Integrity Legal

The National Visa Center (NVC) acts as s sort of clearinghouse and intermediary for United States visa applications. Their duties as an intermediary can be shown in the way the NVC receives cases from the Department of Homeland Security’s United States Citizenship and Immigration Service and forwards them on to United States Embassies and Consulates abroad. This function has been documented in detail in previous posts on this blog. However, NVC functions very differently in cases involving Immigrant visas (CR1, IR1) then it does in cases involving the non-immigrant dual intent family visa categories, most notably the K1 visa and the K3 visa.

A K1 visa application or K3 visa application spends a relatively short period of time in the possession of the NVC. In Immigrant visa cases, this is not true. Applications for a CR1 visa or an application submitted for an IR1 visa are held at NVC for a substantially longer period of time. Unlike the K1 and K3 visa categories, packet 3 is sent out by the NVC and not the US Embassy abroad.

The United States Immigration authorities at the American States Department have made the administrative decision to handle all packet three matters at NVC rather than making the Consulates and Embassies handle this aspect of the process. In a way, the decision makes sense as the NVC is in a better position to specialize in this phase of the process. Also, NVC conducts a rather detailed security clearance to make certain that the prospective immigrant is not a threat to National security. Also, NVC will take the affidavit of support fee and process the United States Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident’s I-864 Affidavit of Support.

It should be noted that in cases where the petitioner is resident abroad, it may be possible to submit a Direct Consular Filing (DCF) or a USCIS local filing. In cases such as this, the case file will not be sent to the NVC, but will either be processed entirely at the Embassy or Consulate; or it will be sent from the local USCIS office directly to the US Embassy. In the case of Thailand, the Bangkok office of USCIS will send all approved locally filed Immigrant visa applications directly to the US Embassy in Bangkok. As the USCIS office is directly across the street from the US Embassy, sending this file directly to the Embassy is usually a very straightforward process.

Tags: Affidavit of Support, CR1 Visa, CR1 Visa Thailand, IR1 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa, K3 Visa Thailand, US Visa, US Visa Thailand
Posted in CR1 Visa, Fiance Visa Thailand, General Legal Information, K-3 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa, Miscellaneous, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Thailand, US Visa and Immigration, USCIS | No Comments »

In Thailand, the method of executing a valid marriage is very different from the United States or other common law jurisdictions. A marriage registration is usually conducted at a local Amphur office (Amphoe office). In cases involving a Thai national marrying another Thai national, the process is very straightforward as the couple need only produce their identity documentation and house registration. However, in cases involving a foreigner and a Thai national, the foreigner must produce a great deal of documentation to prove that he or she is unmarried as well as legally free to marry. Depending upon the person’s home country, some or all of this documentation can be obtained either at the Embassy in Thailand or at offices in the person’s home country.

Two foreigners can also execute a lawful marriage in Thailand, but the registration of the marriage could take more time and require the filing of more documentation as neither of the prospective registrants are Thai citizens. Often, this situation has an easy solution as both parties deal with their home government which provides documentation proving that the prospective registrant is unwed and free to marry. In the case of Myanmar (Burma) this is not necessarily true.

Under the laws of the Union of Myanmar heavy restrictions are placed upon Burmese women who opt to marry non-Burmese people. One aspect of these restrictions that manifests itself often in US Immigration matters is the reluctance or refusal of the Burmese government to issue passports to female Burmese nationals seeking to marry a US Citizen either after issuance of a K1 visa or before issuance of a K3 visa or CR1 visa. The Burmese government’s intransience in these matters often results in difficult Immigration cases as the American government often requires a valid passport before a visa will be issued to a non-US citizen.

In Thai marriage registration cases, a similar problem arises as the Burmese (Myanmar) government, through the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok, this post often refuses to issue affidavits showing the Burmese national as single and free to marry. Amphurs in Thailand require this document before they will execute a marriage between a Thai or a foreigner and a Burmese national. Therefore, failure to obtain this document results in an inability to marry in the Kingdom. Further, the execution of a marriage in Burma (Myanmar) is likely more difficult due to the statutory restrictions imposed upon Burmese women seeking to marry foreign men.

