Visas Without Fear – Us Immigration Unveiled: A Foreigner's Perspective and Experience

By Dr.C LA Vaughn PhD and R LA Buschagne

This book was written to eliminate the Fear of US Immigration and the complexities of the US Immigration System. The specific intention and objective is to UNVEIL the U.S. Immigration System, provide Tips and guidance to Foreigners that will reduce the FEAR .To give insight for the correct behavior that may influence the approval or denial decision. The broken, yet complex, US Visa and Immigration System, intimidates and frustrates most Foreigners, from finding the correct US Consulate for the first interview appointment to completing the process. This book is written by Foreigners for Foreigners, professionals, lawyers and individuals. The content of this book represents the personal experiential knowledge and perspective of two Foreigners a USA Citizen as contributor, family and acquaintances. The experiences of many individuals and families interviewed by the authors are also reflected. The Authors US Immigration experiences involve some 8+ years of filing, researching, communicating, interviews, and processing at several different US Consulates outside the US and with different Immigration offices inside the US. Dealing with seven law firms, including winning a malpractice case against one firm, provided deep insight and first-hand experience into the US Immigration System. The authors met and interviewed many Foreigners, with their own personal Immigration experiences, pursuing their Dreams to visit or immigrate to America.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 17, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477141373

Dr.C LA Vaughn PhD

Jack L.Vaughn CPA and C. La Vaughn PhD have a combined 91 years of business and investment experience with several countries cultures throughout the world. This experience includes evaluating business and investment opportunities for themselves and other, starting their own companies, helping others start their own companies, conducting marketing evaluations and creating marketing plans, creating new products for themselves , assisting others with creating new products, importing and exporting different products, developing legal and operating structures for investments and businesses and performing due diligence procedures for themselves and others. As reflected in their previous book entitled “Visas Without Fear, US Immigration Unveiled,” both have over 9 years experience dealing with the US Immigration System. In addition, C. La Vaughn has in depth experience with Immigration Systems in at least 25 other countries. This book provides detailed guides, procedures and specific ‘Tips’ for a Foreigners “Dreaming of” or desiring to invest or conduct business in America. What makes this book unique is the fact that it is written from a Foreigner’s perspective, not from a US Citizens perspective. In their years of experience, the Authors have consulted with Foreigners, who have invested or done business in America. Reading this book will provide the Foreigner with a step by step guide for obtaining the proper investment or business US Visa. In addition, the Foreigner will identify investment and business factors that are different in the US as compared to other countries throughout the world. Specific procedures are provided to enable the Foreigner to conduct evaluations, decide on structures and perform the necessary due diligences to minimize the risks of investing or doing business in the US.

Book preview

VISAS WITHOUT FEAR—

US IMMIGRATION

UNVEILED

A FOREIGNER’S PERSPECTIVE AND EXPERIENCE

A HOW-TO GUIDE WITH TIPS FOR IMMIGRANT

AND NON-IMMIGRANT VISAS

Dr. C La Vaughn PhD.,

R La Buschagne

Copyright © 2012 by Dr. C La Vaughn PhD., R La Buschagne.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2012913166

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-4771-4136-6

      Softcover      978-1-4771-4135-9

      Ebook         978-1-4771-4137-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

113336

CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgements And Dedications

Disclaimer

Use Of This Book

Chapter One

Objectives Of This Book

Chapter Two

Introduction And General Background

Chapter Three

Getting Started With The Process

Chapter Four

Tips To Find And Use Professionals

Chapter Five

Documents Required

Chapter Six

Tips For Attending The Interview

Chapter Seven

The Visa—Approved Or Denied

Chapter Eight

Conclusion

Useful Links

Appendix A

Overview Of Visas And Us Immigration Process

Appendix B

Us Government Agencies

Appendix C

Immigration Guide For Completion Of Forms And Applications

Appendix D

International Immigration Offices

Appendix E

Finding Legal Advice

Appendix F

Checklist For Documents Required

Appendix G

Summary Of Projected Costs And Fees

Appendix H

Tips For Completing Commonly Used Forms

Appendix I

Apostille

Glossary

Bibliography

PREFACE

Visiting the United States entails getting a Non-Immigrant Visa. Applying for Permanent Residence requires an Immigrant Visa. Some Visas are Temporary, and some Visas are Permanent. Some Visas are applied for inside the United States, while others are applied for in the Country of Origin or Residence outside the United States

This book provides practical tools for individuals and readers to understand the entire Immigration process. It includes accumulating proper documentation for attendance at the interview to obtain an American Visa. It also provides information about the necessary actions or steps to be taken after the Approval, or Denial and additional interviews requested.

The US Immigration System is similar to a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it invites all to come to America, and on the other hand, the System tends to make it difficult for Foreigners to obtain a legal Visa.

The idea to write this book arose out of actual experiences of the Authors while processing different types of Non-Immigrant and Immigrant Visas over a period of eight years.

These experiences include the following:

• Completion and filing of Visa applications and supporting forms and documents

• Completion and filing of waiver applications and supporting forms and documents

• Understanding approval and denial procedures

• Utilizing different Government Agencies, Senators, and Congressional Representatives

• Exposure to US Offices and US Consulates in different countries

• Utilizing professionals in the application process and filing of applications without the use of professionals

From experience with various professional attorneys (claiming to be knowledgeable in Immigration Law), the Authors realized the following:

1.    Like in all professions, some are competent at their Immigration Law, and some are incompetent

2.    Without the actual experience of having to go through the process of visiting the US or filing applications for themselves, most professionals may never be able to understand the emotional and physical ‘Fear’ applicants experience during the entire Immigration process

3.    Many times, the professionals do not have experience or the updated knowledge pertaining to many areas of the Non-Immigrant and Immigrant rules and regulations. Like other professions, they only know the areas in which they had actual cases and experiences

4.    Many professionals will not disclose that they do not have actual experience and will attempt to learn about the laws and regulations as they process one’s application.

