Consular Processing at USA Embassy in Thailand
CTR & Associates offers Consular Processing Services to U.S. Law Firms and to individuals. CTR & Associates is managed and owned by a licensed American attorney who is also a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, which is a member only organization for American Lawyers and Representatives specializing in the practice of U.S. Immigration Law.
CTR & Associates Consular Processing Services can provide U.S. Law Firms with “on the ground” representation and investigation about the status of the visa application at the USA Embassy in Bangkok. Our American attorneys and Thai staff are there to meet and interview cases in at the client’s location. This on the ground service means less delays in your green card processing time and green card approval.
An Immigration Law Firm Offering Competitive and Quality Services
With CTR & Associates Consular Processing Service you can provide your clients more options and a higher quality of service knowing that they will be represented by an American Immigration lawyer and will be guided through the final stages of their green card process by a qualified American attorney and staff.
Our firm can provide certified Thai-English translations where needed and inquire with the US Embassy post in matters involving 221g denials, administrative processing, or appointment scheduling. For firms with clients facing foreseeable 221g denial issues, our attorneys can assist in preparing the applicants for managing these issues to avoid green card denials. We provide applicants with the knowledge they need to be prepared to deal with the US Embassy in an honest and concise manner so they are prepared to present their case with the best foot forward.
Be aware that No One can guarantee an outcome of a visa application as the ultimate adjudication are evaluated and based on the evidence provided and the unique set of facts of each case. If anyone promises a 100% guaranteed or money back policy then it’s best to inquire into the integrity of that statement. The Immigrant Visa Section of the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok review each case based on the quality and quantity of evidence presented at the interview and prior.
CTR & Associates provides clients with the knowledge and peace of mind of knowing that the applicant is being advised by an licensed American attorney who is trained in assisting the applicant to prepare for the most important interview in the final stages of their Visa Application.
On The Ground US Attorney to Provide Assurance That Your Client Will Receive a Higher Quality of Service
In the final stages of your client’s green card process, you will have the peace of mind that a licensed American Immigration Lawyer will assist the applicant in preparing for the interview,and locating and submitting required documents to the US Embassy. Our American Attorneys will be on hand to correspond with clients and applicants and will facilitate a smoother transition thereby avoiding any delays in the process.
CTR & Associates can add an international aspect to your law practice with our office and staff in Bangkok, Thailand. Email us at Info@CtrLegal.com now for more details. While CTR & Associates is owned and managed by an American attorney, we do not have any special relationship or influence at the US Embassy in Bangkok and we strive to provide our clients with the utmost professionalism in our interaction with the US Consular staff. We strive to conform to all US guidelines regarding attorney client representation and communication when assisting clients at the US Embassy.
Visa Denials 214(b) and 221(g)
US Visa Denied under INA Section 214(b)
Section 214(b) is part of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). It states:
Every alien shall be presumed to be an immigrant until he establishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer, at the time of application for admission, that he is entitled to a nonimmigrant status…
To qualify for a non-immigrant Tourist Visa or Student Visa, an applicant must meet certain requirements, particularly that the prospective visitor or student possess a residence abroad he/she has no intention of abandoning. Applicants prove the existence of such residence by demonstrating that they have ties abroad that would compel them to leave the U.S. at the end of the temporary stay. The law places this burden of proof on the applicant, that’s YOU.
Most cases are decided after a brief interview and review of whatever evidence of ties an applicant presents, and consulate officers only spend a minimal amount of time reviewing the file before the interview, and in some instances, none at all.
What constitutes “strong ties”
Strong ties differ from country to country, city to city, individual to individual. Some examples of ties can be a job, a house, a family, a bank account. “Ties” are the various aspects of your life that bind you to your country of residence: your possessions, employment, social and family relationships.
As each person’s situation is different, consular officers look at each application individually and consider professional, social, cultural and other factors. In cases of younger applicants who may not have had an opportunity to form many ties, consular officers may look at the applicants specific intentions, family situations, and long-range plans and prospects within his or her country of residence.
Visa denial under Section 214(b)
Applicants refused visas under section 214(b) may reapply for a visa. When they do, they will have to show further evidence of their ties or how their circumstances have changed since the time of the original application. It may help to answer the following questions before reapplying: (1) Did I explain my situation accurately? (2) Did the consular officer overlook something? (3) Is there any additional information I can present to establish my residence and strong ties abroad?
Visa fee refund
The visa processing fee is nonrefundable regardless of whether a visa is issued. You are not barred from reapplying as often as you like, just be aware that the application fee applies each time and there’s no guarantee that it will be approved.
