Mr. Hugo Rodriguez, First Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, US Department of State
Mr. Hugo Rodriguez, First Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (PDAS) for Consular Affairs at the US Department of State, provided the latest information related to US consular activities around the world. At the same time, he also explained the "tricks" that are said to increase the probability of getting a US visa, such as going abroad for interviews, choosing the right major...
America's very special agency
Sharing with Thanh Nien , Mr. Rodriguez said that the US Consular Department is an agency under the US Department of State, responsible for issuing immigrant and non-immigrant visas to foreigners entering the US, and meeting the needs of US citizens to exit or reside abroad. This is the agency that issues passports to Americans, or issues birth certificates to children of Americans born abroad. Up to now, the Consular Department has a total of 220 offices around the world, with a staff of up to 13,000 people. In the US, the Consular Department has 29 offices and passport centers nationwide.
As PDAS Rodriguez mentioned, the US Consular Bureau has an extremely important function, playing the role of connecting the American people with the Vietnamese people and countries around the world by facilitating the travel of foreigners to the US and Americans to abroad. To do this, consular officers must consider national security factors in the screening process of applicants. "We are true diplomats, and we take great pride in our mission," said Mr. Rodriguez.
Regarding the possibility of applying new technology to speed up the processing of documents, such as using artificial intelligence, tools like ChatGPT, PDAS Rodriguez said that his side is very interested and always follows the development of technology to find opportunities for application. However, the work of the US Consular Department requires delicate handling capacity, skillfully balancing between national security factors and maintaining the privacy of applicants.
"This is really a people-centric job, with an emphasis on the human element. As technology evolves, we continue to look for ways to incorporate technology into our work, but since security must be our top priority, we will be adopting it slowly because we want to make sure that the technology we use is safe," according to PDAS.
Over 10 million visas for 2023, 125,000 in Vietnam
PDAS Rodriguez said that in 2023, the US Consular Bureau issued more than 10 million nonimmigrant visas globally. Of these, about 8 million were tourist and business visas. Student visas accounted for about 600,000.
The Bureau of Consular Affairs noted that most consulates around the world issued record numbers of visas. It estimates that this year’s number of visas issued is on track to surpass last year’s record. “So in terms of student visas, we’ve seen a record that we haven’t seen since 2017.”
Mr. Greggory L. Naarden, Chief of Consular Section of the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City
Regarding the figures in Vietnam, Mr. Greggory L. Naarden, Chief of the Consular Section of the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, informed that both the consulates in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City issued 125,000 visas in 2023. Of these, about 15,000 were for studying abroad, and Ho Chi Minh City accounted for 10,000 visas. From 95,000 to 100,000 visas were for tourism or business.
Mr. Naarden assessed that the above figure reflects the reality of the relationship between the US and Vietnam. "It is also a sign that the flow of people coming to the US for tourism, business, and study purposes is really important for both the US and Vietnam," according to the Head of the Consular Section.
Given the above figures, PDAS Rodriguez highly appreciated the US consular staff in Vietnam. "They have done a great job. Applicants can make appointments within 20-25 days. They also work hard to reduce waiting times for immigrant visa applications," according to the head of the Consular Department.
According to Mr. Rodriguez, Vietnam previously had about 30,000 applicants waiting for immigrant visas, and this number has decreased thanks to the efforts of the US consular team in Vietnam. PDAS Rodriguez said that helping family members reunite is extremely important, reflecting the increasingly close bilateral relationship, especially after Vietnam and the US upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. "I can share some initiatives applied in Vietnam for other places in the world," he said.
The upgraded relations open up new opportunities, allowing for closer bilateral cooperation in the fields of diplomacy, economics and technology, including artificial intelligence and semiconductors. Consular Section Chief Naarden said that among the non-immigrant visa applications, his section has seen an increasing number of applicants from companies operating in various sectors, from IT, manufacturing, to semiconductor technology. "We receive many applications not only from newly recruited employees, but also from mid-level managers and even executives," he said.