In situations such as this, it may be necessary to plan ahead and obtain passports and other documentation long before it may ever be necessary. Contacting a Bangkok lawyer or US Immigration lawyer may be beneficial as either of these professionals could advise about solutions to such problems.

One should note that Thai prenuptial agreements can be drafted for a marriage in Thailand, but the agreement must be registered simultaneously with the marriage in order for the agreement to be valid in the Kingdom.

Tags: Burmese Marriage, Married in Thailand, Register a Thai marriage, Thai Marriage, Thai MArriage Registration, Thai prenuptial agreement, Thailand Marriage, Thailand Marriage Registration, Thailand MArriage Registration for Burmese, thailand prenuptial agreement
Posted in CR1 Visa, Fiance Visa Thailand, General Legal Information, K-3 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa, Miscellaneous, Thai Family Law, Thailand Business, Thailand Marriage Registration, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Burma, US Embassy Thailand, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand | No Comments »

Recently the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) announced that a revised form has been issued for those who wish to file for an I-601 Waiver. An I-601 waiver is a waiver of legal grounds of inadmissibility under the United States Immigration and Nationality Act. An alien is found inadmissible if they meet the elements of inadmissibility under the act. Common grounds of inadmissibility among applicants in Thailand are overstay, prostitution, Crimes involving moral turpitude, and health related grounds. If a finding that one of these grounds exists is made by the Consular or Immigration officers, then the applicant must seek an I-601 waiver before they will be entitled to enter the United State lawfully.

In recent days, USCIS has been revising some of the forms that they will accept in connection with certain immigration matters. For example, USCIS recently announced that they will only be accepting an updated version of the G28 Notice of Attorney Appearance. Those who have already filed applications for Immigration benefits before this update comes into effect will not need to submit any new forms as the service will continue to recognize the old forms in an effort to seamlessly transition from the old forms to the new. These efforts seem to be an attempt to streamline the, somewhat complicated, administrative aspects of the US Immigration application process. To quote directly from the USCIS press release:

USCIS has revised Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility (Revision Date 04/06/09 N, OMB Expiration Date 04/30/11) to make it easier for applicants to complete. Applicants may now select from a list of grounds of inadmissibility on the form itself and mark all which apply to them in order to request a waiver. In addition to the list, the form includes a section where applicants can describe, in their own words, why they believe they are inadmissible. In the previous edition of Form I-601, information about grounds of inadmissibility could only be found of the form’s instructions.

We applaud the efforts on the part of the Service to make this process less complicated and more straightforward. For those interested in submitting a successful I-601 waiver application, it should be remembered that in most cases involving an I-601 waiver, the applicant(s) must show that to deny the waiver would result in an “extreme hardship” to a United States Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident. This can be a difficult legal obstacle to overcome which is why it may be wise to retain an immigration lawyer to assist with the preparation and submission of such a petition.

Unlike the United States Embassy in Bangkok, which only has jurisdiction ovr the Kingdom of Thailand. The local USCIS office in Bangkok has administrative jurisdiction over most of Asia. Therefore, I-601 waiver applications filed in connection with a K1 visa, K3 visa, or CR1 visa sought from Asia could be submitted at USCIS Bangkok.

Tags: 601 Waiver, I-601, I-601 Waiver, I601, I601 Waiver, Immigration Lawyer, Immigration Lawyer Bangkok, US Immigration Lawyer Bangkok, US Immigration Lawyer Thailand, us visa bangkok, US Visa Burma, US Visa Myanmar, US Visa Thailand, USCIS Bangkok, USCIS Thailand
Posted in Fiance Visa Thailand, General Legal Information, K-3 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa, Legal Opinion, Miscellaneous, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Burma, US Embassy Thailand, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand, USCIS, Visa Waiver | 1 Comment »

There is something of an “alphabet soup,” when it comes to discussing United States Immigration. There are many agencies under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the most important from an Immigration standpoint are: the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. Meanwhile, the United States Department of State (DOS) has jurisdiction over the National Visa Center (NVC) as well as United States Embassies and Consulates outside of the USA. This mix of acronyms alone can cause a sane man to go crazy, add on top of this the fact that sometimes different phases of the Immigration process have the SAME acronym and one is left very befuddled.

