Will I be deported if I lose my asylum case?
QUESTION: I will be applying for asylum. I’m not exactly sure of the process, but if I lose, will I be deported? Answer: Clients who have arrived in the United…
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Foreign earned income exclusion
ARE you a U.S. citizen or resident working in a foreign country? Did you declare your foreign income? Did you even file a tax return? Or are you hiding from…
Tax problems? Don’t let the IRS ruin your life!
IS the government after you for huge unpaid taxes that you cannot afford to pay? Do you get sick to your stomach not knowing what the government will do next…
Trump wants to stop insurance payments for those subsidized by Obamacare
WARNING: If you are among the 7 million people, or 58 percent, of those who signed up for Obamacare coverage for 2017 and qualify for cost-sharing subsidies, then you may…
Miss Virginia Cu’s prime and her full-circled pedagogical life
Teaching is considered the noblest of all professions since all professionals, highly skilled or merely trained, underwent education with a teacher. What profession can be more gratifying and satisfying then…
A remembrance of her Filipino heritage
Author Cristie Locsin writes about change and possibilities in “The Value of Equality” WHEN writers make fiction, many would expect that they would go beyond what is expected of them…
Permanent residents can petition their spouse and unmarried children
MANY legal permanent residents (LPR or green card holders) mistakenly believe only US citizens can petition family members. Even after they obtain their green cards, they still wait many years…
What to do if ICE comes to your home, workplace or public space
ON April 10, 2017, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) released a “Know Your Rights Handouts” available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Portuguese to inform the public about…
DACA recipients who can adjust status
A non resident alien who marries a U.S. citizen or has a U.S. citizen child who turns 21, or a parent who becomes a U.S. citizen before the alien turns…
Sleep less and get fat
An important study conducted at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia showed that people who sleep less tend to weigh heavier than those who sleep more. The clinical…
The soldier
If I could, I would look into the hearts of soldiers and try to know their stories. Why are they fighting? Who will tell them (if the reasons exist) who…
What’s new: Death of a taxpayer
ESTATE and gift tax basics • Form 706 must be filed: 1) To elect portability regardless of the size of estate, to transfer deceased spouse unused exemption (DSUE) to surviving…
Cigarettes: The macho killers
SOME years ago, I was asked to create an ad campaign to debunk the argument that a non-smoking section in restaurants and other public places could spare non-smokers from the…
Reversing his long-held position, Trump strikes Syria: What changed?
Amid his historic 35 percent approval rating and an ongoing investigation into his alleged conspiracy with Russia to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, President Donald Trump ordered a…
A call for piety
“MAY the virtues of kindness and benevolence that Christ exemplified serve as our inspiration to aid in the plight of our less fortunate fellowmen. Let the story of crucifixion challenge…
One is a lonely number
LAS VEGAS – On this heated and dry day in April, the whole city is breathing and heaving like a tired beast. On the strip that controls all the luxurious…
On observing Holy Week
ARE you ready for Holy Week? Are you ready to enter deeply into the mysteries of our faith–the passion, death, and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ? Are your hearts…
Common misconceptions about bankruptcy part 2
(Part 2 of 2) HERE are some more misconceptions about bankruptcy that we did not discuss last week: 1. Will I lose my house? Normally, debtors get to keep their…
Should employees be paid for doing tasks while not clocked in?
Q: I WORK as a “team member” in the service industry in Los Angeles. Before we clock-in for our shift, we are required to attend a “huddle,” or a meeting…
Trump’s revised travel ban executive order is halted
QUESTION: I know that Trump issued a second executive order. What is happening with this one? Answer: The District Judge in Hawaii has ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. In…
Debt problems: What to do when you don’t know what to do
ARE your debts keeping you up at night? Are you always worried about money? Are you barely surviving and can’t even keep up with minimum payments on your credit cards?…
Why I became a citizen at 79
by Florencio Sunga Mallari, Sr. IN March 2008, my life took a big turn when I moved to the United States from the Philippines. I was full of hope as…
Despite Democrats’ filibuster, Trump’s nominee for Supreme Court Neil Gorsuch now confirmed after Senate Republicans fire back with ‘nuclear option’
AFTER more than a year of contentious debate over who should succeed the late conservative Justice Antonin Scalia in the Supreme Court, the Senate on Friday, April 7 confirmed President…
Supporting public media
After a very contentious election last year, I am hopeful that we can set aside the partisan bickering that has plagued the halls of government throughout our great nation. In…
Undocumented parents — what you need to know
Recent developments in immigration law have certainly caused a great deal of fear and worry among immigrant families. Fear can either propel to action or can immobilize and paralyze. In…
Angelo Antonio Maristela, Renaissance-bred artist
In the realm of the art world, realism has been accurately considered the highest form of painting creativity due to the proximity of the art work to the original appearance…
The meaning of Holy Week
For Christians, Holy Week is definitely a very sacred time of the year. Starting on Palm Sunday onto Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday; it is a time…
Interesting facts about Easter Sunday
Easter is the Sunday that marks the end of the Holy Week and is greatly influenced by the Christian faith as it reminds believers to remember the sacrifice of the…
Filipino traditions and practices during Holy week
In a country where Roman Catholics make up 81 percent of the population, it is no surprise that Filipinos have numerous traditional events during Holy Week. In the early days,…
Is it safer to travel by bus or plane?
DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: I overstayed my visa, and am now out of status (TNT). I’m living in California, and want to visit my relatives on the East Coast. I’m afraid…