QUESTION: I have a friend that was ‘visited’ by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. They told him that he had no rights and that he was going to detention for 20 years unless he signed the voluntary deportation papers. Is this true? Answer: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (or ICE) is a U.S. federal…
YOU may choose to run your business as a partnership. A Partnership is an association of two or more persons as co-owners who intend to carry on a business for profit. Each person must contribute money, property, labor, or skill. Mere co-ownership of property that is leased or rented is not a partnership. Spouses carrying…
WHEN you are facing money troubles, sometimes bankruptcy can be the quickest and best way to get out of debt and get immediate relief from stress and anxiety. But is it really worth it? If you are facing a lawsuit, wage garnishment or foreclosure, you may not have a choice to file bankruptcy right away…
In the wake of President Donald Trump’s self-serving assertion that any unflattering media reports about him are “fake news,” CNN, which has been among Trump’s most persistent critics, has launched an ad campaign on the theme, “Facts First.” The visual device is an apple. The voice-over announcer intones, “This is an apple.” He then continues…
NEWS ANCHOR. That is my job title. I present the news every day. You see me on camera leading in to stories or doing live interviews, moderating debates, and weaving all the stories together. BUT I am in the safety and convenience of our studio. Behind the cameras are the true newsmen who go out wherever the…
WE know people who recovered from a stroke, survived a cancer, or escaped a fatal accident. We may think that they have learned and lived the most spoken lesson that “life is short and we must live each day as if it is our last.” But they will honestly tell you that it’s not always…
Reconnecting with my friends in the Philippines is always such a wonderful opportunity. I was so happy when Jestoni Alarcon and his wife Lizette invited me over for a dinner in an exclusive Japanese restaurant in Eastwood City. It was so nice to see the couple after a long time. We reminisced the good old…
After two decades and 5 years since its inception in 1992, PACCAL, (the Pan American Concerned Citizens Action League, Inc.), has productively carried out its advocacy and successfully achieved its goal in assisting the community through its various services. A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, PACCAL holds the distinction of being the only Providing Agency duly recognized…
After two decades and 5 years since its inception in 1992, PACCAL, (the Pan American Concerned Citizens Action League, Inc.), has productively carried out its advocacy and successfully achieved its goal in assisting the community through its various services. A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, PACCAL holds the distinction of being the only Providing Agency duly recognized…
DEAR Attorney Gurfinkel: I have been out of status in the U.S. since 2010. I’ve been separated from my husband since 2003, and he already has another family in the Philippines. I have a boyfriend here in the U.S., and we have been living together for about two years. We’re planning to get married, but…
“ Instead of marrying the biological parent, the U.S. citizen petitioner can just file a fiancé petition for the biological parent.” 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 immigrant petition for a stepchild, the…
Today, about 1.25 billion people smoke cigarettes, and one billion deaths from tobacco-related illness are expected, ten times more compared to the toll in the 20th century. The deadly habit accounts for one in five (or 1.4 million) cancer deaths all over the world annually. Each year around the world, 10.9 million tobacco-related cancer of…
PENALTY could still be relived even if you fail to file your tax returns and pay taxes owed if you have reasonable cause. How to establish reasonable cause • Facts. Provide facts, situations, circumstances that have not allowed you to file your tax return timely and pay taxes owed. • Ability. How the facts, situations,…
ACCUMULATING debt is the easiest thing you can do in America. Even your dog can get credit cards with a fake social security number. If you are an immigrant and just arrived, you will have no history of credit here. Chances are that in your country of origin, you probably had no credit card debt,…
Documentary airs on November 12 “BALITANG AMERICA” (BA), the daily newscast of ABS-CBN International’s The Filipino Channel, is celebrating its 15th year and has become the leading source for Filipinos in North America. BA is a 30-minute newscast aired daily from Mondays to Fridays that presents news stories about Filipinos in North America, as well…
“Generally, it is safe to work, study, do business, and travel in the Philippines.” This was what newly appointed Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque assured foreign embassies following the fresh travel advisory issued by the Australian government against the Philippines. In its advisory, the Australian government cautioned its citizens on the Philippines’ safety or security risks….