For example, the process of converting a K1 visa to permanent residence (Green Card) is called Adjustment of Status. when a Thai fiancee travels to the United States on a K1 visa she has 90 days to execute a legal marriage and submit an application to regularize her status. As stated previously, this is commonly referred to as adjustment of status.  It is possible to adjust other non-immigrant visas, such as J1 visas, F1 visas, or B2 visas, but it can be more difficult and one should not travel to the US using one of these visas with the intent to adjust as these categories do not allow for dual intent. One should not confuse the adjustment of status process with the change of status process, which is the process of converting a visa from one non-immigrant visa category to another.

Another “AOS” commonly used in United States Immigration vernacular is the Affidavit of Support. The affidavit of support is the document showing that a United States Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident can financially maintain a foreign fiancee or spouse in the United States. The worry of government officials is that the foreign loved one may become a “public charge,” the affidvait of support is used to illustrate that this will not be an issue. An affidavit of support is signed by a K1 visa petitioner and submitted at the visa interview at the United States Embassy. At the time of the adjustment of status a different affidavit of support is submitted. K1 visa applications also utilize a different affidavit of support compared to visa petitions for a foreign spouse (K3 visa, Cr1 visa, Ir1 visa).

Tags: Adjustment of Status, Affidavit of Support, American Visa Thailand, AOS, CR1 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa Thailand, US Visa, US Visa Thailand, USA Visa
Posted in Adjustment of Status, Fiance Visa Thailand, General Legal Information, K-3 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa, Thailand Embassy, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Burma, US Embassy Thailand, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand | No Comments »

Although not boasting the same tourist numbers like countries such as Thailand and Indonesia, Myanmar (Burma) has a large number of nationals applying for United States visas, particularly when one takes into account the fact the Myanmar (Burma) is one of the most politically isolated countries in Southeast Asia. Although a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Myanmar has not signed the protocols allowing for visa free travel for citizens of ASEAN countries. Therefore, it can be extremely difficult for Burmese visa seekers to travel to another US Consular or Diplomatic post in the region in order to process a visa application.

The US Embassy in Myanmar (Burma) is located  in Yangon (Rangoon). This post does process visa applications for those of Burmese (Myanmar) nationality or those residing in the Consular District. That being said, obtaining a US visa for a Burmese national can be very complicated due to the fact that the government of the Union of Myanmar (Burma) is reluctant to issue passports to its citizenry. Further, the government in Myanmar (Burma) takes a dim view of Burmese nationals marrying foreigners. Government officials can often cause delays in obtaining necessary documentation. The implacable nature of some bureaucrats leads many to apply for a USA visa in a different jurisdiction.

Many Americans in Thailand meet Burmese nationals who are living and working in the Kingdom of Thailand. In most situations, Burmese-American couples opt to process their visa application at the US Embassy in Bangkok. Taking this course of action does not eliminate the need for a Myanmar passport, but in some cases, if the Burmese national can obtain a Thai visa, then they will be able to remain in Thailand until the visa interview at the US Embassy. Further, if the Burmese national obtains a Thai visa, then this will likely ensure that the US Embassy will take jurisdiction over the case, rather than forwarding the application to the Embassy in Yangon (Rangoon).

That being said, some opt to utilize the K-3 visa as it can be beneficial for those with a Burmese fiancee who wish to process their application in Thailand. Before getting married, the couple may need to decide where they wish to apply for a visa as this may have an effect upon where the marriage should be executed. Even still, a K1 visa will still be faster and if the Burmese national remains in lawful immigration status in Thailand, then it is likely that the American Embassy will take jurisdition over the case.

