[COLUMN] The October 2021 priority dates: No change from September
THE October priority dates are typically the start of the new “fiscal year” for visas, where a new annual supply of visas is made available. Usually, with a new supply…
Category: Immigration Columnists
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[COLUMN] Should you modify your child and spousal support obligation if you lose your job?
IF you have an existing child support or spousal support obligation (court order) and you are laid off from your job causing a major loss of income, you may want…
[COLUMN] Int’l travelers to US will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination
ON September 20, 2021, the Biden Administration announced that it is rescinding/canceling the Trump era COVID-19 travel bans, and, starting in November 2021, will instead require all international travelers to…
[COLUMN] Should you modify your child and spousal support obligation if you lose your job?
IF you have an existing child support or spousal support obligation (court order) and you are laid off from your job causing a major loss of income, you may want…
Gerry Apolinario of Gerry’s Grill has his naturalization denied, this Sunday on Citizen Pinoy
Gerry Apolinario (right) was outside the U.S. too many times during the five years before filing his application for naturalization, and he missed the minimum physical presence requirement by a…
[COLUMN] Can I enforce a form I-864 Affidavit of Support in divorce proceedings?
THE Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 requires that US Citizens sponsoring an alien for legal permanent residency execute an immigration form I-864 Affidavit of Support. This…
A family’s wish finally comes true this Sunday, Sept. 19 on Citizen Pinoy
Popular show has a new time slot – 6:30 PM PT IT was 1996. Marjun (right) was 16 years old when his father, Marcelo Sr, (left) immigrated to the U.S….
[COLUMN] COVID-19 vaccinations required starting October 1, 2021
STARTING on October 1, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (or CDC) is requiring all immigrant visa applicants over the age of 12 to be fully vaccinated for…
[COLUMN] Maximizing recovery in personal injury cases
DEAR Attorney Tan, I was driving home and was at a complete stop when another driver rear ended my car. I was not feeling well after the accident, as my…
Naturalization application denied for being outside US too much, this Sunday, Sept. 12 on Citizen Pinoy
GERRY Apolinario’s (right) naturalization application was denied because he was outside the U.S. too many times during the five years before filing his application, and missed the 913-day minimum physical…
[COLUMN] But my child was a baby when the petition was filed!
DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: My sister petitioned me in 2002 in the F-4 category (brother/sister of a U.S. citizen) when my child was still a baby. Recently, the priority date became current….
[COLUMN] Date of marriage on illegitimate child’s birth certificate should not harm single parent’s petition
DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: I was petitioned as “single” by my immigrant (green card) parent in 2011. The priority date is now current, and I am getting paperwork and forms from…
Single parent leaves children behind because of date of marriage on their birth certificates, this Sunday, Sept. 5 on Citizen Pinoy
Mike (2nd from left) was petitioned as “single” by his mother and wanted to bring his children with him to the U.S., but his mother said, “leave the kids behind,”…
[COLUMN] K-1 fiancé(e) visa: Getting your significant other to the United States
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…
[COLUMN] 12 tips on bringing a fiancée to the US
THERE are so many movies and reality shows that focus on fiancé visas, like “90 Day Fiancée,” and it’s hard to sort through fact from fiction. Many people also come…
[COLUMN] Single parent leaves children behind because of date of marriage on their birth certificates this Sunday, Aug. 22 on Citizen Pinoy
SINGLE PARENT LEAVES CHILDREN BEHIND BECAUSE OF DATE OF MARRIAGE ON THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATES THIS SUNDAY ON CITIZEN PINOY. Mike (2nd from left) was petitioned as “single” by his mother…
[COLUMN] The September 2021 Priority Dates
The September 2021 priority dates, continue to provide great news for workers in the EB-3 (skilled/professional) and “other worker” (unskilled workers like caregivers). The priority dates for all countries (except…
[COLUMN] Removing the conditions of your permanent resident without your petitioning spouse’s participation
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…
[COLUMN] Is there hope after a fraud denial?
DEAR Attorney Gurfinkel: I was petitioned by my U.S. citizen parent in 2011 as single. The priority date became current, and I submitted all the forms and paid all the…
Love found on Friendster ends up fulfilling a dream this Sunday, Aug. 15 on Citizen Pinoy
K1 – THE ‘LOVE’ VISA: THIS SUNDAY ON CITIZEN PINOY. Wendel (left) met Allen (center) on Friendster, after he went through a period of loneliness and depression, looking for true…
[COLUMN] ‘Physical abuse’ not required for VAWA green card
DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: I married a U.S. citizen for love, hoping we would live “happily ever after.” Unfortunately, soon after marriage, he changed. He drank a lot, gambled, took drugs,…
Humanitarian revalidation or survivor law: This Sunday, Aug. 8 on Citizen Pinoy
HUMANITARIAN REVALIDATION OR SURVIVOR LAW: THIS SUNDAY ON CITIZEN PINOY. Allain (left) was petitioned by his mother in 1997. He came to the U.S. as a tourist with his wife,…
August 2021 priority dates explained by Citizen Pinoy host Atty. Gurfinkel
LEADING U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (and host of Citizen Pinoy) explains the August 2021 priority dates on his YouTube channel: US Immigration TV. This video is a “must…
Humanitarian Revalidation or Survivor Law: This Sunday on Citizen Pinoy
Allain (left) was petitioned by his mother in 1997. He came to the U.S. as a tourist with his wife, Lorraine (center), in 2002 and overstayed. His mother passed away…
[COLUMN] K-1 fiancé(e) visa: Getting your significant other to the United States
Several options exist for a US 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…
[COLUMN] Do I have a community property interest in a house which my spouse acquired before our marriage?
Generally, in California, property acquired by a spouse prior to marriage is considered separate property under family code section 770 while those acquired after marriage are considered community assets under…
[COLUMN] The immigration journey that took 24 years, on an all-new Citizen Pinoy this Sunday
LEADING U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel presents another brand-new success story, after he provides the latest immigration developments, as featured on his YouTube channel: US Immigration TV. After the…
[COLUMN] August 2021 priority dates
THE August 2021 priority dates, continue to provide great news for workers in the EB-3 (skilled/professional) and “other worker” (unskilled workers like caregivers). The priority dates for all countries (except…
[COLUMN] Can I enforce a form I-864 Affidavit of Support in divorce proceedings?
THE Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 requires that US Citizens sponsoring an alien for legal permanent residency execute an immigration form I-864 Affidavit of Support. This…
[COLUMN] Great news for F-1 students: No need to file nonimmigrant visa extension to ‘bridge the gap’
ON July 20, 2021, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a new policy that individuals applying for change of status (COS) from Visitor (B), or other non-immigrant status,…