Green Card

Due to the client's extensive international travel requirement, we advised him to maintain valid H4 status as long as statutorily allowed. It is known that recently USCIS is approving green card more quickly and we advised the client to not miss this opportunity to file for green card as quota still opens. He entered in the U.S. in May to file the i-485 and got the approval in July. 

We are aware of the recent change in Korea's birth and marriage certificates in lieu of the family register, therefore, when filing the client's I-485, we specifically requested to provide such certificates from the S. Korean government. This can potentially avoid an RFE on the I-485 requiring applicant to establish parentage and immediate family relationship of applicants. We also documented clearly the admissions/departures and status in the U.S. of each and every applicant. The biometric was done in June and green card approved in July. Clients are very very happy.  

This I-485 was filed in 2007. Fingerprinting was completed in 2007. RFE issued in 2009 and was timely responded. However, quota remains closed. We monitored the visa bulletin diligently. Once it has been open this month, we proactively contacted the Service and invoked the Service memo that directs expeditious adjudication if the case is otherwise approvable except for biometric. We provided the Service an updated job offer confirmation and that no change to the terms and conditions of the I-140 approval. The adjustment of status of the direct beneficiary is approved now without further fingerprinting or RFE. The USCIS confirms production on 7/15/10. 

This I-485 was filed in 2005 for Chinese National. Fingerprinting was completed in 2007. RFE issued in 2007 and was timely responded. However, quota remains closed. We monitored the visa bulletin diligently. Once it has been open this month, we proactively contacted the Service and invoked the Service memo that directs expeditious adjudication if the case is otherwise approvable except for biometric. The adjustment of status of the direct beneficiary and dependants have been approved now without further fingerprinting or RFE. They also received the actual green card in July 2010. 

I-140/485: client is an MD from India. He first case to our office in 2005 trying to revive an expired H-1b and also to see if there was any way for him to start green card process again because he had tried twice but both failed. Since his new employer was not ready to sponsor him for labor certification yet, our office recommended to him to try NIW. Since most of his work in the US was clinical, he did not have much publication other than three abstracts. After an extremely challenging RFE response, his I-140 got approved in 2007and a few days ago his I-485 was approved. Because of our good work, the client has been able to stay in the US without having to go out the country in H-1B visa and also because we were able to get the tough I-140 approved, the concurrent filed I-485 has given the client the protection of pending I-485 the entire time since 2005 and work authorization.

A university of higher education in mid-Ohio hired us to work on a professor's permanent labor certification and green card applications. The alien falls under the sepcial recruitment processing for labor certifications. The labor certification was filed on December 11, 2009 and approved on March 5, 2010. We subsequently filed for his I-140 and I-485 applications. He was plased to hear his I-140 was approved on June 21, 2010

Alien from S. Korea retained us for his I-485 application. In filing this I-485 on January 15, 2010, we reviewed carefully and properly documented applicant's all admission/departure and status/authorized employment history in the U.S. We advised him to approach the ASC early for fingerprinting upon receipt of notice, which he did. He was able to complete the biometric early. Due to completeness of documentation relating to birth/parentage and visa status, the I-485 for entire family was approved on May 27, 2010 without interview.

We were retained by an alien from S. Korea to work on his permanent residency applications through labor certification. After accepting this case, we laid out a plan for client and reviewed in detail and researched extensively on the minimum requirement of the proffered position. We also conducted web search to consider the general requirement in the industry. And we came to the conclusion that the alien qualified for an EB2 classification bearing in mind the technical and theoretical knowledge and experience and skill set necessary to perform the duties stated by the employer. We prepared the prevailing wage in March 09 and kept a tight schedule on the recruitment processes. The PERM was filed in June 09 and certified in March 2010 without audit. We immediately worked on the concurrent filing of I-140 and I-485. The employer being a non-profit organization, we provided completed financial documentation to establish the ability to pay since the PERM filing to date of filing the I-140. It was approved in less than 2 months . So were the I-485s for the family. All without RFE as a result of full and complete evidence of lawful entry, status, parentage and birth since it involves foreign language documents. Client was very happy with our service.
 

This I-485 was filed concurrently in EB2 in 2005 for a Chinese individual on 9/23/05. Quota retrogressed after filing and in the course of the process, clients moved several times. We each time proactively informed the USCIS to update the I-485 address to ensure timely biometric. Our office also repeatedly wrote to the Service upon the quota current and particularly pursuant to the Service memo on pending security background check for more than 180 days. The quota became current in June. We immediately contacted the Service representative and provided a synopsis of the events since the I-485 filing especially on the quota. Clients received their green card approval on June 18.

Our client came to the United States on a visitor visa with a group of students from Egypt. He later fell in love and got married to a United States citizen. His wife petitioned for him immediately and the couple appeared for the adjustment of status interview. However, after the interview the couple never heard back from the Service, despite their repeated inquiries. They waited for 7 years without any news. The couple then retained Margaret Wong & Associates. We filed a mandamus action in federal court, which resulted in the immediate scheduling of a new interview. However, by this time the couple had separated although they had decided not to get a divorce for the sake of their 3-year old son. Ms. Wong accompanied them to the interview. She presented persuasive legal arguments and made the case that our client was entitled to adjustment of status even though he was no longer living with his United States citizen wife. His application was approved a few days later and our client will soon receive his green card in the mail. 

After applicant's (Chinese) I-485 was filed on 12/15/2003, the EB3 China quota retrogressed. In the meantime, applicant moved to a new but same occupation to a different employer. Our office proactively informed the USCIS the new job, duties and requirements to establish AC21 eligibility. Upon the release of the 2010 June quota, we again proactively contacted USCIS to alert the Service the long pendency of this I-485 and requested expeditious processing in view of the liquidity of quota. Applicant's I-485 was approved first day (June 1, 2010) of the quota opening without RFE. 

One of our clients, a Venezuelan national, married an American citizen in 2006 and had three children with her and one presently on the way. He had entered on a B-2 visitor's visa back in 2001. He was previously married to a USC who filed an immigrant petition which was approved, but the green card was never issued. Attorney Jason Lorenzon filed the I-130 and I-485 applications with supporting documents. Jason also prepared the clients for their interview with USCIS. Jason advised the clients to bring their family and proof of a child on the way to the interview. The USC Spouse's mother was watching the children while the interview was being conducted. Jason made sure that the officer knew that the children were there. The couple also brought a plethora of supporting documents and pictures to prove the bona fides of the marriage. The interview lasted under 10 minutes and the petition and application for the green card were recommended for approval!

Principal applicant is an Indian national. Immigrant quota for this country has not been moving as one would wish. We confer with client, review in detail the research papers, awards, grants, achievements in his area of expertise, including his publications, manuscripts, and conference papers. We also advise client each step of the way to work to accumulate support and reference letters from distinguished researchers, scholars, and scientists in the same field, and provided careful revision and highlight client's extraordinary ability and leadership role in his scientific field. We carefully covered all the period of stay and employment in the U.S., his birth and parentage. The Green card was approved in less than 6 months.

A client from Mongolia married a U.S. citizen and filed her I-130 Petition/I-485 Application. She appeared for her interview with her husband who falsely accused his wife of marrying him solely to obtain a green card. Her application was then denied. She came to our firm for help. We conducted research and found out that our client had entered into a valid marriage with her husband, but he ended up draining her of all her financial resources. He also abused her both verbally and physically on many occasions during the marriage. It was apparent that her ex-husband was using her to get money and for his own physical pleasures. We filed an I-360 Petition for Battered and Abused Spouses of U.S. citizens based on the verbal and physical abuse she received during her marriage. We received a request for evidence asking for more documentation regarding the abuse that occurred during the marriage. We provided significant evidence including affidavits from friends and family, a psychological report, documents to show that her ex-husband took advantage of her financial resources, along with other evidence that questioned the character of our client's ex-husband. The I-360 Petition was approved, and now our client can apply for her green card. Kristie Lumakin and Deborah Lee handled the case for the firm.

Applicant's I-485 was filed in 2007 when the DOS opened all quotas for employment based I-485 applications. There has been repeated since retrogressions causing delays and delays in adjudication. When quota opens this month, we contacted the Service on this application and highlighted the Service memo on timely adjudication. I-485 was approved a week after quota opened.

Applicant was laid off by redundancy. Subsequently received interview notice on her green card application. We advised applicant to be frank and truthful at interview and to provide the AC21 letter to the USCIS as soon as he receives a similar duty position job offer. USCIS approved the green card 4 months after interview.

Applicant's I-485 was filed in 2007 when the DOS opened all quotas for employment based I-485 applications. There has been repeated since retrogressions causing delays and delays in adjudication. We pushed the USCIS each time when quota opened to adjudicate the case expeditiously. When quota opens this month, we contacted the Service on this application and highlighted the Service memo Hq70/23 & 70/28.1 when applications are otherwise approvable and FBI name check has been pending for more than 180 days, the adjudicator shall approve the I-485. Applicants' I-485 was approved a week after quota opened.

A Canadian National married an American Citizen. Attorney Jason Lorenzon filed the appropriate I-130 petition , and the adjustment of status application the I485 (aka the Green Card Application). The Canadian National entered the United States after crossing one of the bridges and entered as a visitor. Since our client was from Canada, she was on the Visa waiver program and not issued an I-94. Attorney Jason Lorenzon filed the I-130 petition with all of the bona fides of marriage and the I-485 showing that she legally entered the country and was eligible to adjust status in the United States. Attorney Jason Lorenzon prepared the client and her spouse for the interview. The I-130 and I-485 applications were approved that day, the day of the interview. Our client received her permanent resident status in just a little over 60 days from filing to approval!

USCIS issued RFE to applicant on compliance of J1 HPSA service. Applicant was in a unique situation where he underwent surgery that kept him from compliance and then wife suffered a difficult pregnancy. We conducted comprehensive research on IGA waivers and exemption from inability to adjust for failure to fulfill the 3-yr term of HPSA service. We submitted a brief to USCIS in response, describing the statue, its interpretation, and application. Documentary evidence was also submitted to demonstrate due diligence by applicant, the extenuating circumstances exempting an J1 doctor who had to give up his/her practice under the waiver, and the relevant guideline as laid down in 8 CFR regarding physician adjustment. Applicant received his green card approval.

USCIS issued intent to revoke I-140 in 2009 after its approval in 2005. They questioned the past experience and the legal entity of the past employer. We worked with the sponsor to obtain the Italian government issued registration certificate and independent governing body in the named city, to establish the existence of the company during all material times from incorporation to dissolution. We also proved regulatory compliance to establish legitimate business as governed by trade organization. We further worked with sponsor to track down the company secretary to attest to applicant's work experience. Authenticated original and certified translations were submitted to the USCIS that there can be no doubt of the business entity and applicant's employment at the material time. We successfully defended the NOID and proved intent to employ and to be employed. As a result, applicant got his green card approval.

USCIS issued intent to revoke I-140 in 2009 after its approval in 2005. They questioned the past experience and the legal entity of the past employer. We worked with the sponsor to obtain the Italian government issued registration certificate and independent governing body in the named city, to establish the existence of the company during all material times from incorporation to dissolution. We also proved regulatory compliance to establish legitimate business as governed by trade organization. We further worked with sponsor to track down the company secretary to attest to applicant's work experience. Authenticated original and certified translations were submitted to the USCIS that there can be no doubt of the business entity and applicant's employment at the material time. We successfully defended the NOID and proved intent to employ and to be employed. As a result, applicant got his green card approval.

At the outset, we worked out a timeline for the client who is a J1 doctor so that he does not dose time in his I-485 filing. We ensured that the doctor fully complied with sec. 212(e) waiver, that his and his dependant applicants' legal names spellings, their relationship so that at the time of filing the family's adjustment, every issue that will be addressed to by USCIS and their supporting documents are clearly identified and provided, especially the waiver. We ascertained the translation of the applicants' names, status and employment have been USCIS authorized. The green card for the whole family were approved in six months without RFE.

USCIS questions the legal name of the applicant. We provided independent government issued documents and affidavit to establish applicant's legal name, his name change, and parentage. The response was accepted and his I-485 was accordingly approved. Client already received his green card.

One of our clients an Austrian National fell in love with a United States Citizen over the internet. They eventually met each other physical and continued their relationship. During this time, his divorce was not finalized in Austria and took several years to complete. His divorce to his first wife was completed on October 19, 2009. After this he immediately flew to the United States to be with his then girlfriend. He arrived on October 21, 2009 and entered the United States on a visitor's visa. Once he arrived he and his soon to be wife find out that her landlord did not approve of them co-habitating, they decided to immediately get married on October 22, 2009. We were retained shortly thereafter. Attorney Jason Lorenzon interviewed the couple, did the filing and prepared them for their interview. The issue of dual intent (that is since he entered as a visitor he could not have the intent of going back to Austria and permanently staying in the United States) was dealt with in the filing, the couple was prepared for any and all possible questions. The couple attended their interview on March 1, 2010 and his green card was approved the very next day. Less than two months from filing to approval!

Our client from China entered the United States in 1998 when he was a minor. He followed his mother into the United States. Both were detained upon entry and paroled into the United States to apply for asylum. Their case was denied by the Immigration Judge, and the mother was removed immediately to China. Our client's mother told her son to stay in the United States out of fear that he will be harmed upon his return to China. He later fell in love and married a United States citizen. They had one beautiful child together. Our client was eligible to file for his green card even though he had a final order because he was classified as an arriving alien. He and his wife appeared for their interview, and his application was approved!!! Now, we are filing a motion to reopen his final order so that his case can be eventually terminated.

