Robert Mullins and other immigration practitioners with a high volume of cases at the Consulate were invited to an Attorney Open House held on 05 March. The purpose of the Open House was to explain the latest procedures in both Non-Immigrant and Immigrant processing in Saigon.
Unfortunately, air-conditioning will not be installed, so the experience at the Consulate will continue to be uncomfortable for several months a year.
Perhaps starting in June, applicants will not be admitted to Consulate until 15 minutes before their appointment time. The goal of the Consulate is to have visa applicants within 45 minutes.
There are eight consuls who conduct visa interviews in the mornings. Afternoons are reserved for submission of requested documents, CSPA determinations and DNA blood sample collection.
Fiancée Visa applicants and Tourist and Business Visa applicants must register online in order to get an appointment. Immigrant Visa applicants must also register online, but not for an appointment. They need to do that online registration in order to provide their address to the Consulate for delivery of visa and passport after they have been approved. Applicants do not have to pay for the EMS delivery of visas because this fee is now included in the pre-interview application fee.
The new regulations require Fiancée visa applicants to make a visa interview appointment online. However, they should not do this until after the Consulate has contacted them to tell them that their petition has arrived in Saigon.
DNA Testing: The procedure must begin with a request by CIS or the Consulate for DNA testing. After this is authorized by the Consulate, the petitioner contacts an approved lab in the US. The lab sends the blood collection kit to the Consulate and blood sample are taken by IOM representatives who sit at the American Citizen Services section to collect the blood draws. Of course this is air-conditioned, much to the relief of mothers holding infants.
The Immigrant Visa Chief pointed out that DNA testing is not done as frequently as in the past. Sometimes CIS continues to suggest it when there is a delayed registration of birth, but the policy at the Consulate now is to explore all possible options before requiring DNA testing.
American Citizen Services: An appointment is needed for all visits to the ACS, for passport renewals, adding pages to a passport, notarizations, and any other needs. For emergency cases, US citizens can access the ACS without an appointment.
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Q.1. What is the Consulate’s policy about DNA testing?
A.1. The Consulate now prefers to ask the applicants for all available evidence rather than quickly suggesting DNA testing. DNA requests at the Consulate have decreased, though CIS often asks for DNA testing if the birth of a child was late-registered by even a few years.
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Q.2. When should Fiancée visa applicants make an online appointment for an interview?
A.2. They should wait until they are contacted by the Consulate.
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Q. 3. What is the main reason why some affidavits of support are not accepted by the Consulate?
A.3. The reason is very simple: The sponsor or joint sponsor forgot to sign the affidavit.
ROBERT MULLINS INTERNATIONAL www.rmiodp.com www.facebook.com/rmiodp
Immigration Support Services - Tham Van Di Tru
9070 Bolsa Ave., Westminster CA 92683 (714) 890-9933
779 Story Road, Ste. 70, San Jose, CA 95122 (408) 294-3888
6930 65th St. Ste. #105, Sacramento CA 95823 (916) 393-3388
Rang Mi - 47 Phung Khac Khoan, Q1, HCMC (848) 3914-7638
Unfortunately, air-conditioning will not be installed, so the experience at the Consulate will continue to be uncomfortable for several months a year.
Perhaps starting in June, applicants will not be admitted to Consulate until 15 minutes before their appointment time. The goal of the Consulate is to have visa applicants within 45 minutes.
There are eight consuls who conduct visa interviews in the mornings. Afternoons are reserved for submission of requested documents, CSPA determinations and DNA blood sample collection.
Fiancée Visa applicants and Tourist and Business Visa applicants must register online in order to get an appointment. Immigrant Visa applicants must also register online, but not for an appointment. They need to do that online registration in order to provide their address to the Consulate for delivery of visa and passport after they have been approved. Applicants do not have to pay for the EMS delivery of visas because this fee is now included in the pre-interview application fee.
The new regulations require Fiancée visa applicants to make a visa interview appointment online. However, they should not do this until after the Consulate has contacted them to tell them that their petition has arrived in Saigon.
DNA Testing: The procedure must begin with a request by CIS or the Consulate for DNA testing. After this is authorized by the Consulate, the petitioner contacts an approved lab in the US. The lab sends the blood collection kit to the Consulate and blood sample are taken by IOM representatives who sit at the American Citizen Services section to collect the blood draws. Of course this is air-conditioned, much to the relief of mothers holding infants.
The Immigrant Visa Chief pointed out that DNA testing is not done as frequently as in the past. Sometimes CIS continues to suggest it when there is a delayed registration of birth, but the policy at the Consulate now is to explore all possible options before requiring DNA testing.
American Citizen Services: An appointment is needed for all visits to the ACS, for passport renewals, adding pages to a passport, notarizations, and any other needs. For emergency cases, US citizens can access the ACS without an appointment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.1. What is the Consulate’s policy about DNA testing?
A.1. The Consulate now prefers to ask the applicants for all available evidence rather than quickly suggesting DNA testing. DNA requests at the Consulate have decreased, though CIS often asks for DNA testing if the birth of a child was late-registered by even a few years.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.2. When should Fiancée visa applicants make an online appointment for an interview?
A.2. They should wait until they are contacted by the Consulate.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. 3. What is the main reason why some affidavits of support are not accepted by the Consulate?
A.3. The reason is very simple: The sponsor or joint sponsor forgot to sign the affidavit.
ROBERT MULLINS INTERNATIONAL www.rmiodp.com www.facebook.com/rmiodp
Immigration Support Services - Tham Van Di Tru
9070 Bolsa Ave., Westminster CA 92683 (714) 890-9933
779 Story Road, Ste. 70, San Jose, CA 95122 (408) 294-3888
6930 65th St. Ste. #105, Sacramento CA 95823 (916) 393-3388
Rang Mi - 47 Phung Khac Khoan, Q1, HCMC (848) 3914-7638
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