Integrity Legal

Since today is Coronation Day in Thailand, which is a National Holiday, I thought I would take this opportunity to list the holidays that the Embassy takes in Thailand. Many clients and prospective clients do not understand delays caused by holidays either because the holiday is exclusively Thai, and therefore not being celebrated in the United States, or a non-Thai holiday and the applicant doesn’t understand why the Embassies should be closed for an American holiday in Thailand.

There are good reasons why the US Embassy in Thailand ought to close on both Thai and American holidays, the most convincing rhetorical question: what would the Embassy actually be able to get done on National Holidays for either Thailand or the USA?

As a conduit for communication, trade issues, and inter-government cooperation the US Embassy in Bangkok (as with any Diplomatic post in a foreign country) has a “foot in both worlds,” when either of the governments are shut down, then the Embassy really does not have much to do. Therefore, instead of wasting time and resources they close in order to facilitate better service at another time. For US Visa purposes the closure of the Embassy means that it is not possible to obtain a visa interview on any day that the Embassy is closed.

Below are the Holidays for the US Embassy in Bangkok in 2009 (please note that as some of these holidays are based upon the lunar calendar they may change date from year to year):

Holidays for the US Embassy in Bangkok

(Also applicable to the US Consulate in Chiang Mai)

In the month of January the US Embassy is closed for the following holidays on the following days:

January 1: New Years Day

January 2: New Years Day

January 19: Martin Luther King’s Birthday

In the month of February the US Embassy is closed for the following holidays on the following days:

February 16: Presidents Day

In the month of March the US Embassy is closed for the following holidays on the following days:

No Holiday closures

In the month of April the US Embassy is closed for the following holidays on the following days:

April 13: Songkran (Thai New Year)

April 14: Songkran (Thai New Year)

April 15: Songkran (Thai New Year)

In the month of May the US Embassy is closed for the following holidays on the following days:

May 5: Coronation Day

May 8: Visakha Bucha Day

May 25: Memorial Day

In the month of June the US Embassy is closed for the following holidays on the following days:

No Holiday Closures

In the month of July the US Embassy is closed for the following holidays on the following days:

July 3: Substitution for July Independence Day (Closed on 4th of July when during the week)

In the month of August the US Embassy is closed for the following holidays on the following days:

August 12: Her Majesty the Queen of Thailand’s Birthday

In the month of September the US Embassy is closed for the following holidays on the following days:

September 7: Labor Day

In the month of October the US Embassy is closed for the following holidays on the following days:

October 12: Columbus Day

October 23: Chulalongkorn Day

In the month of November the US Embassy is closed for the following holidays on the following days:

November 11: Veterans Day

November 26: Thanksgiving Day

In the month of December the US Embassy is closed for the following holidays on the following days:

December 7: Substitute for His Majesty the King of Thailand’s Birthday (the 5th of December)

December 10: Constitution Day

December 25: Christmas Day

Please note that this list is not exhaustive as the US Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand may close for reasons unrelated to Holidays, or for any reason whatsoever, but the Embassy is generally open during the week during regular hours except for the holidays mentioned above.

(Nothing in this piece should be taken as a substitute for legal advice. By reading this piece there is NO express or implied attorney-client relationship created.)

For more information please see:

US visa Thailand

Fiance Visa Thailand

K1 Visa Thailand

Tags: US Consulate Chaing Mai, us embassy bangkok, us embassy thailand, US Immigration Thailand, US Visa Thailand
Posted in US Consulate Chiang Mai, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Thailand, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand | 3 Comments »

Income Requirements for Fiance and Spouse Visa Sponsorship: 2009

In order to sponsor a Thai fiancee or wife for a visa to the USA, a US Citizen petitioner must prove that he can support the Thai applicant in such a manner that the Thai applicant will not become a burden to the state. Therefore, the US Citizen must present an affidavit of support proving an income that is deemed appropriate for supporting a Thai fiancee or wife. US Immigration policy dictates that in order to be able to support an immigrant one must produce an income that is 125% of the poverty level as set forth by US Housing and Human Services. Since Housing and Human Services constantly readjusts their definition of the poverty level, the requisite income required for immigrant sponsorship changes from year to year.

Below are the poverty figures for the 48 contiguous United States with calculation made for 125% of that figure:

Housing and Human Services has set a different standard for figuring the poverty level in Alaska, below is the poverty level for Alaska along with a calculation of 125% of that government defined monetary level.

Housing and Human Services also sets a different poverty line for Hawaii, below is the poverty guideline for Hawaii and a calculation of 125% of that guideline

It should be noted that active duty military need only show 100% of the federal poverty guidelines in order to be entitled to support an immigrant relative either entering on a K1 or immigrant visa.