Our client changed job after his I-485 (not concurrent filing) has been pending for more than 180 days since 2008. We recommend to him to pro-actively inform the USCIS about the job change although there is no law requiring such action. Our office provided the USCIS a detailed confirmation from the new employer describing the alien's job title and duties, the job's requirements. The said letter also provided information on date of first employment, salary. Specifically, it confirmed their continued permanent job offer on the same terms and conditions of the alien's certified labor certification filed by sponsor. His I-485 application was approved without an RFE on the continued job offer.

I-140 and I-485 was concurrently filed for research associate based on meteorology research. I-140 was approved in December 2009 and I-485 was approved in Jan. 2010.

A Mexican National married an American Citizen. They were college sweethearts. The USC met his future wife as an exchange student in Mexico. They fell in love. She came to the United States in June of last year and they decided to get married. Our senior paralegal Ding Reyes filed the appropriate applications. He filed the appropriate I-130 petition , and the adjustment of status application the I-485 (aka the Green Card Application), a work authorization application and an advanced parole application (allowing her to leave the country for bona fide reasons). The Mexican National entered the United States after crossing one of the bridges and entered as a visitor. Attorney Larry Hadfield prepared our clients for their interview. Attorney Jason Lorenzon attended the interview at the USCIS office. It was recommended for approval that day. Our client received her green card within 30 days of the interview! She is now a lawful legal permanent resident.

Our client's adjustment of status application was denied by USCIS. He entered the United States as a K-2 (child of a fiancé) when he was 20 years old. His mother married her United States citizen fiancé within 90 days. Our client and his mother both applied for adjustment of status. However, our client turned 21 prior to getting a ruling on his adjustment of status application. USCIS found that he aged-out and was no longer eligible for adjustment of status. His mother's case was approved. Our client was placed in removal proceedings. In removal proceedings, we renewed the adjustment of status application. The Court asked for briefs and we filed a detailed brief setting forth our position on the issue. We argued that due to a number of things, including legislative history and the differences between green card applications for K visa holders and under the normal preference categories, our client could adjust status since his entry to the United States as a K-2 was prior to his 21^st birthday. It does not matter when his application is approved. In January 2010, the Immigration Judge in New York agreed with our argument and found that our client was eligible to adjust status. Scott Bratton is the attorney on this case.

Our client, a Canadian nationality, applied to adjust his status to legal permanent resident in the U.S. based on an approved I-130 petition. Client's problem stems from his multiple records of arrests relating to crimes of moral turpitude. He retained our services upon receipt of the USCIS Notice of Intent to deny his adjustment. We timely filed an I-601 waiver based on the hardship his U.S. citizen family would suffer when he is removed. The USCIS exercised adverse discretion and denied the I-601 waiver and subsequently his adjustment application.  We timely appealed the decision with the USCIS Administrative Appeals Unit. Attorney Jason Lorenzon was on the brief.  While the appeal was pending, ICE Office of Detention & Removal ("DRO") notified the client to appear at their office. We realized that this indicates that the government intends to arrest the client and initiate removal proceeding. Our attorneys immediately got in touch with the DRO supervisor, and successfully avoided the client's arrest by negotiating a bond of $5,000, and taking the case directly to Court.  The client's adjustment application and waiver was re-filed with the Court during his hearing. Our attorney made sure that the waiver becomes a part of the adjustment application. When the client's appeal to his denial of waiver was dismissed by the USCIS, he almost completely gave up hope. He was so miserable that he asked us to "make sure not to continue". We offered him hope and he remained positive about his case.  At his individual hearing in front of an immigration judge, the trial went on for 3 hours. At conclusion, the government lawyer agreed not to contest the Court's decision. The Immigration Judge ordered adjournment to allow biometrics and medical exams to be done for the Client's adjustment.   On January 13, 2010, the Immigration Judge granted the Client permanent resident status after the Client passes background check.  Attorney Jason Lorenzon assisted in the case.

Our client from Poland was a lawful permanent resident for more than 40 years. She wanted to apply for naturalization and came to our firm for help. We requested a waiver of the English language test based on the number of years she lived in the United States after obtaining permanent resident status. The statute exempts applicants who are over 50 years old and have lived in the United States for at least 20 years after obtaining their green card from taking the English language test. We filed her citizenship application in October 2009, and less than three months later her application was approved.

Our client and her husband from Palestine applied for asylum, and their applications were approved. Our client and her children were granted derivative asylee status. This good news was followed shortly by a tragic turn of events. Our client's husband passed away in a car accident. Our client and her children applied for I-485 Applications but they were denied. USCIS found that they were ineligible because the relationship with the principal applicant, our client's husband, no longer existed. Our client then turned to our firm for help. We refiled the asylum applications for the whole family and filed a motion with the Asylum Office in Chicago for the applications to be approved nunc pro tunc (to a date in the past), recapturing the date of the initial grant of asylum. The Asylum Office granted all asylum applications nunc pro tunc (to a date of the initial grant of asylum). Our firm then filed motions to reopen the denied I-485 Applications nunc pro tunc. Immigration reopened all of the cases and approved all of the green card applications for our client and her children. Troy Murphy and Deborah Lee handled the case with the assistance of Francis Ramirez.

Our client was originally from Tibet but left his country many years ago for religious pursuit in India and Nepal. He came to the US to teach Buddhism a few years ago and was referred to our office for green card application by a friend. Although it was very difficult to gather some of the documents requested for this visa category such as remuneration as Buddhist monks do not get paid either monthly or annually like some of the Christian religious workers, through our hard work and with our expertise, we overcame all obstacles and got his I-360 approved. We filed his I-485 in July 2009 and it was approved in Nov. 2009. During the I-485 stage, we also helped him to fix his date of birth. He has been given various dates of birth ever since he left Tibet because of the confusion between Tibetan calendar, Nepal calendar and Western Calendar.

One of our clients, an Indian is a Legal Permanent Resident, meaning this person has their green card. He was criminally charged with possession of a controlled substance, less than 100 mg of marijuana. Although a minor misdemeanor, this particular charge if convicted, would render our client inadmissible. This means that if he left the country with this type of charge, he would not be able to re-enter upon his return. Our attorney Jason Lorenzon filed all discovery requests with the prosecutor, called the prosecutor many times to negotiate a plea deal that would result in a charge that would not render our client inadmissible thus retaining his legal permanent resident status. At the first pre-trial, Mr. Lorenzon spoke a length with the prosecutor about our clients equities, meaning that our client did not have a criminal record and but for this charge, has had a stellar record, is an exemplary person and a contributing member of our society. The Prosecutor did not understand how a minor misdemeanor would render a person subject to losing their green card. Mr. Lorenzon spoke at length with the Prosecutor and explained the difficult of immigration law and the harsh and yet unfair results that what seems to be a simple charge a misdemeanor can have such adverse effects on a non-citizen. The Prosecutor agreed and amended the charge to another misdemeanor of disorderly conduct which our client plead out to. By this action, our client is no longer inadmissible and will be able to keep his green card upon returning to the United States if he ever decides to travel outside of our country.

I-360/I-485 religious worker/interpreter for Buddhist organization: our office has not only successfully assisted our religious monks/Buddhists in obtaining their green cards but also successfully in getting the green card for their Chinese translator who works closely with the religious group and performs written and verbal translations for Buddhist teachings to and communications with Chinese groups both in the United States and in other countries. The interpreter is Taiwan national who joined the Tibetan Buddhist group in Taiwan while attending their Buddhist teaching there. We achieved the I-360 approval for the interpreter relying on her many years of membership, volunteer work, employment with the organization and her demonstrated knowledge of and devotion to the religion. Her I-360 was filed in July 2008 and was approved in Dec. 2008 without Request for Evidence. Her I-485 was filed also in Dec. 2008 and was approved in Nov. 2009, again without Request for Evidence.

One of our clients, an Indian national arrived in the United States in 2006 to attend his father's funeral and take care of his mother. He entered legally on a B-2 visitors visa. Because his mother was elderly, he needed to stay with his mother. He contacted our firm in 2008 and we found out that a Immigrant Visa Petition was filed by his father's brother before 1998, which mean that our client was grandfathered under 245 (i) since he would have been a derivative beneficiary of his father's I-130 petition. Since he aged out, meaning he was over 21 when a visa number became available he could not adjust under that petition but an I-130 petition was filed on behalf of his USC mother. He was able to adjust status under the grandfathering petition of 245 (i). Our attorneys Lori Pinjuh prepared the case and Attorney Jason Lorenzon attended the final interview with our client and his mother in Texas. The Adjudicating Officer saw that we came all the way from Cleveland and stated that our client has a "good lawyer" and granted the I-130 petition and adjustment of status application after reviewing it later that day. Our client received his approval notice "Welcome to the United States" two days after his interview!

A client who is a naturalized U.S. citizen retained our office to help him with his wife's green card. While on vacation in Jordan, he met a beautiful, young woman through mutual friends. It was love at first sight, and they spent the rest of the summer dating and getting to know one another. They married and our client left to return to the United States. He was going to petition for her while she was overseas because she wanted to stay to pursue more school. Later, she decided to come visit her husband and her own family members in the U.S. and applied for a tourist visa. She applied for an extension of her tourist visa because she wanted to do more sightseeing in the U.S. Then, our client's world turned upside down as his father passed away. Our client's wife ended up staying to comfort her grieving husband. Our client, not wanting to lose his closest companion, decided to apply for her green card while she was in the United States. He applied for the I-130 Petition/I-485 Application in July 2009. They were scheduled for an interview in November 2009, and the application was approved! Ding Reyes and Deborah Lee handled the case for the firm.

A client from Peru retained our firm to file the green card applications on behalf of himself and his wife. They both entered on tourist visas and overstayed the expiration of their visas. We had helped our client file an I-140 Petition for Alien Worker which was approved. Although our client and his wife fell out of status, they were eligible to apply for green cards because our client's I-140 Petition was filed on or before April 30, 2001. Our client and his wife were both grandfathered under INA Section 245(i) which allowed them to apply for permanent resident status even though they had accumulated unlawful presence in the United States for almost ten years. Visa numbers became available for their employment-based category in July 2007, and we filed their green card applications immediately. We demonstrated that our clients were eligible to adjust status and that they had met all the requirements of physical presence as required by the statute. Two years later their applications were approved! Deborah Lee and Jackie Tong handled the case for the firm.

He was only 27 years old in May 1997 when he left India and came to the US with a B-1 Business visa good only for 6 months. He never left the country seeing the unlimited opportunities in the US that are rewarded through diligence and hard work. For more than 10 years from 1997 to 2007, he travelled from, moved to, and lived in 4 major cities in the US. He struggled to put his own food on the table, and received the extremely devastating news in 2003 that his wife had died of undisclosed major illness in India. In 2004, he met his girlfriend in New Jersey. They worked together and saved money. In 2007, they got married and moved to Ohio to grab that opportunity to start a small business. His wife was also from India and only a permanent resident when they got married and naturalized in 2009. We filed the petition and applications for his green card dealing with a major issue how to account our clients' activities for so many years he overstayed in the US. Another problem was to re-constitute and re-produce the evidence of his legal entry. He lost all his immigration documents by moving residence many times over the years. Without evidence of legal entry, he is not eligible to adjust status. His work authorization and green card were both approved.

A strong marriage relationship entered in good faith based on love is a beautiful thing. It was the "personal guaranty" for our Mexican client to get his permanent residency. In April 2007, he came to the US with non-immigrant temporary working visa. He was single and with his education and skills, he was eligible to get the green card through employment. He was not so lucky, however, as his employer grossly violated the terms and conditions of his contract of employment. He was maltreated and was forced to quit his job that automatically cancelled his US visa. He met his girlfriend, a US citizen, in TN and 2 years thereafter they got married in May 2009 when they moved to Ohio. We filed the petition and applications with his overstay and unauthorized work among the issues. Work authorization and conditional green card valid for 2 years were approved and issued.

I-485 approval for outstanding researcher: Chinese national, Ph.D, research scientist with background in chemistry. In December 2008, our office filed the I-140 EB-12 petition (outstanding researcher with concurrent filing of I-485s for client and dependent dependents to Nebraska Service Center. In August 2009, we received Request for Evidence from USCIS for I-140 and we responded to the RFE in about one week and the I-140 was approved one week later. In October, 2009, CIS issued RFE for I-485 regarding x -ray report and birth certificate, the I-485s were approved 10 days after our response. The entire process from filing the I-140 to I-485 approval is just little over 10 months 

Our client from Cyprus first time came to United States in 1992 on a student visa. He finished his bachelor's degree and overstayed his visa. He retained our law firm in winter of 2005. He had Labor Certification previously filed by his employer back in 1998 and since the client never left the country we had I-245 (i) case. Aliens may be eligible for Section 245(i) because they are beneficiaries of a visa petition or application for labor certification filed after January 14, 1998, and on or before April 30, 2001, should submit documentation along with this form that demonstrates physical presence in the United States on December 21, 2000. Since our client was eligible we agreed to help him. January 2006 we prepared and filed I-140 Petition which was approved one month later. Unfortunately, the quota to file for his Green Card Application was not open. In June 2008, we found out the quota became available, so without waiting we quickly prepared his I-485 - Green Card with filing fee and fine, together with I-765 - Work Authorization Applications and filed with Immigration. His Work Authorization was approved within three months so our client for the first time was able to work legally in this country. Shortly after EAD approval the client's Green Card was approved too. He is very happy after so many years he can finally visit his family back home.

