkok closed, us embassy thailand, US Embassy Thailand Closed
Posted in Thailand Visa, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Thailand | No Comments »

The following has been posted on the website of the US Embassy in Bangkok:

Emergency American Citizen Services – New Temporary Location

The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok has set up a temporary location to provide emergency and very limited routine Consular Services to U.S. Citizens.  If you do not need your service right now, please wait until we reopen our Embassy facilities.

You must bring your original documents (when available).  If at all possible, please bring a photo copy of each of those documents as well.  Many of the forms are available on-line.  Please print out and complete your forms.  Bring the completed forms with you.  This will help us serve more people.

Beginning at 8:00am Wednesday, May 19, 2010, the services listed below will be available until further notice.  Newly issued Passports and Consular Report of Birth Abroad will not be available for pick up until the following work day.

WHERE: WESTIN GRAND SUKHUMVIT, BANGKOK

259 SUKHUMVIT ROAD (corner of Soi 19)

BTS: Asok, MRT: Suhkumvit (note: neither the BTS nor MRT is currently running)

Phone: 02-207-8000

HOURS: 08:00 – 12:00 Monday – Friday

SERVICES:

• PASSPORTS – EMERGENCY and REGULAR
• CONSULAR REPORT OF BIRTH ABROAD (CRBA) BY APPOINTMENT ONLY*
• NOTARIALS (AFFIDAVITS, INCOME AFFIDAVITS, etc)
• PICK UP OF COMPLETED PASSPORTS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS LISTED ABOVE
• DROP-OFF OF DOCUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF AN APPLICATION

PAYMENT: CASH ONLY – U.S. DOLLARS OR THAI BAHT

NO CREDIT CARDS, CHECKS OR TRAVELLERS CHECKS WILL BE ACCEPTED

Those who have appointments will be given priority and seen on the day of their appointment.  Those with appointments on Friday May, 15; Monday May 17; and Tuesday, May 18 will be given priority in the order of their original appointment.  Please bring a print-out or other proof of your appointment with you.

Appointments must be made on the Embassy website, http://bangkok.usembassy.gov.  Appointments cannot be made by phone.

Those without appointments will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis.  We will do our best to accommodate those without appointments if we have time between appointments, but we cannot guarantee that services will be available to those without appointments.

*CRBA APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE:

Applicants for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad will only be seen with appointments; there will be no walk-in CRBA interviews.  Please come prepared with valid documentation; a detailed list is available on-line.  Failure to provide complete documentation may significantly delay the procession of your application.

IF YOU ARE APPLYING FOR AN EMERGENCY PASSPORT PLEASE BRING:

• 2 passport photos with white background
• Police Report
• Proof of Citizenship (if available)
• Proof of identity
• Fee – $100.00 (one hundred U.S. dollars)

FOR COMPLETE DETAILS OF REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, SERVICES, AND FEES PLEASE CONSULT THE EMBASSY WEBSITE http://bangkok.usembassy.gov

As stated in the above announcement, one should refrain from traveling to the provisional American Citizen Services unless it is an emergency. The United States Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand is closed until after the 21st of May due to the unrest in the city.

For information about the situation in Bangkok please see: US Embassy Bangkok. For further information about attorney assistance with Consular Processing of American visa applications please see: US Embassy Thailand.

Tags: American Embassy Bangkok, American Embassy Thailand, American Embassy Thailand Closed, US Embassy, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Bangkok closed, us embassy thailand, US Embassy Thailand Closed
Posted in us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Thailand | No Comments »

To see this information in English please see: US Embassy Thailand.

ข้อความด้านล่างมาจากเว็บไซต์สถานทูตสหรัฐอเมริกาประจำกรุงเทพมหานคร ประเทศไทย

ประกาศสำคัญ

แผนกกงสุล สถานเอกอัครราชทูตสหรัฐอเมริกา กรุงเทพฯ ปิดทำการตั้งแต่วันที่ 17 – 21 พฤษภาคม 2553

