Saturday, November 11th
Fsophiah, I am a political strategist and lobbying consultant in Washington, DC. Unfortunately, I do not deal in this area. But I do have a couple of suggestions. If I understand your problem, it is not your son who cannot leave, but his female companian. If I interpretted your scenario correctly, she is in Japan on a Visa from Korea. Did I get it right? If so, then yes, she would indeed need a Visa to travel anywhere other than back to Korea (incidentally, have you checked the possibility of her returning to Korea and getting a Visa from Korea to come to the States? If not, that is your first investigatory option). It is VERY difficult to get Visa's to a third country if you are in another country on a Visa from your original country. Assuming I have interpretted your situation correctly AND you are unable to go the back to Korea and then to the States option, here are my suggestions.
First, this is not a Congressional issue, but one that rests strictly in the pervue of the Executive Branch of Government (sorry!!). Thus, you have several options:
Air travel complaints involving discriminatory treatment relative to Border Patrol and Travel rights (that do not involve immigration -- this does not since she isn't moving here, therefore, INS or AKA INSO does not apply). Other complaints go through the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General. You can file a complaint in several ways; i.e., email at oig.hotline@usdoj.gov or you can call them at 1-800-869-4499, or you can fax your complaint at (202) 616-9881. If this involves your son's girlfriend and not your son, there is going to be very little that they will be able to do directly, but they may have some suggestions. BUT YOU MUST ASK THEM DIRECTLY FOR SUGGESTIONS. Government officials have a tendency not to tell if you don't ask. In case you need it, their address is U.S. Department of Justice, 950 W. Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 4706, Washington, DC
Another alternative is to have your son contact the Embassy of the United States in Japan. Their website area that may help you is www.japan,usembassy,gov/acs/tacs-atoz.html I'm terrible at getting websites, so if that doesn't come up, do a URL search under Embassy of the United States Japan. Once there, click on "Citizen Services" and browse until you find something that might help. I think they even have an option to use US attorneys in Japan that specifically work through this stuff, and I think a list of them is available on this website.
Finally, you can contact the Japanese Embassy in Washington, DC. They are located at Embassy of Japan in the United States, 2520 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20008 Their number is (202) 238-6700 (HOWEVER, I WOULD GET ADVICE ON THIS FIRST -- CONTACTING THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT MAY DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD -- DO THE OTHER TWO FIRST AND AFTER GETTING THEIR SUGGESTIONS, ASK THEM IF YOU SHOULD ALSO CONTACT THE JAPANESE EMBASSADOR IN DC)
One other thing. VERY IMPORTANT. Do this when you have lots of time because you will go through beau coup answering machines and long holding periods. BE EXTREMELY NICE NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT, BE VERY APOLOGETIC FOR BOTHERING THEM (EVEN THOUGH IT IS THEIR JOB!), AND THANK THEM PROFUSELY EVEN FOR TRYING TO HELP. IT IS DEATH TO DO OTHERWISE!!!!
Fsophiah, a couple of years ago, when I was working on the whale issues, I had an Intern with a similar situation. He was a US Citizen, but his wife was from Japan -- very sensitive stuff. He worked in the Defense Department -- I don't even know if he is still there. Try these numbers first. Get back to me as to your success. If you really have no other alternative, I'll see if I can track him down for you to get his ideas -- but only as a last resort.
Good luck. Keep me informed.
MM
Fsophiah, I am a political strategist and lobbying consultant in Washington, DC. Unfortunately, I do not deal in this area. But I do have a couple of suggestions. If I understand your problem, it is not your son who cannot leave, but his female companian. If I interpretted your scenario correctly, she is in Japan on a Visa from Korea. Did I get it right? If so, then yes, she would indeed need a Visa to travel anywhere other than back to Korea (incidentally, have you checked the possibility of her returning to Korea and getting a Visa from Korea to come to the States? If not, that is your first investigatory option). It is VERY difficult to get Visa's to a third country if you are in another country on a Visa from your original country. Assuming I have interpretted your situation correctly AND you are unable to go the back to Korea and then to the States option, here are my suggestions.
First, this is not a Congressional issue, but one that rests strictly in the pervue of the Executive Branch of Government (sorry!!). Thus, you have several options:
Air travel complaints involving discriminatory treatment relative to Border Patrol and Travel rights (that do not involve immigration -- this does not since she isn't moving here, therefore, INS or AKA INSO does not apply). Other complaints go through the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General. You can file a complaint in several ways; i.e., email at oig.hotline@usdoj.gov or you can call them at 1-800-869-4499, or you can fax your complaint at (202) 616-9881. If this involves your son's girlfriend and not your son, there is going to be very little that they will be able to do directly, but they may have some suggestions. BUT YOU MUST ASK THEM DIRECTLY FOR SUGGESTIONS. Government officials have a tendency not to tell if you don't ask. In case you need it, their address is U.S. Department of Justice, 950 W. Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 4706, Washington, DC
Another alternative is to have your son contact the Embassy of the United States in Japan. Their website area that may help you is www.japan,usembassy,gov/acs/tacs-atoz.html I'm terrible at getting websites, so if that doesn't come up, do a URL search under Embassy of the United States Japan. Once there, click on "Citizen Services" and browse until you find something that might help. I think they even have an option to use US attorneys in Japan that specifically work through this stuff, and I think a list of them is available on this website.
Finally, you can contact the Japanese Embassy in Washington, DC. They are located at Embassy of Japan in the United States, 2520 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20008 Their number is (202) 238-6700 (HOWEVER, I WOULD GET ADVICE ON THIS FIRST -- CONTACTING THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT MAY DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD -- DO THE OTHER TWO FIRST AND AFTER GETTING THEIR SUGGESTIONS, ASK THEM IF YOU SHOULD ALSO CONTACT THE JAPANESE EMBASSADOR IN DC)
One other thing. VERY IMPORTANT. Do this when you have lots of time because you will go through beau coup answering machines and long holding periods. BE EXTREMELY NICE NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT, BE VERY APOLOGETIC FOR BOTHERING THEM (EVEN THOUGH IT IS THEIR JOB!), AND THANK THEM PROFUSELY EVEN FOR TRYING TO HELP. IT IS DEATH TO DO OTHERWISE!!!!
Fsophiah, a couple of years ago, when I was working on the whale issues, I had an Intern with a similar situation. He was a US Citizen, but his wife was from Japan -- very sensitive stuff. He worked in the Defense Department -- I don't even know if he is still there. Try these numbers first. Get back to me as to your success. If you really have no other alternative, I'll see if I can track him down for you to get his ideas -- but only as a last resort.
Good luck. Keep me informed.
MM
)
I'll bet that photo is taken around here ... Maybe @ my family reunion this past summer, I think he was the one that showed up there looking for a date! I'm not kidding. Someone actually said that at the reunion! But I think he was kidding-... kinda. Oh, but on a more serious note, I heard that potassium is suppossed to help in preventing shin splints... I know... for all of the good that does now!! But maybe it can help with healing..?Ask DR MCHottie.
zwink:
Comment