Thailand K1 K3 Visas G-28 Form Changes

The G-28 form is a notice of attorneys appearance which has been modified and will be considered now as the only acceptable form. Since the notice was announced last October 1, 2009, it is mandated that after 30 days from date of the release of notice, the old form of G-28 shall no longer be recognized.
Those who are intending to process their immigration papers personally are not required to secure a G-28 form. The G-28 form is only needed if an attorney, who must be a United States attorney, will represent a petitioner and the beneficiary in acquiring United States Immigration. In doing so, the United States attorney must indicate therein that he or she is a bar licensed, otherwise he or she is not authorize to represent the petitioner for any matter pending before the US Citizenship and Immigration Service. That is why it is not offensive to ask the lawyer if he or she has the license to represent the client. In the process of the immigration papers, the submission of the G-28 form together with the US visa application to the US Citizenship and Immigration Service will entitle the petitioner and his or her attorney of a correspondence, and the US Embassy in Thailand will likewise inform the non-citizen beneficiary of the date of the latters interview. A copy of such correspondence will be given to the representing attorney.
There is a leap of difference between the old form and the new one. In the old version of G-28 form, the attorney shall indicate his or her appearance as a lawyer in all matters of immigration process. On the other hand, the new version of G-28, shall indicate already the specific area that the lawyer is representing. The new form has the different areas that a lawyer may enter his or her appearance, it could be the matter before the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP). In other words, the new G-28 form was made in order to delimit the lawyers appearance in behalf of his or her clients case.
The revised G-28 form could have an advantage to offer because it is more specific as to the matters to be represented by an attorney; however, it may cause confusions to the immigration lawyers and to his or her clients. If you are applying for a K1 Fiancee Visa in Thailand or a K3 Marriage Visa in Thailand you should ask your US visa attorney in Bangkok about the need for this form.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dennis P. Ramm
Dennis P. Ramm is Partner with Siam Legal International which is Thailand Largest Legal Services Network with offices in Los Angeles, London and Bangkok. Dennis works with American Attorneys, UK Solicitors & Barristers, German Lawyers, and Australian Solicitors providing global immigration services including US Visas in Thailand for Thai Fiancees (K1 Visa) and Thai Wives (K3 Visa) of US Citizens. Dennis has over 19 years of experience assisting Thai Nationals with US Visas. In 1993, he obtained a US Visa for his Thai Fiancee to reside in the US and adjusted her status to permanent residence.