Abandonment of US residence
JON and Kate own and operate a successful real estate business in California. In addition to owning a beautiful home, they had acquired several homes and apartment buildings which they…
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Government shutdown and your immigration case
The government shutdown which began on October 1, 20013 and continues on without an end in sight has worried many with immigration concerns. We have received numerous inquiries from clients…
Consequences of criminal convictions on DACA applications
Jen was 10 years old when her parents brought her to the United States. When she was about to graduate high school and filling out her college applications, she was…
DOMA and immigration benefits
The Supreme Court has finished hearing arguments in two cases regarding challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and is expected to issue a ruling in June 2013. Both…
Employer’s ability to pay in hiring foreign workers
An employer need not be a Fortune 500 company, have been in business for decades or employ dozens of workers in order to sponsor an alien to work for its…
Priority date retention and automatic conversion of visa petitions
The twin cases of De Osorio v. Mukasey and Costelo v. Napolitano, both decided by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on September 26, 2012 now allows many children who…
Abandonment of US residence
Jon and Kate own and operate a successful real estate business in California. In addition to owning a beautiful home, they had acquired several homes and apartment buildings which they…
Prosecutorial discretion
On June 17, 2011, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director John Morton issued a Memorandum to provide guidance on the exercise of prosecutorial discretion (the Morton Memo). “Prosecutorial discretion”…
Overcoming the ‘Public Charge’ Ground of Inadmissibility
As far back as he could remember, Doogie wanted to grow up to be a doctor. Upon his graduation from college his family immigrated to the United States. However, instead…
Proposed Provisional Waiver of Unlawful Presence
USCIS has published a very important proposed change in processing petitions for certain alien relatives called “Provisional Unlawful Presence Waivers of Inadmissibility for Certain Immediate Relatives.” How does this proposed…
Discretionary relief from removal
NORMAN is a 19-year-old high school senior and a legal permanent resident for 4 years. One evening, he and his friends decided to go on a “dare,” and his friends…
The battered spouse
Sylvia came to America carrying her hopes and dreams for a better life. Sadly, those dreams quickly turned into a nightmare. While working as a volunteer back in the Philippines…
Visa fraud and false claim to United States citizenship
TWENTY years ago, Abel, who was 20 years old, entered the United States using his cousin’s passport that had a United States visa. They looked alike and were the same…