Category: Immigration Columnists

There seems to be a misconception in the general public that you can only obtain a divorce in California if your spouse will sign the divorce papers.  I get this…

Establishing parentage rights for moms is a lot easier than establishing one for unmarried Dads.  Moms can establish this by simply showing proof of her having given birth to the…

A common question that is asked by a person who has a pending immigration petition or application is “how much longer until USCIS makes a decision?”  The question is understandable,…

One of the most emotional aspect of a marital dissolution case is dealing with Child custody issues.  Sadly enough, this is an area where most parents play games with each…

Consider this common factual situation.  You are over 21 years old and your U.S. citizen parent petitions you while you are inside the United States.  Since this is a preference…

A person who obtains his/her green card via marriage to a U.S. citizen spouse, and who is married for less than 2 years has conditional permanent resident status.  A conditional…

Julie came to the U.S. as a crew member in 2004 and overstayed, leaving her eight-year-old daughter, Jolina, back in the Philippines. The years of separation broke Julie’s heart, but…

Dear Attorney Tan, My U.S. Citizen mother filed an I-130 immigrant petition on my behalf, which has a priority date in February 2000 and which has been approved.  She filed…

LEADING U.S. Immigration Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel visited San Diego, where he answered questions of Kapamilya from the “America’s Finest City” and neighboring areas. In Part 1 of “Your Tanong,…

All property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in California is community property.  Family Code 760.  However, there are situations in…

THE second part of Citizen Pinoy’s “Your Tanong, My Sagot” brings more immigration questions from Kapamilya shoppers at the family-owned Arko Foods International in Glendale, California. In this episode, leading…

A person who obtains his/her green card via marriage to a U.S. citizen spouse, and who is married for less than 2 years has conditional permanent resident status.  A conditional…

THE holidays are a time to prepare special meals and celebrate with friends and family. Many Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the U.S. prepare holiday dishes that bring them a…

LANCE came to the United States in 2017, and then married his U.S. citizen girlfriend in a same-sex marriage. His wife petitioned Lance for his green card, but their marriage…

Q: I worked as a caregiver in a nursing home. I complained to my manager that the owner’s husband was sexually harassing me, but she told me I was overreacting…

Dear Attorney Tan, I recently married a U.S. Citizen, who is my second husband.  He has filed an immigrant visa petition and green card application for me.  My husband recently…

TWENTY-FIVE years ago, San Diego area’s “King of Lechon” was denied his green card because he aged-out before his case was approved. The family was heartbroken, but leading U.S. Immigration…

LANCE came to the U.S. in 2017, and then married his U.S. citizen girlfriend in a same-sex marriage. His wife petitioned Lance for his green card, but their marriage turned…

Several options exist for a U.S. citizen to bring his/her foreign-national fiancé(e) to the United States.  One popular option is to marry the fiancé(e) in the country in which he/she…

TWENTY-FIVE years ago, San Diego area’s “King of Lechon” was denied his green card because he aged-out before his case was approved. The family was heartbroken, but leading U.S. Immigration…

MANY are familiar with the word “consulate” and many Filipinos in the U.S. know that there could be a Philippine Consulate General near their area. But does the community really…

The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 requires that U.S. Citizens sponsoring an alien for legal permanent residency execute an immigration form I-864 Affidavit of Support.  This…

THIS encore episode of Citizen Pinoy in San Diego is special because all the guests are associated with the U.S. Navy in some way. That is why, leading U.S. Immigration…

LEADING U.S. Immigration Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel visited San Diego, where he answered questions of Kapamilya based locally, and even from some coming from out-of-town. In Part 2 of “Your…

LEADING U.S. Immigration Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel visited San Diego, where he answered questions of Kapamilya from “America’s Finest City” and neighboring areas. In Part 1 of “Your Tanong, My…

Dear Attorney Tan, I recently married a U.S. Citizen, who is my second husband. He has filed an immigrant visa petition and green card application for me.  My husband recently…

IF our viewers have wondered what the role of the Attorney General for the State of California is, they will get their answers, when Citizen Pinoy airs California’s “Attorney of…