TABLE OF CONTENTS ABOUT THE EDITORS... v SUMMARY TABLE OF CONTENTS... vii PREFACE... xix THE STATE OF CONSULAR PROCESSING IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY: THE NEW ERA OF EXTREME VETTING... 1 INADMISSIBILITY BASED ON NATIONAL SECURITY GROUNDS AND TERRORISM- RELATED GROUNDS... 4 SECURITY CHECKS FOLLOWING 9/11... 4 Visa Restrictions for Citizens and Nationals of State Sponsors of Terrorism... 5 Security Advisory Opinions... 5 Visa Condor... 6 Visa Donkey... 6 NCIC Criminal Hit... 6 Visa Mantis... 6 Administrative Processing... 7 PRESIDENT TRUMP S FIRST AND SECOND TRAVEL BANS... 8 PRESIDENT TRUMP AMENDS PRESIDENT OBAMA S EXECUTIVE ORDER ON NONIMMIGRANT VISA PROCESSING... 11 DOS RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP S FIRST AND SECOND TRAVEL BANS... 11 New Form DS-5535... 12 Response to Supreme Court Per Curiam Order... 13 PRESIDENT TRUMP S THIRD TRAVEL BAN... 14 Summary of the Third Travel Ban... 14 Hawaii Federal District Court Strikes Down Most of President Trump s Third Travel Ban... 16 CONCLUSION... 16 THE FUNDAMENTALS OF LAWYERING AT CONSULAR POSTS... 19 SCOPE OF ARTICLE... 19 SOURCES OF AUTHORITY... 22 Statutory References... 22 Regulatory References... 22 Instructions/Interpretive Materials... 22 IMMIGRANT VISAS... 23 Consular Processing vs. Adjustment of Status... 23 Eligibility... 26 Immigrant Visa Categories... 26 Numerical Control and Priority Dates... 26 Admissibility... 30 Jurisdiction over Immigrant Visa Applications... 30 Home-Country Processing... 30 Third-Country Processing... 31 Inter-Post Case Transfers... 34 Processing I-130 Relative Petitions... 34 ix
x Special Situations... 35 Dual Processing of Employment-Based Petitions... 36 Immigrant Visa Application Process... 37 No I-824 or Stop at NVC Required in Following-to-Join Immigrant Visa Cases... 38 The DOS National Visa Center (NVC)... 38 The Case Process... 38 Supporting Documents... 41 Medical Examination... 47 Appointment Packet and Visa Interview... 50 Visa Interview... 50 Visa Issuance... 51 Consular Petition Returns to USCIS... 52 Visa Refusal... 53 Administrative Processing... 54 Waivers of Inadmissibility... 55 Three and 10-Year Unlawful Presence Bars... 55 Criminal Convictions... 56 Provisional Waivers for Unlawful Presence (I-601A)... 57 Waiver Processing... 58 Visa Revocation and Termination of Registration for an Immigrant Visa... 59 Termination of IV Registration... 59 Entry into the United States... 59 NONIMMIGRANT VISAS... 60 General Procedures and Considerations... 60 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Travelers and the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) Program... 60 New Restrictions on the Use of the Visa Waiver Program... 61 Automatic Extension of Visa Validity... 61 Representation at Consular Posts... 63 NIV Application Procedure... 65 Practice Tips for a Successful Visa Application... 66 Overcoming Barriers to Success in NIV Processing... 67 Presumption of Immigrant Intent... 67 Security Clearances... 68 Personal Interview Waivers for Initial Visas... 70 Personal Interview Waivers (PIW) for Visa Renewals Recently Contracted by the Trump Administration... 70 Practice Pointers for Obtaining Acceptance of Jurisdiction over an Out-of-District NIV Application Other Than at Border Posts... 71 Out-of-District NIV Applications in Canada and Mexico; 22 CFR 41.112(d)... 72 INA 222(g): Restrictions on Shopping for Justice in NIV Cases... 73 Doctrine of Nonreviewability of Decisions... 76 Administrative Review... 77 Judicial Review... 79 New Strategies to Achieve Access to Counsel for Visa Applicants... 81 CONCLUSION... 81 THE NATIONAL VISA CENTER AND THE KENTUCKY CONSULAR CENTER... 83 BACKGROUND... 83 THE NVC... 84 Case Number Assignment... 84