One of our clients, a Mexican National was detained by Immigration and Customs Officials in March 2008 as a result of a routine traffic stop here in Ohio. She was transferred to a detention facility in Texas. Our team of attorneys went to work to find out how she could obtain her green card. Her father, a Mexican Citizen, is also a permanent resident of the United States a green card holder, filed a I-130 petition for his unmarried daughter under 21 back in 2001 when she was under 21. The I-130 was pending when she turned 21, and a visa number was not current until May of 2007. Our team figured out that she was eligible to adjust under the Child Status Protection Act since the purpose of the Act was to preserve a person's age under 21 so they could adjust status and get their green card. The Green card application was also filed with the court in May 2008, exactly after a year that the visa quota was open. Due to the complexity of the law, our attorney Scott Bratton was able to figure out that she was eligible to adjust under CSPA and as well under 245 (i) since she was present in the United States on December 20, 2000. All appropriate applications and support documents were filed. Since she was in deportation proceedings, she had to have her final hearing infront of an immigration Judge.

Attorney Jason Lorenzon worked out the details with the DHS attorney before the hearing. He helped the government understand that she was eligible to adjust, he did hours of research before the case with Attorney Scott Bratton and prepared the clients for a hearing. After speaking with the DHS attorney, the DHS attorney just wanted to make sure that her sponsors on required affidavit of support was current and accurate. The affidavit of support is required to ensure that the newly admitted alien as a permanent resident will not become a public charge. The hearing went ahead and after 10 minutes of questioning, the government did not oppose the adjustment of status and our client received her permanent resident status. It was an emotional time in court when our client received her green card status! Bravo to our team of paralegals and attorneys who helped make this day possible for our client, figuring out that she had relief under the complex laws of the Child Status Protection Act.

PERM is complex as the aim is to assure that admission offoreign will not adversely affect the job opportunities, wages, and working conditions of U.S. workers. Our client has a MA degree in Engineering. Our attorney carefully analyzed and drafted the job duties and requirement to ensure that they met the O*NET and Occupational Handbook definition. The EB2 labor certification was certified in 6 months without an audit. We assiduously prepared and filed the 1-140 petition and 1-485 adjustment application, ensured the consistency of all the information submitted both the company and personaland that they were properly documented. The 1-140 was approved in a little over 2 months without RFE. Three months later, the 1-485 was aiso approved.

An Indian in employment based adjustment had his 1-140 approved in 2006 and was waiting since for quota to open. He was caught by the FY 2007 visa bulletin fiasco when USCIS retracted all EB visa just about aliens are ready to file. We know that our client and others relied on the July Visa Bulletin to make
strategic decisions in connection with their immigration matters. We also anticipated at the time that USCIS could not have not taken any remedial steps to address the situation. We advised the client who agreed to file the 1-485 application anyway pending any decision by the USC IS. The application was
accepted and USCIS issued the 1-485 receipt so we kept an early processing date. Indeed, client made a strategic move on his career in August this year. Our office pro-actively and immediately filed the "AC21/1 letter in the absence of an RFE on the continued job offer bearing in mind a lapse of 2 years
since the 1-485 filing back in July 2007. Client's 1-485 was approved in September 09 without an RFE. This was successfui due to our attorney's insight and experience in issues pertaining to employment
based adjustment process.

Our client was born in Poland and finished his education in the US. He naturalized in 2000 and is currently a young physician employed by the most prestigious hospital in Greater Cleveland area. He retained our office to get the green card for his fiancée and her minor son. His fiancée had previously travelled and stayed in the US with J-1 visa. They got married after she and minor son last entered in December 2008 with B-2 (tourist) visa. We filed the petitions/applications confronted to deal with the issue concerning her previous entry under J-1 status whether or not she was subject to 2-year foreign residency, or, whether or not she was required to go back home and live for 2 years before being eligible to apply for permanent residency in the US. We were able to establish that she was eligible to adjust status. Between September and October, 2009, work authorizations, travel documents and green cards were approved for her and minor son.

An Indian physician in employment based adjustment had 2 separate LC's filed at different times. 1-485 application was filed back in August 2007 but was kept pending due to quota retrogression and closure. Our office monitored the quota regularly and once it became open on September 1st this year, we
immediately notified the Service Center on September 3 that applicant's eligibility to the earliest priority date under 8 CFR 204.5 and that it was open giving applicant an immigrant visa # to adjust. USCIS issued the 1-485 approval on September 21. And no request for evidence. This was successful due to our
office's diligence in preparation, processing and management of cases at hand.

Client's former attorney held onto his certified PERM for more than 4 months and not released to theemployer/sponsor over a dispute on fees. His E2 was not in good shape. Upon being retained, weimmediately contact the sponsor and his attorney and prevailed upon them the legal consequences of
his action or inaction. We secured the release on July 6, helped the sponsor and client completed the 1-140/1-485 paperwork including medicals, translations, and all supporting documentation in two weeks,Concurrent 1-140/1-485 (plus 4 dependants) was filed on July 28. Fingerprint was completed on August
29. The family received their green card on October 17. Client was very happy. This was successful because of our diligent work and attention to details in all aspects of the application which resulted in a quick and successful approval without RFE.

We were contacted by a client on his first R-1 visa petition to start work as a religious worker and also on the possibility of his green card application in the mid of July 2007. The client was just finishing his master degree study in theology and had received a job offer for a position of associate minister for a protestant church. We had no problem for his R-1 visa which we filed quickly after receiving all supporting documents from the client and the employer, but we really had to work to figure out which way to go for his green card. The I-360 requires two year employment but since he had just graduated, and had not even been employed yet, the normal I-360 was out of picture until two years later. The only possible and available choice at that time was the labor certification (perm) process. However, PERM process requires clear and strong financial evidence to show employer's affordability to hire an alien worker while churches are not required to file tax returns and thus having no ready and official documents to prove the financial strength. After we explained all scenarios to our client and employer, we decided to move on with the PERM application. As we expected, we had to go through several rounds with the Labor Department and USCIS on the financial issues. But with our expertise, we successfully secured the labor certification, and concurrently filed the I-140 and 485 for client and his whole family. The whole process started in July 2007, and client and his whole family received their green card in September 2009. If we were not taking the tough PERM route for this client, he would not even able to start his green card process even by now because he would have been able to start working until he got his R-1 visa approved which takes anywhere from 6 months to 1 year or even longer and after that he has to be on the job for two years before he can apply for green card, which would be sometime in 2010. We have saved client many years in getting his green card. In his email, the client says: "Today, I realize that you (case worker), Ms. Wang and all employees of MWW are visible angels for those who suffers from the staus problem. Without you-all's help I may not have received any kind of positive letters from the USCIS."

Two of our clients, husband and wife, both born in the People's Republic of China and citizens of Panama, received their green cards through an approved I-130 petition filed by our client's USC mother. Back in the mid-1990's our client received a work authorization card filed for him by a non-attorney who filed for an asylum application. When he received the EAD he applied for a social security card. Once he was placed into deportation proceedings, he immediately went to immigration court and got the proceedings terminated and he left for Panama the very next day. He re-entered in 1998 on a tourist visa and never left. His almost 90 year old mother filed for a visa petition for him which was filed for him before April 30, 2001. He came to our office and asked for our help. Our team filed an I-485 petition for an immediate relative. When our attorney Jason Lorenzon attended the interview, the officer found him inadmissible due to the "fraudulent use" of an EAD although there really was no fraud. Our team immediately filed a 601 waiver for his almost 90 year old mother and the green card applications were approved for both our client and his spouse.

An I-485 Application to Adjust Status was filed for a Citizen of China on July 30, 2008 based on her asylum application. Her case was denied August 20, 2008 indicating that the Applicant did not appear for biometrics on March 14, 2007, some 16 months before the actual filing took place. Our office was retained to help her. We immediately filed a Motion to Reopen with the Service Center indicating the mistake and requesting an adjudication. While this Motion was under review and the Service not willing to move as quickly as possible, we have contacted the USCIS office eight times pushing them and requesting that the Applicant's Motion be reopened and I-485 Application be approved. I-485 was finally approved on September 14, 2009 within one year of filing without Applicant appearing for biometrics.

In January 2001, our client retained our office. She is from El Salvador who entered the country in 1990 without a visa. She was married to a permanent resident but her husband, for some major  issues, could not apply for US citizenship to make it easier for her to apply for green card.  We started legal work by applying Temporary Protected Status along with employment authorization. We also filed her husband's I-130 Petition before 245 (i) cutoff date of April 30, 2001. TPS, work permit and I-130 petition were all approved but, she could not adjust status as she had to wait for the I-130 quota date to open. We filed for TPS extension and renewal of work authorization every year or every 18 months for the period TPS protection was re-designated by USCIS. We were able to keep our client in legal status allowed to stay and work in the US since 2001.  In 2007, the quota date of her husband's I-130 petition opened making her eligible to apply for green card. The key to the entire process, though it looks slow but super effective, was the filing of the I-130 Petition before April 30, 2001. Filing the I-130 was like a hidden seed we planted that yielded the golden harvest for our client after six (6) years. We did not miss the deadline to protect the rights of our client under 245 (I). We filed the application for green card and it was approved in August 2009.

We got the green card for our clients, husband and wife, under NACARA, a special legislation in aid to Immigration and Nationality Law. It was not an easy process for the journey. We started the work in 2001 and finished the job in 2009.  This couple both from El Salvador entered the United States before 1989 without visa. They met in this country, got married and started their journey for an American dream. In 2001, after laboring for more than 12 years to obtain any immigration benefits, our office initially assisted them to get Temporary Protected Status (TPS) allowing them to stay and work legally in the US. Our office did not stop work on the case as clients were determined and persistent to reach the finish line. We found out that husband was eligible to apply for green card under NACARA, a special legislation granting permanent residency to nationals of certain countries in Latin America and in Europe. El Salvador is one of those countries. NACARA requires applicants to fulfill pre-existing conditions or must prove that certain events happened during their stay in the US to establish eligibility. We applied for the husband and his green card was approved in 2006. However, initial examination of facts revealed that wife was not eligible. Our office again did not stop working. We continued our research and found out that wife was eligible under a different category. We filed NACARA for the wife and her green card was approved in August 2009. Their marriage has been blessed with three (3) US citizen children.

Our client, a Canadian, has been allowed to travel in and out of, and work in, the United States since 2001 with a Traders Non-immigrant visa (TN) renewable annually. Affected by economic recession in the United States and Canada, he was not able to renew the TN visa. The last extension granted valid from June 2007 to June 2008. He got married to a US citizen. Love can overcome everything. We filed the marriage case in April 2009 and conditional green card approved in August 2009.

One of our clients, a Chinese National, had a final order of deportation and was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Officers. Our Attorney Deborah Lee was successful in getting him released from ICE Custody. Our team realized that his father filed an immigrant petition on his behalf back in the late 1990's. Since our client was present in the United States on December 20, 2001, and had an immigrant petition filed for him, he is eligible to adjust status under 245 (i); however, he had a final order of deportation.  During his last entry into the United States, he was paroled into the United States. Therefore, he is eligible to adjust status because he is considered an "arriving alien" despite  having a final order of deportation.  He was apprehended by ICE officers because he had a final order of deportation. Attorney Jason Lorenzon prepared our client and his father for the I-485 interview. After the interview, USCIS issued a Notice of Intent to Deny, since USCIS thought our client was married since he was the father of four children and the mother was the same woman. Therefore, USCIS argued that he would be ineligible to adjust status as an unmarried child over the age of 21. However, he was never married, and signed the appropriate affidavits of paternity as required by Ohio Law. Attorney Lorenzon filed a response to the Notice of Intent to Deny along with the help of Scott Bratton, Lori Pinjuh and Margaret Wong arguing that he was eligible to adjust and submitted the certified copy of the affidavits of paternity. The signing of the affidavits of paternity indicated that he was not married under to Ohio law to the mother of his children. The USCIS argued that he was married without providing any more information and threatening that they were going to deny the adjustment of status application. Jason Lorenzon submitted a 12 page brief in support of our client's application. After the Mr. Lorenzon's brief was submitted, within two weeks, our client received an approval notice. He is now a permanent resident.

Client came to us to help her after her USC husband was convinced by a USCIS officer to withdraw his I-130 application. After we were retained, our attorney Jason Lorenzon researched the case and recommended that our client refile the I-130 application with her husband, work authorization and application for the greencard. The word authorization is the first step in this process and that was approved so our client can work in the United States during the pendency of her I-130 and I-485 application! Congratulations to our client who can continue to work legally in the United States.

Client came to us asking him to gain permanent residency. He had an approved I-130 petition filed for him by his mother in 1999, there was no 245 (i) availability, but his mother had an approval for her greencard through her marriage to a USC spouse. Our attorney, Jason Lorenzon and paralegal Kim Lynce filed the I-765 Work Authorization along with the I-485 application, and the work authorization was approved shortly after filing the initial application! Our client is able to work legally in the United States.

Client came to us asking him to gain permanent residency. He had an approved I-130 petition filed for him by his mother in 1999, there was no 245 (i) availability, but his mother had an approval for her greencard through her marriage to a USC spouse in 1996. Our client entered the United States as a tourist in 2003. So because he entered as a tourist in 2003, he was not 245 (i) eligible under his mother's I-130 but he was eligible under his step-father's I-130 for our client's mother. Our attorney, Jason Lorenzon and paralegal Kim Lynce filed the initial application, and Jason Lorenzon prepared our client and his mother for their initial interview with USCIS. Attorney Margaret Wong attended the interview. The initial filing did not contain the 245(i) application because our client did not have the paperwork for his step-father's I-130 for his mother. Because we knew that there was an approved I-130 petition for our client's mother through his step father, he was 245 (i) eligible and Margaret Wong argued that he was 245(i) eligible and the green card was approved the day of the interview. Great work to our team and congratulations to our client!

