This morning began not with class, but with a visit to the United States Consulate! The USA has many embassies and consulates scattered throughout the world. The USA embassy is located in Hanoi, but the consulate is in Ho Chi Minh City. The foreign service workers of the consulate and embassy work to build security in trade and the economy while promoting human rights through people-to-people contact. The consulate collects economic information from Vietnam to send to the United States and also creates awareness and literacy programs for locals in Vietnam.  The employees conduct visa interviews and advise people applying for visas. They also have a variety of other tasks like writing reports and attending ceremonies.

Applying for a visa can be anywhere from eerily simple to arduously complicated. A Vietnamese person can apply for either an immigrant or non-immigrant visa. Although a immigrant visa takes longer, either type can take anywhere from a few weeks to many years. An applicant only gets an interview if their application is approved in the first step. The job of the officer is to determine whether  or not the applicant is telling the truth and whether they are good candidates for a visa. Visas are one of the main services the consulate provides to applicants, but they also offer advising, informational entertainment programs, and more. These services are useful to the US government because they help to foster a positive view of the USA as well as build ties between the two countries. On top of all of its services, the consulate collects local data and information to send back to the US. This helps our government and businesses make important decisions regarding investment and development.

Visiting the consulate was an enlightening experience. As a freshman, I am almost completely unsure of what I want to do with my career. I have been considering the joining the Peace Corps after graduation for a while, but I was unsure of how to use those experiences and relate them to a career. Although I am still uncertain, I now am seriously considering foreign service or something similar as a potential career.