Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Temporary Visa Reprieve for VOA Thai Journalist

Jessica Jerreat

   WASHINGTON - Within 24 hours, Thai journalist Warangkana Chomchuen went
   from arranging virtual farewells with friends and colleagues and
   finalizing plans to leave the U.S. with her wife and cat, to hearing
   she could continue working in the U.S. for at least 30 days.

   In a last-minute reprieve, the State Department stepped in and granted
   a special extension to Chomchuen's J-1 visa that means the VOA Thai
   service journalist can return to work until August23, while waiting to
   hear if the United States Agency for Global Media will approve her
   renewal application.

   The reprieve gives temporary relief to Chomchuen, who worked for NBC
   News and'¯The Wall Street Journal before leaving Bangkok to join VOA
   last year. But questions remain about the status of the review of J-1
   visas -- the entry permit for individuals with unique skills -- that
   USAGM management announced earlier this month.

   "It's quite overwhelming," Chomchuen, who goes by the name Waan, said
   Friday afternoon, when she returned to work. "My team have been pulling
   more weight these past weeks while I was gone, so I wanted to jump in
   and help."

   "Some furniture had been sold, but I still have my bed and desk. So for
   now I will be here," she said.

   Case-by-case review

   USAGM, which oversees Voice of America and four other networks, said
   July 9 that it was conducting a case-by-case assessment of J-1 renewal
   applications. The chief executive is responsible for giving the final
   approval for visa renewals submitted by the broadcasters.

   A USAGM spokesperson said in a statement at the time that the visa
   review was aimed at improving agency management, protecting U.S.
   national security and ensuring that hiring authorities are not misused.

   A firewall mandated by law protects the editorial independence and
   decisions of the networks.

   The announcement of a review of the renewal process came when Chomchuen
   had already entered the 30-day grace period J-1 holders have to remain
   in the U.S. after a work visa expires.

   An initial understanding that the agency could still renew her visa
   during this period was found this week to be inaccurate. State
   Department officials told the agency that because of the specialist
   status of J-1s granted to USAGM, visas cannot be issued if the renewal
   deadline is missed.

   In VOA, 76 journalists are J-1 holders, with 35 who will need a renewal
   before the end of the year. Currently, 14 visa renewal requests are
   waiting on approval from USAGM management, including Chomchuen's and at
   least one other journalist whose visaexpired.

   The USAGM did not respond to VOA's request for comment.

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