US Visa Denied under Section 221(g)
221(g) is a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act and it simply means the consular officer is not satisfied with the quality or quantity of the documents you have submitted to prove your relationship to the US citizen petitioner. The officer might consider your evidence to be lacking in substance or honesty to prove that you have a bona fide relationship. This may happen at the interview where the officer discovers an issue or red flag that the applicant was unable to satisfactorily overcome. Cases issued 221(g) or blue sheet have a limited amount of time to submit additional evidence before the case is sent to USCIS with the recommendation for revocation of the I-129F approval.
In some instances, we will be able to prove up your case to the consular officer and ultimately get the visa. This will depend on the facts of your case.
If you were given a 221(g) denial with this verbiage: “Your petition has been returned to the USCIS Service Center for review and possible revocation,” then your case may no longer be at the consulate and possibly on its way back to USCIS for revocation.
The consulates are not supposed to deny a case based on evidence that USCIS considered when it approved the I-129F petition, as the consulate is not empowered to deny or revoke the approved I-129F. However, they may recommend to USCIS that the evidence submited and the personal interview illustrated strong discrepancy to indicate a possible sham marriage or fraud entered into to circumvent US Immigration Law. If USCIS is convinced then it will revoke the fiance petition I-129F, otherwise it might return it to the consulate for a second interview. Please note that USCIS will not return the case to the consulate without compelling evidence from the American petitioner requesting this reconsideration.
Visa Denied under 214(b)
WHAT IS SECTION 214(b)?
Section 214(b) is part of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). It states:
Every alien shall be presumed to be an immigrant until he establishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer, at the time of application for admission, that he is entitled to a nonimmigrant status…
To qualify for a visitor or student visa, an applicant must meet the requirements of sections 101(a)(15)(B) or (F) of the INA respectively. Failure to do so will result in a refusal of a visa under INA 214(b). The most frequent basis for such a refusal concerns the requirement that the prospective visitor or student possess a residence abroad he/she has no intention of abandoning. Applicants prove the existence of such residence by demonstrating that they have ties abroad that would compel them to leave the U.S. at the end of the temporary stay. The law places this burden of proof on the applicant, that’s YOU.
Most cases are decided after a brief interview and review of whatever evidence of ties an applicant presents, and consulate officers only spend a minimal amount of time reviewing the file before the interview, and in some instances, none at all.
WHAT CONSTITUTES “STRONG TIES”?
Strong ties differ from country to country, city to city, individual to individual. Some examples of ties can be a job, a house, a family, a bank account. “Ties” are the various aspects of your life that bind you to your country of residence: your possessions, employment, social and family relationships.
As each person’s situation is different, consular officers look at each application individually and consider professional, social, cultural and other factors. In cases of younger applicants who may not have had an opportunity to form many ties, consular officers may look at the applicants specific intentions, family situations, and long-range plans and prospects within his or her country of residence.
IS A DENIAL UNDER SECTION 214(B) PERMANENT?
No. Your case will be reconsidered if you can show further convincing evidence of ties outside the United States. Unfortunately, some applicants will not qualify for a nonimmigrant visa, regardless of how many times they reapply, until their personal, professional, and financial circumstances change considerably.
WHAT CAN YOU DO IF AN AQUAINTANCE IS REFUSED A VISA UNDER 214(B) FOR LACK OF A RESIDENCE ABROAD?
First encourage your relative, friend or student to review carefully their situation and evaluate realistically their ties. You can suggest that they write down on paper what qualifying ties they think they have which may not have been evaluated at the time of their interview with the consular officer. Also, if they have been refused, they should review what documents were submitted for the consul to consider. Applicants refused visas under section 214(b) may reapply for a visa. When they do, they will have to show further evidence of their ties or how their circumstances have changed since the time of the original application. It may help to answer the following questions before reapplying: (1) Did I explain my situation accurately? (2) Did the consular officer overlook something? (3) Is there any additional information I can present to establish my residence and strong ties abroad?
Your acquaintances should also bear in mind that they will be charged a nonrefundable application fee each time they apply for a visa, regardless of whether a visa is issued. You are not barred from reapplying as often as you like, just be aware that the application fee applies each time and there’s no guarantee that it will be approved.
HOW FRONTIER LEGAL CAN HELP
At Frontier Legal, we will schedule a meeting with the applicant to review their individual circumstances and assess their likelihood of approval for the Tourist Visa or Student Visa. While we cannot guarantee the outcome of your case, as only the consular officers can make the final decision, we can provide you with a qualitative analysis of your case and assist you in the interview process while ensuring that you submit all your required documents to prove your strong ties to the home country. www.FrontierLegal.com
Contact us in Bangkok!
