[COLUMN] Permanent residence for crewmen
A common issue for which persons have consulted with me is whether any avenues towards permanent residence exist for a person who entered as a “crewman.” Under INA Section 245(c)(1),…
Category: Immigration
Covering the week’s most noteworthy immigration news impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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[COLUMN] Atty. Gurfinkel answers more immigration questions and concerns in part 2 of episode featuring the Fil-Am South Bay Community
PREVIOUSLY, viewers watched leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel meet with the Fil-Am South Bay Community of San Jose, California, where he highlighted the organization’s mission of supporting one…
[COLUMN] 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…
[COLUMN] Immigration questions of the Fil-Am South Bay Community take centerstage in this Sunday’s special episode of Citizen Pinoy
“CITIZEN Pinoy” features a new episode, where the show’s host, leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel, reaches out to various Filipino American community organizations across the U.S. and gets…
[COLUMN] Lola’s wrong advice resulted in many years of family separation — this Sunday, March 6 on Citizen Pinoy
MIKE (2nd from left) missed the chance to bring his kids to the U.S. due to wrong advice from his well-meaning mother. Mike was petitioned as single by his mother,…
[COLUMN] Immigration questions of the Fil-Am South Bay Community take centerstage in this Sunday’s special episode of Citizen Pinoy
CITIZEN Pinoy features a new episode, where the show’s host, leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel, reaches out to various Filipino American community organizations across the U.S. and gets…
[COLUMN] The immigration journey that took 24 years on an all-new Citizen Pinoy this Sunday, Feb. 20
LEADING U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel presents another brand-new success story, after he provides the latest immigration developments, as featured on his YouTube channel: US Immigration TV. After the…
[COLUMN] Can I get a green card if i had a previous 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…
[COLUMN] Love found on Friendster ends up fulfilling a dream this Sunday, Feb. 13 on Citizen Pinoy
THIS week’s episode of Citizen Pinoy has love at the center of it all, as we introduce viewers to Wendel, a lonely and depressed person until he met Allen on…
[COLUMN] Petition denied at embassy due to fraud for jumping ship on an all-new Citizen Pinoy this Sunday, Feb. 6
On Sunday, February 6, he also features another success story that is inspiring and hopeful. Jun (right) was a crewman who jumped ship and overstayed a few months in the…
[COLUMN] I got my conditional green card through my US citizen spouse but we divorced. Now what?
A person who obtains his/her green card via marriage to a US citizen spouse, and who is married for less than 2 years has conditional permanent resident status. A conditional…
Visas issued despite petitioner’s death this Sunday, Jan. 30 on Citizen Pinoy
ALMITA’S father petitioned her in 2001. However, before her visa was issued, her father died on Christmas Eve of 2014. This resulted in the petition being “revoked.” Her previous lawyer…
Visas issued, despite petitioner’s death, this Sunday, Jan. 23 on Citizen Pinoy
ALMITA’S father petitioned her in 2001. However, before her visa was issued, her father died on Christmas Eve of 2014. This resulted in the petition being “revoked.” Her previous lawyer…
[COLUMN] Told she must leave, Marie was able to receive her green card in the US!
In 2009, Marie’s mother, a green card holder, petitioned Marie in the F2B category. When the priority date on her petition became current, she consulted with at least four attorneys,…
[COLUMN] Told she must leave, Marie was able to receive her green card in US! This Sunday, Jan. 9 on ‘Citizen Pinoy’
In 2009, Marie’s mother, a green card holder, petitioned Marie in the F2B category. When the priority date on her petition became current, she consulted with at least four attorneys,…
[COLUMN] Catch an encore episode of Part 2 of Citizen Pinoy’s very first virtual Q&A on US immigration — AXG: Abunda and Gurfinkel
Asia’s King of Talk, Boy Abunda, and U.S. immigration attorney, Michael J. Gurfinkel, lead the discussion in the first virtual forum where Atty. Gurfinkel provides answers and relevant information to…
[COLUMN] Did you marry a non-Filipino?
WHEN a person is petitioned by a family member or employer, they are ordinarily processed for their immigrant visa or green card based on the priority dates of their country…
[COLUMN] K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa: Getting your significant other to the united states
SEVERAL options exist for a U.S. 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…
[COLUMN] Catch the first installment of Citizen Pinoy’s very first virtual Q&A on U.S. immigration — AXG: Abunda and Gurfinkel
Asia’s King of Talk, Boy Abunda, and leading U.S. immigration attorney, Michael J. Gurfinkel, lead the discussion in the first virtual forum where Atty. Gurfinkel provides answers and relevant information…
[COLUMN] The January 2022 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…
[COLUMN] Family petitioning family for employment-based green card
Many people believe the only way to bring a family member to the U.S. is through a family petition. Auntie Eva started as a caregiver when she first set foot…
[COLUMN] No interview required
ON December 13, 2021 the Department of State (DOS) published a temporary final rule (TFR) allowing consular officers the flexibility or discretion to waive the personal appearance (or interview) of…
[COLUMN] New developments on embassy interviews
THE Department of State (DOS) recently announced a change in policy concerning scheduling of immigrant visa interviews. Previously, immigrant visa interviews were scheduled using a tiered approach to triage immigrant…
[COLUMN] 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…
[COLUMN] Update on embassy interviews
MOST people, with family members or employees stranded overseas waiting for their immigrant visa interviews, will find some ray of hope with the news and updates coming from the Department…
[COLUMN] Removing the conditions of your permanent residence without your petitioning spouse’s participation
A person who obtains his/her green card via marriage to a US citizen spouse, and who is married for less than 2 years has conditional permanent resident status. A conditional…
Attorney General Bonta co-leads multistate coalition in support of DACA
CALIFORNIA Attorney General Rob Bonta is co-leading a coalition of 24 attorneys general in a comment letter in support of the federal government’s efforts to preserve and fortify the Deferred…
[COLUMN] Daddy’s girls finally get their visas this Sunday, Nov. 28 on ‘Citizen Pinoy’
Cathlene (left) and Corinne (2nd from left) were petitioned by their U.S. citizen father while he was living in the Philippines in 2017. By law, a petitioner must be “domiciled”…
[COLUMN] Thanksgiving message
THANKSGIVING is again being celebrated differently this year. Thankfully, although we are still in the midst of a pandemic, we may finally be able to have a gathering of loved…
[COLUMN] How to obtain custody and visitation rights for unmarried dads
Establishing parentage rights for Moms is a lot easier than establishing one for unmarried Dads. Moms can establish this by simply showing proof of her having given birth to the…