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS xi Fee Bills... 85 Document Processing... 85 Visa Number Assignment... 89 Direct Submission of the Form I-140 to the Post... 89 Nonimmigrant Visa Petitions Processed at NVC (K-1 and K-3)... 89 Security Advisory Opinion... 90 Problem Resolution Unit... 90 Packet Control... 91 Contacting the NVC... 91 Countries with Limited or No Visa Services... 93 Iranian Cases... 93 Affidavit of Support... 93 Age-Out Cases... 94 TIPS FOR ATTORNEYS WORKING WITH NVC... 95 THE KCC... 96 Diversity Visa Program... 96 PETITIONS RETURNED BY POSTS... 97 CONCLUSION... 97 APPENDIX: TIPS FOR ATTORNEYS WORKING WITH THE NVC... 99 CHALLENGING VISA REFUSALS THROUGH LEGALNET... 101 THE ADVISORY OPINIONS DIVISION AND LEGALNET... 101 SCOPE OF ISSUES HANDLED BY LEGALNET... 101 SUBMITTING A LEGALNET INQUIRY... 103 COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS... 104 PROCESSING TIME... 105 EXPEDITE REQUESTS... 106 ISSUANCE OF ADVISORY OPINIONS... 106 LEGAL EFFECT... 107 CONCLUSION... 107 UNPACKING THE DS-160 AND DS-260 FORMS TIPS FOR CONSULAR PROCESSING PRACTICES... 109 INTRODUCTION... 109 How Do the DS-160 and DS-260 Differ?... 110 PRACTICE TIPS... 111 THE ART OF THE ONE-PAGE COVER LETTER... 117 INTRODUCTION... 117 DO YOU NEED A COVER LETTER?... 120 THE TONE OF THE COVER LETTER... 121 COMPONENTS OF THE COVER LETTER... 122 KNOW YOUR CONSULATE... 123 ADVICE FROM AROUND THE WORLD... 124 CONCLUSION... 127 UPDATES TO 9 FAM: 2017 ANNUAL SURVEY... 129 NONIMMIGRANT VISAS... 130 The 30/60-Day Rule Evolves into the 90-Day Rule... 130 F-1 Visas and Student Matters... 135 Students and Their Intent... 135 Parents of Minor Students (F-1)... 136
xii Sanctions and Iranian Students... 137 B-2 Visas: Usage, Eligibility, and Validity... 137 B-2 Visas for a Short Course of Study Endangered... 137 B-1 Visa Usage Clarified and Defined... 138 B-2 Visa Eligibilities Clarified... 138 EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISAS... 139 Employment on Validity of H-1B Visas... 139 E-2 Visas... 140 BAHA... 140 50 Percent Rule... 140 Who Can Petition for O-1 Visas?... 141 Dissecting the Confusion Surrounding L-1 Visas... 142 L-1 Visa Validity Periods and Other Clarifications... 142 L-1 Procedural Clarifications... 142 EXTREME VETTING AND VISA APPLICANTS... 142 GROUNDS FOR INADMISSAIBLITY (INA 212(A)(2))... 143 Inadmissibility of Spouse, Sons, or Daughters Who Have Benefited from the Primary Alien s Human Trafficking Activities... 143 PROCESSING INA 212(D)(3)(A) WAIVERS... 143 DO S AND DON TS FOR ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING VISA APPLICANTS... 145 ATTORNEY ACCOUNTABILITY... 145 General... 145 Preparing the Application... 147 Application and Interview... 149 In the Event of a Visa Denial... 150 Miscellaneous Tips... 151 Special Considerations for E Visa Processing at the U.S. Embassy in London... 152 CONSULAR OFFICER ACCOUNTABILITY... 153 CONCLUSION... 154 CONSULAR PROCESSING PREPARING YOUR CLIENTS FOR THEIR NONIMMIGRANT VISA INTERVIEW... 155 THE INITIAL CONSULTATION... 156 Welcome It s a Pleasure to Meet You Have You Ever Been Arrested?... 156 INADMISSIBILITY... 158 You Did WHAT? Say It Isn t So!... 158 PACKAGING APPLICATION DOCUMENTS BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER... 159 PREPARING THE CLIENT FOR THE CONSULAR INTERVIEW... 160 Good Morning Lovely Day Your Outfit Is Quite Becoming... 160 DENIAL... 162 Don t Let the Door Hit You on the Way Out.... 162 MISCELLANEOUS (IN CASE I FORGET TO REMIND YOU LATER)... 163 Consular Posts and Embassies Around the World... 163 Communication with Consular Officers and Embassy Personnel... 163 Form DS-160, Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application... 164 Scheduling... 164 Expedited Visa Processing... 165 Third-Country Visa Processing... 165 CONCLUSION... 165