เนื่องจากความจำเป็นด้านความปลอดภัย และการไม่สามารถเข้ามาในพื้นที่ถนนวิทยุได้ สถานเอกอัครราชทูตสหรัฐอเมริกา กรุงเทพฯ มีเพียงพนักงานที่เข้ามาปฏิบัติงานภายใต้สถานการณ์ฉุกเฉินเท่านั้น และแผนกวีซ่าชั่วคราวจะปิดทำการตลอดทั้งสัปดาห์นี้ โดยตั้งแต่วันที่ 17 – 21 พฤษภาคม 2553 หากท่านมีนัดสัมภาษณ์วีซ่าชั่วคราวในระหว่างวันที่ 17 – 21 พฤษภาคม 2553 ท่านจะได้รับการเลื่อนวันนัดสัมภาษณ์ใหม่เนื่องจากสถานการณ์ด้านความปลอดภัยภายในบริเวณใกล้สถานทูตฯ ยังเป็นสิ่งที่ไม่สามารถคาดการณ์ได้ ขณะนี้ เราจึงไม่สามารถนัดวันสัมภาษณ์วีซ่าสำหรับผู้ที่ได้รับผลกระทบได้ ทันทีที่สถานทูตฯ พิจารณาว่าสถานการณ์มีความปลอดภัยเพียงพอที่จะอนุญาตให้พนักงานกลับมาทำงาน ที่แผนกกงสุล และปลอดภัยสำหรับผู้สมัครวีซ่าในการเดินทางมาที่สถานทูตฯ ตามปกติ ผู้ที่มีวันนัดสัมภาษณ์ในช่วงระยะเวลาดังกล่าวจะได้รับแจ้งทางโทรศัพท์หรือ ทางอีเมล์เกี่ยวกับรายละเอียดวันนัดสัมภาษณ์ใหม่

เนื่องจากมีบุคคลจำนวนมากได้รับผลกระทบจากเหตุการณ์ นี้ และวันเวลานัดสัมภาษณ์ได้ถูกจองไปแล้วในช่วงหลายสัปดาห์ที่จะถึงนี้ เราจึงไม่สามารถนัดวันสัมภาษณ์แบบเร่งด่วนได้

คำถามที่พบ บ่อย

ฉันจะสามารถนัดวันสัมภาษณ์ใหม่ได้อย่างไร

ขณะนี้ผู้สมัครวีซ่าที่มีนัดสัมภาษณ์ระหว่างวันที่ 17 – 21 พฤษภาคม จำเป็นต้องรอจนกว่าแผนกกงสุลจะพิจารณาว่าสถานการณ์มีความปลอดภัยเพียงพอที่ จะนัดวันสัมภาษณ์ใหม่ได้ และท่านจะได้รับการแจ้งทางอีเมล์หรือทางโทรศัพท์ตามที่ท่านได้ให้ไว้เมื่อ ท่านทำการนัดสัมภาษณ์

ฉันมีวันนัดสัมภาษณ์ในระหว่างวันที่ 17 – 21 พฤษภาคม และมีกำหนดการเดินทางด่วน ฉันจะทำอย่างไร

ขณะนี้เราไม่สามารถนัดวันสัมภาษณ์ได้ภายในสัปดาห์นี้ เนื่องจากแผนกกงสุลปิดทำการ เราไม่สามารถนัดวันสัมภาษณ์ใดๆ ให้ท่านใด้ภายในระหว่างวันที่ 17 – 21 พฤษภาคม และไม่สามารถนัดวันสัมภาษณ์แบบเร่งด่วนได้ เราขอแนะนำให้ท่านเปลี่ยนแปลงกำหนดการเดินทางของท่าน

ฉันมี นัดสัมภาษณ์วีซ่าระหว่างวันที่ 17 – 21 พฤษภาคม ฉันสามารถนัดวันสัมภาษณ์ใหม่ ณ สถานทูตสหรัฐฯ ในประเทศเพื่อนบ้านได้หรือไม่

สถานทูตฯ แต่ละแห่งมีระบบการนัดสัมภาษณ์วีซ่าและข้อกำหนดสำหรับผู้สมัครที่แตกต่างกัน ค่าธรรมเนียมการสมัครวีซ่าที่ท่านชำระในประเทศไทย ไม่สามารถใช้ในต่างประเทศได้

ฉันมีนัดสัมภาษณ์วีซ่าระหว่าง วันที่ 17 – 21 พฤษภาคม ฉันจะสามารถนัดวันสัมภาษณ์วีซ่าใหม่ได้ที่สถานกงสุลสหรัฐฯ ที่จังหวัดเชียงใหม่ได้หรือไม่