For those with a deficiency in income (a more acute problem with prospective sponsors who are self employed) it may be possible to use a joint sponsor in order to make up the income shortfall. Another method of overcoming this obstacle is by using assets. For affidavit of support purposes, a prospective sponsor of a Thai fiancee or wife can make up the difference in income between what is actually earned and what is statutorily required by showing assets amounting to 5 times the difference between what a prospective sponsor earns and the legally required level. Therefore if a prospective sponsor falls $1,000 short of the required level, then he can show $5,000 in assets to make up that difference. US petitioners must submit the affidavit of support to the US Embassy in Thailand at the time of visa interview.

For more information please see

K1 visa Thailand

K3 visa Thailand

US visa Thailand

(Note: Nothing written herein should be regarded as a substitute for legal individual legal advice from a duly licensed US attorney. No attorney client privilege shall be inferred to have been created by reading this post.)

Tags: Affidavit of Support, CR-1 Visa, I-134, I-864, IR-1 Visa, K1 Visa, K3 Visa, US Visa Thailand
Posted in Fiance Visa Thailand, K1 Visa Thailand, us embassy bangkok, US Embassy Thailand, US Visa Thailand | No Comments »

Although The Integrity Legal offices are located in Bangkok, Thailand, we do receive inquiries regarding Consular processing at the US Consulate in Chiang Mai. Generally we do not have much contact with that post because their activities with regard to US Visas is somewhat limited in comparison to the US Embassy in Bangkok. This post is meant to provide some insight about the US Consulate in Chiang Mai.

A Consulate with History

The United States Consulate in Chiang Mai is one of the few historical buildings used by the American State Department to house a diplomatic post. The consulate does business in the former royal residence of the Lanna Thai Kingdom, that until 1933, was a tributary state of the Kingdom of Thailand (then Siam).

Activities of The Consulate

Currently the consulate only processes non-immigrant visas. Therefore in order to obtain a CR-1 or an IR-1 visa, one must go to the US Embassy in Bangkok. It is also advisable to use the Bangkok Embassy with regard to the US K1 Visa and the K3 Visa because it will likely be the place where the application is adjudicated. For US citizens wishing to file a USCIS petition locally then the local Bangkok USCIS office will be where the petition must be filed.

This post primarily processes non-immigrant visa categories that are not family based. As a result, The Consulate mostly processes Tourist and Student Visas.

As with most any consular post, the consul can act as a notary so notarial services are carried out at the post as well as consular reports of birth abroad which is a document that is something akin to a birth certificate. Th consulate also creates affidavits confirming the right to marry. The consulate also replaces passports and can add additional visa pages to an American’s passport.

A question often posed by both Americans and others: does the US have honorary consul in Thailand or elsewhere? The short answer to this question: No. It is US policy to not place honorary consulates in other countries.  Although many countries will appoint honorary diplomats, the US feels that these services should be performed by professional diplomats.

For more infrmation about the US Consulate in Chiang Mai, please see the official website here

For more on US Immigration from Thailand, please see US visa Thailand

(Note: Nothing stated in this post or elsewhere on this site or blog should be used as a substitute for individual legal advice from a competent attorney. No attorney client privilege, express or implied, shall be created between the reader and author of this post)

Tags: Add new tag, CR-1 Visa, IR-1 Visa, K-1 Visa, Tourist Visa, US Consulate Chiang Mai, US Consulate General Chiang Mai, US Visa Thailand
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The affidavit of support is used to prove that an American Citizen can support a Thai fiancee or wife in the USA. Although the form is issued by USCIS, it is presented at the Thai fiancee or spouse’s interview at the American Embassy in Bangkok Thailand. The type of visa one wishes to obtain will make the difference in the type of Affidavit of Support that will be necessary to show the US Citizen petitioner’s ability to support a Thai fiancee or wife in the United States.

The I-134 and I-864 affidavit of support to Prove Financial ability for US Visa Sponsorship

There are two affidavit forms used in US Family Immigration matters that are used to prove that a US citizen is indeed capable of sponsoring his loved one at the statutorily prescribed levels. The I-134 and the I-864 are the two different affidavit forms and their use with regard to visa category depends upon the situation and the visa being sought.

Financial Requirements

Currently, for the I-864 affidavit of support, the US Citizen must show that he or she can support his Thai fiancee or spouse at a level equal to 125% of the Federal poverty guidelines (as calculated by Housing and Human Services) for the year in which the visa is being sought.

The Binding Effect of the I-864 affidavit of Support upon a US Citizen

Some US Citizens are interested in how binding their financial commitments are with regard to the I-864 affidavit of Support. There is some case law that has allowed US Permanent Resident former spouse of US Citizens the right to collect money from the US Citizen spouse based upon the finding that the Permanent Resident is the third-party beneficiary of an agreement between the United States government and the US Citizen. Also, the US Citizen will be liable to the US government for the relevant costs should the Permanent Resident spouse become a public charge.