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS xiii CONSULAR PROCESSING FOR IMMIGRANT VISA APPLICANTS... 167 WHAT IS IMMIGRANT VISA PROCESSING?... 168 IS THE CLIENT ELIGIBLE FOR AN IMMIGRANT VISA?... 168 FILING CONSIDERATIONS... 169 How to Get an Approved Petition to a Consulate... 169 IVs Based on Marriage to a U.S. Citizen, Where the Husband and Wife Reside Overseas... 169 All Other Petition-Based IVs... 169 Immigrant Visas Arising from the Diversity Visa Lottery Program... 170 NATIONAL VISA CENTER... 170 Receipting by NVC... 170 Issuance of Fee Bill... 171 Instructions for Application Form and Documents... 171 Setting the Interview Date and Interview Instructions... 172 WHAT SHOULD THE CLIENT BRING TO THE INTERVIEW?... 172 WHAT KINDS OF QUESTIONS WILL BE ASKED?... 174 WHAT IF A WAIVER OF INADMISSIBILITY IS REQUIRED?... 175 ENTERING THE UNITED STATES AFTER APPROVAL OF THE IMMIGRANT VISA... 176 APPENDIX: U.S. EMBASSY IN LONDON NOTICE TO U.S. IMMIGRANT VISA HOLDERS AND IMMIGRANT DATA SUMMARY... 178 B-1 BUSINESS VISITORS... 181 AUTHORITY... 181 Statutory Authority... 181 Visa Waiver Program... 182 B-1 Visa Regulatory Authority, Agency Guidelines, and Policy Considerations... 184 THREE BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF THE B-1 CATEGORY... 186 Unabandoned Foreign Residence... 186 Entry for a Temporary Period... 186 Permitted Business Activities... 187 PROVING ELIGIBILITY FOR THE B-1 VISA... 187 B-1 STATUS FOR WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES... 188 OTHER BUSINESS ACTIVITIES CLASSIFIABLE AS B-1... 189 B-1 IN LIEU OF H-1B OR H-3... 190 BUSINESS VISITORS UNDER NAFTA... 192 The Executive Orders and Extreme Vetting... 194 Form DS-5535... 194 VISA APPLICATION PROCESS... 195 ADMISSION, EXTENSION, AND CHANGE OF STATUS... 197 CORPORATE MANAGEMENT OF B-1 VISITORS... 199 CONCLUSION... 200 TREATY TRADER/INVESTOR INTRA-COMPANY VISA DILEMMA: NAVIGATING THE CONSULAR AND SERVICE CENTER ROADBLOCKS... 201 E-1/E-2 VISA CLASSIFICATION... 201 E-1/E-2 Visa Registration Is It Substantial?... 203 E-1 Visa Context... 203 E-2 Visa Context... 204 New Office E Visas... 205 E-1/E-2 Visa Registration Is It Marginal?... 205 E-1/E-2 Third-Country Processing... 206 L-1 VISA CLASSIFICATION... 207
xiv Overcoming Hurdles for the L-1 New Business... 207 L-1A Executive/Manager... 208 L-1A RFEs... 208 L-1B Specialized Knowledge... 209 L and E Specialized Knowledge/Essential Skills Comparison... 210 L-1B RFEs... 211 Beneficiary s Knowledge of Company Products... 212 Beneficiary s Knowledge of Company Processes and Procedures... 212 Beneficiary s Knowledge of Company s Position in International Markets... 213 What Options Do I Have if the L-1B Petition Is Denied?... 213 L-1 BLANKET PETITIONS... 213 Processing L Blanket Petitions at U.S. Consulates... 213 L-1 VISA STAMPS... 214 CONCLUSION... 215 TOP 25 REASONS FOR AN INA 214(B) DENIAL... 217 LEGAL BACKGROUND... 218 EXPLANATIONS FOR DENIALS... 220 General Factors... 221 Individual Circumstances and Profiling... 222 Specific Denial Rationales... 223 PRACTICE ADVICE... 232 First-time Applicant... 233 Dealing with a Denial... 234 CONCLUSION... 237 THE LAWYER S ROLE IN CONSULAR VISA REFUSALS... 