Client was dependant of asylee green card holder. Former attorney failed to submit proof of asylum benefit and case got denied. We resubmitted with an I-730 approval. This time, the I-485 was approved without RFE.

A German couple who were on E-1 visas for their work in developing a computer engineering company in the US hired us to do the green card applications for them. We started with filing the labor certification on January 24, 2008 after it was determined that there were no qualified US workers for the husband's occupation. We received approval on March 31, 2008 and filed for the I-140 on May 1, 2008 requesting consular processing so the aliens could get their immigrant visas (IV) in Frankfurt Germany after completed the packet 3 and 4 process. The I-140 was approved on October 27, 2008. Shortly after NVC started the consular process. Documentation and forms were gathered and the clients had their IV appointment in Frankfurt and received the green cards on April 10, 2009. The couple was very happy to know that they can now reside permanently in the US.

A husband and wife are from Southeast Asia. The wife was still a permanent resident when she met her husband. The husband had an F-1 visa taking a post graduate course in one of the Universities in Ohio. She works as a Scientist at one of the prestigious American companies in Northeast Ohio. The love relationship blossomed culminating to their marriage. After the marriage, the wife filed an Immigrant Visa Petition - I-130 without legal assistance. The petition was under quota preference category because she was still a permanent resident at the time it was filed that the husband will have to wait for at least 5 years to become eligible for adjustment of status in the US. The husband should remain in status during the 5-year period. The wife naturalized while the I-130 was still pending adjudication and the husband's F-1 status was about to expire at that time. Confronted with these issues, they hired our firm. We did not hesitate to file the husband's adjustment of status - I-485 only and ancillary application for Employment Authorization making reference to the pending I-130. We also filed application for travel document, advance parole, to allow him to travel while the case is pending. The case was approved and conditional green card issued after 2 months and 25 days from the date of filing.

Our client is a medical doctor from Syria. In 1997, we assisted him to get his green card through a combination of employment-based and family-based immigration system. He got his green card in 1999. Eligible for citizenship in 2002, he became a US citizen. His mid-life crisis came in the middle of his lucrative medical practice in MO, as he divorced in 2007 with 2 young US citizen children. He re-married in November 2008. He met his 2nd wife also from Syria when she was visiting the United States. He has been our client for more than 10 years and with efficient and professional service we have rendered to assist him on immigration matters, he did not hesitate to retain our office again to get the green card for his 2nd wife. We filed the necessary petition/applications in February, 2009. With lightning speed, case was approved in May 2009 and green card issued after only 3 months from filing.

In 2002 at age 18, our client, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, came to the United States with V-3 non-immigrant visa with travel and employment authorized during the validity of the visa. He was issued a V-3 immigration status for being a derivative minor dependent child of V-1 based on an approved I-130 petition under F2A category with priority date in October 1998. In 2004 when the quota for the I-130 petition opened, he filed on his own an I-485 application for green card. The application was pending for 4 years but was eventually denied in 2008 for abandonment. He abandoned the case because he "aged-out" or had reached the age 21 and he also got married to a US citizen in February 2007. As a general rule, he was no longer eligible to adjust status under the benefits of V visa classification. In addition, his decision to abandon the application was precipitated by multiple criminal charges and convictions of incidents happened between 2005 and 2008. One of the charges was a serious felony indictment. He hired our office to get his green card. Our office was confronted with major issues, such as "aged-out", criminal convictions and bona-fide marriage relationship. In July 2008, we filed his I-485, the 2nd application for adjustment of status. Our office submitted the necessary documentation to deal with the foregoing issues at the time of preparation, filing and interview. The case was approved and permanent green card valid for 10 years was issued in May 2009. They are now a very happy couple with their marriage being blessed with 2 children - twins.

Petitioner/husband in an I-130/485 is a naturalized US citizen born in mainland, China. Beneficiary/applicant/wife is British national born and raised in Hong Kong. Both are professional pilots of commercial aircrafts. Three (3) days after she entered the United States on a visitor's visa, they flew to Las Vegas, Nevada, and contracted a "shotgun marriage." Our office was confronted with a task to overcome "intent issue" during preparation and filing of the applications since they got married clearly within 90 days from the date of wife's entry in the United States. However, we found out that they had started their love relationship at least 2 years before their marriage when they first met as students in an aviation school in the United States. We put together records and paperwork documenting their love relationship and submitted to CIS to overcome the issue. CIS officer recommended approval of the case for a conditional green card at the interview.

A Canadian client retained our office to file for a green card based petition by his wife, a United States citizen. We filed the necessary I-130 petition and I-485 application to adjust status along with ancillary request for employment authorization. He was under F-1 status needed to work as soon as possible. CIS fingerprinting and biometrics were taken immediately thereafter the interview. However, at the interview, CIS officer confronted him with a criminal conviction for an incident that took place 26 years ago when he was living in the United States with a non-immigrant visa status. Our client by honest mistake simply forgot to disclose to us the criminal conviction at the time of preparation and filing the green card applications. Non-disclosure of the conviction became a major issue that might result in the denial of the case for misrepresentation. Our office was confronted with difficulty to submit the criminal records to meet the deadline set by CIS since the case so old, the Court has to locate the documents in archives at a different location. However, within 30 days after we submitted the records, CIS approved the case and a conditional green card was issued that is valid for 2 years.

In August 2008, the step-mother became a naturalized US citizen. With the quota opened, it upgraded the approved I-130 petition for adopted step-son to an immediate relative. In November 2008 we filed for the stepson an I-485 application for a green card and I-765 application for a work authorization. USCIS sent us a request for additional evidence with major issues focusing on the legal entry of the stepson who entered the United States as a citizen and national of India without a visa. We argued that the step-son was covered by 245 (i) and therefore eligible to adjust status. The green card was approved at the interview 6 months from filing the case.

Our client, a naturalized United States citizen, retained us to apply for the green card of her father. Her father came to the United States with a visitor's visa. He is 81 years old and with some health problems. We filed the necessary petition and application with USCIS along with request for employment authorization. Though her father is not required to pay the fingerprinting and biometrics fees, however, his fingerprints must be taken and be submitted for security check. He encountered problems submitting readable fingerprints. CIS had to schedule him 5 times and took his prints 3 times. In addition, the case was transferred to a different USCIS Service Center. The case had to be adjudicated without interview. We received a Request for Evidence from the Service Center to submit documents to prove and establish paternity relationship. We filed the response primarily relying on secondary evidence. After 3 months the work authorization and green card were approved. The case was finished within 8 months from filing because of our prompt actions to file quick responses and to follow up the case with CIS.

In 1998, we successfully assisted our client from United Kingdom to get a green card through employment-based category, and at that time he was living in Ohio. However, he and his family have traveled and moved to different states the last 10 years looking for much more lucrative employment. Apparently satisfied with our legal service, he did not hesitate to retain us to apply for a new green card valid again for 10 years. We filed the application and case was approved in 3 months. He has now 3 United States Citizen children.

Our clients hired us after the I-130/I-485 applications that they had filed with USCIS were denied. The motion to reopen filed by former counsel was also denied. We re-filed the applications with USCIS. The case was set for an interview in New Jersey in May 2009. After an interview, the I-130 and I-485 applications were approved by USCIS. Our client received a stamp in her passport to serve as her evidence of permanent resident status until the green card came in the mail. Scott Bratton handled the case. He was assisted by Karim Berdiev.

Alien from Romania retained us to file for his immigrant visa through his already approved I-130 from his US Citizen petitioner wife. Alien had entered illegally and was not 245(i) so the process required him to return to his home country of Romania and use the National Visa Center for an immigrant visa interview to be set up at the Bucharest US Consulate. The alien required an I-601 waiver as well for his entry without inspection. Our office worked diligently with the alien and his US citizen wife and documented the exceptional hardships the US Citizen wife would experience if her husband was not allowed to return to the US. The husband and wife also have a US Citizen child who would also experience exceptional hardship if his father would not be allowed to return to the US. We initiated the NVC process on January 28, 2008 and on September 22, 2008 the alien was scheduled for an immigrant visa interview on October 28, 2008. On October 28, 2008 the alien was interviewed and he gave the I-601 waiver application to the US Consular Officials in Bucharest who then passed the application onto the Vienna American Consulate overseeing office for them to make a decision. We were delighted to hear that the applicant received a ten year green card on April 14, 2009 and will be able to enter the US to reunite with his loving family.

I-485 based on I-360: Religious sister, Catholic, from an African country, we first filed the I-360 in Feb. 2007 and did the RFE response in June 2007 but it was denied in July 2007. We then filed a motion to reopen and the I-360 was reopened and approved in September 2007. TheI-485 was filed October 2007 and it was approved April 2009, without RFE.

I-485: An exceptional case for adjustment of status: Client first contacted our office many years ago. He came into the U.S. on a J-1 visa, but was out of status already. We first helped him with a J-1 waiver and then tried to help him with his green card based on his marriage to his USC wife. Unfortunately, the marriage did not work and client never gained any legal status. Last year, after moving far away from Ohio, our client came back to us in person for help on his green card again. He has been remarried to a green card holder and has also invested in his own business designing and manufacturing high-tech tracking devices for hiking and for children's safety, which was inspired by the need of safety for his own children. He desperately needed a valid legal status so he could work and travel. After reviewing all of his documents, we decided to file an employment-based immigrant visa petition, with concurrent filing of I-485/765/131. The I-140 was approved in three months after the filing. While the I-485 was pending, the client was able to work and to travel out of the country for his business for the first time in many years. In the meantime, our office worked hard in reviewing each and every element of his case and researching for all relevant legal and factual bases to support this case.  Most impressively, our client's I-485 was approved in March 2009. Jilan Zhang, one of our senior paralegals, worked on the case.

I-485: based on EB-13 Intra-company entrepreneur: We concurrently filed I-485 with I-140 for principal applicant and all dependents in May 2008 and the I-140 was approved in Feb, 2009 and all the I-485s were approved in March 2009. Clients are from Taiwan. No RFE.

Our client hired us to help her with her green card application. In March 2009, less than 6 months after it was filed, our client's green card application was approved in New York. Scott Bratton represented our client.

I-485 for Catholic Priest: We also received the green card approval for this client. We had relatively easier experience with this client for his I-360 and his I-485 because when we did his R-1 visa many years ago, we found many little things that could jeopardize his opportunities to work in the US as a religious worker, and we straightened them up from the very beginning which paved the way for his smoother I-360 and I-485 petition/applications. All our religious workers are highly educated, well respected, and devoted to their beliefs and profession. However, they had/have very little ideas about visas and green cards. They just came and worked and wanted to continue to work here. We are very proud that we could help them in this respect.

I-485: Green card application for the whole family of Hindu Priest: We had such a good month for our religious worker clients between Feb. and March, 2009, we could call it a religious workers' month. We filed the I-485 for the whole family of our Hindu Priest in December 2008 and they have been approved already. The petitioner of this client is a Hindu Temple. When they first contacted us for an R-1 visa, we asked them if they had ever sponsored an R-1 visa before. We were told that they tried before for R-1s but were all denied they passed the stage where with CIS/INS believed the Temple was a religious organization. Because of this, we visited the temple and studied their daily, weekly activities inside and outside of the temple and we made it. We got the green card for the client and his whole family.

Our client and his family are from PR China.  The father came to us for us to work on his H-1B and permanent residency applications through labor certification.  The principal applicant received certification for his EB3 labor certification and his I-140 and subsequently later was able to process and receive approval for his EB2 labor certification and I-140 (based on master's degree) which he was then able to use his EB3 priority date in conjunction with him having an approved EB2.  The alien and his family the entire time stayed in parallel track H-1B and H-4 statuses.  The principal applicant was unfortunately diagnosed with terminal cancer and we requested expeditious processing of his pending green card application.  USCIS concurred and approved the entire family's permanent residency applications on February 26, 2009, which was within a month's time.  It was sad to hear of the father being diagnosed with cancer, but hopefully with the good news of the green cards being approved for him, his wife and soon to be aged out son, that he can live with joy and have some happy days.

I-485 was filed in November 2006 at NSC with request for earlier priority date to be retained. After fingerprinting and RFE, CIS did not act upon the retention of earliest priority date rule. We wrote to the NSC Director in September 2008 and provided detailed and evidence supported analysis of eligibility. The green card was approved in 4 months.

A client from India hired our firm to help obtain lawful permanent resident status for his wife. Our client had an arranged marriage in India, and this was his second marriage. He went to India for the wedding and honeymoon and came back to the United States to apply for an I-130 Petition for Alien Relative for his wife. He also applied for a K-3 Visa for his wife to come to the United States while the I-130 Petition was pending. The client's I-130 Petition and K-3 Visa were both approved, and the client decided to bring his wife over to the United States on the K-3 Visa. The client's wife entered the United States in April 2008. We filed the green card application, and her application was approved in January 2009

A client from the United Kingdom came to the United States on a tourist visa. He met and married a U.S. citizen. His wife filed for his green card application, and it was approved in October 1997. The client received conditional lawful permanent resident status since his marriage was less than two years old at the time the green card application was approved. The client, through former counsel, filed an I-751 Petition to remove the conditions on his residence in 1999. The petition remained pending for many years, and the client filed for divorce in 2001 because of irreconcilable differences. In 2007, he finally received an interview notice and retained our firm in 2007 to attend the interview. The petition was denied because he was no longer married to his U.S. citizen spouse. We filed for a waiver based on the termination of a marriage that was bona fide. The client, however, had very little documents showing proof of a shared life because he had lost his files after the divorce. We provided as much evidence as possible given the situation and included statements from friends and family members attesting to the validity of the marriage. The client was scheduled for an interview in January 2009, and the petition was approved. More than 12 years later, our client finally received his 10-year green card! Attorneys JP Sarmiento and Deborah Lee handled the case for the firm.

