Is inherited IRA exempt in bankruptcy?
NOT many people know that parents can transfer their retirement accounts such as 401k and IRA to their children tax free. For instance, you have a 401k of $150,000. At…
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Dr. Ruth Elynia S. Mabanglo, Multi-awarded Poet and Presidential Awardee
CONSIDERED as one of the leading female Filipino poets of our time, Dr. Ruth Elynia S. Mabanglo’s success did not come easy. If you read her biography, it seems as…
The December 2012 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…
Retrospection
WITH only a few days left before 2012 officially ends, Asian Journal would like to look back into the most significant events that have ensued in this Year of the…
The gift of family
SCENES of my own family gathering last Christmas still live in my mind: the joyful noises of my nephews and nieces running around the house; the circle of siblings and…
The R-1 Religious Visa
Question: I am a priest. Can I get a visa to come to the US? Answer: Yes. You would have to fall under the definition of a minister and be…
Do drugs really expire?
As expensive as medications are today, this question is most relevant. And even if they were free, no one would want to throw away and waste such valuable items if…
2012 Newsmakers and Headliners
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…
Give a child a gun for Christmas?
In the wake of the pre-Christmas massacre of 20 school children and 6 teachers and school officials in Connecticut, National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre is once more being portrayed…
2012 Newsmakers and Headliners
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…
When would marriage hurt my petition?
(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…
Aquino’s triumphs could make the Philippines a rising Asian star
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…
Just the start
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…
‘Yay, Obama!’
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…
The spirit of the season
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…
Are you feeling hopeless about your debt problems?
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…
The Driving Force Behind LADOT
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…
Should you be paid more for working on holidays?
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…
How to behave during an IRS audit: 20 Don’ts
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….
Mortgage debt relief act one step closer to an extension
“ 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….
Autistic debtor discharges student loans
“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…
Filipina RN denied green card through employer petition for failure to maintain H1-B status
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…
The blessings of the centennial year
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…
Endings/beginnings
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…
What do I have to be thankful for this year?
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….
December nightmares . . .the bleakest Christmas
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…
December nightmares . . .the bleakest Christmas
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…
Chewing sugarless gum can help prevent cavities
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…
Colon cleansing scam
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”…
Employer’s ability to pay in hiring foreign workers
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…