Tags: American Embassy Thailand, K1 Visa Burma, K1 Visa Myanmar, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa Burma, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Burma, US Embassy Myanmar, us embassy thailand, US Embassy Yangon, US Visa Burma, US Visa Myanmar, US Visa Thailand, US Visa Yangon
Posted in Fiance Visa Thailand, K-3 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa, Miscellaneous, Thailand Visa, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Burma, US Embassy Myanmar, US Embassy Rangoon, US Embassy Thailand, US Embassy Yangon, US Visa and Immigration | No Comments »

The United States has a somewhat tenuous relationship with the Union of Myanmar (also known as Burma). This is due to the fact that Myanmar has been a somewhat isolated nation since the early 1960′s. Prior to that, the country was a colony of the British and briefly a member of the British commonwealth. Burma (Myanmar) has had a very turbulent history as there was once a great deal of factional infighting culminating in a takeover by military generals. The country has since been under a system known as “The Burmese Way Of Socialism.” According to those in power, the military authorities are holding power in a sort of trust until such time as the country is ready for democracy.

The United States maintains an Embassy in Burma (Myanmar) in the country’s capital Rangoon (also known as Yangon).  Interestingly, the Embassy maintains a American Center which is in a different location from the United States Embassy and the US Consular section in Yangon. This situation is not, in an of itself, uncommon. For example, the Consular Services Section of the US Embassy Bangkok is located across the street from the Embassy proper, that being said, it is still relatively close.

The United States Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar (Rangoon, Burma) as well as the Consular Services Section is located at:

110 University Ave, Kamayut Township, Rangoon, Burma

The American Center in Yangon is located at:

14, Tawwin Road, Dagon Township, Rangoon, Burma.

The office hours of the Consular Services Section are: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. Except for holidays.

Unlike the United States Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, the post in Myanmar is not headed by an American Ambassador, but is instead headed by a Chargé d’Affaires.

Those seeking to obtain United States visas for loved ones living in Burma (Myanmar) will likely process through the United States Consulate in Yangon. In many cases, Burmese Nationals residing in Thailand may be able to enjoy the benefit of having their visa processed through the United States Embassy in Bangkok or the US Consulate in Chiang Mai depending upon the US visa category and the Burmese (Myanmar) national’s place of residence.

That being said, meeting the requirements for Consular jurisdiction in Thailand can be difficult for those with Burmese (Myanmar) Nationality. In some cases a K3 visa may be beneficial for those who wish to ensure a visa application will be processed in a certain jurisdiction. However, careful research and possibly the retention of expert immigration counsel may be necessary to properly determine where a US visa application will be adjudicated.

Tags: American Visa Burma, K3 Visa, US Consulate Burma, US Consulate Myanmar, US Consulate Rangoon, US Consulate Yangon, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Burma, US Embassy Myanmar, US Embassy Rangoon, US Embassy Yangon, US Visa Burma, US Visa Myanmar
Posted in K3 Visa, Thailand Business, US Consulate Chiang Mai, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Burma, US Embassy Myanmar, US Embassy Rangoon, US Embassy Thailand, US Embassy Yangon, US Visa and Immigration | No Comments »

The authors have noticed an upsurge of those asking about how to go about replacing a lost passport while traveling in the Kingdom of Thailand. This post is a brief overview of what needs to be done when one loses their United States Passport in Thailand.

In order to receive a new passport one must go to the American Citizen Services (ACS) section of the United States Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. This office is located near the Consular Section of the US Embassy, in fact the two rooms are adjoining once one is inside the compound. It is wise to first make an ACS appointment by going to the US Embassy website here

In many cases, people do not plan to lose their travel documents so making an appointment may not be feasible. The United States Embassy website provides the following suggestion:

“When traveling, please remember to carry a photocopy of your passport separately from your passport. In the event of loss or theft, the copy will help facilitate issuance of an emergency passport.”

For those thinking of traveling, keep the above quote in mind as it can save a great deal of time at the Embassy.

At one time, the American Citizen Services Section in Bangkok, Thailand was considered to be one of the worst for customer service when compared against its counterparts in the region. However, over the past 5 years, this office has done a great deal to improve customer service and efficiency. It is now a very customer-friendly office that provides fast effective service.  If an online appointment is set in advance then one could expect to be in and out in relatively short order, depending upon the service sought.

For those who lose their passport, they have the option of either applying for a new passport or applying for an emergency passport. Under limited circumstances, the Embassy will expeditiously issue Emergency Passports that have a very short validity period.

In order to obtain a new passport one will need to provide proof of citizenship such as a Naturalization Certificate, Certificate of Citizenship, a Birth Certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Drivers License. Again, due to the likely unavailability of these documents it is always wise to have a copy of the previous passport.