Client retained our office to file for an Application to Replace Permanent Green Card that had expired in August of 2001, 7 years ago. Client's criminal convictions one relating to domestic violence, a deportable offense and ground to revoke his green card, was the major concern why he did not file for renewal. We filed I-90 as there was no other available option, but, more importantly, we were able to get him temporary green card stamp while the application was pending to put him back in status. CIS requested all the records in the criminal cases. Our office prepared and submitted the response to CIS making sure to get much higher success to get an approval. After 10 months from filing our response, CIS finally approved the application and issued a new green card valid for 10 years.

Client from Cyprus first came to United States in 1992 on student visa. He finished his bachelor degree and overstayed his visa. He retained our law firm in winter of 2005. Client had Labor Certification previously filed by his employer back in 1998 and since client never left the country, we had a 245(i) case. Aliens use section 245(i) because they are beneficiaries of a visa petition or application for labor certification that was filed after January 14, 1998, and on or before April 30, 2001. They should submit documentation along with this form that demonstrates physical presence in the United States on December 21, 2000. In January 2006 we prepared and filed I-140 Petition which was approved one month later. Unfortunately, the quota to file for his Green Card Application was not open. In June of 2008, the quota became available, so we quickly prepared his I-485 - Green Card with filing fee of $1010, 245(i) with fine in the amount of $1000 and I-765 - Work Authorization Applications and filed all with Immigration. His Work Authorization was approved within three months so client for the first time was able to work legally in this country. Shortly after EAD approval client's Green Card was approved too. He is very happy after so many years that he can finally visit his family back home.

The client came to the United States as one of minor dependents of Vietnam refugees. In 1999, while still a permanent resident, he went home to Vietnam and got married. Their marriage for immigration purposes is a preference category that the Vietnamese wife will have to wait for at least 5 to 6 years to become eligible to migrate to United States. In 2002 however he became a US citizen passing the CIS citizenship test despite deficiency in English Language. He filed for temporary non-immigrant visa (K-3) for his wife and minor son (K-4). Visas for his wife and minor son were issued and both came to the United States in February 2003. Our clients thought that the K-3 visa was an immigrant visa and that the green card process had stopped up to that stage. On the contrary, the K-3 and K-4 for his wife and son had expired in 2005 and thus they went out-of-status and became vulnerable to removal from the United States. In April, 2008, we filed immediately the applications for green card and employment authorization. The case was approved in 7 months.

A Chinese lady came to our office in New York. She had been admitted as a Legal Permanent Resident four years ago, but she never received her green card, despite her many calls and inquiries. We immediately contacted the Texas Service Center that approved her Immigrant Visa and explained the scenario to the officer. Only one week after we talked to the officer and provided evidence of her entry and personal data, she received her green card. Our client was very pleased with our office. This case was handled by our attorney in close collaboration with our paralegal, Mr. Jackie Tong.

We had a client from Indonesia who came to the US on an F-1. He came with his wife. After graduating he obtained a job in a mortgage company. He got an H-1B and we simultaneously filed his Labor Certification and then an I-140 Employment Petition, Third Preference. Third preference usually takes a longer time before one can file for a green card. The company was not too profitable but had enough assets to pay its employees. As we know, the mortgage industry suffered over the past 2 years which explains the tough times the company was going through. Through a thorough filing of the I-140 in order to support employer's ability to pay the prevailing wage, the I-140 was immediately approved. Later on priority dates became current and we immediately filed for his permanent residency. He had to be with the same company or transfer to a same or similar occupation after 6 months from filing the green card application in order to maintain eligibility. Mortgage companies were laying-off people left and right and our client consulted with us several times about his concern. We followed up with CIS regarding the pendency of the I-485 and it was most recently approved despite the CIS processing dates indicating that they still are processing applications filed before we filed our client's green card. Now our client, together with his family, has 10 year cards. Regardless of what happens to the economy or his company, he would be able to stay in this country and reap the benefits of being a permanent resident.

Our client from China first time came to United States in 2004 on H-1B visa along with his wife on H-4. He retained us for green card process. We filed labor Certification in 2004 and once it was approved we submitted I-140 petition. We couldn't file Applications for their green cards right away since the quota was closed for their category but we started the paperwork so we were ready. Finally, when visa number became available we submitted I-485 Applications for the client and his wife. Applications were pending for two years. It took us numerous phone calls and inquiries about the case to get the approval that our client was waiting for so long.

In July 2007, an employer wanted to file a PERM (Permanent Labor Certification) for his employee who was living in Germany at the time. After receiving an audit notification and filing a timely response, the case was approved in March 2008. The next step for the client and employer was to file an I-140. The alien had two options in this case. The first option was to come to the United States on his E-1 visa and file the I-140. However, in this scenario he would not be able to travel out of the country until the approval of his travel document application, which would be approximately 90 days. The second option was to stay in Germany and file from there, with the ability to travel back and forth between the U.S. and Germany with his E-1 visa. He would then go through consular processing in Germany. He chose to stay in Germany and file the I-140. We filed the I-140 in May 2008. We received a Request for Evidence (RFE) in October 2008. We collected and filed the necessary information and the I-140 approval was received by the end of the month.

A client from Georgia hired us to help with her PERM (Permanent Labor Certification), I-140 (Immigrant Work Visa) and I-485 filings. We filed her PERM in 9/06 and it was approved by the end of the month. We then filed I-140/I-485/I-765/I-131 in 10/06. The I-131 was approved in 12/06, the I-140 was approved in 1/07, the I-765 was approved in 2/07. While the I-485 was pending, we filed an extension for the I-131 in 12/07 which was approved in 2/08. We received the client's I-485 approval in 3/08.

Our client hired us because he wanted to apply for his green card since his son was a United States citizen and had just naturalized. The problem was that our client had an old exclusion order. We filed the I-130 and I-485 applications with CIS. The case was set for an interview. At the interview, we argued that our client was eligible to adjust status because he was paroled into the United States for exclusion proceedings and an exclusion order did not prevent a grant of adjustment of status by CIS. After a long interview, CIS in Newark granted our client's green card application. Scott Bratton handled the case.

Our client came from Japan for the first time on an H-1B visa. He is still successfully working for the company that sponsored him for the H-1B. Our law firm filed his I-129 (H-1B) Petition on 04/25/2002. His H-1B Approval came in the mail shortly after that (05/17/2002). After three years his employer decided to extend his H-1B Visa and continue employing him. This time the company requested to file his I-129 Petition using Premium Processing, and so we did. The amazing result is that we have received approval in 9 days. The employer also agreed to sponsor him for a permanent work visa, so we filed PERM for him on January 14^th of this year. Since he was holding bachelor's degree and had huge experience in his field, our client was eligible for I-140 Petition for EB2 preference (Profession with Advanced degree, or of exceptional ability) which we have filed right after his PERM was certified. Furthermore, our office has filed I-485 (green card) Application 04/25/2008. By August 3^rd, 2008 we received his I-140 approval and two months later we received the green card approval for him.

A client from Egypt and his wife came on H-1B visa in 2005. His employer hired us in 2007 to start the green card process for both of them. We filed PERM and in two months it got certified. Next day after its approval our office started working on Nonimmigrant Petition and Green Card Application. One month after that we were able to file I-140/485/765/131 applications for these clients. To our great success they received their green cards in August of 2008, three months after the filing!

A South American client came to USA in 1966. He entered legally, with a visa, but overstayed through the years. He had lost his I-94 and unfortunately when he entered USA his passport was not stamped in USA. In 2004 we filed an I-485 petition requesting for a green card based in his entry date and having stayed in USA all those years, since by then he was eligible under current law. Then we found out of a bigger problem: there was not enough evidence to prove that he lived in USA for four years of all his life here. We tried to gather documents, reports, and we could not find anything, as those years showed blank in many documents; therefore his application unfortunately was denied. Apparently his employer during those years had found out he was illegal and managed to disappear all his work records. The family was going through problems, especially due to our client's health condition. We helped them file for a second I-485, this time based on a petition from his son (US citizen). When the time came for interview USCIS insisted on the need of an I-94 to prove he entered legally. We had applied for a copy of his I-94, but were not given one, since the database of the office that had to issue the copy was created in the early 80's, and our client arrived to USA in 1966.. We had to insist with the Immigration Officer and submit a letter from USCIS where they informed of this, and finally, after four years of struggling for this client, his green card was approved in September 2008.

"This is to notify you that your application for permanent residence has been approved. It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to permanent resident status in the United States." Such are the wonderful words that undoubtedly changed the life of one of our Senegalese clients, the direct beneficiary of an immigrant petition, a petition filed by his wife. After our client's wife arduously petitioned for an I-130-an immigrant petition for a relative-our client subsequently petitioned to adjust his status to that of a lawful permanent resident of the United States. In May of 2007, our client's I-485 (status adjustment) was approved conditionally, requiring an application to remove the conditions. After months of working closely with our attorneys, our client has started a new life with his wife, one in which he is a proud permanent resident of the United States.

In 2007, we were contacted by a client on behalf of his wife, a native of Yugoslavia. Our client's wife was in the United States on F-1 status, a non-immigrant, full-time student visa, which affords an opportunity for those outside the country to obtain an education in the United States. Unfortunately, our client's wife fell out of status as a student. Our client petitioned for I-130-an immigrant petition for a relative-and was approved. Shortly thereafter, our client applied for an I-485-an application to adjust to permanent resident status-and the adjustment was approved conditionally, as our client was the direct beneficiary of an immigrant petition. Today, our client, and United States permanent resident, has the opportunity to exercise her education and make important and influential contributions towards an ever-changing society.

The opportunities to succeed and live well in the United States are only two reasons we were contacted by our English client, a client with a wonderful family, whose friendship we have valued for many years. Our client originally immigrated into the United States on F-1 visa status, which is a non-immigrant, full-time student visa that allows those from outside of the country to obtain an education in the United States. Our client fell out of F-1 status, but longed to remain in the United States and share her life with those whom she loved: her parents. Both our client's mother and father filed an I-130, an immigrant petition for a relative. Unfortunately, our client was over 21 years of age, thus establishing her I-130 petition as second preference. This technicality lengthened the amount of time for the quota to open, thus affecting our client's eligibility for adjustment of status. Fortunately, our client's mother became a naturalized citizen of the United States and filed an I-130, which was upgraded to first preference, thus opening the requisite quota. Our client also benefited from being the beneficiary of a previously approved I-130 petition filed by her father. With the help and hope of her parents, accompanied by the diligence and knowledge of our attorneys, our client was fast approaching a new life in the United States. Soon, our client's I-485 application to adjust to permanent resident status was approved. That our client's adjustment was the direct beneficiary of an immigrant petition was in large part based on a previous I-130 petition filed by her mother when her mother maintained permanent resident status. Our client now strives to provide opportunity for a new generation: her two wonderful daughters, born in USA and proud citizens of this country.

It was one of the greatest pleasures to serve our two El Salvadoran clients. The success of their case does not simply reflect our firm's knowledge and devotion, but it highlights the outstanding character of our clients and the direct result of two people who strived to contribute towards something they truly believed in. Our clients (husband and wife) entered the United States illegally in December of 1988. They made exceptional economic contributions in the workforce and became the proud parents of three beautiful children, all of whom are proud United States citizens. Our clients requested our assistance in filing an I-821, which is Temporary Protected Status, a specific status granted to eligible nationals of certain countries. Shortly afterwards, our clients filed an I-765, which is an Application for Employment Authorization. Though all of these applications were approved, our clients were still seeking the security necessary to remain together as a family. In order to achieve such security, our clients filed an I-881, relief through the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA). Although eligibility to be granted relief through NACARA is quite specific, our clients met each requirement, especially that of good moral character. In order to show that our clients displayed good moral character, we collected statements from friends, community leaders, and various officials, all of whom stated that the moral character of our clients was not only good, but outstanding! Soon, our client was granted NACARA through special rule cancellation of removal and his status was adjusted to that of a lawful permanent resident of the United States. Following his approval, his wife was granted NACARA by way of derivative status and joined her husband as a lawful permanent resident of the United States. Our clients, along with their children, now happily live in the United States and continue to display the strength of character that was so influential on their journey to becoming an important part of our great country.

The familiar expression "persistence pays off" could not have been embodied better by anyone other than our Filipino client. Our client, a practicing physician, originally entered the United States on B-1 status, a Business Visitor visa required for those who wish to enter the United States to conduct or participate in general business activities. Unfortunately, our client fell out of status while patiently waiting for his F-1-a non-immigrant, full-time student visa that allows those from outside of the country to obtain an education in the United States-program to begin. Due to the fact that our client was out of status for a brief period of time, his petition for an I-539-Application to Extend/ Change Nonimmigrant Status-was denied. Receiving a denial for any application is difficult to accept, however, this case proved to be particularly difficult in that our client's denial possibly meant separation from his wife and two daughters, all of whom are citizens of the United States. Our client's wife did not want to be separated from her husband and began the difficult challenge of keeping her family together. With the assistance of our attorneys and various staff, our client filed an I-130-Petition for an Alien Relative-and shortly afterwards, filed an I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Our client's determination to remain together as a family soon paid off and he was granted permanent resident status in the United States. Today, our client is an important figure in the medical field; but more importantly, he is an important figure in his family, of which he is grateful to be a part.

