God and His dynamic and caring nature
JONATHAN’S innocent face always glows, especially when he serves at Mass and sees me presiding. The glow also comes from being part of an active church and from the utmost…
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The Governor’s dream of high speed rail versus the reality of homeownership
Governor Brown, facing growing pressure to fund programs necessary for California’s future growth has decided to put 2.2 million homeowners facing foreclosure in further distress. Spotting a soft target for…
Corona and the Al Capone solution
I wrote this piece on the eve of the decision that the Senate impeachment court was scheduled to hand down on the case of Chief Justice Renato Corona. It appeared…
Do you have a bona fide marriage?
MARRIAGE to a US citizen is an obvious and well- known method of obtaining legal and permanent residence in the United States. Once married to a US citizen many immigration…
Did you vote for Jessica?
For the past few weeks, Filipinos in the US (and around the world) have followed Jessica Sanchez’s meteoric rise on American Idol. She instantly became a source of pride and…
Vitamin mega dose is dangerous
What is nutriment? The substance in the food we eat that nourishes the body is called nutriment, consisting of micro-and macro-nutrients. Micro-nutrients include vitamins (A, B, C, D, E, etc.)…
Appeals processing from immigration court decisions
EACH year, I consult with hundreds of individuals who have been ordered to leave the US by Immigration Judges. In the vast majority of these cases, the person had applied…
Honorable TNTs
CHIEF Justice Corona has had his day in court. But he has left a lot of questions hanging. But rather than speculate on how he will satisfactorily explain his seemingly…
Back to school and it’s cool
WITH the Philippine school year coming once again to an opening, expect the streets to be a little more crowded and brimming with youthful exuberance. Just imagine rows and rows…
How to establish hardship while preparing for a short sale
IF YOU are considering Short Selling your property now, the first thing your lender will ask of you is what kind of hardship are you going thru? What do you…
Dr. Elizabeth Eugenio-Fildes, 2011 Healthcare Hero and Director of The Nevada Tobacco Users Helpline
THERE are people who are meant to live a life of altruistic service. They are people who dedicate their entire lives to helping and serving others, making vital contributions for…
Taxpayer rights
WITH the immense powers that the government wields over individuals, the founding fathers included in the United States Constitution the Bill of Rights to limit the exercise of governmental powers….
The NEW electronic filing system
QUESTION: I have heard that there is a new electronic filing system at USCIS. Is that true? Answer: It is called USCIS ELIS.USCIS ELIS is a user-friendly system created to…
Everyday: A pentecost moment
THERE can be moments of depth in our everyday lives–times when God reveals something to us or makes us feel his quiet presence. These moments do not have to be…
7th commandment: Being family is no guarantee of employment
Even if your family business is a model of harmony, it’s a good idea to think about how you’ll deal with conflicts before they arise. “There comes a time when…
Don’t delay entering the US with your immigrant visa
Dear Attorney Gurfinkel: I was petitioned by my US citizen father, and after waiting for over 15 years, I was finally interviewed and just received my immigrant visa, which was…
Aphrodisiacs for arousal
What are aphrodisiacs? Aphrodisiacs are prosexual drugs or substances that will heighten libido (sexual desire), orgasm (ecstasy and pleasure) and performance in males and females, not partner specific. Are these…
Prosecutorial discretion
On June 17, 2011, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director John Morton issued a Memorandum to provide guidance on the exercise of prosecutorial discretion (the Morton Memo). “Prosecutorial discretion”…
What constitutes lawful admission to the US?
THE Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) has restored its prior ruling that “admission” for the purposes of a later adjustment of status means a procedurally regular admission, and not an…
4th commandment: ‘No work, no pay’
DOING business with family and friends can be very rewarding. It can also be very complicated and difficult. Anyway, doing business with loved ones has never been a neutral topic. …
Jessica’s moment
This week proves to be the homestretch for Filipino-Mexican-American Jessica Sanchez as American Idol Season 11 comes to a close. This is it and she’s in it to win it….
USCIS Launches Online Immigration System, USCIS ELIS
WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today launched the first phase of its electronic immigration benefits system, known as USCIS ELIS. The system has been created to modernize…
Can I become a US citizen?
QUESTION: I would like to become a US Citizen. What can I do and what are the basic requirements? Answer: These are the basic requirements: Be 18 or older; Be…
Loan modification: Still showing signs of failure
THE worsening housing sector due to homes being underwater still has a great effect of our economies recovery, why are you not hearing this topic more often being resolve than…
Willy Santos, First Filipino-American Pioneer of Skateboarding
HE IS considered the Manny Pacquiao of the skateboarding industry, although Willy Santos has been doing it a lot longer in his sport than the Filipino boxing champ. Unfortunately, Santos…
Eric Cruz, Internationally Acclaimed and Multi-awarded Advertising Creative Director
In the world of advertising, creativity and out-of-the-box thinking is key. There are a lot of excellent copywriters and art directors in the industry, but the creative director strikes the…
Going home during pending green card applications
AS AN immigration officer, I had many emotional experiences and one of my most difficult experiences was when an Iranian applicant came to the Service and requested an advanced parole…
He’s coming back soon!
“PADRE, Jesus regresara pronto, verdad?”, a mentally challenged Korean man asked me in heavily accented Spanish at our church patio. “Si,” I responded without thinking much. Then I mused about…
Dental home care
YOUR personal home care plays an important role in maintaining healthy smile. Your personal home care starts by eating balanced meals, reducing the number of snacks you eat, and correctly using the…
The June 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…