[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….
Category: Immigration
Covering the week’s most noteworthy immigration news impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
Read More
Immigrant rights advocates push for benefits, pathway to citizenship for essential undocumented workers
Even though the public has more or less resumed public life, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the country’s most vulnerable communities, including undocumented essential workers who deserve a pathway…
[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…
PH Consulate in LA holds webinar on workers’ rights
THE Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles hosted a webinar to shed light on the laws, rules, and regulations affecting foreign migrant workers among the large Filipino community in the…
[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…
US Census 2020 results: America is more diverse, multiethnic than ever
White population experienced largest decrease of any racial group IN the wake of national discourse and debate over race and equality in the United States, the U.S. Census Bureau released…
[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,…
[COLUMN] DACA update: USCIS posts guidance on processing applications
AS I reported in a previous article, on July 16, 2021, a federal judge in Texas ruled that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, was illegal. He…
Fraud waiver and the latest developments in U.S. immigration this Sunday, July 25 on Citizen Pinoy
Jun (right) was a crewman who jumped ship in 2002. He overstayed in the U.S. for several months, before returning to the Philippines in 2003. In 2007, his mother petitioned…
[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…
[COLUMN] Bifurcation and status only divorce
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…
[COLUMN] Administrative closure is back at immigration courts!
ON July 15, 2021, Atty. Gen. Garland brought back “administrative closure” to immigration courts by overruling a previous decision made during the Trump era, which “concluded that the immigration courts’…
[COLUMN] New hope for people in deportation
THERE is more great news for people who are in deportation/removal proceedings, or who may have already been ordered deported. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently issued Standard Operating…
[COLUMN] Petition denied at embassy due to fraud for jumping ship, on an all-new Citizen Pinoy this Sunday
LEADING U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (2nd from right) provides the latest immigration developments, as featured on his YouTube channel: US Immigration TV. This Sunday, he also features another…