Of all of the publications dealing with US Visas from Thailand, the majority merely inform readers about submission of the visa application to USCIS, few deal with consular processing issues. This post is intended to inform prospective applicants about the K-1 Visa, and what measures ought to be taken by a Thai fiancee to navigate through the visa interview and hopefully obtain a favorable outcome in her case.
What is a Consular Processing Attorney and how can they help my Thai Fiancée?
A Consular Processing Attorney is a licensed Attorney in the US who maintains an office near a US Embassy abroad. While an Immigration Lawyer in the US has the ability to file a petition with USCIS it is unlikely that they will have an office in Thailand to help expedite the process. Also, an Attorney with an office in Thailand can better deal with the Thai Fiancée herself because an Attorney in Thailand will likely have Thai staff to help explain the process and what documentation needs to be obtained. Also, an Attorney on the ground may be able to interact with the US Embassy officials should an issue arise. Among the things an Immigration Attorney in Thailand can assist with: preparing your Thai Fiancée for the visa interview (by going over probable questions and explaining them in Thai), Preparing all documents to be filed with the consular services division (translations can be included as well), obtaining a Police Clearances for the Thai Fiancée, obtaining medical exams for your Thai Fiancée, and responding to 221(g) requests for more information (often the Embassy, in their discretion will require some other documentation).
As well as these advantages, merely having an Attorney on the scene to consult with can add a great deal to one’s peace of mind regarding the Immigration process particularly where the US Citizen is back in the US waiting for the Thai Fiancée to come to the US. In situations similar to this it can be a major boon to have competent counsel in Thailand in order to effectively handle the documentary requests from the Embassy, thus taking some of the workload off of the Thai fiancee. Where there is a difficulty communicating due to a lack of language proficiency the Immigration process can be made a great deal more difficult. However, by having an Attorney on hand the frustration and confusion can be reduced because the burden does not fall upon the Thai to deal with the Embassy. Instead, a legally trained expert can deal with the Embassy and explain to the Thai Fiancée exactly what needs to be done in order to expedite the process.
Packet 3 and your Thai Fiancee: how a Consular Processing Attorney Can Help
The package commonly referred to as “Packet 3,” is the information packet that the United States Embassy will mail to a Thai fiancee setting forth the necessary documents that must be retrieved before the interview for a K1 fiance visa. A Consular Processing Attorney will not only assist in obtaining the documentation, but can also provide guidance on what is required and tips to expedite the process. Some applicants worry a great deal about Packet 3, but by retaining competent counsel the process of submitting Packet 3 can proceed in an efficient and effective manner.
The information contained herein is meant for educational purposes only and is not intended to be utilized as a substitute for competent legal advice from an attorney in good standing in the United States. No Attorney/Client Relationship (either express or implied) shall be inferred from reading this publication, for more information please see fiance visa thailand.
Tags: K-1 Visa, K1 Interview, K1 Visa, Packet 3, Us Embassy Bangkok, US Embassy Thailand, US Immigration, US Visa