| American Immigration law is a complicated and | | | | before the Consulate dealt with prior to a |
| multi-faceted area of US jurisprudence. One area | | | | weekend as weekends tend to be periods in |
| that few authors write about in this area is | | | | which upheaval is more likely to occur. |
| Consular Processing. This is something of a unique | | | | There is a saying: "Hope for the Best, Plan for the |
| area of practice since few American lawyers | | | | Worst." This saying accurately describes the |
| reside outside of the United States and few of | | | | attitude of Consular Processing attorneys during |
| those who do reside abroad are Immigration | | | | times of political instability. During times of civil |
| lawyers. At the time of the publication of this | | | | strife, it might be prudent to make one's practice |
| writing, the city in which this writer lives is in a | | | | as mobile as possible. Luckily, in this era of |
| state of upheaval. The overall situation has | | | | constant technological progress, this is more |
| resulted in the American Embassy temporarily | | | | feasible when compared to previous time periods. |
| closing and the non-essential personnel to | | | | Although, it is generally wise to keep multiple data |
| evacuate. This author hopes that the following will | | | | backups at different secure locations in order to |
| provide insight to future Immigration attorneys | | | | forestall the loss of all information related to one's |
| practicing in an international crisis zone. | | | | portfolio. |
| This writer must confess a great deal of | | | | Everything depends upon staff. During a period of |
| admiration for the officers of the Consulate in his | | | | intense instability, one's staff will likely be the key |
| district as they continued to work tirelessly while | | | | to maintaining good order and dealing with the |
| civil strife loomed. At the same time, those | | | | myriad difficulties that come from rescheduling |
| lawyers with pending cases at Consulates outside | | | | and rearranging one's itinerary in order to deal |
| of the USA would be prudent to consistently | | | | with previously unforeseeable difficulties. This |
| remember that Consular Officers adjudicate cases | | | | author has been fortunate enough to have very |
| notwithstanding the situation in the political arena | | | | diligent, professional, and steadfast Thai and |
| of the host country. Thus, it is not uncommon to | | | | American colleagues. This generally results in an |
| receive 221g denials during periods of general civil | | | | organization that can quickly adapt and find |
| discord. For American attorneys practicing in | | | | solutions to problems that are rarely experienced |
| politically turbulent US Consular Districts overseas, | | | | by attorneys practicing inside of the United States |
| it is wise to attempt to get all matters pending | | | | or in many countries around the globe. |