Recently, a young woman came to my office for a consultation after USCIS denied her naturalization application. The reason? Her mother immigrated to the US as “single” but was secretly…
The employment-based path to US Permanent Resident Status for Filipinos in the “EB-3” and “EB-3 Other Workers” categories can require a wait of up to seven years under current processing…
YOU and your spouse may have gone through a lengthy and contentious divorce proceeding. This is usually the most difficult period of a person’s life. Finally, time heals all pain. …
USCIS has defined “nationals” as persons born in American Samoa, certain former citizens of the former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and certain children of noncitizen nationals born abroad”)….
On January 24, 2014, USCIS issued guidance on the adjudication of Form I-601A waivers in cases involving applicants with criminal history. To understand the significance of this guidance, let us…
Due to the significantly shorter processing times than other categories, the EB-2 classification is highly sought after by talented immigrants. In comparison to the EB-3 immigrant category, which currently takes…
In previous articles, I wrote about the possibility of Filipinos being granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), as a result of the devastation caused by Typhoon Yolanda. Although the Philippines has…
IN November 2013, Typhoon Haiyan tore across the Philippines, resulting in at least 6,000 confirmed deaths and the displacement of at least 4 million people. While the Philippine Government continues…
ARE you involved in a vehicular accident in which the “at fault” other driver is uninsured, or is unidentified as in a hit-and-run collision, or does not have enough insurance…
US RESIDENTS IN THE PHILIPPINES LAWFUL Permanent Resident (LPR) status in the US is a privilege, and the status can be abandoned, even involuntarily. Abandonment of permanent residence (also known…
FOR many people there is no concern more pressing than that of their immigration status. People come to our office every day extremely worried and stressed about any number of…
Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status in the U.S. is a privilege, and the status can be abandoned, even involuntarily. Abandonment of permanent residence (also known as the “green card”) occurs…
The March 2014 priority dates indicate that the F-2A priority date still remains at September 8, 2013, which is almost the same as being “current.” It is phenomenal news for spouses…
“If the alien’s failure to appear was caused by ‘exceptional circumstances,’ the Motion to Reopen must be filed within 180 days of the order. ‘Exceptional circumstances’ is defined as…
Eligibility for immigration relief sometimes depends on whether an alien was admitted into the US or the lapse of time since admission. Thus, it becomes necessary to determine whether or…
One of these great new benefits is the expansion of ‘Parole in Place’ to include the families of United States military veterans. ‘Parole in Place’has traditionally allowed the immediate relatives…
The Immigration Marriage Fraud Amendments of 1986 (IMFA) requires an alien obtaining a green card through a marriage less than two years old to come back at the end of…
Overview A key element under consideration by Congress as it debates a comprehensive immigration reform bill is whether a “pathway to citizenship” for the estimated 11 million unauthorized immigrants in…
STARTING April 1, 2014, the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) will begin accepting cap-subject filings in the H-1B classification. The April 1, 2014 filings are for employment beginning in…
GENERALLY, property acquired during the marriage are considered community property. However, property acquired by “gift, bequest, devise, or descent” are the acquiring spouse’s separate property. The issue becomes more complicated…
On January 30, 2014, the House GOP released its “Standard for Immigration Reform,” which proposes to allow undocumented immigrants to legally live and work in the US, if they “come…
(Part 2) In a previous article, I discussed various forms of immigration relief and benefits that are available now, which you (or your children) could be eligible. Here are some…
Aliens who engage in certain criminal conduct are inadmissible or ineligible for a visa or admission into the US. INA 212(h) authorizes the waiver of inadmissibility arising from the following:…
EMPLOYMENT-based immigration to the United States generally entails a three-step process: 1) Labor Certification (under the “PERM” program); 2) Immigrant Visa Petition approval; 3) Green Card issuance (or Consular Processing,…
(Part 1) All of us are hopeful that, in the upcoming year, Congress will pass some form of comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) that could eventually lead to legalization and citizenship…
THE US House of Representatives has ignored a call to pass immigration reform over the past two years, opting instead to politicize the issue. As a result, the Boehner-led House…
DUE to the extended damage caused by Typhoon Haiyan (“Yolanda”), USCIS has extended certain immigration relief available to Filipino nationals. On January 14, 2014, USCIS reminds that it will continue…
ON December 17, 2013, the Hon. Mark C. Kim, Presiding Judge of Department 20 of the Long Beach Superior Court, ordered that the felony conviction of a Filipino client of…
THE most important advice I can give to a person seeking legal advice is that the first opinion they obtain is not necessarily the best opinion. Often, as an attorney…
DID you know that “failing to maintain status” is not the same thing as being “out of status” and that the government can still try to Deport (Remove) you, even…
