Covering the week’s most noteworthy immigration news impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
STARTING on September 11, 2018, a new USCIS Policy Memorandum (PM) became effective, instructing officers on how to adjudicate (process and make decisions on) petitions, applications, extensions, etc., when the…
A stepparent may file an immigrant petition for a stepchild even without the stepparent having to legally adopt the stepchild. However, before a stepparent may be able to file an…
COUPLES have different spending habits and different philosophy in handling marital finances. Some spouses are conservative in managing their finances and stick with a budget while other spouses do not…
Foreign-born population increases The U.S. Census Bureau this week released its latest American Community Survey (ACS) data, showing that there are an estimated 4,037,564 Filipinos in the United States. The…
“ Loss of earnings are often a significant part of an injured person’s claim for economic damages. Damages are recoverable for both past and future lost earnings.” UNDER Howell v….
“You only need to provide your spouse notice that you filed a divorce by personally serving your spouse the divorce petition and summons.” COUPLES get divorced for various reasons. California…
Capacity at shelters for migrant children has been quietly increasing since the summer, the New York Times reported Despite a court order that required the Trump administration to release hundreds of…
Dear Atty. Gurfinkel: In 2004, I applied for a visitor’s visa but was denied. The next year, I secured an “assumed name” passport, which was a Philippine passport with my…
I just moved to California last month, and I’d like to file for divorce. Can I file now? To file for divorce in the State of California, the person filing…
IN a divorce proceeding, people sometimes have a misconception that the only assets or properties that have to disclose assets and properties situated in California. Even worst, sometimes parties even…
IN the last column, we covered how to obtain a domestic violence restraining order. In short, a domestic violence restraining order is a legal document from the court that states…
”In your case, it appears you are eligible to obtain a green card. You are a principal beneficiary of an I-130 petition filed by your US citizen mother.” DEAR Attorney…
IN a divorce proceeding, people sometimes have a misconception that the only assets or properties that have to disclose assets and properties situated in California. Even worst, sometimes parties even…
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…
WHEN applying for almost all USCIS benefits, the USCIS usually requires a person to have a valid, unexpired passport. This is especially true in connection with adjustment of status or…
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…
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…
ON August 13, 2018, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, which is just below the U.S. Supreme Court, saved a person from deportation by concluding his “father” was a U.S….
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…
DEAR Attorney Tan, I have an approved I-140 immigrant petition which was filed by Company A on my behalf. Company A would like to employ me as a bookkeeper. …
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 by…
ON August 16, 2018, Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions issued an opinion, to be binding on all immigration courts, on when an immigration judge may grant a continuance of deportation/removal proceedings,…
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…
A GREEN CARD holder can travel outside the U.S. and return with some limitations. If a green card holder is outside the U.S. for an extended period of time, he…
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…
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…
By: Lou Marie Reyes IT is generally taboo to talk about domestic violence within the Filipino community due to certain values and norms that may shape our perceptions about relationships and…
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…
BENEFICIARY spouse of marriage based immigrant petition’s where the marriage was less than 2 years old at the time of the immigrant visa or status was approved are issued a…
About 3.8 million Asians and Pacific Islanders rely on forms of public benefit The White House may go forth with a rule change that would give legal immigrants looking to gain…
