How to make high-handed US visa service accountable
Re: “US Immigration and visa system need a gigantic fix”, Have Your Say, April 5.
I too am frustrated with the US visa system and cost of trying without success to get simple tourist visas for my Thai nephews. It seems a hopeless task if the embassy won’t tell people why applications are refused after an interview with a single officer. What makes them uniquely qualified to make the decision?
I have communicated with my US representative and senator only to find that the State Department is dismissive and seems to feel itself superior. Letters sent to the former Secretary of State only resulted in generic responses referring me to vague and unhelpful websites, which is the same result I am getting now from writing to the ambassador and State Department. A response received yesterday states: “Please be aware that each visa applicant must qualify on their own merits. We cannot accept assurances from third parties.”
The letter directed me to www.usvisas.state.gov, which counsels “If you cannot cover all the costs for your trip, you may show evidence that another person will cover some or all costs for your trip.” Perhaps the US visa service needs to review its own website since that sounds like an assurance from a third party. And I wonder why, when members of Congress, the State Department, and even the White House have e-mail addresses, there isn’t one listed for the ambassador or the embassy. Perhaps they’re afraid they’ll get too many complaints.
I also agree with letter-writer Mr Rees that mainstream America is not racist or bigoted. However, when I worked at the US Embassy during my military career I found bigotry seemed to be embedded in the majority of State Department people. They treated anyone not associated with State or one of the “alphabet agencies” as second-class citizens, at best, and Thais – especially those working in and around the housing areas – as beneath notice. I hope that has changed, but based on what I continue to see and hear, it hasn’t.
I also agree that US Immigration needs fixing, starting at the top by breaking up the little kingdoms that have become an integral part of the State Department.
My senator’s office informed me that they have received, and continue to receive, complaints about embassies around the world. Perhaps if more people with problems like this would contact their Congressional representatives, some action would be taken.
Mark Harris
Bangkok
