They seemingly destined to create a bombastic blast and indelibly stamp their unprecedented marks in the annals of the field they’re known for in 2012. The year saw a long roster of remarkable achievers, disheartening catastrophes, untimely demises, and significant triumphs that made up a list of news makers and headliners. Topping the list is…
(PART II) In a previous article, I discussed various situations where marriage would affect a person’s eligibility for a visa, and situations where it might be advantageous to marry before being processed for the green card. Here are some more situations dealing with the effect of a marriage on a person’s eligibility for a visa:…
President Benigno Aquino III has just achieved a triumph that has eluded every Filipino President in our history and matches, and perhaps exceeds, the triumphs of America’s most successful President in the twentieth century, FDR. Against all odds, President Aquino took on and bested the Catholic Church, the tobacco industry, the liquor industry, Filipino billionaires,…
As of this writing, the world didn’t come to an end as doomsday predictors had it on December 21. There were no catastrophic solar flares or population-eating earthquakes. We were not engulfed by terrifying tsunamis; an unseen planet didn’t come out of nowhere to crash into the earth; to state the obvious, the disasters came…
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program was introduced in June 2012 and was implemented August 15, 2012. Within just one month of the program’s start date, the USCIS had reported that it had received more than 75,000 applications for deferred action status (DAS) and work authorization under DACA. Although experts had predicted that…
SINCE it’s that time of the year again – the season for sharing, giving and hope, we are holding off on the issues, the politics, the disputes, the arguments and everything else disheartening. Instead, the Asian Journal would like to take this opportunity to focus on the good things that 2012 has brought upon us, before she…
We are now living in the worst economy since the Great Depression. With millions of people being unemployed and struggling with foreclosure, debt problems have become common. Of course, debt is a very personal matter so most people don’t talk about it. You may not realize this but chances are that someone close to you,…
It has been said that Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa chooses only the best and the brightest to work for him. Thus, when he announced last year that our kababayan Jaime de la Vega was his nominee for General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), it proves that de la Vega…
Q: I WILL be working on Christmas and New Year days. Am I entitled to holiday pay? A: Hours worked on holidays are treated like hours worked on any other day of the week. The law does not require payment of overtime or other special premiums for work during holidays, unless such work goes beyond…
1. DON’T ignore the IRS. 2. Don’t mess with the IRS. 3. Don’t go to your appointment unprepared. 4. Don’t be late for the appointment. 5. Don’t volunteer information. 6. Don’t be condescending of education, experience, age, or gender. 7. Don’t be arrogant, even if you clearly have an upper hand. 8. Don’t flaunt your…
“ The mortgage debt relief extension ultimately could affect millions of families who are underwater on their loans, delinquent on their payments and heading for foreclosure, short sales or deeds-in-lieu-of-foreclosure settlements. Under the federal tax code, all types of forgiven debt are treated as ordinary income, subject to regular tax rates.” SOME encouraging news for financially…
“In Re Todd, the 63-year old debtor had an autism disorder since early childhood. The court described the debtor as articulate and intelligent. If one were to read select portions of the transcript without having watched the trial, one might be fooled into thinking that she can function normally. But that conclusion would be a…
A FILIPINA registered nurse licensed in California, her husband, and minor son are in removal proceedings with the Los Angeles Immigration Court ( I.J. Philip J. Costa) because their applications for adjustment of status to permanent residence were denied, despite approval of the underlying employer’s Form I-140 immigrant visa petition for her. The ground for…
I FEEL so blessed! This has been my sentiment during the past days of Advent. I feel blessed because of having been a historic and significant part of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church for almost eleven years now, especially in its centennial year. These years of service went by so quickly; and every year brought…
SINCE you’re reading this, it means the world did not end on December 21, 2012, as predicted by the Mayans. However, our troubles are far from over. On Thursday, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) surprisingly faced rejection from Republicans for legislation which would have raised taxes for Americans earning incomes above $1 million. “What Boehner…
QUESTION: I have been fighting for years to obtain residency and it seems like a never ending battle. I’m getting down and don’t really know if I want to continue. Any help? Answer: Well, there have been some very good developments over the last year. First, there is DACA to allow people under 30 to…
Just when the whole world is pre-occupied with the traditional holiday shopping and busy finalizing plans for the yuletide season, twenty six families together with their relatives and friends were suddenly thrown into an abysmal situation following a horrifying carnage that on the morning of Dec. 14 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT….