Once the new travel document is issued, one needs to have their Thai Immigration entry stamps replicated in the new passport. Therefore, a trip to Thai Immigration will be necessary. For those with a long term Thai visa, the visa will need to be duplicated in the new passport.

For those in Northern Thailand, the American Citizen Services Unit at the United States Consulate-General in Chiang Mai also could assist with passport issuance. See their website here.

Tags: ACS, American Citizen Services, American Embassy Bangkok, American Embassy Thailand, Lost Passport, Thai Visa, us embassy bangkok, us embassy thailand, us passport
Posted in General Legal Information, Miscellaneous, Thailand Visa, US Consulate Chiang Mai, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Thailand | 3 Comments »

For those researching the United States visa process a document called Notice of Action 2 is mentioned many times in relation to spouse and fiance visa applications. This post is a brief description of what Notice of Action 2 is and what it means for a pending application.

When a United States visa application is submitted the first piece of correspondence that arrives from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service  (USCIS) Center is a receipt called Notice of Action 1 (NOA 1). This puts the petitioning party on notice that the application has been received by the USCIS Service Center. There are certain situations where the adjudicating officer decides that more information or evidence needs to be provided before the application can be properly adjudicated. In cases such as this, a Request for Evidence (also known as an RFE) will be issued and sent to the petitioner. However, in most cases, further evidence is not necessary and if the application is approved then Notice of Action 2 is sent to the petitioner. If the application is denied, then a notice will be sent to the petitioner as well.

Although not extremely common in cases involving visas for the family members of United States Citizens, USCIS denials can occur. Denials are usually the result of a petition that did not go far enough in showing that a bona fide relationship between Petitioner and Beneficiary existed at the time of the filing. Another common reason for denial is that the petitioner applied for the wrong type of visa. A common misconception in Thailand involves customary marriages and their effect upon a couple’s United States Immigration options. In Thailand, if a Thai marriage is not registered at the Civil Registrar’s office (Amphur), then the marriage is not legally binding and not recognized by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service as a basis for receiving US Immigration benefits. Therefore, if a couple who has only been married unofficially submits a petition for an IR1 visa, CR1 visa, or K3 visa then they will be denied because they do not meet the statutory requirements for visa issuance. However, the couple in this situation may be eligible for a K1 visa.

After USCIS issues Notice of Action 2, the petition will be sent to the National Visa Center. In cases involving Immigrant visas, the NVC holds the petition for a fairly long period of time. However, in cases where a K1 visa is being sought, the NVC does not hold the application for a long time. They will usually conduct a Security clearance and forward the file to the US Embassy, in cases involving Thai fiancees they will forward the application to the US Embassy in Bangkok. The United States Consulate General in Chiang Mai does not generally handle US Immigrant visa cases.

Tags: CR1 Visa Thailand, Fiance Visa Thailand, IR1 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa Thailand, NOA 2, Notice of Action 2, Thailand Marriage Registration, us embassy bangkok, us embassy thailand, us visa denial, US Visa Thailand
Posted in Fiance Visa Thailand, K-3 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa Thailand, US Consulate Chiang Mai, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Thailand, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand, USCIS | 1 Comment »

In a previous post, we discussed the initial submission of an application for a United States visa for a foreign loved one. In this post we will discuss what needs to be done in the event of a request for evidence from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). After USCIS receives an American Citizen’s US Immigration application, they send out a receipt notice commonly referred to as Notice of Action 1, or NOA 1. In the vast majority of ultimately successful cases the Notice of Action 1 is followed by the Notice of Action 2 approval notice. However, there are cases where an adjudicating officer at USCIS requests further documentation. In most Requests for Evidence (RFE) the deficiency of evidence is based upon the fact that one or more of the documents was illegible. This is why clearly legible documentation should always be provided when submitting an application to USCIS.

In order to forestall receiving an RFE, many couples opt to retain an Immigration attorney to assist in the filing of a United States visa application. An experienced United States Immigration attorney can predict what the officers will wish to see in order to favorably adjudicate a petition. However, simply retaining an attorney will not guarantee that a Request For Evidence will not be made, but if an RFE is sent, then the attorney can handle it and deal with the documentary deficiency.

