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If traveling to the US on a P3 visa, pay attention to the PED deadline to avoid complications like MC Trấn Thành.
Tips for a Smooth US Visa Application to Avoid Mishaps like MC Trấn Thành
Following a denied entry incident on June 29 in the US, MC Trấn Thành offered detailed explanations to the audience through several videos posted on his personal page regarding his case. According to Trấn Thành, the issue stemmed from a discrepancy in his visa expiration date.
Specifically, Trấn Thành held two visas, one P3 visa facilitated by the Liên Phạm show company and one O1 visa facilitated by the Thúy Nga Center to perform for both companies. This time, he was performing for Mrs. Liên Phạm's show.
Trấn Thành mentioned that previously this company had vouched for him to obtain a US visa with a validity period of one year (2014 – 2015). This time, the validity period was similar (9/2015 – 9/2016), but his visa had an additional line stating: “PED: October 24, 2015” (valid for only one month from the visa issuance date, PED does not appear on tourist visas).
PED stands for Petition Expiration Date, typically based on the contract expiration date with a US company. If the PED expires before the Expiration Date, the visa holder cannot enter the US, even if the Expiration Date is still valid.
In this case, for the visa sponsored by Mrs. Liên Phạm's company, the PED expired before the Expiration Date, which could be the main reason why MC Trấn Thành couldn't enter the US.
As an experienced individual, director Nguyễn Ngọc Thụy shared on his personal page: “The visa obtained by Thúy Nga center for Trấn Thành is valid until 11/2016, the contract extends to 2018. The visa sponsored by Mrs. Liên's company expires in September 2016, but Trấn Thành's contract only lasts until September 2015, hence the expiration. Therefore, in principle, the airlines would allow Trấn Thành to fly based on Thúy Nga's visa. However, at the US customs, if Trấn Thành declares he's performing for Mrs. Liên, logically they would disagree. That's why they rejected both visas.
In fact, in this situation, if Trấn Thành performed for Mrs. Liên through the Thúy Nga center, it would have been acceptable. You might wonder why Mrs. Liên's visa only had a one-month PED, it's simply because it's all related to tax matters. The US is very strict about taxes and sponsorship.
According to the basic regulations of US visas, each person is only granted one visa at a time. The Thúy Nga visa, even if still valid, becomes immediately invalid as soon as the Lien Pham visa is issued. Therefore, cancelling both of Trấn Thành's visas is in accordance with regulations.
After the incident, MC Trấn Thành appeared on social media and in the press to explain the situation and asserted that he was only denied entry and not deported. The authorities also made it clear that Trấn Thành could return to Vietnam, apply for another visa for future entry.
In the video, Hari Won's partner also shared their unforgettable experiences during the 24-hour quarantine, where they were not allowed to use phones, confined to a holding room. Upon returning to South Korea, they were again placed in isolation for 3 hours due to visa issues before flying back to Vietnam.
They concluded that this is a valuable experience for artists touring in the US. If traveling to the US on a P3 visa, one should carefully note the deadlines on the visa to avoid unfortunate incidents, even with the assistance of third parties or visa services.
Travelers abroad in general, and specifically to the US, need to be aware that even with a valid visa, local customs may have reasons to deny entry, despite boarding the plane legitimately beforehand.
– If planning to travel to the US, you should note:
When planning a trip, it's advisable to thoroughly research the regulations regarding non-immigrant entry visas to the US, as well as stay updated on new regulations on the Embassy and Consulate General of the US website in Vietnam at the address: https://vn.usembassy.gov/vi/visas-vi/nonimmigrant-visas-vi/
The B-1/B-2 tourist visa is for temporary visitors to the US for business (B-1) or tourism or medical treatment (B-2). Generally, the B-1 visa is for visitors to resolve business issues, attend conferences/scientific seminars, education, professional or business negotiations, asset arrangements, or contract negotiations. The B-2 visa is for leisure travel, including tourism, visiting friends or relatives, medical treatment, and activities with specific social, recreational, or service-related purposes. Typically, the B-1 and B-2 visas are combined and issued as one visa: B-1/B-2.
Standards
When applying for a B-1/B-2 visa, you must demonstrate to the consular officer that you meet the requirements for a visa under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Section 214(b) of the INA considers all B-1/B-2 visa applicants as intending immigrants. Therefore, you need to prove that you do not have such intention by providing evidence:
– The purpose of your trip is temporary, such as for business, tourism, or medical treatment.
– You intend to stay for a specific, limited period.
– Provide financial evidence to cover expenses during your stay in the US.
– You have a residence address outside the US and other social or economic ties ensuring your return after the trip.
Required Documents for Visa Application:
– Nonimmigrant electronic visa application form.
– Valid passport with at least 6 months validity beyond your intended stay in the US (unless specific bilateral agreements provide exemptions). If your passport includes dependents, each visa applicant must submit a separate application.
– One 5 cm x 5 cm photo taken within the last 6 months.
– Receipt for the non-refundable nonimmigrant visa application processing fee of 160 USD paid in local currency.
In addition to these documents, you must present the interview appointment letter confirming that you have scheduled an appointment through this service. You may also bring any supporting documents you believe will assist in providing information to the consular staff.
Source: Ngôi Sao
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourJuly 7, 2016