Regarding the possibility that the number of US visas issued to Vietnamese citizens may increase after the two countries upgrade relations, Mr. Naarden said that this depends on the development of companies, both in the US and Vietnam, as well as the momentum in bilateral educational relations. "I think there is no doubt that the US is an important destination for Vietnamese students. The quality of students in Vietnam is really outstanding, and that has been noted and recognized by American universities," he said, adding that the US consular service is fully ready to support legitimate entry into the US.
The exchange took place at the American Center in Ho Chi Minh City.
Both PDAS Rodriguez and Chief of Consular Affairs Naarden said that the US embassy under construction in Hanoi is expected to provide better service to Vietnamese applicants, allowing for shorter waiting times, providing better, faster and easier service.
The secret to getting a US visa
When asked what tips applicants can use to increase their chances of getting a US visa, PDAS Rodriguez replied: "We want to hear the applicant's story. Come to the interview ready to share with us why you want to come to the US and tell us what your plans are. If what you say is true, that will help us make a decision."
Consular Section Chief Naarden said that during the short interview, consular officers want to understand the applicant’s situation and why they want to come to the U.S. “We are extremely dedicated to understanding each applicant’s story in an efficient and transparent manner and awarding visas to those who want to come to the U.S. legally,” Naarden said.
Regarding the information that choosing certain majors can increase the probability of getting a US visa, PDAS Rodriguez affirmed that consular officers do not rely on majors to issue visas. "We are very proud of the US education system. We have universities, majors at all levels. So we welcome international students who want to study anything to come to the US and take advantage of the US education system. So (the failure factor) is not really about the major. We just want to hear your story. We want to find out the truth. What do international students want to achieve in their lives? Share with us your dreams, and tell us how a US student visa can pave the way for you to reach your dreams. That's the only secret. Tell us your own story," according to PDAS Rodriguez.
There is no such thing as getting a visa in one place being easier than another.
Thanh Nien mentioned cases where applicants go to other countries to apply for a US visa in the hope of getting an easier time, especially if they are in urgent need of entry. PDAS Rodriguez confirmed that visa applications can be submitted anywhere that offers US consular services. However, he recommended that applicants register in their city of residence, as one of the important factors in a visa interview is that the consular officer wants to know about your current situation, in an effort to understand your story more clearly.
American Center reopens direct study abroad consulting services
"If you are traveling to Paris (France) and want to apply for a US visa at the consulate there, we are happy to let you apply. However, the US consular officer in Paris may not know the situation in Ho Chi Minh City, and they may not have enough information to make a decision. So it will be easier for you to apply closer to home," PDAS Rodriguez said, adding that there is no advantage to going to another country to apply for a US visa.
PDAS Rodriguez noted that the interview and visa issuance time at the Ho Chi Minh City Consulate is shortening thanks to the efficient working speed of the team here, not to mention that consular officers also conduct interviews in Vietnamese. Head of the Consular Section Naarden added that in urgent cases, applicants can completely register for early interview translation.
When asked if there are any areas of the US that are more rigorously screened than others, PDAS Rodriguez said the vetting process is the same everywhere. The Bureau of Consular Affairs works closely with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that foreigners are entering the country for legitimate purposes and are not trying to commit any illegal acts or harm the US. "There is no way that one area is more easily screened than another," he said.
At the end of the interview, PDAS Rodriguez highly appreciated the Vietnam-US partnership and expressed his desire to continue deepening bilateral relations in the coming time.
PDAS Hugo Rodriguez Brief Biography
Mr. Hugo Rodriguez was appointed as First Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs of the US Department of State from February 13, 2023. Previously, PDAS Rodriguez was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs from April 2019 to January 2021 and was Acting First Deputy Assistant Secretary of State until December 2021. He was nominated by US President Joe Biden as US Ambassador to Nicaragua and was confirmed by the Senate in September 2022. His previous positions include Deputy Ambassador and Charge d'Affaires in Asuncion (Paraguay); US Consul General in Mexico City (Mexico)... He joined the US Department of State in 2000.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bi-quyet-dau-thi-thuc-my-nam-o-cau-chuyen-cua-chinh-ban-185240523160832921.htm
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