5.    Some professionals gave advice that is clearly inaccurate and not in agreement with the instructions to the forms, be it for a lack of knowledge or not having the updated changes and requirements

6.    Professionals are humans too and may form conclusions, decisions, and opinions based on their own beliefs or interpretations rather than being objective and reviewing the issue completely before establishing the attorney/client relationship

7.    Timely and clear communications from professionals on a regular basis can be a difficult process in itself. It is not uncommon to wait six weeks to three or four months for communication. It usually happens on Fridays

8.    Some professionals follow the practice of filing the applications without all the required documentation, knowing and relying on the Immigration office to request the additional information as they process the application. This can cause unnecessary delays

9.    Some professionals can take two to three weeks to submit the applications even after the client had provided all the necessary documents and information

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND DEDICATIONS

To Jack L. Vaughn, CPA—the Co-Contributor to this book—without whom none of this would have materialized. A huge Thank You.

Even though you walked this long, tedious and many times painful road with us, you always persevered, always encouraged us to move forward against all odds.

‘Thank You’ could never be enough, yet we thank you, for your wonderful positive spirit, your hard work, assisting and motivating us and still continuing. This also includes your huge contribution, wisdom, and experience in writing this book and co authoring the next book.

Without your loving support, encouragement and contributions we might never have completed this ‘Long Journey.’

To my Dearest Marie Bredenkamp—thank you for your advice, wisdom, proofreading, and support during this period.

Finally, to my children that were forced to walk this Long Journey with us step by step—I appreciate you.

To each and everyone who found the road to acquiring a US Visa in the past a tiresome one, and full of obstacles, but was brave enough to persist. May this book be perceived as a user-friendly manual providing clearer guidelines as to all the do’s and don’ts pertaining to application—from the initial stages, until finally a successful acquisition.

This book is written and published as a voice for all those that did and still will be going through the same confusing experiences and processes. It is our desire that this will be an important link in the chain of activities, directed at bringing about a much-needed radical change in the Broken USA Immigration System.

DISCLAIMER

This book is designed to provide interested individuals and readers with a basic or general understanding of the United States Federal Departments and Agencies and a basic or general understanding of certain rules and regulations concerning US Immigration procedures (Consulates versus United States Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS).

This book is sold with the understanding that the Authors are not engaged in rendering legal or other professional services in this book—only sharing information regarding the subject matters discussed. If legal or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

This book was not written to provide all the information that is available to individuals and readers at the websites of the US Departments, Agencies, and Consulates or to supplement other books and publications that may be available to the general public.

While every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this book is as complete and accurate as possible, there may be mistakes, either typographical or in content. Therefore, this book should be used as a general guide only and not as the ultimate source of US Immigration information.

In addition, this book contains information on US Immigration procedures up to the completion date of the book. The US Immigration rules, forms, applications, and regulations do change on a frequent basis.

The Authors of this book shall not be held liable or responsible to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book.

This book is not intended to identify all the laws and regulations that exist for Traveling in the US or for Immigration and is not intended to be a discussion of the past, current, or future Immigration laws or regulations.

In most countries throughout the world, the laws and regulations relating to Travel and Immigration are constantly changing and evolving to be responsive to the changing dynamics of population, Visa quotas, employment opportunities, economic conditions, cultural changes, national security issues, and government policy.

USE OF THIS BOOK

Regardless of Nationality, language spoken, background, or eligibility, it is absolutely important that the reader understands the following: According to US Laws, the individual applicant always remains solely and personally liable and responsible for the applications, conduct, documents, and information provided during the Visa processing.

When the Immigration issue is fairly simple and straightforward and if the individual or reader is patient, intelligent, with logical thinking, and somewhat experienced with government forms and procedures, the procedures outlined in this book may be performed without a professional.

In other instances, the procedures could be performed with ONLY a consultation with a professional as the case continues through the various steps. When applicable, with more complex or serious issues, the only course would be to retain a professional from the very beginning of the process.

This book provides the following:

1.    Guidance with specific TIPS and suggestions for minimizing frustration and errors during the entire Immigration process

2.    Discussion of the qualifications for a Visa to visit the US or to become a permanent or temporary resident

3.    Understanding the difficulties that one may have to overcome prior to beginning the process

4.    GUIDELINES to use for the fastest and safest way to complete the process

5.    Lists of the necessary documents and information required in the process

6.    Commonsense knowledge for dealing with the bureaucrats and delays

7.    Suggestions on ‘know-how’ and ‘when to use’ a professional in the process

8.    Appendices of certain USCIS or Department of State’s general information

9.    Glossary with words and phrases used in the Immigration and Visa application process

10.    Helpful links to the related websites

Dealing with and filing of Immigration forms and applications is generally considered a legal process. In this book, the Authors are not suggesting that individuals or readers MUST perform their own legal work. In certain instances, the use of a professional may be necessary because of the following:

1.    The complex legal nature of Immigration rules and regulations

2.    The challenge and detailed diligence that is required in reading, understanding,