Publications

January 16, 2009
"The US Presidential Inauguration "

What we can learn from the Obama story is that change is possible in our lives. That anything is possible. That one can overcome all obstacles and adversities as long as one has the audacity to hope for a better future for oneself and family.

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January 9, 2009
"Applying for a fiancé visa"

With advances in technology, communications, and travel, meeting people from all over the globe and falling in love becomes easier and the fiancé visa makes it faster for couples to be together in the United States.

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January 2, 2009
"Preparing for your working visa this April 2009"

Unless you’re the luckiest person in the world, you can’t just decide to fly to the United States whenever you wish and hope to find a willing US employer to sponsor you on a working visa and hope to get approved without obstacles in the way. There is nothing like preparation. And to be adequately prepared, you must know these basic rules.

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December 26, 2008
"Does Santa Claus need a visa?"

As I was talking to my auntie about US immigration, my niece, who was listening to our conversation the whole time jumped in and asked me: “Tito Mike, does Santa need a visa?” I usually answer questions without pause especially when its connected to my profession, but there’s always something about the innocence of a child and the questions they ask that even the most learned person will find themselves asking – hmmm, that’s a good question.

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December 12, 2008
"December 2008 Visa Bulletin"

Waiting for your petition takes forever. But when forever comes, you must be ready to process your Immigrant Visa at the U.S. Consulate. To ensure that you’re ready, you must always communicate with USCIS and the U.S. Embassy when you change addresses because the worst thing that can happen is for mail to get lost, and God forbid, that letter from the Embassy informing you that your priority date is current and that you must now submit the Choice of Agent form.

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November 28, 2008
"Investor’s visa without the 1 million dollar investment"

Most people assume that there’s only one type of investor’s visa which enables you to enter the United States. This is the 5th Preference employment-based category which requires an investment of one million dollars. This leads to permanent residency. However, there’s another type -- called the treaty investor visa or the E visa, which enables you to enter the United States to oversee your investment without coughing up one million dollars.

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November 21, 2008
"Humanitarian Reinstatement 101"

If you are a beneficiary of an immigrant petition that was approved prior to the death of the petitioner, your chances of becoming an immigrant could be revived. You must be able to explain why your petition should be reinstated with specificity and be able to support your assertions with documentary evidence.

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November 14, 2008
"A look at U.S. immigration reform"

We have yet to see how successful President-elect Obama will tackle the challenge of reforming, what he calls, a “broken” immigration system. Millions are out there hoping that they will see another amnesty bill or favorable comprehensive reform in their lifetime.

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November 8, 2008
"President-elect Barack Obama’s approach to U.S. Immigration"

Obama wants to create a pathway to U.S. citizenship to those undocumented immigrants who have been working and paying taxes. They would have to pay a penalty, pay taxes, and learn English but would have to fall in the back of the line of those who came to the U.S. legally.

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October 31, 2008
"Asylum is no laughing matter"

U.S. Asylum Officers and Immigration Judges are well informed and trained in socio-political and socio-economic conditions of foreign countries and internationally- recognized human rights. In addition, the U.S. Department of State may provide information relevant to an applicant’s eligibility for asylum.

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October 24, 2008
"Are you an alien deportable from the U.S.?"

As a non-U.S. citizen in the United States, you must always be mindful of what you do in the U.S. especially as it affects and relates to the immigration benefits you were given. You must always keep your immigration record clean so that it will be easy for you to apply for and receive benefits.

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October 17, 2008
"Understanding family-based petitions"

If you ever find yourself in a fortunate position to be a beneficiary of a family-based petition, you must understand that having an immigrant petition filed for you will close the door for non-immigrant visas such as tourist and student visas.

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October 10, 2008
"Working your way to the USA"

It is not enough to just wish to get any job in the U.S. while sacrificing being away from your family and being in a foreign land. You must consider the quality of life you are willing to sacrifice when you get stuck in a job you do not enjoy or does not give you satisfaction all because you are waiting for your greencard.

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October 3, 2008
"Returning your I-94"

When traveling to the United States on a non immigrant visa such as a tourist visa, you will be interviewed by an Immigration Officer at the port-of-entry, or the airport in the United States where you first land. Usually before you land, the flight attendants will hand out a long narrow arrival/departure form which you will have to fill out with your basic information such as name, date of birth, country of citizenship, etc.

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September 27, 2008
"Things you should know when you're denied an immigrant visa at US embassy"

What you should know is that the law protects you and gives you ways to counter the decision. You can revalidate the original visa petition and prove to the consular officer that you deserve and are eligible for the visa.

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September 20, 2008
"Applying for a tourist visa when you have a pending immigrant petition"

You increase your chances of securing a tourist visa, even with a pending immigrant petition, if you make a very strong, thorough, and persuasive showing of family, economic and social ties, and if you come off as a person of integrity and reliability that you will return to the Philippines after your stay.

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September 13, 2008
"Expediting your Immigrant Petition"

A common question I encounter from those who have been petitioned to migrate to the United States by their family members, who are either U.S. Citizens or Legal Permanent Residents, is - “How do I speed up the petition process?” or “Is there any way to expedite my petition?” Before I respond to this, let me just give you a flavor of the long waiting periods for such petitions.

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September 6, 2008
"Re-applying for a non-immigrant US visa"

"For those unfortunate enough to be denied a visa, do not feel like it’s the end of the world. Don’t give up and be hopeful that you still will be able to go to the US at a future time. However, your next application will need a strategic approach and better planning. It’s not just a matter of waiting another six to twelve months to re-apply, as you’ll usually be told."

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