The RFE will specify which documents are either missing or illegible. After specifying the deficiency, the RFE will go on to state how the deficiency can be dealt with and the deadline the applicant and petitioner will have to remedy the problem by sending the requested documentation.

In a way, an RFE is similar to a 221g refusal from the United States Embassy. The reason these requests are similar is that both require that the applicant or petitioner provide further documentation before an approval will be granted. The major difference between these two requests is the fact that officers of the United States Department of State issue 221 g requests while officers of the United States Department of Homeland Security issue requests for evidence. In both cases, the documentation is requested usually in an effort to conduct due diligence to ensure that the Immigration benefit should be accorded to the beneficiary.

In K1 visa applications the adjudicating officer is usually requesting evidence that shows the bona fides of the relationship or the status of one of the parties. In K3 or CR1 visa applications, the officer is usually seeking evidence regarding the couple’s marital status or the status of the parties before the marriage occurred.

Tags: CR1 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa Thailand, Request For Evidence, RFE, US Embassy, US Visa Thailand, USCIS
Posted in Fiance Visa Thailand, K-3 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa Thailand, Legal Opinion, Miscellaneous, US Consulate Chiang Mai, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Thailand, US Tourist Visa, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand, USCIS | No Comments »

On this blog, we commonly make reference to Notice of Action 1 or NOA 1. In an effort to provide the most high quality repository of United States Immigration definitions for those seeking a US Visa from Thailand providing a brief overview of this official Immigration notice is required.

In many United States Immigration matters, particularly family Immigration cases from Thailand, the visa application must first receive approval from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). This agency is one of many that reports to the Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

When a couple opts to apply for a United States visa, they often apply for one of the following categories: CR1 visa, IR1 visa, K3 visa, or K1 visa. The CR1, IR1, and K3 are all United States Marriage visas while the K1 visa is a fiancee visa. All of these visas require USCIS pre-approval before a visa interview can be set. Conversely the B1 visa, B2 visa, F1 visa, and J1 visa are all non-immigrant visa categories (that do not permit dual intent) and therefore do not require USCIS pre-approval. It should be noted that the non-immigrant visa categories are much more difficult to acquire for loved ones of United States citizens due to a provision in the United States Immigration and Nationality Act called 214b. This provision creates a legal presumption that must be overcome by the foreign applicant before the visa will be issued.

When a United States Citizen files for a K1, K3, CR1, or IR1 visa they first file an application at a USCIS Service Center. There are two USCIS Service Centers that accept applications for the aforementioned visa categories and the petitioner’s residence will determine where the application should be filed. The petitioner will send in the application and upon receipt, the USCIS Service Center will generate a receipt referred to as Notice of Action 1 (or NOA1). This receipt will note the names of the Petitioner and Beneficiary as well as the date of receipt and the date the notice was generated. The receipt will also show a case number.

For those who retain the services of a US visa lawyer, a copy of Notice of Action 1 will be sent to the attorney provided the attorney submitted a G28 form with the application. Before retaining an attorney it is wise to make certain that a G28 form will be submitted because it is important to facilitating efficient visa processing. Fake lawyers and so-called visa agencies cannot represent clients before USCIS so it may be wise to inquire as to the credentials of any proposed representative. Unfortunately, in the Kingdom of Thailand, there are many unauthorized services masquerading as licensed US Immigration attorneys.

The Notice of Action 1 should not be confused with the initial letter sent from the US Embassy Thailand. This letter is commonly referred to a Packet 3 and is sent at a later phase of the US Immigration process.

Tags: American Visa Thailand, CR1 Visa, F1 Visa, Fiance Visa, J1 visa, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa, NOA 1, Notice of Action 1, us embassy bangkok, us embassy thailand, US Visa Thailand, USCIS
Posted in Adjustment of Status, F1 Visa Thailand, Fiance Visa Thailand, General Legal Information, J1 Visa Thailand, K-3 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa Thailand, Legal Opinion, Miscellaneous, US Consulate Chiang Mai, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Thailand, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand, USCIS | No Comments »