สถานกงสุลสหรัฐฯ ที่จังหวัดเชียงใหม่มีระบบการนัดสัมภาษณ์ที่แยกต่างหาก และท่านต้องอาศัยอยู่ในเขตรับผิดชอบของสถานกงสุลสหรัฐฯ จังหวัดเชียงใหม่ จึงจะสามารถนัดสัมภาษณ์วีซ่าในจังหวัดเชียงใหม่ได้ โดยท่านสามารถอ่านข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมได้ที่http://chiangmai.usconsulate.gov/

ฉัน มีนัดสัมภาษณ์วีซ่าระหว่างวันที่ 17 – 21 พฤษภาคม ฉันยื่นคำร้องขอเป็นกรณีพิเศษได้หรือไม่

สถานเอกอัครราชทูตสหรัฐฯ ปิดทำการระหว่างวันที่ 17 – 21 พฤษภาคม ดังนั้นคำขอของท่านที่ส่งมาในช่วงระยะเวลาดังกล่าวจะไม่รับการอ่านหรือตอบ เนื่องจากแผนกกงสุลปิดทำการ

ฉันเป็นผู้สมัครวีซ่าถาวร – ฉันจะสามารถเดินทางมาสมัครวีซ่าตามวันสัมภาษณ์ที่ได้กำหนดไว้แล้ว หรือเดินทางมายื่นเอกสาร หรือเดินทางมารับวีซ่าได้หรือไม่

หากท่านมีวันสัมภาษณ์วีซ่าถาวรระหว่างวันที่ 14 – 21 พฤษภาคม ท่านจะได้รับแจ้งวันนัดสัมภาษณ์ใหม่ โดยท่านจะได้รับการแจ้งวันนัดใหม่เมื่อสถานทูตฯ เปิดทำการอีกครั้ง หากท่านได้รับการแจ้งไว้ก่อนแล้วให้นำเอกสารมายื่นในวันจันทร์หรือวันพุธ หรือได้รับการแจ้งให้มารับวีซ่า โปรดอย่าเดินทางมาที่สถานทูตฯ จนกว่าสถานทูตฯ จะเปิดทำการอีกครั้ง โดยโปรดอ่านประกาศที่หน้าเว็บไซต์ของสถานทูตฯ

ในขณะนี้ สถานการณ์ในกรุงเทพมหานครยังคงตึงเครียด ที่มาจากเว็บไซต์หนังสือพิมพ์เดอะเนชั่น

เมื่อวานนี้ประเทศไทยอยู่ระหว่างโอกาสสุดท้ายของการมีสันติและสถานการณ์ที่ยิ่งใหญ่กว่าสงครามประชาชนซึ่งได้มีขึ้นในหลายวันที่ผ่านมา เหตุการณ์ทุกอย่างขึ้นอยู่กับการเจราหลังฉากที่มีขึ้นและขึ้นอยู่กับความไม่สามารถควบคุมผู้ชุมนุมที่โกรธแค้นจะมีมากไปกว่านี้หรือไม่ ยอดผู้บาดเจ็บมีจำนวนเพิ่มขึ้นอย่างช้าในช่วงเวลากลางวัน แต่หลายๆฝ่ายได้ตั้งข้อสังเกตว่าเมื่อเวลาพลบค่ำมาเยือนสถานการณ์อาจจะปะทุเลวร้ายมากกว่ารุ่งเช้าของเมื่อวานก็เป็นได้

บทสรุปของเหตุการณ์ต่อเนื่องร้ายแรงยังคงมีอยู่ ในขณะที่ผู้เขียนกำลังเขียนอยู่นี้สถานการณ์ก็ยังไม่เป็นที่แน่นอน อย่างไรก็ตามเราก็ได้แต่หวังว่าความขัดแย้งจะสามารถยุติลงได้โดยไม่มีการสูญเสียเลือดเนื้อไปมากกว่านี้

Tags: American Embassy Bangkok, American Embassy Thailand, us embassy bangkok, us embassy thailand, สถานทูตสหรัฐอเมริกาประจำประเทศไทย, ้วีซ่าอเมริกาจากประเทศไทย
Posted in US Embassy Thailand, สถานทูตสหรัฐอเมริกาประจำประเทศไทย, ้วีซ่าอเมริกาจากประเทศไทย | No Comments »

At the time of this writing, the United States Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand is closed due to the political unrest in the urban areas surrounding the Embassy compound. That being said, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) Centers in the United States are likely not impacted by this state of affairs. As a result, USCIS is processing petitions in much the same manner as usual. Below are the current USCIS processing time estimates for commonly filed US Family Immigration Petitions:

These estimates for the California Service Center were posted on the USCIS website on May 14, 2010:

These estimates for the Vermont Service Center were posted on the USCIS website on May 14, 2010:

Please note that these time estimates do not take into account National Visa Center Processing and Consular Processing at an Embassy or Consulate abroad. For those interested in updated information regarding Consular Processing in Thailand please see: US Embassy Thailand or US Embassy Bangkok.

