Covering the week’s most noteworthy immigration news impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
IN the absence of a premarital agreement, the general community property presumption under California family code section 760 controls which provides “ ….all property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired…
RECENTLY, there were news reports from many media outlets about a Texas flight attendant enrolled in DACA who was told by a supervisor that it was safe for her to…
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…
MANY immigration consultants are legitimate and provide helpful services to immigrants, but there are also many dishonest and fraudulent immigration consultants and immigration assistance service providers who take advantage of…
DEAR Attorney Tan, My US 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…
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…
“An E-2 Treaty Investor is allowed a maximum initial stay of 2 years, and requests for extension can be obtained in increments of 2 years.” DEAR Attorney Tan, I would…
“If the trust is funded with all your assets, it is possible to administer and distribute the trust assets without any Court involvement at all .” THERE is never the…
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…
I’VE had numerous consultations over the years with people who went for their visa interview at the U.S. Embassy, only to be told they are guilty of fraud/misrepresentation, and therefore,…
AN action under the DVPA (Domestic Violence Protection Act) seeking a restraining order often is necessary to protect parties from abuse or domestic violence perpetrated by the other spouse or…
The Philippines’ Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) revealed this week that it would require foreign employees to secure a working visa before being allowed to work in the country….
“ The requirement of a finding by the court shall also be satisfied if any court, whether that court hears or has heard the child custody proceedings or not, has…
Under Howell v. Hamilton Meats & Provisions (2011) 52 C.4th 541, the California Supreme Court ruled that persons who are injured and who are pursuing a personal injury claim cannot…
“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…
AB-60 licenses allow undocumented immigrants to drive legally in California. (Note: these licenses merely allow a person to drive legally and obtain car insurance, but do not authorize employment.) Other…
“The assets distributed to each beneficiaries does not have to be equal.” THERE is never the perfect time to think about who you would like to inherit from your estate…
AS President Donald Trump marked the completion of two years into his presidency just last month, immigration remains to be the biggest issue for his administration, which has remained persistent…
Although there cannot be any “guarantees” of success, if your case was denied, you should consider consulting with an attorney, who can evaluate your situation, and determine if there is…
ALL property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in California is community property. Family Code 760. However, there are situations in…
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…
Many Filipino immigrants have fallen victim to immigration scams, a new digital campaign from AARP has revealed. Seven percent of Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders have been exposed to immigration…
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…
“ While an immigration filing is pending, the typical response by USCIS upon inquiry is that further time (usually 90 or 180 days) is needed to make a decision.” A…
THERE is a natural tendency among divorcing parties to hide their assets from their spouse and understate income. This is a common problem that I have observed from practicing law…
Republicans split on support as other lawmakers seek lawsuits After Congress approved a spending bill to avert another government shutdown, President Donald Trump on Friday, February 15, declared a national…
CASE example: I-751 applications. In her article entitled “Agency Delays Enact the Administration’s Immigration Agenda” Sandra Feist examines the processing delays currently plaguing one particular application: the Removal of Conditions…
DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: I divorced my Filipina spouse and married a U.S. citizen who petitioned me for a green card. Unfortunately, things did not work out, and I divorced the…
IN this issue’s column, we will address practical tips to help protect yourself from becoming a victim of a fraudulent immigration services provider. In looking for a lawyer or a…
“ Fam. Code, 3651, provides that, with certain exceptions, a support order may not be modified or terminated as to an amount that accrued before the date of the filing…
