USCIS’ draft policy guidance on extreme hardship
AS you may be aware, an alien seeking permanent residency status in the US must be “admissible” to the US. Admissibility means the ability of an alien to receive a…
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10 tips on excluding gain from the sale of your home
• AMOUNT of exclusion. When you have gain from the sale of your home, you may be able to exclude up to $250,000 of the gain from your income. The…
4 ways to get out of debt
WHEN people are going through financial difficulty and are unable to pay their bills, their first reaction is often to ignore their debts and avoid contact with creditors. They think…
After San Bernardino mass shooting: more Fil-Ams want stricter gun control laws in the US
FOURTEEN people were killed and 21 others wounded when a couple opened fire in San Bernardino, California last Wednesday, Dec. 2. FBI Director James Comey said they uncovered “indications of…
The spellbound lure of awards
IT is not just the celebrity allure. It’s the cut above all. It’s the public acclaim, the attention, the limelight. Every time you turn around, someone’s winning an award for…
A contemplative heart in this advent season
WE don’t often think of Church as contemplative. We think of it more as an active and engaging Church that deals with setting goals and planning ways to transform the…
Duterte’s charisma
I am glad I was in Century Plaza Hotel when Rody Duterte made the speech peppered with cursing and cusswords. To the audience, mostly the marginalized sectors of society he…
GOP says no to new gun control legislation
After San Bernardino attacks, lack of action in Congress REPUBLICANS in Congress announced on Thursday, Dec. 3 that they would not take immediate action to bring up new gun control…
I owe the IRS – what can I do?
HERE 10 tips if you owe but cannot immediately pay the IRS: • Pay What You Can: Pay promptly to stop additional penalties and interest from accruing. If you are…
You have a right to affordable and high quality health care
AS the Chair of the California State Assembly Health Committee, I believe that affordable, accessible, and high quality health care coverage is a right, not a privilege. Having true access…
Pesticides and blood cancers
Toxic chemicals commonly used in almost all homes could cause various diseases, including cancers. At least a dozen of chemical agents are found in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry area, and…
Statement on the Affordable Care Act
Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted five years ago, thousands of Nevadans have gained access to the affordable health care they need and deserve. The health and wellbeing…
Considerations for dental patients with special needs
FOR both children and adults with special needs, dental care can be challenging. In some cases, limited coordination can make brushing and flossing tricky. In other cases there may be…
No fraud waiver needed, despite fraud
ORDINARILY, when a person commits fraud or makes a misrepresentation in connection with applying for an immigration benefit, the person is required to file a fraud waiver (Form I –…
Visa options for victims of domestic violence or crime
VICTIMS of domestic violence or certain crimes are granted immigration benefits so they can remain in the United States to reside and work here. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)…
The stars behind political candidates
There is no question that one way to attract people to vote for a particular candidate, is to have a big star to endorse him. In next year’s Philippine election,…
Searching for heroes? Here’s a compilation
Why aren’t enough movies like Heneral Luna being made? Because, as this book is titled, they’re “Stories Rarely Told.” Reader C. Soriano must have been so affected by Sat. late…
Zuckerberg and wife to give away 99% of Facebook shares
Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook co-founder and chief executive, announced Tuesday, Dec. 1, that he and his wife will give away 99 percent of their shares in the company—which are currently worth…
Relief from default in divorce cases
THERE are situations in both Divorce and Child Support cases where the Summons and Petition resulted to a default against one party for failing to respond on time. In certain…
How the average Pinoys regard the Spratlys conflict
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III has been excoriated for his handling of the festering conflict with China over the Spratlys. From losing trading revenues to being pulverized in a shooting…
Roxas and Duterte tied as Fil-Ams’ top favorites for president
Will this change with the new Duterte controversies? AFTER previous denials of his intent to join the race to Malacañang, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has finally declared his candidacy…
Self-destructive
“THE people of the Philippines are not ready for my kind of style,” Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte warned in September when he turned down ardent calls by his supporters…
Six years of bruised souls
Yards and yards of written papers spilled into violent paragraphs. There were pitiless accusations and vehement invectives that tried to open the eyes of those who do not want to…
White House strengthens visa waiver program
THE White House announced changes to a visa waiver program aimed at securely screening migrants from 38 nations not required to get visas before traveling to the US. In light…
US Marine guilty of Laude murder
Faces up to 12 years in prison JOSEPH Scott Pemberton, the US Marine Private First Class charged with murder for the death of Filipina transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude in October…
Clients with long pending loan modifications that do not stop foreclosure resort to Chapter 13
“ Chapter 13 does not exclude or kill the loan modification process. In fact, Chapter 13 enhances debtor’s chances of successfully resolving her claim of fraud with the bank. Under…
Can your employer fire you if you are not ‘100% healthy to work’?
RAYMOND Adame was a machine mechanic for Alcoa Fastening Systems and has worked there for more than 30 years. He was seriously injured at work and had to take a…
Do you feel like you’re stuck in debt forever?
A LOT of people who consult with me about their debt problems are going through the worst time of their lives. Unlike other problems in life that sometimes just go…
Tax consequences of divorce on non-custodial parents
CONSIDER the common divorce scenario where the divorce judgment provides primary custody of the children to one spouse while the other spouse only gets visitation. The parties begin to file…
Filipino crewman on CI/D granted waiver for immigrant visa
BY Approval Notice dated October 30, 2015, the USCIS granted Form I-601A Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver to a Filipino crewman, who is married to a US citizen spouse. Roman P….