Viet Nam – US Bridging

As a vice consul in the U.S. Consulate General’s Immigrant Visa Unit, my work and personal life sometimes intersect in surprising ways. On a recent Saturday morning, I began my day with a guided walking tour through Districts 3,7, and 10. The private tour zigzagged through crowded markets and narrow alleys. Baskets overflowing with tamarind pods lined every doorway, and smiling locals nodded to us as they effortlessly shucked the tart fruits, preparing for the coming Lunar New Year festivities.

Created by Acts of Congress, the Amerasian visa program facilitates immigration to the United States by Southeast Asian nationals fathered by U.S. citizens during the Vietnam War.

When we crossed one street, my guide frowned. “That’s too bad,” she said, “I wanted to introduce you to the American lady on this corner, but she’s not selling today.” “She’s from the U.S.?” I asked. “No, she’s Vietnamese. But, she’s blond. I’ve known her since I was very young. She’s always been here, and she likes talking to Americans that visit.” My mind rapidly connected the dots as my guide added, “Her father was an American. He was here during the war.” I asked if my guide knew whether this lady had ever wanted to go to the United States.

For nearly four decades, the U.S. Mission to Vietnam has provided support for Amerasians, a group that remains marginalized and vulnerable due to historic socioeconomic barriers.

My guide replied without hesitation that she had, but never tried, because her mother had not kept any photos or documents from her father. “Besides,” she shook her head, “It’s too late now.” I tried to suppress my excitement as I replied, “Actually, she can still apply!”

Created by Acts of Congress, the Amerasian visa program facilitates immigration to the United States by Southeast Asian nationals fathered by U.S. citizens during the Vietnam War. Advances in DNA testing combined with today’s highly accessible public databases for ancestry have made it possible for Amerasians to establish connections to family members in the United States. My guide started to get excited, too. “So, she just needs to go to the U.S. Consulate to ask?” I shook my head. “Not anymore! We just got the application up online, and it’s in Vietnamese.” I shared the website with my guide, plus the name of some U.S.-based nonprofits that support Amerasians interested in immigration. I genuinely hope every interested, qualified Amerasian applicant can find their way to a new home.

For nearly four decades, the U.S. Mission to Vietnam has provided support for Amerasians, a group that remains marginalized and vulnerable due to historic socioeconomic barriers. Although the program has not been without controversy, today’s DNA-testing has revolutionized efforts to prevent fraud and make concerns about subjectivity a thing of the past. This program embodies our Mission’s dedication to address wartime legacies and advance our relationship with Vietnam. It also helps mitigate the negative stigma faced by this group over the past few decades, opening up opportunities for Amerasians and their immediate relatives to receive refugee benefits in the United States. Over 25,000 Amerasians and more than 70,000 of their family members have immigrated under this program.

This year, the U.S. Consulate General is using new tools that have improved communication, ensuring that guidance provided to applicants is more effective, consistent, and clear. We have expanded access by moving the application 100% online. Additionally, by shifting the submission of evidence to mail (and email as appropriate), which is reviewed prior to scheduled appointments, we have removed the need for numerous in-person visits that have burdened applicants in the past.

As we approach the upcoming 10th anniversary of the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership, I believe we have every reason to be optimistic about the next chapter of relations between our countries. I am grateful for the moment we are living today, the result of no small effort on the part of countless Vietnamese and Americans working together for a better future. I am proud to play a small role in this story.