This sales representative from India had been working in USA under an L1A petition, as representative of a large Indian jewelry company in USA. He brought his wife and two kids with him. As the family started adapting to life in USA and they saw opportunities for their children in the future, they decided to stay. His employer, who was very satisfied with his services, retained us to file his I-140 (Immigrant worker visa), since he had a previous Labor Certification approved. In June 2007 we filed his I-140 which got approved in only three months. While it was pending, in July 2007, we filed I-485 (Green card application) for the whole family and I-765 (work authorization) for our client, his wife and the oldest son. In October 2007 we received the working authorization approvals for them, valid through September 2008. In June 2008 they retained us to renew their work authorizations. We filed new I-765 applications and they got approved in just one month! Their wok authorizations are now valid through September 2009. In the meantime we keep doing follow-up on their I-485 (green card) cases, making sure they are approved as soon as possible, given the long regular processing times for green card cases from India.

Our British client and her husband, a Canadian citizen, just got their green cards. She was living in USA since 1999, under a J-1 (exchange visitor) visa. Later, she was offered a job as a teacher in a University and we were retained to help her get a permanent work visa and green cards for both. We informed them about the need for a waiver of the 2 year residence requirement that applies for J-1 visa holders, who are asked to go back to their home country for at least two years. July 2005 was a crucial month, because we filed the waiver, both with USCIS and the Department of State; in the same month we concurrently filed I-140 (Immigrant worker visa) for her and I-485 and I-765 (green card and work authorization) for she and her husband. The I-140 was filed under the EB-12 category, as an outstanding professor and researcher, given her PhD and specialization in Geomorphology and satellite studies. In only two months the I-140 and work authorizations were approved. We continued doing follow-up for the waiver, until it was approved in July 2006. We had to wait two more years for the processing time of the green cards, constantly following up, however all this time we made sure they maintained status and renewed their work authorizations. Finally our clients were scheduled for an interview in June 2008 and, three weeks later, their green cards came in the mail. They were very happy with the approvals and the support from our office during the whole process.

An alien from Canada was hired by a Law firm in the U.S. He retained us to file an H-1B petition for him in March 2007. His H-1B petition was approved in April 2007 and was valid for 3 years. In January 2008 we filed his I-140(Application to become a permanent resident). This application is filed by the employer to enable the employee to work on a permanent basis in U.S. After a month we filed I-485 (Application for Green card). In February we received the Fingerprint Notice and our client was scheduled for an interview in March 2008. His I-140 and I-485 were approved in June 2008. Our client had plans to travel to Canada in July for his sister's wedding. This moment was a special one so he had already booked his ticket. Since he now was a permanent resident, he could not travel without his Green card, which according to USCIS had been mailed to him. We waited for some time and advised our client to make an appointment with the local USCIS office so that he could request an I-551 stamp (travel permission when actual green card is not received). We also advised him on the documentation he should bring so that the entire process would be hassle free. Fortunately, he managed to get an appointment quickly. At the time of the appointment he was notified that he could not be issued the I-551 stamp on his passport because the green card had been mailed. As luck would smile on him, he did manage to get his stamp by explaining the urgency of his situation. Brian Marek handled the H-1B & I-140, and Jackie Tong handled the I-485. The timely advice was given by our experienced attorney Lori Pinjuh.

We handled a case for a Pilipino medical doctor. With his qualifications, job offers, and background he had everything to make a great living in USA. However he had a serious concern regarding his immigration case. He came to USA under a J-1 visa as a student exchange visitor in a hospital, where he started working later under an H1B, which would expire in December 2002. Before that, however, the hospital closed. He overstayed, because he was young and not aware of the consequences of overstaying. He was shocked when the removal case against him started, and he felt even worse because he had good job offers to consider, and he could lose all his good opportunities. We took his case and filed an RIR (Reduction in Recruitment) and Labor Certification in May 2003. More importantly, we advised him to ask for voluntary departure, instead of being deported. He followed our advice and went back to Philippines in December 2003, with a prospective employer retaining us to file his H1B visa (Non-Immigrant Visa for Alien Worker). His H1B visa was issued in Manila, Philippines, in May 2004 and he came back to USA and started working for the employer. Shortly after that, in July 2004, his labor Certification was approved. Within a month we filed his I-140 (Immigrant Work Visa), which was approved in December same year. In March 2005 we filed his I-485 application for Green Card. We knew it would take a while to have the green card approved but we took care helping him maintain status. We lost contact with him after a while, but in January 2008 we gave him the good news: his green card had been finally approved, now he could enjoy the career and life he worked so hard for.

This is the story of our client, who came from India on an F1 Visa (student visa) in 1998. She had got married in July 2004 to a United States Citizen whom she knew for almost 2 years. She had already applied for her Green Card when she first came to see us in October 2005. The employer referred her to us for the renewal of I-765 (Employment Authorization Document) and to file her 1-131(Application for Travel Document). After her Green card was approved in October 2005, we sent letters of withdrawal for both the I-765 and I-131 applications, as they were not required anymore. Since her marriage was less than two-years, her green card was valid for 2 years only. We advised them that she needed to file I-751 (Removal of Condition) later, three months before it expired. She was enthusiastic to pursue her I-751 through our office. The Green Card was expiring in October 2007 so we filed the application in July 2007 with all the appropriate supporting documents, proving genuineness of the marriage. She was lucky that her appointment was scheduled in September 2007,which was less than the normal time. Within 10 days she got the new Green Card and now she is eligible to apply for her Naturalization.

Our client from Germany was a legal permanent resident of United States. In September 2004 she left for Germany to visit her ailing parents and also got married there in December 2004. She came back to U.S in April 2007, totally unaware of the fact that her stay outside U.S exceeded a year, so her permanent residency status was cancelled. She approached our office in June 2007 and in July 2007 we filed I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) as her husband was a U.S Citizen and I-485 (Green Card).In October we provided further documentation as requested by the USCIS. Towards end of October the client was interviewed and in December 2007 she got her approval. So the year ending brought relief and happiness to our client.

This Chinese client came to us when USCIS issued Request for Evidence (RFE) to her petition to remove the condition on residence filed by her prior attorney. Our client came in 2004 under a K1 visa (Fiancée Visa), with her daughter under a derivative K2. Upon arriving, she married a Vietnamese American and mother and daughter got their conditional green cards in 2005. Two years later, when it was time to apply for the removal of condition, USCIS requested a long list of evidence to their petitions, filed by their previous attorney. After they retained us, our attorney Vera Chenping Su and Senior paralegal, Mr. Ding Reyes, worked together with this client, carefully preparing the Response to RFE with ample persuasive supporting documents. We filed the Response to the RFE for our client and her daughter under a joint petition to remove condition on June 17, 2008. After only two weeks, both client and her daughter happily received their Permanent Green Cards.

In August 2005, the I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) that we filed for our Chinese client was approved in only two months. We immediately started preparing his I-485 petition for a green card and filed the I-485 in the same month. We thought this case was being processed timely, since in less than two months our client was scheduled for fingerprints' check. Unfortunately, this case became another of those hundreds of cases were the FBI delayed months or years to check the fingerprints. USCIS, by that time, would always answer that as long as they had no response from FBI, they could not continue with the case. They even had him go again for another fingerprint check in 2006 (Note: There has been a change since February 2008, according to new regulations. Now, if a green card petition is approvable, and the FBI check has been pending more than 180 days, then USCIS has to approve it). Through 2006 and 2007 we did several inquiries and follow ups. Later, a formal inquiry was filed through a Senator. In January 2008 finally USCIS continued processing the case and sent us a notice (RFE) asking for the medical examinations to be sent within 30 days. We sent our client's medical examinations three days before the deadline. We were shocked when in April 2008, after nearly three years, USCIS denied the I-485 (green card) saying we had not filed the response to RFE on time. Our client was devastated thinking they would have to start from the beginning again. We filed a Motion to Reopen for our client, showing evidence that we had filed on time. By the end of the month USCIS reviewed the case and determined that our response had been presented in timely manner. They also ordered the case to be reopened and restored to the previous pending status. We are currently waiting for the approval of the green card in a very short term.

This married couple came from Iran in May 2005 with an H1B (temporary work visa) for the husband, a clinical researcher, and an H4 visa for the wife as an immediate relative of an H-1B holder. They settled in Texas where the husband's Fellowship was to take place. The wife, a smart Metallurgic Engineer, started to look for a job and found a company in Cleveland, Ohio that offered her not only a job, but also the chance to sponsor her later for an Immigrant work visa (I-140). Because of his background as a medical researcher, the husband thought he would be able to get a job in the same city, and so he did, so the couple relocated in Ohio. We filed an H1B visa for her in May 2006 and it was approved in September. She started working for her employer in October. A few months later, in January 2007, we started her PERM (Labor Certification) and it was approved in February. The following month we filed the I-140 with her employer as petitioner, together with I-485 (green card petition). The I-140 was approved in less than a month. We continued the green card case and both she and her husband received their green cards in May 2008. They were very happy when they stopped by at our office and we handed them their green cards. Later they sent a thank you note and made compliments to our staff, especially to Brian Marek and Jackie Tong, who handled their case.

We helped a Chinese family in all the process to get their green cards. First we helped the mother, an Information Scientist, to get his Labor Certification approved. In May 2007, as soon as the quota was open, we filed I-485 (Petition to adjust status to permanent resident) for the whole family. We received their approvals and our clients received their green cards in May 2008, without any request for additional documents.

On November 30, 2007 we helped our clients, a German electrician and his US citizen wife, to file three petitions: I-130 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Relative), I-485 (Green Card) and I-765 (Working Authorization). They were concerned because he had come to USA on an E-2 visa (investor visa) twice before, when he was single. His last entry on an E-2 visa was in June 2000, but he got married to an American citizen two weeks later. They feared USCIS would not trust that the marriage was in good faith. We filed their petitions with evidence showing that at the time of last entry he had a job offer in Germany. We were also careful to file Form I-508 where E-2 visa holders applying for a Green Card waive their privileges and immunities and start filing taxes in USA. In February 2008 he received his working authorization. We then prepared them for the interview, which took place in April 2008. Finally, in May 2008 the I-130 and I-485 petitions were approved and our client received his green card. Our attorney, Kristie Lumakin, worked in this case.

Our client from Bangladesh came to USA in 1996 as a student under an F-1 Visa. His wife came with an F-2 (as a spouse of F-1 visa holder). While he was attending the school he was allowed to work on OPT (Optional Practical Training). After the graduation he started working on H-1B with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation who agreed to sponsor his Green Card Application based on his employment. We filed Labor Certification in March 2005; and after it was approved, in December 2006, we filed his I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker). While it was pending we needed to renew his H1B visa and H4 for his wife, so he would not lose status. The problem was it would be the 7^th year extension, but usually H-1B/H-4 are for 6 years only. Based on the "American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act" our clients were eligible to apply for H-1B/H4 extensions. This Act allows H-1B visa holders who have pending Labor Certification or I-140 for longer than one year, to obtain annual extensions of their H-1B/H4 status until the final approval of Permanent Residency. Later, in June 2007, once the quota for client and his wife was opened, we immediately filed I-485 Application (Green Card) for them. Just a couple of months after that, in October 2007, we received his I-140 approval, followed by their H-1B/H-4 extension approvals. And finally, on April 22, 2008 their I-485 was approved, and the family received their welcome notices and Green Cards.

Our client from Mexico last entered the United States in June 1992 without inspection when she was sixteen years old and still single. In 1997, her father as permanent resident filed an Immigrant Petition (I-130). It takes about 6 to 8 years for the visa on this petition to become available. In 1999, without assistance of an attorney, they filed adjustment of status. USCIS rejected the application as the quota was not current or no visa was available. In May 2001, she got married to a US citizen. In 2003, they filed another application for adjustment of status based on her marriage to a US citizen but, USCIS again rejected the application stating that our client needed to go back home to Mexico to get the green card. They retained our office as she could not really take the risk going of back to Mexico with her US citizens children left behind in the US. We filed adjustment of status in July 2007. Her work authorization was issued and USCIS approved the application without requiring our client to go back home.

Our client, a research technologist from Bangladesh, came to USA in 1996 as a student under an F-1 Visa. His wife came with an F-2 (as a spouse of F-1 visa holder). While he was attending the school he was allowed to work on OPT (Optional Practical Training). After the graduation he started working on H-1B with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation who agreed to sponsor his Green Card Application based on his employment. We filed Labor Certification in March 2005; and after it was approved, in December 2006, we filed his I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker). While it was pending we needed to renew his H1B visa and H4 for his wife, so he would not lose status. The problem was it would be the 7^th year extension, but usually H-1B/H-4 are for 6 years only. Based on the "American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act" our clients were eligible to apply for H-1B/H4 extensions. This Act allows H-1B visa holders who have pending Labor Certification or I-140 for longer than one year, to obtain annual extensions of their H-1B/H4 status until the final approval of Permanent Residency. Later, in June 2007, once the quota for client and his wife was opened, we immediately filed I-485 Application (Green Card) for them. Just a couple of months after that, in October 2007, we received his I-140 approval, followed by their H-1B/H-4 extension approvals. And finally, on April 22, 2008 their I-485 was approved, and the family received their welcome notices and Green Cards.