Bangkok, Thailand +66 (0)8 4724 3192
Skype: FrontierLegal
Email: Info@Frontierlegal.com
Fiancee Visa Denial Under 221(g)
Your fiancee, spouse or family member in the US, must sponsor or petition for you. He or she then files a the appropriate form with the US Citizenship & Immigration Service (USCIS). After USCIS approves the petition, they send it to an office in the US called the National Visa Center (NVC).
The NVC will send your fiancee, spouse or family member a package of forms to complete, including an affidavit of support requiring your family member to demonstrate that he or she can afford to sponsor you. It may also include a visa application, DS-230(1).
Once this has been done, you will be required to interview at the US Consulate in Bangkok. There is where most cases are denied or encounter arbitrary rulings. The consulate denies many visas under a provision called INA 221(g)(2).
INA 221(g) states that “No visa or other documentation shall be issued to an alien if (1) it appears to the consular officer, from statements in the application, or in the papers submitted therewith, that such alien is ineligible to receive a visa or such other documentation under section 212, or any other provision of law, (2) the application fails to comply with the provisions of this Act, or the regulations issued thereunder, or (3) the consular officer knows or has reason to believe that such alien is ineligible to receive a visa or such documentation under section 212, or any other provision of the law. Provided that a visa or other documentation may be issued to an alien who is within the purview of section 212(a)(4), if such alien is otherwise entitled to receive a visa or other documentation, upon receipt of notice by the consular officer from the Attorney General of the giving of a bond or undertaking providing indemnity as in the case of aliens admitted under section 213: Provided further, that a visa may be issued to an alien defined in section 101(a)(15)(B) or (F), if such alien is otherwise entitled to receive a visa, upon receipt of a notice by the consular officer from the Attorney General of the giving of a bond with sufficient surety in such sum and containing such conditions as the consular officer shall prescribe, to insure that at the expiration of the time for which such alien has been admitted by the Attorney General, as provided in section 214(a), or upon failure to maintain the status under which he was admitted, or to maintain any status subsequently acquired under section 248 or the Act, such alien will depart from the United States.”
221(g) Visa Denials
221(g) is a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act and it simply means the consular officer is not satisfied with the quality or quantity of the documents you have submitted to prove your relationship. The officer might consider your evidence to be lacking in substance or honesty to prove that you have a bona fide relationship with the person that wants to sponsor you.
221(g) Visa Denials Final
In some instances, we will be able to prove up your case to the consular officer and ultimately get the visa. This will depend on the facts of your case.
If you were given a “blue sheet” then quite simply it means a denial with the opportunity to submit more evidence. Once you provide the additional evidence requested, your case may be approved.
If you were given a 221(g) denial that saids: “Your petition has been returned to the USCIS Service Center for review and possible revocation,” then your case may no longer be at the Consulate. Your loved ones in the US will have to prove up your relationship by providing more evidence of the bona fideness in your case.
Visa Denied, Now What
Gather all your evidence and speak to a competent and qualified immigration lawyer.
If your loved ones convinced USCIS Service Centerthat your relationship is genuine, USCIS will approve your petition again and will go through NVC the same way as before. Eventually, you will get to interview again at the US Consulate in Bangkok.
The consulates are not supposed to deny a case based on evidence that USCIS considered when it approved your petition. When the consulate returned your petition to USCIS, it explained to USCIS the reasons. If USCIS is not persuaded by the consulat’s reasons, it can re-approve your petition and the consulate is not allowed to send it back again for the same reason. However, it is very important that you present a good case to the USCIS Service Center to proved your relatioship. If you and your loved one do not put on a good case, teh consulate’s denial will be final.
You can present your case to the USCIS Service Center early in the form of a new petition whic includes answers to the consulat’s denial. Other times, you must wait. This is why you consult with a competent immigration lawyer who can analyse your case and tell you what is the best way to proceed.
How We Can Help!
We have been assisting clients in Bangkok for over two years on visa denials cases. There are many reasons the consulates may deny your case and with a qualified attorney on your side, you may be able to persuade the consular officer the first time around that you have a genuine relationship with your loved one.
We write motions arguing your facts under the INA and assemble your evidence in the best way to prove your case to show the legal or logical faults in the consular officer’s denial.
Contact us in Bangkok!
