Visa applicants can be found inadmissible to the United States due to physical or mental disorders with associated harmful behavior to themselves, others, or property. Alcohol abuse is considered to be one such mental disorder. However, the abuse does not need to rise to the level of addiction or alcoholism. A person is considered to abuse alcohol if its use has begun to interfere with his or her life. According to the Foreign Affairs Manuel (FAM), Title 9, 40.11 N11.2, alcohol abuse by itself is not enough to cause a finding of inadmissibility. An associated harmful behavior must also be present, such as driving while intoxicated. 

Chateau Buffalo, Buffalo’s urban winery specializing in wines and craft hard ciders, will begin offering “Wine Down Wednesday — Happy Hour at the Ciderhouse,” from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday evenings beginning Feb. 4. Chateau Buffalo is located at 175 Niagara Frontier Food Terminal (1500 Clinton St.), Buffalo.

Guests of the events will enjoy wine and hard cider by the glass and delicious snack offerings. A $5 admission charge will include one free drink.

The National Visa Center, or NVC, previously only handled inquiries in regards to immigrant visas, for example employment- or marriage-based green card applications. However, beginning on Jan. 12, 2015, the NVC also became the domestic point of contact for nonimmigrant visa cases such as a visitor visa (B-1/B-2) or intra-company transferee visa (L). 

The NVC reports that this change has been made in order to improve the efficiency and consistency of responses to the public. In this same effort, the NVC has also upgraded its phone system to provide better service to customers.