THE decision to terminate one’s marriage typically brings to the forefront many issues all at once. Issues pertaining to property, support, and child custody need to be addressed in a…
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. It’s the time of the year when many couples get engaged or married. If you are an American citizen who intends to marry…
H-1B season is around the corner. On April 1, 2010, the United States Citizenship & Immigration Service (USCIS) will accept H-1B filings for the Fiscal Year 2011. The start date…
In a previous article, we covered eligibility requirements for EB-2 advanced degree and exceptional ability aliens, and EB-3 skilled and professional workers. The third preference category of employment-based immigration (EB-3)…
Each year the immigration regulations provide a minimum of 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas which are divided into five preference categories. While some categories have a backlog of several years, others…
Congress established the employment based fifth preference (EB-5) immigrant visa category under the U.S. Immigration Act of 1990 (IMMACT90) in the hopes of attracting foreign capital to the U.S. and…
World events and political changes over the past couple of years have exposed the different faces of the American people. As a whole, American patriotism has become more visible. But…
An action for dissolution of marriage often involves the division of community property. Typically, this involves property that is in the control and possession of either spouse. However, community property…
LAST week, the Obama Administration announced an (immigration) Prioritization Plan. Priority: enforcement of immigration laws against serious criminals who are a threat to our public safety, i.e. deporting them. Not a priority:…
DIVORCE can be a bit complicated specially if there are community assets and debts involved. Generally, accumulations and earning after the date of separation is each spouse’s separate property. What…
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…
The purpose of spousal support is not defined by the legislature in that its purpose varies according to the facts and circumstances of each case. The facts and circumstances of…
WHEN people ask me why I have chosen to become an immigration attorney, I have to pause to think of the many multi-layered reasons that have led me to do…
A potential client arrived in our new Salt Lake City, Utah office last week looking for guidance on a petition that was to be filed on her behalf by her…
MOST aliens that come to the United States do so under a B-1 or B-2 visa as a visitor which gives visitors up to 6 months stay in the US. …
HERE’S what happened: In 2001, our client became a lawful permanent resident of the United States. He immediately petitioned for his 3 children back in the Philippines because as you…
Being involved in an auto accident can be a frustrating and very disruptive experience to most people. Depending on your injuries, most likely you are unable to commute to work,…
ANY foreign national who marries a US citizen, and is otherwise eligible, may apply to adjust their status to lawful permanent residency (“green card”). If married for less than two…
At one time or another, we have all made a trip to the local market. Whether it is to purchase food or other daily necessities, our expectation is that upon…
IN ONE month, the H-1B visa category opens again. Will you be one of the lucky ones who will receive a three year H-1B visa for this fiscal year? In…
THERE is a natural tendency among divorcing parties to hide their assets from their spouse. This is a common problem that I have observed from practicing law for many years. …
What does a father do if mom does not allow dad to visit his child? This situation becomes more difficult in situations where the father is not married to the…
As Filipinos, we are all undoubtedly aware to a certain extent of the procedures and avenues by which one can obtain permanent residence. After obtaining permanent residence status, many green…
There are situations in both divorce and child support cases where the Summons and Petition resulted to a default against one party for failing to respond in time. In certain…
Divorcing couples may have established revocable living trust for estate planning pusposes during their marriage which was funded primarily with assets acquired by one spouse prior to the marriage. The…
MARRIAGE for many persons is the culmination of one’s life. Getting married signifies the beginning of a new phase in life, both socially and economically. For those persons who lack…
SPOUSES during both before and during marriage may agree to change the character of any of their property—from separate property to community property, from community property to separate property, and…
