Relief for denied Naturalization Application
KAPAG ang USCIS ay nag-deny ng application for naturalization, ang USCIS ay magbibigay ng Notice of Denial na nagsasaad ng legal at factual na dahilan nito. Maaaring tanggapin ng…
Category: Immigration
Covering the week’s most noteworthy immigration news impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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Five benefits of establishing a revocable living trust
THERE is never the perfect time to think about who you would like to inherit from your estate in case you pass away or at least who among your closest…
Permanent residence based on same sex marriage
“ A civil union or domestic partnership cannot be the basis for a same-sex, marriage-based immigrant petition.” IN United States vs. Windsor, 570 U.S. 744 (2013), the Supreme Court held…
Will signing an untrue confession help your case?
MANY people have consulted with me after their case has been denied by a USCIS officer or consul at the Embassy. In some cases, the person has signed a confession,…
California divorce with a twist: The military spouse
SAN DIEGO is “military town” and Navy and Marine Corps families abound, as well as retirees from different branches of our military. The military life is a test of resilience…
Five benefits of establishing a revocable living trust
There is never the perfect time to think about who you would like to inherit from your estate in case you pass away or at least who among your closest…
Can I get a green card if I had a previoius marriage petition denied based on fraud?
DEAR Attorney Tan, I recently married a US Citizen, who is my second husband. He has filed an immigrant visa petition and green card application for me. My husband recently…
Relief for alien victims of criminal activities
ANG U classification ay nagbibigay ng nonimmigrant status sa mga dayuhang biktima ng “qualifying criminal activity”. Noong naging batas ang Victims of Trafficking and Violence Prevention Act of 2000 na…
4 ways filing for divorce can benefit your immigration case
COUPLES get divorced for various reasons. California is a no fault state. The reasons why a couple is getting divorced are often irrelevant to the issues of the family law…
Love and deportability: Divorce, domestic violence, and immigration laws
WHAT if I do not have legal papers, and my spouse is abusive? If safety is a concern, we urge people to seek help first, particularly if there are minor…
SF Pathways applauds federal judge’s decision to block change to fee waiver form
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal judge has temporarily blocked a rule that would have made it more difficult for low-income immigrants to apply for citizenship. Federal Judge Maxine Chesney of…
Guidance on petition revocations
ALMOST 20 years ago, the U.S. State Department (DOS) provided guidance to consular officers that they should be “judicious” (use good judgment or common sense) about returning approved petitions to…
West Sacramento Mayor Cabaldon: Under Pete Buttigieg, America will be a place of welcome
By Mayor Christopher Cabaldon That a young Irish-German woman from a small Iowa town was asked to become director of the Filipino Community House of Chicago as World War II…
Getting month residency requirement to file a divorce in California
GENERALLY, you must have resided in California for at least six months in order to file a divorce in this case. Under Family Code Section 2320, a judgment of marriage…
L1 intracompany transferees
ANG L1 nonimmigrant visa classification ay nagpapahintulot sa U.S. employer na maglipat ng mga empleyado mula sa kaakibat na kumpanya sa ibang bansa papunta sa kumpanya sa U.S. Ito rin…
K-1 Fiancé(e) visa: Getting your significant other to the United States
SEVERALl 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…
January 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…
Rosen co-sponsors bipartisan resolution highlighting importance of the upcoming 2020 Census
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, December 17, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced her co-sponsorship of a bipartisan resolution, introduced by Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), recognizing…
Just say no: Legal advice from the internet
“MY brother’s neighbor’s girlfriend’s uncle had the same exact case and it got approved and they did not use an attorney.” I’ve heard this many times to have developed a…
How can INA section 245(i) benefit you?
CERTAIN aliens are barred from adjusting to legal permanent residents by virtue of having entered the United States under the following conditions: Entering the US as an alien crewman (C-1…
Replacement of naturalization certificate
KAPAG ang Naturalization Certificate o Certificate of Citizenship ay nawala, ninakaw, nasira o nawasak, ang aplikante ay maaaring mag-apply ng replacement o kapalit ng Naturalization Certificate sa USCIS sa pamamagitan…
How can INA section 245(i) benefit you?
CERTAIN aliens are barred from adjusting to legal permanent residents by virtue of having entered the United States under the following conditions: Entering the US as an alien crewman (C-1…
What’s next for DACA recipients and their families?
After the Supreme Court oral arguments, immigration experts shed light on facts regarding the Trump administration’s efforts to terminate DACA WHEN the Trump administration announced on Sept. 5, 2017 that…
Embassy’s erroneous employment visa refusals
WHENEVER an employer sponsors (or petitions) an alien for labor certification (or PERM), the employer must agree to offer at least the “prevailing wage” for the job position, as determined…
California divorce, domestic violence, and US immigration laws
CALIFORNIA divorce – “No Fault.” California is a no-fault divorce state. A party filing for divorce does not need the consent of the other in order to file a Petition…
Philippine Consulate, US Dept. of Labor renew partnership to protect Filipino workers’ rights
The Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles and the United States Dept. of Labor Wage and Hour Division (DOL WHD) Western Regional Office on Thursday, Dec. 5 reaffirmed their ongoing partnership to protect…
Starting the new year fresh with a divorce
TO many people, the New Year signifies a chance to have a fresh beginning. People dispose of old personal items and clean out the closet in order to make room…
Maximizing recovery in personal injury cases
“The first step is to make sure that any injuries that you have suffered in the accident are examined and treated.” DEAR Attorney Tan, I was driving home and was…
Humanitarian reinstatement of I-130 petition
KAPAG ang petitioner ng approved I-130 Petition ay namatay bago makuha ng principal beneficiary ang kanyang immigrant visa o green card, ang I-130 Petition ay magiging revoked na. May mga…
Explaining attorney fees and charges
MANY people want to retain an attorney to assist them with their immigration case, represent them at hearings or interviews, etc., especially during this era of Pres. Trump, where USCIS…