But my child was a baby when the petition was filed!
DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: My sister petitioned me in 2001 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.
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Family law issues during the COVID-19 pandemic
Custody and visitation orders are not affected by stay at home orders or other order restricting movement issued by a governmental entity that arises from the COVID-19 pandemic. THE COVID-19…
Medical and legal experts weigh in on public charge in the COVID-19 pandemic
The pandemic’s impact on the immigrant community presents more public health and financial risks for undocumented individuals and their families Since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s presidency, his administration…
All incoming first-year students at University of Delaware assigned Jose Antonio Vargas’ best-selling memoir
ALL incoming first year students at the University of Delaware will be required to read the memoir “Dear America: Notes from an Undocumented Citizen” by Filipino American Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist…
I-601A provisional unlawful presence waiver
ANG isang dayuhan na ineligible sa pagkuha ng green card sa loob ng U.S. dahil sa unlawful presence ay maaaring mag-apply ng I-601A Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver bago siya umalis…
Rescinding a removal or deportation order to allow you to apply for a green card
WE have all heard the popular saying, “Timing is everything.” Unfortunately, this saying often adversely applies to those persons who have found an avenue from which to obtain a green…
Family law issues during the COVID-19 pandemic
THE COVID-19 Pandemic has changed our lives almost overnight. Not only has it changed our lives in terms of our daily routine, jobs, lifestyle, but also our relationship with our…
Trump extends and expands proclamation ‘suspending’ immigration
ON June 22, 2020, President Trump issued another Executive Order (EO) or Proclamation, extending his April 22, 2020 proclamation to December 31, 2020, and expanding its scope to also include…
Trump signs order temporarily freezing worker visas, prefers ‘merit-based system’
CERTAIN foreign workers will be barred from seeking employment in the United States as President Donald Trump on Monday, June 22 signed an executive order that places a temporary freeze…
Abandonment of green card
Ang green card o permanent resident card ang patunay na ang isang indibidwal ay may lawful permanent resident (LPR) status sa U.S. Subalit ang LPR status ay hindi talagang permanente…
Supreme Court DACA decision is ‘reprieve,’ not victory
On June 18, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its DACA decision, but it did not actually uphold DACA. Instead, it based its decision on procedural technicalities, that the government…
Fil-Am DACA recipients breathe a sigh of relief as US Supreme Court halts ending of program
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Thursday, June 18 stopped President Donald Trump’s administration from rescinding a program that protected more than 800,000 young undocumented immigrants, or “Dreamers,” who came…
DACA recipient: Why Filipino Americans must act now to protect the Filipino undocumented community
By Raymond Partolan Oftentimes, when people come across the phrase, “undocumented immigrant,” images of men, women, and children of Latin American heritage coming across the southern border of the United…
US Supreme Court ruling halts Trump administration’s bid to end DACA program
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Thursday, June 18 stopped President Donald Trump’s administration from rescinding a program that protected more than 800,000 young unauthorized immigrants, or “Dreamers,” who came…
The July 2020 Priority Dates
Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment-based categories. A priority…
Green card holders unable to return to US due to COVID-19
ANG mga lawful permanent resident (LPR) o green card holders na nasa ibang bansa at hindi makapag-biyahe pabalik ng U.S. dahil sa COVID-19 pandemic ay kailangang maging handang magpakita ng…
DACA recipients brace for Supreme Court ruling amidst pandemic and nationwide protests
Amidst a pandemic and nationwide protests, recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program take on added uncertainty as they anxiously await a decision that may determine whether…
The Statue of Liberty versus public charge
THE Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor has always been a symbol of immigration and of welcoming immigrants to the U.S. The USCIS has used the Statue of Liberty…
DFA pays tribute to overseas Filipinos on Migrant Workers’ Day
THE Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Sunday, June 7, honored Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) through a music video in celebration of Migrant Workers’ Day. “We honor today the…
Undocumented Filipinos encouraged to apply for CA’s disaster relief fund
UNDOCUMENTED Filipino immigrants in California are encouraged to apply for the state’s disaster relief fund that grants up to $1,000 per household. Governor Gavin Newsom in April announced the Disaster…
35K Filipinos repatriated due to COVID-19
The Philippines has welcomed home over 35,000 overseas Filipinos since the coronavirus outbreak, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Friday, June 5. At least 13,566 land-based OFs have been…
Social media information and US visa
SA panahon ngayon ng pandemic at dahil sa madaming lockdown order sa buong mundo, marami ang nagtatrabaho mula sa bahay. Marami rin ang bumabaling sa social media upang magbahagi ng…
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…
What is a postnuptial agreement?
A postnuptial agreement is a contract between you and your spouse entered into after you get married resolving issues in your marriage. It is similar to a prenuptial agreement except…
Is your DAPA child now over 21?
IN November 2014, Pres. Obama announced a program, Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA), which would have allowed parents of U.S. citizens (or lawful permanent…
Marriage fraud bar
ANG isang karaniwang paraan ng pagkuha ng green card ng dayuhang nasa loob ng U.S. ay sa pamamagitan ng family petition ng kanyang asawang U.S. citizen (USC). Dahil ang asawa…
Reinstatement for surviving beneficiaries of an I-130 petition filed by a deceased relative
DEAR Attorney Tan, My U.S. Citizen mother filed an I-130 immigrant petition on my behalf, which has a priority date in February 2000 and which has been approved. She filed…
K-1 visa: Fiance visa to marry US citizen
IN previous editions of this article, the process of obtaining permanent residence through marriage was explored. Discussion of that procedure began with the supposition that the couple was married, and…
Duterte calls for more OFWs to be returned home
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered government agencies to bring some 24,000 repatriated overseas Filipino workers back to their home provinces by the end of the week. According to Presidential…
2020 Census Analysis: Asian New Yorkers are being undercounted based on latest self–response rate
Lower Participation puts Political Representation, Funding for Education, Health, and Essential Services at risk Asian-majority census tracts in New York City had an average response rate of 44.7% compared with…