Just when the whole world is pre-occupied with the traditional holiday shopping and busy finalizing plans for the yuletide season, twenty six families together with their relatives and friends were suddenly thrown into an abysmal situation following a horrifying carnage that on the morning of Dec. 14 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT….
THERE ARE LOTS OF REASONS people chew gum. For some, perhaps it’s just a long-standing habit. But ever since a man named Thomas Adams invented chewing gum back in 1870 it’s been used to freshen breath and relieve nervousness too. But did you know… Chewing Sugarless Gum Can Help Prevent Cavities! That’s right. Chewing sugarless…
The Snake Oil racket of the 15th century pales in comparison to the billion dollar global health scams of today. Fueled by people’s everlasting search for the “Fountain of Youth” to stay younger and live longer, the obsession unwittingly drives gullible people to fall victims to the merchants of the modern “snake oils” of the…
An employer need not be a Fortune 500 company, have been in business for decades or employ dozens of workers in order to sponsor an alien to work for its company in the United States. While the bigger and more stable companies would certainly qualify to sponsor an alien for employment in the United States,…
It is coming again, a feeling familiar to us all. Walking around the metro, the lights and sounds are in full blast. There is a chill that mixes with the look of innate happiness exuded by people hurrying to get to the places where they ought to be. Parties are sprouting everywhere; a celebration of…
THE debate over the United States economy and dearth of high-tech workers has spotlighted the H-1B professional working visa in the press. Congress raised the number of visas available in 1998, but INS probably still issued too many. While a powerful business lobby, with the support of large companies, has been very influential in obtaining…
The shock waves of Manny Pacquiao’s loss to equally-prized fighter, Juan Manuel Marquez, still continues to be felt all over, especially in the Philippines. Even the Donaire win over Jorge Arce cannot erase some incidents surrounding Pacquiao’s loss. It has been weeks after the fight, but the aftershocks remain. One of this unfortunate incident was…
AMERICA deeply mourns the death of 20 innocent young children (between six and seven years old) and the 7 adults, who were ruthlessly gunned down by one deranged young man in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut on Friday, December 14. “I am very mindful that mere words cannot match the depths of your…
AFTER weeks of excruciating debates, the Philippine Congress reached a verdict to pass the Reproductive Health (RH) bill on Dec. 17. Voting 13-8 in favor of the bill, the Senate approved Bill No. 2865 on its third and final reading. The House of Representatives meanwhile, voted 133-79 to pass the measure also on its third…
IF YOU are searching for debt reduction solutions, no doubt you’ve been inundated with advertisements for various debt management programs, companies and solutions. The choices seem confusing to the average consumer. The truth is that every situation is different and what may work perfectly for others is not necessarily going to work the same way…
Consistent with President Obama’s historic visit to Burma (Myanmar) on November 19th and Burmese opposition leader Aung San SuuKyi’s call for responsible investments in Burma, the National Asian American Coalition (NAAC) met with U.S. Ambassador to Burma, Derek Mitchell, in Yangon, Burma, four days after the President’s visit. As one of our nation’s largest Pan…
A lawful permanent resident (LPR) is authorized to live and work in the US on a permanent basis. An LPR is allowed automatic entry into the US after short trips abroad. However, there are instances when an LPR who is returning from a trip abroad is not automatically allowed entry but is instead considered as…
FILIPINO fashionistas know all about Filipino-American clothing designer, Josie Natori and her iconic Natori brand. However, only few know how she accomplished the American Dream. Recently, Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine named the 64-year-old Fil-Am designer as one of its “7 Self-Made Immigrant Millionaires.” The Philippine native was among the millionaires and one billionaire, Kiplinger featured…