239 CONSULAR ABSOLUTISM... 240 PREPARING CONSULAR VISA APPLICATIONS WITH REVIEW IN MIND... 241 The Importance and Value of Lawyer Involvement in Consular Visa Cases... 241 FAM Requirements: Recognize and and Correspond with Lawyers... 242 Notice of Representation... 242 Correspondence with Lawyers... 242 Concise Cover Letters and Complete Visa Applications... 243 FAM Research and Citations... 243 Thorough Client Preparation... 243 Lawyer Participation in the Visa Interview: Post Discretion... 245 REVIEW AT THE CONSULAR POST... 245 Visa Refusals... 245 INA 221(g) Refusals... 247 Declining to Adjudicate... 248 Quasi-Refusals... 248 Reconsideration or Resubmission of Applications... 249 Review Procedures at Consular Posts... 250 Limited Review by a Consular Supervisor or Principal Consular Officer... 250 Reviewing Officer s Options... 251 Lawyer Involvement in Post Review... 252 Talk with Experts... 252 Email, Fax, Phone, and Letter... 252 Re-Interview... 252 Congressional Letters... 253
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS xv Challenging Revocation of Petitions with USCIS... 253 Record Disclosure... 254 ADVISORY OPINIONS... 256 COURT CHALLENGES... 256 OTHER WAYS TO QUESTION CONSULAR DECISIONS... 260 Visa Services, Public Inquiries Division... 260 AILA Liaison Meetings... 261 Other Channels... 261 LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS... 261 The Right to Lawyer Representation at Visa Interviews... 261 Administrative and Judicial Review of Visa Refusals... 262 CONCLUSION... 263 GENERAL GUIDELINES... 264 NONIMMIGRANT WAIVERS UNDER INA 212(D)(3)... 267 WHICH GROUNDS OF INADMISSIBILITY ARE INCLUDED?... 267 WHICH GROUNDS OF INADMISSIBILITY ARE NOT INCLUDED?... 268 Certain Security Grounds... 268 Substantive Eligibility... 268 Entry Document Requirement... 269 Application for a 212(d)(3) Waiver... 269 Matter of Hranka Eligibility for a Waiver... 273 Procedural Note Regarding Nonimmigrant Visas and Inadmissibility Under INA 212(a)(9)(A) and (C)... 274 Visa Notations on Waiver Approval... 274 Length of Validity of the 212(d)(3) Waiver and Effects on Extensions of Stays or Changes of Status... 275 Effect of Waiver Validity Period on Extension or Change of Status... 276 Preparing Your Waiver Packet... 276 CONCLUSION... 277 IMMIGRANT VISAS AND WAIVER PROCESSING AT CDJ: PRACTICAL TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS... 279 THE IMMIGRANT VISA PROCESS IN CDJ... 279 Introduction... 279 Traveling to Ciudad Juarez... 280 Preparing for the Interview An Overview... 281 Registration at the U.S. Visa Service Website... 281 DHL Registration... 281 Biometrics... 282 The Medical Exam... 282 The Immigrant Visa (IV) Interview... 286 Contacting the Consulate and Troubleshooting... 288 The Online Inquiry System... 288 The Teletech Call Center... 288 Email and Fax Communications... 289 LegalNet Email Inquiry... 289 Congressional Assistance... 289 A Word on Administrative Processing and INA 221(g) Denials... 289 WAIVER PROCESSING AT CDJ... 290 Grounds of Inadmissibility Due to Unlawful Presence... 291
