Category: Immigration Columnists

IT WAS just under 400 years ago, when in the 1620s, a group of fresh-off-the-boat immigrants celebrated their first harvest in their new homeland.  This group of migrant Pilgrims enjoyed…

QUESTION: About 3 years ago, I was deported outside the United States, and I feel it was not done properly and that I was improperly deported. What can I do?…

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is available for people who are already in the US, but conditions in their home country (such as armed conflict, hurricanes, earthquakes, or typhoons), make it…

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 THE coming New Year, we can expect some improvement in overall economic conditions in the US and throughout the World, however, there will continue to be turbulence and volatility…

THE US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) provided an early holiday gift this year for immigrants by making two separate important announcements: 1) Immediate relatives of US service members in…

QUESTION: I have the $1,000,000 to invest in the EBp-5 Visa, but I don’t know exactly what evidence is needed. Can you describe? Answer:  There are many requirements needed to…

On November 15, 2013, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a Policy Memorandum (“PM”) concerning “parole in place” for people who entered the US without inspection and are the…

Typhoon Yolanda has dominated the world’s news, with shocking images of the devastation and destruction of this horrible typhoon. Even now, people are still homeless, without adequate food, water, shelter,…

ON December 16, 2010, USCIS issued an official Memorandum to implement the provisions of INA §204(l), or the Surviving Relatives Law. The memo amends the USCIS’ Adjudicators’ Field Manual (AFM)…

We have covered in previous articles the different ways of acquiring U.S. citizenship at birth. Aside from birth, the other means of acquiring U.S. citizenship is through naturalization. Under INA…

IN THE aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, the profound human toll and humanitarian crisis in and around Leyte is only beginning to come into full view.  From an immigration perspective, some…

GIVEN the devastation in the Philippines, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released an article on November 15, 2013, to remind Filipino nationals impacted by typhoon Haiyan of possible immigration…

“ A person born in the United States with one parent or with both parent(s) no longer Philippine citizen(s) at time of birth is not a Philippine citizen at birth.”…

I HAVE been watching and reading news stories about the horrific devastation and destruction of Typhoon Haiyan. As I write this, the death toll is rising and the extent of…

We briefly discussed in the last article the current rules for acquiring U.S. citizenship by birth abroad to U.S. citizen (USC) parents. Today, we’ll see some examples that illustrate both…

IN strolling through the shopping centers in our Office’s surrounding neighborhood, one cannot help but feel that the immigrant sprit of entrepreneurship is alive and well.  Small IT start-ups, mom-and-pop…

QUESTION: I’m in the military and I know somebody who was in the military years ago. Can we become US Citizens? Answer: Members and certain veterans of the US armed…

On a weekend trip to Las Vegas, Rosa, a United States citizen, ran into some old friends, and was introduced to a friend of a friend, Domingo, a tourist who…

Dear Atty. Gurfinkel: I was able to receive my green card, but then the priority date on my petition retrogressed (went backwards) before I was able to bring my family…

AS the Federal Government bogged down in its tiresome partisan war over the budget and Debt Ceiling last month, any hope for “immigration reform” was placed on indefinite hold. In…

QUESTION: I have a friend who came into the US and filed a fake asylum application. Is there anything that can happen? Answer: Yes. This would be one of the…

The November 2013 priority dates indicate that the F-2A priority date remains at September 8, 2013, which is almost the same as being “current.”  It is?phenomenal news for spouses and…

“ A spouse or child who has been ‘battered or subject to extreme mental cruelty’ is eligible to ‘self-petition’ and adjust status to that of a lawful permanent resident independent…

VETERANS who once served on active duty at time  of war, need not be in combat, in the United States Army, Marine Corp, Air Force, Navy, or Coast Guard, or…

QUESTION: I have years of experience, but cannot get an H-1B as they are used up. Are there any alternatives to the H-1B? Answer: There is the option of the…