Bangkok, Thailand +66 (0)8 4724 3192
Skype: FrontierLegal
Email: Info@Frontierlegal.com
US Visas and Immigration Services
CTR & Associates represents clients in Immigration Law by providing them a more efficient, reliable, and professional way to achieve their success at the US Embassy. Whether it is a family based immigration law matters at the US Embassy in Bangkok to the US Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, we meet with clients to assess the facts of the case and develop a legal and practical business plan suitable to their individual needs.
As a leading American Law Firm, our U.S. Attorneys can make Administrative Processing inquiries with the local U.S. Embassy in Bangkok or in Ho Chi Minh City, provide personal immigration consultations, research local immigration laws, request a legal opinion for Thailand or Vietnam, draft/review and negotiate Prenuptial Agreements, and provide legal advice with our local Thai and Vietnamese Lawyers. Our most popular requests are Tourist Visas B1/B2, Fiance(e) K1, and Spousal Visa K3 for Immediate Relatives.
U.S. Passport & Citizenship
U.S. Citizenship is one step beyond permanent residence (Green Card). It provides the maximum immigration rights and is normally the final stage or goal for most immigrants. We can provide information on the following issues on citizenship:
- Citizenship Application N-400
- Citizenship Test Reading and Writing Requirements
- Citizenship Package Naturalization Questions
- Dual Citizenship for Yourself of Your Children
- Certificate of Citizenship, Replacement or New
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Passport Application
U.S. Visas
A visa grants the holder the right to apply for entry into the United States. 
- B-1 Business Visa
- B-2 Tourist Visa
- C-1 Transit Visa
- F-1 Student Visa
- J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa
- H-1B Work Visa
- K-1 Fiancée/Fiancé Visa
- Tourist Visa Extension
Tourist Visas for Business or Pleasure B1/B2
Visitors traveling to the United States temporarily for business and pleasure, usually come as tourists or to visit family and friends. Others come for specific purposes, such as medical treatment, a conference, business meeting, or certain types of training.
Some tourists from certain countries, traveling for visitor visa purposes for 90 days or less, and who meet all the requirements, can travel to the United States for tourism or business under the Visa Waiver Program. Additionally, certain citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not need a visa to visit the U.S.
Many of these temporary visitors, traveling for the business and pleasure purposes explained above, need visitor visas to enter the United States. The type of visa you must have is defined by immigration law, and relates to the purpose of your travel. Please note: If you want to travel to the United States to study or to work, you will need a different kind of visa.
K1 Visas
For many American who have met their girlfriends during their holiday tour of Thailand or who have met online through various dating websites, the most confounding problem is what to do if you want to pursue your relationship in the US. The most common questions I get from prospective client are: How can I bring my Thai fiancee to the US to get married? Do I have to marry her in Thailand or can we marry in the US? What are the financial and procedural issues I’d have to substantiate to the US Embassy?
Read more about K1 Visas here.
Visa Denials 214(b) and 221(g)
Section 214(b) is part of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). It states:
Every alien shall be presumed to be an immigrant until he establishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer, at the time of application for admission, that he is entitled to a nonimmigrant status…
To qualify for a non-immigrant Tourist Visa or Student Visa, an applicant must meet certain requirements, particularly that the prospective visitor or student possess a residence abroad he/she has no intention of abandoning. Applicants prove the existence of such residence by demonstrating that they have ties abroad that would compel them to leave the U.S. at the end of the temporary stay. The law places this burden of proof on the applicant, that’s YOU.
Most cases are decided after a brief interview and review of whatever evidence of ties an applicant presents, and consulate officers only spend a minimal amount of time reviewing the file before the interview, and in some instances, none at all.
Read more about Visa Denials here.
Cathy Tran Reck, Esq.
Cathy Tran Reck, USA Attorney in Bangkok, Thailand
Cathy Tran Reck is the managing director of CTR & ASSOCIATES. She is fluent in English and Vietnamese, certified to practice law under the California State Bar, and an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. We combine distinct legal and cultural experiences to serve our clients with the utmost professionalism.
Qualifications
J.D. Santa Clara University, California (2002)
M.A. Sacramento State University, California (1998)
B.A. University of California, Davis, California (1995)
Member of Phi Beta Delta Omicron Chapter
Member of American Immigration Lawyers Association
Member of California State Bar
Member of the American Bar Association
Kinh Le, Attorney in Vietnam
Kinh Le, Vietnam Attorney
Kinh Le is the Managing Director at L&N Law Offices based in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Vietnam. Mr. Le has extensive civil litigation experience in Labor Dispute, Arbitration, Business Transactions, International Business Law, Family & Matrimonial Law, and Finance Law. L&N Consulting provides of counsel services to our international clients with demands for international business law and transactions.
