Can I obtain a divorce if my spouse refuse to sign?
THERE seems to be a misconception in the general public that you can only obtain a divorce in California if your spouse will sign the divorce papers. I get this…
Category: Immigration
Covering the week’s most noteworthy immigration news impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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Speaker Paul Ryan rejects GOP effort to force vote on DACA
Republican Congress members attempt to expedite vote on several bills designed to protect DACA recipients On Thursday, May 9, House Speaker Paul Ryan rejected an attempted bypass of his leadership…
Titanic problems
ALMOST every Filipino has seen the movie Titanic, the story of Jack and Rose who sailed that doomed ship, which hit an iceberg and sank. During consultations, I sometimes compare…
California divorce frequently asked questions
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…
New border enforcement policy will separate children from parents
Parents who are criminally charged will be referred to federal court while their children will be placed in government custody In order to tighten up immigration enforcement, the Trump administration…
Automatically acquiring US citizenship
THERE are opportunities in the immigration laws for an individual to automatically become a United States citizen. As U.S. citizenship bestows tremendous benefits, it is important for individuals to know…
Can a divorcing couple agree to pay for their adult children’s college expenses in their divorce judgment?
DIVORCING couples with children sometimes worry about who is going to pay for their children’s college education after the divorce once their children graduates high school. They want a guarantee…
Immigration news updates: DACA and visa applications
“The DS-260 Immigrant Visa Application are very important submissions and should be reviewed and answered carefully by the applicant.” UPDATES on DACA. Last week, the U.S. District Court…
It is now easier for fathers to transmit citizenship to children out of wedlock
U.S. immigration law allows citizen parents to “transmit” or pass on U.S. citizenship to their children born abroad, provided certain requirements are met. One requirement for U.S. citizen fathers to…
Third version of Trump’s travel ban reaches Supreme Court with intense arguments
After months of lower court battles, the third and current version of President Donald Trump’s travel ban reached the Supreme Court on Wednesday, April 25 where heated arguments revolved around…
Complexities of criminal issues in immigration
THE Department of Homeland Security (DHS) states that one of their greatest priorities is to arrest and deport individuals with criminal convictions. Since the start of the Trump administration, the…
Preventing abondonment of your green card due to travel abroad
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…
PH gov’t to use ‘every opportunity to uphold, protect’ OFWs’ rights
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte assured the public that the government will seize all opportunities to uphold and protect the rights of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). “Rest assured that your government…
How courts determine child custody in california
ONE of the most emotional aspect of a marital dissolution case is dealing with Child custody issues. Sadly enough, this is an area where most parents play games with each…
You should consider finding a US employer for your spouse back home if you can’t get legal status
Dear Attorney Gurfinkel: I came to the U.S. many years ago, and am out of status. I have now been away from my spouse and children for many years, and…
President Duterte to champion plight of migrant workers during ASEAN Summit
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Thursday, April 26, pledged to advance the plight of migrant workers during the 32nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Singapore. In his…
Federal judge ruling: US must continue DACA
Judge John D. Bates joins other federal judges in support of the Obama-era program that provides benefits to undocumented youth The Trump administration has been dealt with yet another blow…
Consider finding a US employer for your spouse back home if you can’t get legal status
DEAR Attorney Gurfinkel: I came to the U.S. many years ago, and am out of status. I have now been away from my spouse and children for many years, and…
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…
May 2018 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…
California divorce 101
NEW Year, new resolutions, new life. For some of you, the New Year is a time for reflection, and to realize that changes are needed to be able to lead…
US Supreme Court deems deportation law ‘vague’ in decision involving Filipino
The U.S. Supreme Court said Tuesday, April 17, that the part of a federal law that allows easier deportation of immigrants was too vague, impeding the Trump administration’s efforts in…
Seven things you should not do when served with divorce papers by your spouse
FOR most people, being served with divorce papers by your spouse is probably one of the biggest surprises in your life. The spouse in the receiving end of the divorce…
President Duterte assures gov’t taking steps to end abuse on OFWs
DAVAO CITY – President Rodrigo Roa Durerte on Saturday, April 14, assured that the government is taking steps to end the abuse on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle…
USCIS to destroy undeliverable green cards and work authorizations
ON April 3, 2018, the USCIS announced that it will start destroying green cards and work authorizations that are returned to it as “undeliverable.” If the document is returned, the…
Will incorporating a separate property business during marriage make it community property?
YOU own a successful business, as a sole proprietor, prior to marriage. You later meet the love of your life and decide to marry her. Years into the marriage, you…
President Duterte’s China trip yields 10,000 new jobs for Filipinos
DAVAO CITY—President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on early Friday morning, April 13, arrived from his visit to China and Hong Kong, underscoring that his visit would yield 10,000 jobs for Filipinos….
E-2 treaty investor visa allows for stay in US along with family
DEAR Attorney Tan,I WOULD like to know if there is any way for my family and I to stay in the US if I invest in a US business. While…
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…
Trump wants to speed up deportations
SINCE becoming president, Donald Trump has made several significant changes to make it easier for the government to deport more people. In fact, when he originally announced he was running…