US
Immigration Applications and Waivers of Inadmissibility
Article Summary: The following article
will be of particular use to American Citizens wishing
to submit applications to the US Embassy for K1 or
K3 fiance or marriage visas for citizens of Thailand
who are their partner or spouse. In addition to discussing
grounds for inadmissibility, such as employment in
a go-go or hostess bar deemed as prostitution, the
article includes information on waivers, such as the
Application for Waiver of Ground Excludability (Form
I-601). Also, practical information is provided, including
the address, office hours, and jurisdiction of the
Department of Homeland Security, Bangkok District
Office, located near the US Embassy in Thailand.
Part 1: Presents an
INTRODUCTION and GENERAL GROUNDS FOR INADMISSABILITY
Part 2: Provides practical information pertaining
to visa denials and WAIVER APPLICATIONS
Part 3: Discusses the FACTORS USED IN DETERMINING
WHETHER TO GRANT A WAIVER as well as PROSTITUTION
IN THAILAND as grounds for inadmissibility:
Part 4: Provides information about DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY: BANGKOK DISTRICT OFFICE
Part 5: Gives specific information on WAIVERS AVAILABLE
FOR OTHER GROUNDS
PART
1:
Summary:
This part will provide information about problems
that citizens of Thailand may have when applying for
US visas (i.e. K1 or K3 fiance or marriage visas),
and the guidelines the US Embassy of Thailand and
the Department of Homeland Security BCIS employ for
grounds for inadmissibility, such as criminal behavior,
including employment related to prostitution.
Introduction:
In the wake of the attacks on the World Trade Center
in New York, it has become increasingly difficult
for Thai people to obtain visas to enter the US. This
is particularly true for individuals with a history
marred by any criminal activity, no matter how inconsequential.
These problems are not limited to Thais (or any other
foreign nationals) who simply wish to visit the US
for marriage, tourist, education, or business purposes.
It also has affected those who are already in the
US legally and find themselves barred from the US
on return from visiting their homeland or another
foreign country.
In
the following paragraphs we will discuss the particulars
of the US policy to deny entry based on the US Government's
current grounds for inadmissibility and how and when
exceptions or waivers may be applicable. While there
are a variety of causes for why an individual may
be deemed inadmissible or removable from the United
States, there are waivers available for some, but
not all of these reasons or situations. We will explain
when and how such waivers are available, discuss the
situations in which they are not, and provide general
guidelines for navigating the application process.