Tags: CR1 Visa, CR1 Visa Process, CR1 Visa Processing Time, I-129f process, I-129f Processing Time, I-130 Process, I-130 Processing Time, IR Visa Process, IR1 Visa, IR1 Visa Processing Time, K1 visa processing time, K3 Visa Process, K3 Visa processing time, US Visa Process, US Visa Processing Time, USCIS, USCIS Processing Time
Posted in CR1 Visa, IR1 Visa, K1 Visa, L1 Visa, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Thailand, USCIS | No Comments »

Please be advised that the following was posted on the official website of the United States Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand:

Tags: American Embassy Bangkok, American Embassy Bangkok Closed, American Embassy Thailand, American Embassy Thailand Closed, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Bangkok closed, us embassy thailand, US Embassy Thailand Closed, US visa interview Bangkok, US visa interview Thailand, US Visa Thailand
Posted in US Consulate Chiang Mai, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Thailand | No Comments »

The US Embassy in Bangkok Thailand posted the following on their official website:

Announcement

Due to the ongoing security situation, the U.S. Embassy, including visa services, will remain closed on Tuesday, May 18.  American Citizen Services (ACS) will be available for emergencies only.

Individuals whose visa appointments have been impacted by the closure of the U.S. Embassy will be contacted through the email address(es) provided during the appointment registration process with information on rescheduling.

Individuals with ACS appointments, please go to the U.S. Embassy website to reschedule.  If you have problems rescheduling online, please email us at [email protected] or call us at 02-205-4049.  For individuals scheduling appointments for the first time, please go to the website to schedule your appointment.  Please note that we are unable to make first time appointments over the phone.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, and thank you for your continued patience and understanding.

As the political situation in Thailand, and Bangkok particularly, remains precarious, it may be wise to avoid travel to the United States Embassy as it is physically located rather close to contested zone in Bangkok. To quote the website ThaiVisa.com:

The worsening violence has turned parts of the city into no-go zones as troops use live ammunition against anti-government demonstrators, who have blocked streets with burning tyres, and fought back with homemade weapons. A member of the official emergency medical centre in Bangkok said two more people had died overnight, including the first member of the military to be killed in the three days of running gunbattles on the city’s streets. He said 244 people had been wounded, including six foreigners. Guests at a luxury hotel in the city of 12 million people were forced to shelter in the basement after the building came under gunfire and was rattled by an explosion in the early hours of Monday morning. Fire gutted three commercial buildings in another area.

It seems to be increasingly self-evident that this most recent round of violence is to have a very detrimental impact upon the operations of businesses, government offices, and foreign legations in Bangkok. Those whose presence is not urgently required in Bangkok are urged to stay outside of the city and those in the city are being urged to stay clear of the protest sites or those areas which are contested. It should be noted that Monday May  17th, and Tuesday May 18th have been officially designated as holidays for Bangkok. To quote again from the website ThaiVisa.com, “The Centre for Resolution of Emergency Situation announced that the Cabinet made Monday and Tuesday special holidays for Bangkok. Deputy PM’s Secretary-General Panithan Watanayakorn said the special holidays are designed for the government to try to ease the situation.”

This author can only hope that this situation will come to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible.

For information about US Immigration from Thailand please see: US Visa Thailand. For information about attorney assistance with Consular Processing please see: US Embassy Thailand.

Tags: Bangkok Riots, Bangkok Turbulence, Civil Unrest Bangkok, Civil Unrest Thailand, Political Situation Bangkok, Political Situation Thailand, US Embassy, us embassy bangkok, us embassy thailand, US Visa Thailand
Posted in us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Thailand | No Comments »

Tags: Bangkok, Bangkok News, Schools closed in Bangkok, Schools Closed in Thailand., Situation in Bangkok, Thailand, Thailand News, Unrest in Bangkok, Unrest in Thailand, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy in Bangkok, US Embassy in Thailand, us embassy thailand
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