Our Turkish clients (mother and two minor children) entered the country in 1991 with J-2 visa classification (as immediate relatives of J-1 Exchange Visitor) subject to two-year foreign residency requirement. Unfortunately, the J-1 husband died in 1996. She overstayed with the two minor children but remarried in 1998 to a permanent resident. In March 2001, the second husband filed an Immigrant Petition (I-130) for the mother only as the wife of permanent resident. The I-130 was approved in the family 2-A preference category. The petitioner, second husband, never naturalized. This was done with a previous attorney but they did not feel satisfied with the progress of the case. In 2004 they retained our office to obtain permanent residency. Our office was confronted with multiple major issues: 1) the clients had entered the country with J-2 visa classification which required them to go back to their home country for two years, but they had not returned; 2) their legal status expired and had overstayed for more than 10 years; 2) there were no separate I-130 petitions filed for the 2 minor children, now 17 and 15 years old; 3) the second husband never naturalized to upgrade I-130 petition to that of an immediate relative; 4) The family had a low income, not sufficient to justify that they would not become a public charge. The mother had five (5) more US citizen minor children: two with the first husband and three with the second husband. After analysis and research, we started the case in July 2004 filing I-130 petitions for the children. We worked thoroughly with constant follow up. In October 2006 we filed for the J-1 waiver or exemption from 2-year residency requirement. Two months later we filed I-485 (Permanent Resident) for the mother and two sons and I-765 (work permit) for her. The waiver was approved in September 2007 and they were relieved of their obligation to return to their home country for two years. USCIS also issued work permits. Due to all detailed and sufficient supporting documents and careful preparation of the I-485 interview, the cases were approved. Between August and October 2007 the green cards were issued for the mother and her two sons.

We worked on the case of a nurse and her family. They had one daughter born in Bulgaria and two other daughters born in USA. After we got her I-140 approval in the end of 2003, we concurrently filed I-485 (Adjustment to Permanent Resident) for our client, her husband and oldest daughter, and I-765 (Employment Authorization Document) for her and her husband. The I-765s were approved in March 2004. Their interview took place in October 2004, and two months later she and her husband received their green cards in December, 2005. We started calling about the daughter's I-485, did follow up for months and also placed an inquiry, to what USCIS in December 2006 answered that her security check (FBI) was still pending. Finally they had her go for fingerprints again in August 2007. We continued follow up until she got her green card in April 2008.

In August 2007 we filed I-131 (Advance Parole, travel document) for a Chinese family, concurrently with their I-485 (Adjustment to Permanent Resident) and I-765 (Working authorization) for the mother only, a very busy market research analyst. The I-765 was approved in mid November 2007, but the travel documents took longer to process. We did follow up and insisted on expediting the I-131, enclosing a letter by her employer stating the need for her to attend travel abroad for an international business meeting. Finally in January 2008, USCIS approved only the parents travel documents. We insisted and placed an inquiry about the little daughter's I-131, which had not been approved. In March 2008, they issued a Request for Evidence (RFE) to have us indicate her country of birth...even though her birth certificate and translation were attached to the petition! After immediately responding the RFE, we got her travel document approval and the family was able to make arrangements to visit their country while their green card case is pending.

Our client came to us after CIS denied his adjustment of status application. It was denied due to criminal issues and the alleged failure to provide accurate information on immigration forms. We filed a motion to reopen/reconsider with CIS. We argued that the decision was factually and legally incorrect. After another interview, we were able to get the case approved in April 2008. Scott Bratton and Kristie Lumakin handled the case. Mr. Bratton attended the interview.

Our clients were a family of four. The husband was waiting in the United States for his family to come from China. The case was delayed at the United States Consulate. Despite several inquiries, the case was not moving. We decided to file a federal complaint against the Department of State trying to compel the Government to adjudicate the adjustment of status application. After filing the Complaint in federal court in New York, we were able to work with the United States Attorney's Office to get our clients interviews at the Consulate and ultimately get the case approved. In April 2008, our clients contacted us upon their arrival at JFK airport to let us know that they had arrived in the United States as lawful permanent residents. They were happy to be able to reunite the family. Scott Bratton handled the case.

Family based I-485 (Green Card) petition. When our client was still single, her father, a US citizen had filed an I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative), but after she got married she had to wait longer to apply for I-485 (now as married daughter of a US citizen). By the time her visa number was finally current, her sponsor was not able to provide financial documents to show support anymore. The client first hired another law firm to work on her case, but later felt uncomfortable with the firm in dealing with the specific issues in her case so she came to our office. We filed the case on 9/19/07 and provided extensive consultation to our client in dealing with issues in financial support from her sponsor and in RFE response. In March 2008 our client was interviewed and her green card was approved right at the interview.

I-485: In July 2007 we filed an I-485 (Adjustment to Permanent Resident) for a Chinese performing artist, based on a pending I-140 (EB-11). The I-140 was approved in October 2007 and after the I-485 was approved in February 2008, our client received his green card .

Our client from S. Korea initially hired us to assist with a B2 (tourist visa) extension for her, and her two children. She had first come to USA with her husband and two children in 2003, but her husband died that year. The family was comforted by their church. Later our client and children got in a busy schedule with religious activities to attend and family visits. We consecutively filed, and were approved, the visa extensions for several periods from 2004 through 2006. In the meantime, as she got involved with people from her church in USA, she was offered a job as household manager for a busy medical doctor and his family. We helped her file an I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker), which was approved in June 2006. In the same month we filed I-485 (Adjustment of Status to Permanent Resident) for her and her two children, together with an I-765 (Employment Authorization Document) for her. The I-765 was approved in October 2007, valid for a year. The I-485 continued their process and fingerprints were completed in September 2007. In March 2008 the I-485 were approved, and our client called us very happy as soon as she received the green cards for her and the two children.

Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status to Permanent Resident) for a client from Mexico was filed in October 2006. She was scheduled for fingerprints within two weeks, and then scheduled for initial interview in February 2007. Our client's case was put on hold by the Immigration administration due to background check. Our office immediately filed a Mandamus in March 2007. After numerous conversations with the Immigration Court, our client's case was finally approved in May 2007.

Our client from Senegal married an American citizen in September of 2006. After three months we filed her I-485 forms (Adjustment of Status to Permanent Resident) and in the very beginning of the next year (2007) we received the appointment notice for fingerprints, which was followed by I-485 initial interview notice. The interview was a success and at the end of May our client's I-485 was approved and she got her green card.

32 years old lady from Philippines came to USA back in 2003. Our firm helped her to obtain H-1B visa (Non-Immigrant Worker) and H4 visa (relative of an H-1B holder) for her son. After three years we filed for the H-1B extension, which got approved, valid until 2009. On June 12, 2007 we filed applications for their green cards. Their cases were pending for a while. On February 4th, 2008 Immigration issued the Service Memo regarding I-485 (Green Card Applications), stating that if FBI name check was pending for longer than 180 days and the case is otherwise approvable, Immigration has to proceed with green card issuance. As soon as this Memo was published, we wrote a letter to USCIS explaining the situation and requesting to adjudicate the case. After only one week USCIS approved the cases and issued the green cards.

A client from Venezuela came to see us for the first time in mid July 2007. He was studying under an F-1 visa but was planning to get married soon. He wanted us to have his wife file an I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) after the wedding, and also his Adjustment of Status (I-485) to Permanent Resident. He also wished to be able to work as soon as possible. On the 25th of July 2007 he came with all the documents we had asked for, and he asked us to file his case the very next day. We took the challenge and on July 26 we filed his I-130, I-485 and I-765 (Employment Authorization Document) simultaneously. Within a month he was scheduled for his Fingerprints and he received his work authorization in November. His final interview (for which we prepared him and his wife) took place in mid January 2008. After waiting only two more weeks, finally our client was happy to receive the approval of his I-130, and his Green Card.

On July 2006 we were hired by a family from Mexico. The mother had married a US citizen and they needed to file I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative), Adjustment of Status to Permanent Resident (I-485) and Employment Authorization Documents (I-765) for the mother and her three daughters (stepdaughters of the petitioner). They were in a hurry because the oldest daughter would be 21 in March 2007 and it would take years for her to get a green card after that. We filed all petitions for the mother and each of her daughters on the same day, in October 2006 (the family did not have much funds to get all required documents sooner). We requested expedite processing for the oldest daughter, since she would soon age out. The four of them got their Fingerprint appointments within a month. Inexplicably, USCIS did some unusual things while processing these cases: they expedited all the petitions for the second daughter, who got all her approvals in the end of November 2006, and USCIS sent the rest of the papers to another city for processing. We had to complain and insist to bring them back to the previous service center.
On January 2007 they sent interview notices for the mother and youngest daughter only, forgetting about the oldest, to which we submit a Mandamus Complaint. We insisted that they needed to set an interview for her before she turned 21. In the meantime we discovered that both the oldest and youngest daughters had criminal records with Juvenile Court (for under aged alcohol possession and other). We followed up and talked to Immigration officers and Juvenile Court on how to make sure those records would not affect the case (the charges in one daughter's case had been dropped). We finally got a call from the Immigration officer in charge of Mandamus complaint and got an appointment for the oldest daughter...for two days before her 21st. birthday! The mother and second daughter got their approval notices shortly after their interview, and the oldest one was approved eight days after her 21st. birthday. Later we heard that everyone had got their green cards by mail, except for the youngest daughter, so we had to work with USCIS follow up her case until she received it.

On July 2005 we started working on the case of a client from South Korea. He had come to USA with an F-1 student visa, together with his wife. When he became a dentist his wife had to go back to S. Korea, until he could get a job and have their papers ready. On October 2005 we filed his H-1B (Petition for a Non-Immigrant Worker). His H1B was approved two months later, valid for three years. Immediately an H4 was filed to bring the wife to USA, based on the H-1B approval. She came in July 2006, when we were already working with the client for a PERM (Electronic Labor Certification) that enabled him to file an I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker). On September 2006 we filed his I-140 together with I-485 (Adjustment of Status) and I-765 (Employment Authorization Document), both for him and his wife. The EAD's were approved in two months. The other petitions were approved within a year.

Our client came from Peru in April 2006 under a tourist visa (B2). She encountered health problems and was approved for visa extension twice, in order to follow her medical treatment. In the meantime she fell in love with a US citizen and they got married in July 2007. She came to us to start her case. Since we told her that USCIS was about to increase their fees, she had us file her I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative), I-485 (Adjustment of Status) and I-765 (Employment Authorization Document) by the end of the month, right before the fees increased. In three months she got her EAD and was able to start working. Her interview took place in mid January, and by the end of the month she got her approval notice and her green card.

Our client retained Margaret Wong and Associates after her I-130 had been denied. We appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals. We argued the CIS' decision was erroneous and was based on factors it could not consider in adjudicating the case. The Board agreed and remanded the case to CIS for adjudication under the proper legal standard. Scott Bratton and Kristie Lumakin handled the case.

After our client's adjustment of status application had been pending for several years, we filed a Complaint in federal court in Texas. After filing the Complaint and litigating the issue of jurisdiction of a federal court to compel CIS to issue a decision, the adjustment of status application was approved in February 2008. Scott Bratton handled the case for Margaret Wong and Associates.

Our firm filed I-485 (Adjustment of Status to Permanent Resident) for S. Korean client and his family on 03/12/2007; then, we received the Fingerprint Notice on 03/26/07. On 01/14/2008, I-485 approval notice was received by our firm.

I-485 (Adjustment of Status to Permanent Resident) was filed 10/24/2007 for our client form Canada. Our firm received a interview notice which is scheduled on 01/08/2008. We prepared the interview with the client and the client got the I-485 approval notice after 6 days of the interview.

Our firm filed I-485/ I-130 for Germany client on June, 2007. The client got the fingerprint notice July 16th. And we received a Request for Evidence letter on the I-485. The I-485 RFE was filed on September 28, 2007. Then, the client had an interview on December 17, 2007 for which he had been previously informed and prepared by our attorney. We got approval notice soon on December 31, 2007.

Client (Household worker) had an ETA 750 accepted for processing and pending since April, 2001. As soon as Department of Labor made a final determination and approved ETA 750, we assisted client to file both I-140 (Petition for Alien Worker) and I-485 (Adjustment/Change of Status) for him, his wife and children. The I-140, filed as Premium, was approved immediately on March 2007. On December 2007, I-485's were approved, and client, his wife and children were granted Permanent Residence

We assisted a client from Macedonia with his I-140 Alien Worker Petition, which was approved on June 2007. His wife and son had entered USA without inspection on August 2000 and were "Out of Status" before the I-140 approval. The son had a problem with a minor arrest on 2007, but we helped advising about the solution and Court agreement that would still allow them to apply for an Adjustment of Status. We filed the I-485 Adjustment of Status for client, wife and son under Section 245(1) of the Life Act, based on their presence in USA before 12/21/2000, and on December 2007 the I-485 was approved for the three of them, thus receiving a Welcome Notice and status of permanent residents.

Polish client who is categorized under the other worker category relating to her labor certification received approval from the Dept of Labor in mid April 2007.  I-140/485 filed concurrently on April 27, 2007 as other worker category was at a date that allowed this client to file for adjustment given her priority date.  I-140 approved on September 24, 2007 and I-485 subsequently approved on October 22, 2007. 

On February 7, 2007, a couple from Brazil, filed for Permanent Residency as the result of a pending employment-based second preference petition. In less than eight (8) months, the couple's I-485 Applications were approved. For this couple, U.S. Citizenship is the next step! 

We were retained by a Chinese individual for the green card process, for which she was subsequently approved.  Her green card had erroneous information that USCIS inadvertantly put on it.  We filed for an I-90 for a replacement card with correct information on February 8, 2007 and we received notice on August 20, 2007 that the new card is being produced and the alien will receive it in 2-3 weeks time.

We were retained by an Indonesian family to process the PERM application (PERM / I-140 for principal) and I-140/485 applications.  The PERM was filed in January 2007 and we filed the I-140/485 after and was approved on August 16, 2007.  The client was very happy to know of this as were we.  Attorney Margaret Wong and Paralegal Brian Marek worked on this case.

