MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — U.S. Embassy personnel from Tokyo will be at Misawa on June 23 to accept immigrant visa applications filed by American citizens for their Japanese spouses and children.

The application fee for the family-based I-130 petition is $190, payable by money order only — no cash or credit cards.

To find out what’s required to submit an application, go to http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/e/ visa/tvisa-ivi130check.html.

Anyone planning to submit an application June 23 should contact Capt. Jared Grimmer at the 35th Fighter Wing Judge Advocate at jared.grimmer@misawa. af.mil.

Blue Ridge visits Sydney for port callSYDNEY, Australia — The U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge and the embarked staff of Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, arrived in Sydney on Thursday for a port visit, according to a 7th Fleet press release.

While in port, the ship’s approximately 1,000 crew and staff members will sight-see and participate in friendship and goodwill activities, including community service projects.

The 19,000-ton warship is under way for its summer deployment.

From staff reports

Osan Air Base land expansion confirmedSEOUL — South Korean defense officials confirmed this week that Osan Air Base will be expanded by about 636 acres in coming years.

But they stressed that about 114 of those acres would be for exclusive use of the South Korean air force, which will build an ammunition depot on the land.

The defense officials said local news reports this week speculating that the U.S. military would share that extra acreage were incorrect.

The U.S. military area on the base will expand by about 522 acres per a transformation agreement between South Korean and the United States.

Civilian retirement information availableCAMP RED CLOUD, South Korea — The civilian personnel advisory center will hold two retirement briefings July 12 at Mitchell’s on Camp Red Cloud.

A session on the civil service retirement system runs from 8 a.m. to noon, while another on the federal employees’ retirement system is scheduled for 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Participants must register no later than July 9 at the civilian personnel office.

For information, call DSN 732-9060.

Employee of the year nominations dueCAMP RED CLOUD, South Korea — Nominations are being accepted for U.S. Forces Korea’s civilian employee of the year.

The competition is open to all civilian personnel and Defense Department organizations in South Korea, excluding invited contractors.

Each organization at an installation may submit one U.S. national and one South Korean employee in an application packet to their local civilian personnel office. Commanders may also hold their own competitions, according to an Area I civilian personnel advisory center news release.

Winners in local competitions may compete at the USFK level. USFK winners will be announced Sept. 20.

Nominations for Area I must be received by July 6.

Information and application forms for other areas are available at installation civilian personnel offices.

Camp Casey dining hall closes temporarilyCamp Casey’s main dining facility was scheduled to close Friday after lunch and reopen Monday, officials said.

Workers will replace the oven, fix the dishwasher and spray for insects.

For information, call DSN 730-4163.

Chili’s Too opens Monday at KadenaKADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — There soon will be a new place on Kadena for a late-night snack — at least on weekends.

Chili’s Too will open at the USO, right inside the gate, at 11 a.m. Monday.

The hours will be around the clock on weekends and from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the week.

Chili’s Too is like a snack-bar version of the full-service restaurant, with a walk-up counter for ordering. The menu includes the most popular items from the Chili’s on the other side of base, pack-and-go salads and wraps and breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. daily.

It replaces the old snack bar at the USO.