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Integrity Legal

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29th Mar 2009

A 221 (G) Refusal from the US Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand

Posted by : admin

There is some confusion about 221 (g) refusals for US Visas from Thailand. A 221 (g) request is a refusal to grant a US Visa without further evidence. When the Consular Officers are deciding whether to issue a US Visa (for our purposes we will look at it from the context of K1 Fiance Visas, K3, or CR1 Marriage Visas) they are essentially performing a due diligence search in order to ensure that the applicant is who they say they are and are traveling to the USA for a valid purpose (in this case the reason for traveling is a family relationship to the US petitioner).

Some couples become quite distraght when a 221 (g) is issued and it can be quite inconvenient particularly in instances where the applicant is originally from a distant area of Thailand. This can be especially troublesome if the applicant’s household registration (tabien baan) is in a distant locale and it is difficult for them to travel there. Often documents are required from the local amphur office in th disrict where the applicant’s household registration exists. Although it may be a routine matter for the Embassy to issue these type of requests, it can be a major endeavor for the Thai applicant to obtain the necessary documentation.

221 (g) refusals generally allow the applicant one year to obtain the requested documentation before the Embassy will destroy the file. Failure to respond to the request for evidence could result in the underlying petition being cancelled and the process to begin anew.

Us Visa

Us Visa

To avoid 221 (g) refusals it may be wise to enlist assistance of an immigration attorney in an effort to forestall a 221 (g) denial. It should be noted that even with assistance of counsel a 221 (g) refusal may still be issued and further documentation needed. Consular Officers have wide discretion as per the doctrine of consular absolutism and therefore requests for further documentation should be taken seriously and responded to in a timely manner.


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more Comments : 8

8 Responses to “A 221 (G) Refusal from the US Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand”

  1. A 221 (G) Refusal from the US Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand : Thaiholidaytravel.com says:
    March 29, 2009 at 11:14 am

    [...] Read more:  A 221 (G) Refusal from the US Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand [...]

  2. Consular Interview of an Applicant for a K1 Fiance Visa | You Have A Right To An Attorny, Legal Rights says:
    May 28, 2009 at 4:39 pm

    [...] a Thai fiancee in obtaining an Embassy mandated health examination, and correspondence regarding 221 g requests for further documentation (a discretionary follow up if a consular officer feels that a [...]

  3. Tips for those Interviewing for a K1 Fiancee Visa says:
    May 28, 2009 at 9:04 pm

    [...] 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 [...]

  4. US Immigration Thailand: Interviewing for the K1 Fiancee Visa « Legal Information says:
    May 29, 2009 at 1:37 pm

    [...] 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 [...]

  5. Packet 3 and the K1 Visa Interview | Legal says:
    May 30, 2009 at 2:02 am

    [...] 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 [...]

  6. Packet 3 and the K1 Visa Interview | legal.thearticlechannel.com says:
    May 30, 2009 at 10:38 am

    [...] 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 [...]

  7. American Immigration from Thailand: the K1 Visa Interview says:
    July 23, 2009 at 1:03 am

    [...] a Thai fiancee in obtaining an Embassy mandated health examination, and correspondence regarding 221 g requests for further documentation (a discretionary follow up if a consular officer feels that a [...]

  8. Freebie says:
    December 2, 2009 at 7:32 pm

    Cheers for the useful info – I had fun reading it! I always love your blog. :)

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