MANILA (November 3, 2017) Season 2 of Asia’s Got Talent is revealing even more talent from the Philippines! Meet this group of cheeky dancers who calls themselves ‘The Stripboys’. They joined Asia’s Got Talent to prove that stripping is a form of expression, and not necessarily a negative thing. “That was fun! Well boys, I…
One of the nation’s largest electric utilities, Southern California Edison (SCE), released on Tuesday, October 31, a strategic framework to help California meet climate and air quality goals by 2030. “We are very committed to helping the state in its efforts to fight climate change and reduce air pollution,” said Pedro Pizarro, president and chief…
CESAR Astorga worked as a maintenance supervisor at Snap-On Logistics Co., a power tools manufacturer. In 2002, while working, Cesar’s knees were injured when he fell from a scissor lift. He was absent from work a total of 9 1/2 months. In 2009, a 100-pound motor at work fell on him, further aggravating his knee…
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 think that since an asset or property is situated in a different country or state, that property is not community property and not subject to…
YOU have seen businesses with “LLC” after their names. That LLC refers to Limited Liability Company which is a hybrid that combines the pass-through attributes of a partnership with the limited liability of a corporation. Fortunately, it combines the best of worlds of partnerships and corporations. The owners are called “members” who hold “interests” and…
JUST a mention of the word “bankruptcy” is enough to scare some people to death. Their minds are immediately filled with horror pictures of creditors taking away their home, business, savings, retirement plans and everything that they have worked so hard for. They imagine themselves hiding in shame from everyone or being put in a…
WE hear this a lot: Just keep repeating a lie, over and over, and people will believe it. A falsehood being told, people will still believe the lie if it’s repeated enough. Apparently, this has some scientific backing as evidenced by a 2015 Vanderbilt University study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology. This scientific…
IN the midst of the hype of the Dodgers games this past week, I felt a deep longing for my parents’ presence. Perhaps it’s because it’s that time of the year in the Church when we especially remember our deceased family members and friends. And so, on my day-off last Monday, I went to my…
It’s GAME ON for the remaining Binibining Pilipinas winners who are set to compete for their respective titles. With Philippine candidate Elizabeth Clenci being the first to fly off to Vietnam, where she was named Miss Grand International Second Runner-up, the pressure is surely heating up for the remaining six candidates including Miss World Philippines…
THE remaining days of our Western Europe tour seemed numbered after having covered vast areas in Spain and Portugal but enthusiasm grew even enormously zestful every passing day after having explored and visited various places with diverse historical and religious background we’re vaguely knowledgeable. Sunday, October 8: Burgos, Spain to Lourdes, France Lourdes, France, a…
THE remaining days of our Western Europe tour seemed numbered after having covered vast areas in Spain and Portugal but enthusiasm grew even enormously zestful every passing day after having explored and visited various places with diverse historical and religious background we’re vaguely knowledgeable. Sunday, October 8: Burgos, Spain to Lourdes, France Lourdes, France, a…
SINCE about 2004, USCIS had a policy that if an initial H-1B petition was approved, and the alien later applied for an extension, the officer adjudicating the extension was to show deference (respect for another person because of that person’s knowledge, experience, etc.), except in the limited circumstances where the officer processing the extension determined…
IN the past few months, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that, beginning October 1, 2017, it will expand in-person interviews for employment-based adjustment of status (“AOS” or “green card”) applicants. Historically, since the 1990s, USCIS adjudicated employment-based green card applications at service centers, without in-person interviews. The recent change in policy and…
At the 103rd Annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) last week in San Diego, California, I met several surgeons from the Philippines who flew in to attend congress. As a Fil-Am surgeon, I always enjoy and savor meeting my colleagues from my native land. One of them happened to be an…