Proving Financial Ability and Obtaining Assistance with the Affidavit of Support

Generally, a US Citizen’s ability to support a fiancee or spouse is proven by presenting evidence showing the US Citizen’s income is above the statutorily mandated 125% of the poverty guidelines. Proving the financial ability to support a fiancee can be somewhat difficult if the US Citizen’s income does not meet the 125% requirement. Using assets to prove financial ability is one method, while many people opt to simply utilize a joint sponsor in order to meet the financial requirements. Joint sponsorship is a popular method of overcoming affidavit of support issues.

Note: Nothing in the post should be used in lieu of legal advice from a licensed US attorney with Immigration experience.

For More US Immigration Information Please see:

US Visa Thailand

Thai Fiance Visa

K1 Visa Thailand or

USA Visa Thailand

Tags: Affidavit of Support, American Visa Thailand, Fiance Visa Thailand, I-134, I-864, US Marriage Visa Thailand, US Visa Thailand
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One of the more confusing aspects of US Immigration from the perspective of laypeople is deciphering all of the legalese that US Immigration attorneys use when writing about US visas. To clear up some of the confusion, this post defines some of the most used jargon so that the average reader researching American Immigration can better understand the subject matter.

USCIS: The Acronym for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. The government entity formerly known as the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service). USCIS is the office that adjudicates petitions for immigration benefits.

K1 Visa: The K1 Visa is a Fiance Visa in that it allows the unmarried fiance of a US Citizen entry into the United States for 90 days for the sole purpose of marrying the US Citizen (who filed the petition for the visa) and adjusting status in the United States.

I-129f: The K1 visa application filed and adjudicated at a USCIS service center.

Immigrant Visas: Visas that confer permanent residence upon entry (in the context of this blog this term is used interchangeably with the terms IR-1 and CR-1)

IR-1 Visa: a visa that confers permanent residence upon entry to the USA of an immediate relative of a US Citizen (for the purpose of this blog the IR-1 is generally used to refer to a visa for Thai-American married couples who have been married for more than 2 years.)

CR-1 Visa: Conditional Resident Visa, a visa that confers conditional permanent residence to the visa holder (for the purposes of this blog this term is generally used for marriage visas in which the underlying marriage has lasted less than 2 years in duration).

I-130 petition: the application form for obtaining an Immigrant Visa. It is filed and adjudicated at USCIS.

K-3 Visa: a K-3 Visa is a non-immigrant marriage visa originally designed as an expedited marriage visa when the I-130 petition was taking as long as 3 years to process. It requires a dual filing, and underlying I-130 petition as well as a subsequent I-129f petition in order to obtain the expedited visa.

Direct Consular Filing: refers to the method of directly filing a visa petition with a consulate or Embassy in a foreign country. Sometimes the term “Direct Consular Filing” is used interchangeably with the term “local filing.”

Local Filing: Generally, for the purposes of this blog this term is used when describing the method of filing an immigration petition at the USCIS district office overseas (Specifically the USCIS Bangkok District Office).

Adjustment of Status: Adjustment of status or AOS is the procedure of converting a non-immigrant visa holder into Lawful permanent residence (Green Card holder).

Advance Parole: An immigration travel document that allows an alien, with an adjustment of status application pending, to leave the USA and still keep their status from being canceled upon departure from the USA. Advance parole is necessary where a fiance has entered the United States on a K1 Visa and subsequently leaves before an adjustment of status is complete.

Green Card: A colloquial term for the document proving lawful permanent residence.

United States: According to the Immigration and Nationality Act of the United States, the definition of United States, “when used in a geographical sense, means the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands of the United States.“

Reentry Permit: A permit needed for a Lawful Permanent Resident who wishes to remain outside of the USA for a prolonged period of time. The reentry permit is necessary in order to mitigate against the presumption of abandonment of adjustment of status when a permanent resident leaves the United States.

I-134 affidavit of support: the affidavit of support necessary for the K1 Fiance visa, this affidavit shows that the US Citizen will be able to support the fiancee at the statutorily prescribed level.

I-864 affidavit of support: the affidavit of support used in conjunction with the Immigrant Visas for showing that a US Citizen can support his wife at the statutorily prescribed level.

Joint Sponsor: A person who jointly sponsors a visa beneficiary should the US Citizen petitioner not meet the statutory requirements to sponsor a beneficiary on his own.

