THERE has been much undeserved criticism and condemnation hurled at USCIS and consular officers over issuing a fiancée (K – 1) visa to the female terrorist in the San Bernardino…

AN important part of Christmas is buying gifts for loved ones.  Filipinos are busy filling their balikbayan boxes with pasalubong, to send to their families “back home.”  The pasalubong may…

(Part 1) FOR many people, attaining US citizenship is the final step in achieving their “American Dream.” After getting a green card, they eagerly count off the years until they…

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…

ORDINARILY, when a person commits fraud or makes a misrepresentation in connection with applying for an immigration benefit, the person is required to file a fraud waiver (Form I –…

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

In October 2015, the State Department and Department of Homeland Security announced a new format for the monthly priority dates. The monthly Visa Bulletin would now have TWO charts: the…

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…

IF a person marries a US citizen before their child’s 18th birthday, the US citizen can also directly petition the person’s child (as the US citizen’s stepchild). There is no…

ONE of the most important requirements for naturalization is that an applicant must maintain residency in the US for the five years before filing a naturalization application. The person should…

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

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 Attorney Gurfinkel: I was petitioned by my US citizen father, and after waiting for over 15 years, I was finally interviewed and just received my immigrant visa, which was…

UNDER US immigration laws, if a non-citizen commits and/or is later convicted of certain types of crimes that person could be removed/deported.  This is the case even if a person…

A COUPLE came to my office for a consultation who was in tears and panic because their “American Dream” was crumbling around them. They are already permanent residents (green card…

STARTING in October 2015, the Department of State (DOS) and the USCIS will utilize a new format for priority dates. (I posted those priority dates already on my website).There will…

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…

There have been many tragic situations where people were duped into applying for immigration benefits to which they were not entitled. Unscrupulous immigration consultants promise work permits, green cards, and…

DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: Before I was 16 years old, I was adopted and petitioned by my aunt, and got my green card through her petition. I am now a US…

” As you can see, by terminating the loveless marriage legally, it could result in your priority date already being current in the F-1 category, instead of waiting for years…

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…

WHENEVER a person commits fraud in obtaining an immigration benefit (such as entering the US under a different name, using bogus documents, applying for benefits to which they are not…

THE USCIS has published a proposed rule expanding eligibility for a provisional waiver of the 3\10 year bar.  The expanded provisional waiver will include “all aliens” statutorily eligible for the…

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that an out of wedlock child’s Constitutional equal protection rights to derive US citizenship at birth were violated, when the law had…

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…

(For a good faith marriage) MOST people in love profess their 100 percent unconditional, eternal love of another person, with all of their heart and with all of their soul….

DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: I received my green card through my employer’s petition, but the priority date on my petition suddenly retrogressed (went backwards) before I was able to bring my…

IN November 2014, President Obama announced he was implementing various immigration executive actions, including Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).  These programs…

The Supreme Court recently ruled, in Kerry v. Din  there is no constitutional “due process right” for the spouse of a US citizen to immigrate to America. The US citizen…

THE July 2015 Visa Bulletin continues to provide disappointing news for Filipinos, as the priority dates in the employment based categories (EB-3 and Other Workers) retrogressed (moved backwards) yet again,…