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…
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Dr. Google and Cyberchondriacs
The advent of the computer and cyberspace technology has led to the explosion of, and instant access to, seemingly endless volumes of information in the various fields of human endeavor,…
Tipping point
“WE are proud of the progress we have made, but we are not satisfied with just this. We Filipinos know just how much potential this country has and we are…
H-1B cap update for FY 2013
THE H-1B visa quota for FY 2013 officially opened up on Sunday, April 1, 2012, making 65,000 new H-1B regular visa numbers available for new employment beginning on October 1,…
Pay must be commensurate to productivity
THE Sixth Commandment is “pay must be based on contribution to the business”. Lance Gokongwei said that in order for the family member to live and think independently, the family…
A floral procession for everyone
It is May again and it bursts with the fresh spunk of festivals. Shining among the festivities of this month is the observation of the Flores De Mayo. This tradition…
Home prices finally hitting rock bottom: Is this the time to buy?
ZILLOW’S first-quarter home value report found that home values posted their biggest monthly gain since 2006 last month, rising 0.5% nationwide. The data show that 19 of the 30 largest…
Preaching preventive measures
As one of the most disaster-prone areas in Southeast Asia, the Philippines’ efforts in disaster risk reduction (DRR) did not go unnoticed. The country has recently caught the attention of…
On speaking with authority
I STILL think fondly of the intimate Mass I celebrated last Saturday with my family on my ailing father’s 80th birthday. It was a moment filled with depth, intimacy, laughter,…
Ang Mamatay Nang Dahil Sa Iyo
I had a bad dream. I dreamed that the Chinese invaded the Philippines after the confrontation at West Philippine Sea finally exploded into an all-out war. I dreamed that while…
A Mother’s Day greeting
Mother’s Day is a time when everyone should reflect on all the wonderful things and the sacrifices their mothers have made for them. It is also the time when Mothers…
Tooth enamel damage control
If you think that by brushing and flossing your teeth every day, you’re fulfilling your daily dental obligations, you’re halfway right. The other half involves using the correct techniques, and…
The elusive gold
ONE can win races and break world records, but an Olympic gold medal is still the biggest feat an athlete can accomplish. To conquer the Olympics is every athlete’s dream….
EB-5 Investor Visa program developments
THE USCIS Service Centers have recently received guidance and new instructions for their adjudicators relating to the timing of creating new jobs and explaining the meaning of “full-time” for positions…
Scrambling for low-hanging fruits
TIME flies so fast. I can’t believe it was in 1991 (21 years ago) that I got a call from Freddie Garcia about ABS-CBN’s plan to enter the US market in…
Personal assets should be kept separate from company assets
THERE’S an old saying that may be wiser today than ever: “East is east, and west is west; and never the twain shall meet.” This holds true in the case…
Preserving the Wonder Walled City and the For
The recent news of the inclusion of Fort Santiago and Intramuros to the top 10 list of the Global Heritage Fund’s most endangered historical sites can be a little alarming…
I waited 15 years and now my petitioner died: Now what?
QUESTION: My father petitioned me 15 years ago and it was just about current, but he just died. Now, what happens and can I still come to the US? Answer:…
Pressed for freedom
In a global survey of media independence (conducted by Washington-based Freedom House) the Philippines was able to raise its ranking — from a previous standing of 93, it is now…
An open letter to PH President
Apr 25,2012 His Excellency Benigno S Aquino III President of Philippines Subject: Bring Home our Elderly and Disabled Abroad Dear Mr. President: While you are focused in the economic development…
Is your short sale agent doing a good job for you?
SHORT selling your home is such an important and stressful step in your life and it’s the springboard into your future so you wont have anymore sleepless nights. It is…
Mataw Guro Louelle Lledo Jr., US President’s Volunteer Awardee and Founder of Amara Arkanis
Moving America Through Martial Arts For his extensive work preserving and promoting Filipino Martial Arts in the United States, Luis Rafael ‘Louelle’ Lledo, Jr. received an unexpected award from one…
CA court’s power to make divorce orders
THIS is a common question among people contemplating divorce in California when the other spouse does not live in the state. The California Courts has the power to grant a…
Overusing your visitor’s visa could spell trouble
Dear Atty. Gurfinkel: I have a 10-year multiple B-1/B-2 visa. Recently, I went to the US for a vacation, and was given 6 months to stay in the US by…
Keeping the faith: On Catholic school education
IT’S NOT a secret – US Catholic schools are struggling with low enrollment. Years ago, some children would even be on “waiting list” of acceptance, hoping to get in a…
Over-using your visitor’s visa could spell trouble
Dear Atty. Gurfinkel: I have a 10-year multiple B-1/B-2 visa. Recently, I went to the US for a vacation, and was given 6 months to stay in the US by…
Scary electronic fraud
The mind-boggling advances in wireless technology have ushered in great wonders to the world. Like any good discoveries that are benefiting humanity as a whole, some of these inventions, in…
ICE releases key statistics on prosecutorial discretion
ON April 16, 2012, the US Immigration & Customs Enforcement (USICE) released key statistics regarding its prosecutorial discretion initiative that began last year. Since November 2011, USICE has been reviewing…
The river will be running soon
The Pasig River is a flowing bed of memories. Rivers are known to be carvers of culture and prosperity and the Pasig has been a benevolent entity to countless generations…
Strategic defaulting: A moral issue ?
Dear Ken, WE ARE thinking about walking away from our home. We purchased our home in 2005 for $457,000. In December of 2006 we got a 2nd mortgage HELOC of…