xvi The Extreme Hardship Standard... 292 The Provisional Waivers at CDJ: The I-601A... 293 Post-Interview Waiver Submission... 294 CONCLUSION... 295 APPENDIX: IMMIGRANT VISA INTERVIEW INSTRUCTIONS... 295 THIRD-COUNTRY NATIONAL CONSULAR PROCESSING OF NONIMMIGRANT VISA APPLICATIONS IN CANADA AND MEXICO... 297 HOW TO STRATEGICALLY PRESENT NIV APPLICATIONS FOR TCNs AT BORDER POSTS IN MEXICO AND CANADA... 299 Who May Apply in Mexico?... 299 Who May Apply in Canada?... 300 Visa Appointment Scheduling and Application Fees... 301 Entry Requirements to Canada and Mexico... 301 Routine Delays and Trip Planning Logistics... 301 Out-of-Status Cases and INA 222(g)... 302 What Are the Risks with TCN Border Processing?... 303 AN OVERVIEW OF SECURITY ADVISORY OPINIONS... 303 The Visas Donkey... 304 The Visas Mantis... 304 NCIC Criminal Hits - Criminal Database Checks... 305 Drunk-Driving Incidents... 305 SAO Expedites and Follow-Up Procedures... 306 ROLE OF THE ATTORNEY AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE POST... 307 Attorney Assistance at Post (to the Extent Allowed)... 308 Attorney Assistance at Port of Entry (to the Extent Allowed)... 309 COMMON ATTORNEY PITFALLS AND A FEW ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS... 310 CONCLUSION... 310 POST INFORMATION AND TIPS: VANCOUVER, B.C., CANADA, U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL... 311 TIME DIFFERENCE... 311 JURISDICTION... 311 KEY PERSONNEL... 311 COMMUNICATIONS... 311 CATEGORY OF VISA APPLICANTS... 312 ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION... 313 UNLAWFUL PRESENCE BARS: DETERMINATIONS OF INADMISSIBILITY UNDER INA 212(A)(9)(B)(I)(I) AND (II)... 313 NONIMMIGRANT VISAS... 313 Processing Times and Procedures... 313 PIMS on the CCD... 314 Post Acceptance of USCIS Approval Notices or Attorney-Certified Copies... 315 Age Requirements for Obtaining U.S. Passports... 315 Fingerprints... 316 E Visas... 316 TN Visas for Mexicans... 316 Policy on H-1B... 316 Policy on B-1 in Lieu of H-1... 316 Policy on F-1 for TCN... 316 NIV Waivers... 317
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS xvii Additional Practice Tips... 317 IMMIGRANT VISAS... 318 AMBIANCE HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, AND TRAVEL TIPS... 318 AMERICAN AND CANADIAN HOLIDAYS... 318 OBTAINING NONIMMIGRANT U.S. VISAS IN CHINA: HOW TO MAKE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION... 319 CHANGES IN THE LAW... 320 CHANGES IN THE FORM... 321 Upload of Visa Photo... 321 The Most Common Mistake Made by Visa Applicants on DS-160... 321 Use of Supporting Documents... 321 THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE VISA INTERVIEW ORAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS... 322 Clash of East and West Cultures... 323 The Language Barrier... 324 Answer the Questions... 324 Complicated Legal Issues and Fact Patterns... 325 GUIDANCE FOR SPECIFIC VISA APPLICANTS... 326 B-1/B-2 Visa Applicant... 326 H-1B/L-1 Visa Applicants... 327 Extra Preparation for L-1 Visa Applicants... 328 F-1 Student Visa Applicants... 328 PIMS Clearance and Administrative Processing... 329 CONTACTING U.S. CONSULATES IN CHINA... 329 CONCLUSION... 330 APPENDICES... 330 Appendix 1: Table XIX Nonimmigrant Visas Issued by Issuing Office (FY 2007 2016)... 330 Appendix 2: Nonimmigrant Visas Issued by Category and Country (FY 2016)... 330 Appendix 3: Nonimmigrant Visas B Adjusted Refusals by Nationality (FY 2016)... 330 CONSULAR PROCESSING IN INDIA... 331 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSING... 332 VISA REFUSALS... 335 Trends in Refusals: Have Consular Posts in India Been Moving the Goalposts?... 337 COMMUNICATING WITH CONSULAR OFFICIALS IN INDIA... 339 CONCLUSION... 341 ADDITIONAL CONSULAR PRACTICE RESOURCES... 343 OFFICIAL LIST OF WEBSITES OF U.S. EMBASSIES, CONSULATES, AND DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS... 343 DIRECTORY: CONTACT INFORMATION AND KEY OFFICERS AND OFFICES... 343 SELECTION OF RECENT PRACTICE ALERTS... 343 FRIDAY FAM: UPDATES ON THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS MANUAL (FAM)... 348