Ask the Consul

August 2008

Q: I am opening a specialty bakery in the United States. I would like to hire some bakers from Armenia. How would I be able to bring them to the United States legally?

You would need to file a petition for H1B work visas for your intended employees with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. You can find details on how to file the petition on the Citizen and Immigration Service´s website at http://www.uscis.gov.

Q: My 16-year-old daughter is applying for a visa to visit the United States. Should I come with her to her interview?

For a child under the age of 18, we request that both parents be present during the visa interview. If that is not possible, there should be at least one parent in attendance.

Q: I am an American citizen and my mother is an Armenian citizen. She would like to come visit me in September. Is there anything I can do to make sure she gets a visa? For example, can I send a letter of invitation?

There is no one specific document or anything that you can send to guarantee a visa. U.S. law imposes on most nonimmigrant visa applicants the presumption of immigrant intent and places the burden of overcoming this presumption solely on the applicant. To overcome this presumption, applicants must demonstrate strong social and economic ties to a residence outside the United States. Unfortunately, U.S. law does not allow third parties to make any guarantees, warrants, or bonds on behalf of visa applicants. A letter of invitation can help explain your mother´s trip but does not mean she will get a visa.

However, if you do decide to send a letter of invitation or some other supporting document, please make sure to send it to your mother and not to the Consular Section, as we are not able to match supporting documents to cases. Your mother will have a chance to present your letter during her visa interview.

Q: I need something notarized. Can that be done at the Embassy?

The Consular Section performs notarial services for U.S. citizens or foreign nationals having business in the United States. By law, consular officers are only allowed to notarize documents for use in the United States. You will need to bring proof of your identity along with your documents. This service is available Monday through Friday from 13:30 to 16:30. The fee is USD 30 or the equivalent in Armenian dram for the first consular signature, and USD 20 or the equivalent in Armenian dram for each additional signature. The fee must be paid in cash.

Q: I´m an American citizen living in Armenia. How do I vote absentee?

To request an absentee ballot, you need to mail in the FPCA (Federal Post Card Application) which you can obtain online on the Federal Voting Assistance Program website at www.fvap.gov. When you have completed the FPCA, you mail it to the local election official in your legal state of residence. Generally, your legal state of residence is the last state you resided in before leaving the United States. The FVAP website has instructions for each state on how to vote absentee, including where to send your FPCA. To make sure you receive your ballot in time to cast your vote before the election, you should send in your FPCA at least 60 days before the election in which you want to vote.