For more information on US Visas Generally please see USA Visa Thailand

Note: None of the above should be used in lieu of legal advice from a competent licensed attorney in the readers jurisdiction

Tags: Adjustment of Status, advance parole, CR-1 Visa, Green Card, I129f, I130, IR-1 Visa, K1 Visa, K3 Visa, US Visa Thailand, USCIS
Posted in US Embassy Thailand, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand | 2 Comments »

In an earlier post Packet 3 was briefly discussed and explained. This, to a certain degree, begged the question: what is packet 4? Packet 4 is the packet that includes the: pertinent medical exam requirements, interview appointment and information regarding the visa interview at the US Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. It should be noted that this phase of the US visa process occurs after the petition has been approved by USCIS and the National Visa Center and is pending final approval from the consular officer at the Embassy.

Packet 4 is probably the most important, albeit least discussed, piece of correspondence from the US Embassy because it contains the visa appointment information.

The Visa interview is one of the most daunting aspects of the American Immigration process. One of the reasons for this is the fact that Thai prospective immigrant are sometimes nervous because they lack fluency in English. There is some consolation in knowing that the staff at the American Embassy Bangkok does employ native Thai speakers and the Embassy officials do try to assist non-native speakers of English. That being said, they still are required to perform their job which is, in a way, that of performing due diligence and making certain that the applicant should be granted a visa.

In the case of US Family Visas (the K1 Fiance Visa and/or the US Marriage Visa), the “due diligence,” consists of ascertaining that the underlying relationship is in fact bona fide and making certain that the applicant is not inadmissible for any reason. Preparation for the visa interview often consists of going over possible questions with the applicant so that the best presentation of the underlying bona fide relationship is put forward.

There are certain Grounds of Inadmissibility and if the Thai applicant is inadmissible then the applicant will be denied a visa one must file a waiver application at Bangkok USCIS. The I-601 Waiver of Inadmissibility is discussed elsewhere, but it is mentioned here to explain the possible outcomes of the visa interview.  A finding of inadmissibility is not a common thing in the context of US family Immigration, but it should be noted that it does come up. If worried that one’s record may be grounds for a finding of inadmissibility, one should seek legal counsel. However, one should never lie to the Consular Officers at the US Embassy.  The problem with lying about a ground of inadmissibility is the fact that if one is caught lying (which is highly likely) then they will probably be found inadmissible for both the issue they were trying to cover up as well as lying to the consular officer and if a waiver is sought, then the lie has placed their credibility at issue which could diminish the chance of waiver application approval.

Note: Nothing contained in this post should be used in lieu of legal advice from a competent licensed attorney

Tags: American Embassy Bangkok, American Embassy Thailand, Inadmissibility, Packet 3, Packet 4, US Visa, Visa Interview, Waiver
Posted in US Embassy Thailand, US Visa and Immigration | 3 Comments »

Many people become concerned when it becomes time to prepare for the visa interview at the US Embassy in Thailand. Since the US Visa obtainment process can be a true, “hurry up and wait” game there are sudden flurries of activity followed by lulls of inaction. Packet 3 can be a stressful time for the Thai-American couple because it requires a great deal of document gathering and compilation. This is difficult for Americans gathering documentation, but for a Thai fiancee or spouse it can be nearly overwhelming. In some cases, people opt to hire a US visa lawyer in Thailand, but some opt to compile the necessary documentation on their own. Whichever path is taken, this post will shed some light upon what packet 3 is and what needs to be done to fulfill the packet 3 requirements before the Visa interview at American Embassy in Thailand.

What is Packet 3?

Packet 3 is the list of documentation and instructions for the visa interview at the US Embassy. Non-Immigrant Visa Applicants (K1 Visa and K3 Visa) will receive packet 3 from the Embassy in Thailand.  Immigrant Visa applicants (CR-1 and IR-1 Visas) will receive packet 3 from the National Visa Center rather than the US Embassy in Bangkok. The National Visa Center conducts a more extensive background check on immigrant visa applicants due to the fact that an immigrant visa confers permanent residence upon entry into the USA.

Some of the documentation can be difficult to obtain. This is especially the case in situations in which the applicant is registered on a Tabien Baan in a province far from Bangkok and must obtain documentation from the Amphur in his or her home amphur office. Name change certificates are one of the most sought after pieces of documentation that is difficult to obtain because they must be obtained from the Amphur and Thais tend to change their names far more often than Americans due to the fact that name change is a much less difficult endeavor for Thais.

Having an attorney with knowledge regarding the US Immigration process can be extremely helpful for getting a jump-start on the packet 3 process. Having foreknowledge of what documents are needed for packet 3 can greatly speed up the process because one can inform the Thai applicant as to what is needed beforehand and thus prepare accordingly.

For more in depth instructions regarding packet 3 click here

Please note:  nothing in this post should be taken in lieu of competent advice from an attorney and no decisions regarding any aspect of US Immigration should be made without extensive research and thoughtful calculation.

Tags: American Embassy Thailand, K1 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa Thailand, Packet 3, us embassy bangkok, us embassy thailand, US Immigration Thailand, US Marriage Visa, US Visa Thailand
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