EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment-based categories. A priority…

I’VE had numerous consultations over the years with people who went for their visa interview at the U.S. Embassy, only to be told they are guilty of fraud/misrepresentation, and therefore,…

AB-60 licenses allow undocumented immigrants to drive legally in California.  (Note: these licenses merely allow a person to drive legally and obtain car insurance, but do not authorize employment.)  Other…

Although there cannot be any “guarantees” of success, if your case was denied, you should consider consulting with an attorney, who can evaluate your situation, and determine if there is…

EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A…

DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: I divorced my Filipina spouse and married a U.S. citizen who petitioned me for a green card.  Unfortunately, things did not work out, and I divorced the…

SOME people who are in the U.S. with immigration problems/issues, such as being out of status, in deportation/removal, or they are outside the U.S. hoping to immigrate one day, are…

THE Democrats constantly talk about comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to legalization for the approximate 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. They criticize President Trump for his harsh…

THERE are over 11 million undocumented aliens living in the U.S.  There are caravans of thousands of people coming up from Central America, planning to apply for asylum.  If they…

“PRECONCEIVED intent” typically involves a person who enters the U.S. on a visitor’s visa and immediately begins working or takes steps to permanently reside in the U.S., by marrying a…

“PRECONCEIVED intent” typically involves a person who enters the U.S. on a visitor’s visa and immediately begins working or takes steps to permanently reside in the U.S., by marrying a…

ONE of the main talking points of Republicans is that they are not “anti-immigration,” but instead are “anti-illegal immigration.”  They speak about how it is unfair that people come to…

DEAR Attorney Gurfinkel: I’ve been told by friends that having an attorney handle your immigration case is a sign that you are “guilty” or not entitled to the immigration benefit….

EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A…

EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A…

STARTING on December 10, 2018, the USCIS could waive (or not require) an interview for a married couple seeking to remove conditions on a conditional green card.  Generally, when a…

STARTING on December 10, 2018, the USCIS could waive (or not require) an interview for a married couple seeking to remove conditions on a conditional green card.  Generally, when a…

SINCE October 2015, the monthly Visa Bulletin (priority dates) was revised, adding a new column or chart called the “Application Filing Dates or “Dates for Filing.” (There is also a…

IN a shocking and disturbing change in policy, the U.S. Embassy in Manila has begun charging crewmen with fraud when those crewmen return to Manila for immigrant visa processing after…

THANKSGIVING is when people step back and reflect on all of the wonderful things and events to be grateful for, and to give thanks to those people who played such…

EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A…

I HAVE long suspected that with the way the California Service Center (CSC) adjudicates humanitarian revalidation requests, it is virtually impossible for any beneficiary in the Philippines to qualify. Little or…

IF a person commits certain immigration violations (such as fraud, or overstaying in the U.S. for over six months and then departing, etc.), the person may not be eligible to…

DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: I came to the U.S. on a visitor’s visa under a different name. The passport and visa had my picture, but somebody else’s name. I still have…

Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A…

Several people have consulted with me, asking whether the approval letter they received was genuine.  While the notice has the opening sentence, “welcome to the United States of America,” which…

Recently, I had to cross a boulevard.  There were two lanes going in each direction with a center island.  The crosswalk was halfway down the block, about 200 yards away. …

EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A…

STARTING on September 11, 2018, a new USCIS Policy Memorandum (PM) became effective, instructing officers on how to adjudicate (process and make decisions on) petitions, applications, extensions, etc., when the…