A Chinese couple just received their green cards after waiting patiently for two years. We obtained self-petitioned National Interest Waiver I-140 approval for the husband-the principal applicant who is a research scientist-in 2005 and filed I-485 for husband and wife immediately after that. Not until 2006 did USCIS issue a request for more evidence, to which we responded right away. After getting their fingerprints captured for the last time in March 2007, they soon received their green card.

Another Chinese couple received their green cards two years after their green card applications were filed. The principal applicant and husband has National Interest Waiver I-140 petitioned by the university in Ohio for the position of research associate. They were summoned to appear for biometrics in 2005 and again in 2007, soon after which they received their green cards. No request for evidence was issued for I-140 or I-485.

French client applied for I-485 through another attorney in 2003 and traveled back to France with advance parole. When he came back, however, he was faced with a denial of his green card applications. Client then retained us to re-file I-485 application for permanent residence in 2005. Some time later immigration issued Notice of Intent to Deny, citing that client has worked without authorization and therefore is not eligible to adjust. We detailed client's dates of authorized work and submitted our response to immigration, arguing that client is protected by 245(k) of the immigration and nationality act. A few months later immigration sent out a welcome notice to our firm and to the client notifying us of the approval of the client's green card.

It only took 7 months for a Canadian psychiatrist to receive her and her husband's green cards. Their green card applications were filed in December 2006, immediately after her I-140 petition was approved by Nebraska Service Center, and were approved in June 2007. No more evidence was requested by USCIS.

Indian national has just ended his long quest for US permanent residence as he has received his green card after his I-140 immigrant petition and I-485 green card application were filed concurrently in 2003. Although it took four years for his dream to come true, delayed processing for certain nationals has been known to take longer. Client could not wait to travel back to India with his green card.

Indian physician had been working on H-1B in the US and husband joined her on H-4 visa issued in Chennai in 2005. Wife retained our law firm to file for green card for husband as derivative beneficiary. Husband received his green card one month after we responded to Request for Evidence issued by USCIS.

A Korean Ph. D and her family have just received their permanent residence through applying for national interest waiver as she is a member of the professions holding an advanced degree. Her green card came after her I-485 had been denied once. Our firm securitized all the former unfavorable evidence and submitted a strong case to immigration. Finally she and her family received their green cards 6 months after they were fingerprinted for a second time. Congratulations!)

Client from Turkey and his wife have received their green cards in less than three months after we submitted their permanent residence applications. The husband who is the principal applicant is a professor for a university in Ohio and we applied for I-140 national interest waiver for him. As soon as his I-140 was approved in April 2007 we filed their green card applications. They were called for biometrics in May and were issued green cards in July.

An Indian architect who has held H-1B status for 6 years has recently received his green card. His wife who filed adjustment status application along with his also received her green card. We have truly enjoyed working with our client through the years on all immigration matters including H-1B petitions, labor certification, I-140 immigrant petition, and their green card applications, and we look forward to serving them again in five years when they will be eligible to apply for US citizenship.

Pilipino family received their green cards in less than 6 months after we field their application for green card. They originally came on tourist visas but overstayed. Fortunately, they were able to adjust under 245(i) due to a labor certification we filed on his behalf in April 2001. USCIS issued two separate Requests for Evidence regarding the I-140 requesting employer's ability to pay to be demonstrated. We diligently complied with the Service Center's request and caused the I-140 petition to be adjudicated in the client's favor. The I-140 approval resulted in his and his family's green card approval to immediately follow. Our client was very happy to receive their child's green card as she had been denied financial aid and scholarship because she was unable to prove her status while her green card application was pending. Now the child has been accepted by a prestigious college and been granted financial aid and scholarship.

We have just celebrated another extraordinarily expeditious green card approval for a Korean family. Their journey from labor certification to green card took merely 6 months. The principal Korean client-an E-2 visa holder-was petitioned by a US subsidiary of a major Korean manufacturer for the position of director. His wife and two sons were also able to adjust as his derivative beneficiaries. We started their case in January 2007 and they have already received all their green cards by July 2007.

Indian computer specialist has jut received his green card through employment for a hotel two years after his green card application was submitted. His employment immigrant petition was approved in 2005 and his application for green card was filed the same year. Two years of processing time for Indian nationals is a relatively fast timeframe and we sincerely congratulate our client on gaining his permanent residence.

We processed a permanent residency application for a skilled worker based on his approved labor certification and approved immigrant worker petition.  We filed on December 12, 2006 and the client received his green card on May 25, 2007

Our client was denied asylum by an Immigration Judge.  We filed an appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals arguing that the Judge erroneously denied asylum and failed to properly consider important documents.  The Board sent the case back to the Immigration Judge to reconsider the case in light of the documents that had been submitted.  After a new hearing on the asylum application, the Immigration Judge granted asylum.  Our office subsequently applied for a green card for our client.  In May 2007, the green card application was approved.  Scott Bratton handled the case for Margaret Wong & Associates.

Our client had been placed in removal proceedings several years ago.  We were able to get her husband his green card and applied for our client as a derivative.  However, the quota closed immediately thereafter, causing us to request several continuances in our client’s removal case.  In May 2007, the quota opened and we requested that the Court expedite the case.  The case was expedited and our client was granted permanent resident status.  Scott Bratton represented our client.

When it’s almost impossible to get any EB-11 approval for performing artists, especially pianists and violinists due to the competitive nature of these two professions, our office just received good news from the CIS that the I-140 petition filed on behalf of our client who is a young and brilliant Jewish pianist got approved. Although our client is well qualified for the visa category, CIS made it very hard at the beginning insisting that our client had not reached the very top of the field as a pianist as   they normally do to all other performing artists. We kept our faith and worked with our client and presented further information and argument to CIS and we received the approval on May 24, 2007.

A Korean family of three joyfully received their green cards this month, concluding their three-year long journey towards US permanent residency. The mother and wife, who is the beneficiary of I-140 substitution, was the principal applicant sponsored for a position as manager by the president of a retail specialty store. They were interviewed at Columbus USCIS office in April accompanied by one of our experienced attorneys as well as a translator, during which time additional documents were submitted and biometric were captured. Soon after they all received their green cards.

Russian client entered the US on visitor visa in 1995, applied for and was granted asylum in 2005 through our office. In 2006 we filed for adjustment of status for him based on his asylee status and a year later he was again granted permanent residence under the AS6 category.

We have just received another I-140 approval notice after responding to a difficult Request for Evidence. Client was petitioned for position as Chinese Specialty Cook and possesses all the necessary qualifications. However, CIS issued RFE requesting documents demonstrating petitioning company’s ability to pay the preferred wages. The RFE specifically asked for the petitioner’s 2006 tax returns and some other financial papers. Although we were not able to submit the company’s 2006 tax returns as it was not finished yet, we substituted it with other documents and got the case approved a week after all the documents were submitted.

Indian national working on H-1B status as rehabilitation teacher for the disabled was approved for immigrant petition for alien worker through the filing of form I-140. Processing took merely 60 days, including responding to Request for Evidence. As EB3 from India, client is currently awaiting his priority date to become current.

An approval notice for Indonesian client’s I-140 petition was received today. Prior to filing I-140, his PERM labor certification was certified in one week. Processing of I-140 took less than two months. As EB2 engineer, green card applications for him, wife and son were filed concurrently with his I-140 petition and are currently pending adjudication.

We have assisted our client from Sri Lanka to apply for immigrant petition under National Interest Waiver and have been granted approval.  Our client has MS and PhD in molecular biology from the best university-Princeton-and has done intensive research work for the universities. No request for evidence after initial filing was requested and we received the approval notice. Quota is open for client to apply for adjustment of status and we are working with our client to prepare for the green card filing.

EB-11 Alien of Extraordinary Ability:  I-140 with request for premium processing was filed on May 7, 2007 and approved on May 15, 2007.  Our client is an Indian descendant who joined the monastery in his early 20s in India and studied traditional Indian culture and art in a monastic environment for more than 10 years and later became specialized in Vastu Shastra, the traditional Indian architectural and design system. Our client not only has used his expertise in major cultural and religious projects including temples, shrines and cultural centers inside and outside of India, but also  in the design of commercial and residential buildings which enable ordinary people to benefit from the ancient spiritual and cultural heritage as they experience peace, enhanced spirit and harmony.  Our office did extensive research and also worked closely with our client and presented a perfect case to the CIS. 

I-485 applications based on employment for Romanian national and spouse were submitted in October 2006 and have just been approved last week. Processing was interrupted when CIS requested client to submit medical examination results as client was not able to submit medicals with the original filings. As soon as the medical results were submitted, however, their applications were approved and they received their green card in the mail.

Expeditious I-140 and I-485 approvals for concurrent filings have been received in merely two months. This is a Macedonia family who are protected by the 245(i) clause of the Immigration and Nationality Act. We will soon begin their two sons’ green card application process as they turned 21 before the parents were able to apply for the I-140.

Filipino man originally was the beneficiary of his mother's petition on his behalf (I-130), albeit he had a 10 year wait for his priority date to become current. His mother then passed away, so unless a humanitarian request for the visa would be granted and his priority date became current, his hopes of becoming a permanent resident were fading.  Not willing to wait for the possibility of a humanitarian discretionary grant of permanent residence, the client married his long-time girlfriend who was visiting from the Philippines.  She returned home according to her status, and had their first child.  The client had almost given up and decided to return to the Philippines, for which he would have faced a ten year bar to return to the US.  However, due to 245(i) benefits, our office advised that an employer sponsored petition would eventually allow him to become a permanent resident.  We worked with an employer to file the labor certification case and have the I-140 immigrant petition approved.  The client concurrently filed his I-485 to become a lawful permanent resident. The client even attended an interview, but was later issued a notice of intent to deny the I-485 due to the Service misinterpreting Section 245(i) of the INA. Our office responded to the Notice, but by that time, the priority dates had retrogressed. Now, after approximately 2 years of backlogged priority dates, the client has finally received his lawful permanent residence and his wife's visa is in process at the US Consulate in Manila.  Attorney Lori Pinjuh worked on this case.

Polish psychiatrist has EB2 I-140 approved; it took less than 10 days under premium processing. In December 2006 we filed green card applications for her and husband. By mid April 2007, we already received her welcome notice. This is extraordinary as the processing standard for I-485 is 6 months and most people have to wait longer than six months. We congratulate our client on her obtaining her green card in only four months. Her spouse’s I-485 is currently pending and we anxiously await his welcome notice.

Client from Turkey came on J-2 in 1991 with husband but fell out of status. However, she is eligible to adjust as beneficiary of a visa petition filed on or after January 15, 1998, but on or before April 30, 2001. We assisted her in filing the J-2 waiver and her husband in the J-1 waiver and then filed adjustment of status application. Last week our office received her interview notice. Our attorney will be accompanying her during the interview. He also received his work permit together with his I-485 interview notice. Currently we are pushing for their J-1 and J-2 waivers.

Our El Salvador client contacted us in January 2007 because although he was granted permanent residence by the IJ under Suspension/NACARA in 2002, he still had never received his green card. We promptly followed up with USCIS and found out Texas Service Center was still in the process of producing his card. We therefore filed I-90 for our client for non-receipt of green card and then accompanied our client to get his biometrics captured. In just a few weeks our client received her green card he had longed for all these years.

Our client from Greece retained us to file I-485 for his wife and son and at the same time file I-90 for him to replace his expiring green card. His wife and son received their green cards in just a few months and our client has also recently received his new green card.

Chinese client came to the US on L-2 visa back in 1997 but then fell out of status. Although her husband, a green card holder, filed I-130 for her years ago, they never received an approval notice. She and her husband came to Margaret Wong & Associates for assistance. We closely examined their situation and came to the conclusion that she was 245(i) eligible. We therefore filed I-485 with penalty with Chicago in October 2006. In less than a year, our client has already received her green card.

Derivative adjustment I-485 for India client granted on March 20, 2007. This client from India retains a priority date of 1997 but his I-485 was pending as of February 2007. Our office filed mandamus complaint to Nebraska district court on March 1 and received I-485 welcome notice on March 26.

We have been working with our German doctor client since 2002 on H-1B visa petition and renewals. In 2006, we filed I-130 and I-485 for our client based on his marriage with his naturalized spouse from Asia. A welcome notice arrived when they were celebrating their son’s one-year birthday anniversary and congratulations to this family for a happy ending of their long journey towards US permanent residency and family reunion.

Mr. B from Poland came to the US in 2001 on an H-1B visa. In 2006 his employer retained our law firm to represent them in sponsoring Mr. B for a green card, after our law firm had filed H-1B extension for him. Mr. B is a doctor. His PERM was approved in less than two weeks. We concurrently filed I-140 and I-485 for him, his wife and two children in August 2006. In February 2007 premium processing for I-140 was requested and an approval followed in ten days. Our client is now one step closer to getting his and his family’s green cards because I-485 cannot be adjudicated until I-140 has been approved.

Mr. G from Beijing, China has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and an accounting firm was interested in sponsoring him and his family for permanent residency. His labor certification was filed under the RIR process in 2004 and was certified in 2006. After his I-140 was filed, Request for Evidence was received requesting the beneficiary to provide his financial information for the past years. We worked with our client and filed a timely response. In March 2007 we received his I-140 approval. As he is EB2 priority, quota is not yet open and we anxiously await to filed their green card applications.

Our client from China obtained his PhD degree in engineering and was offered a position as research scientist by a laboratory. I-140 Schedule A was filed along with I-485 and I-765. CIS rejected the application so we refiled with our clarification. CIS finally approved the I-140 in March 2007.

Our client from Romania entered the US on a valid F-1 visa in 2003. A manufacturer in North Royalton, Ohio desired to sponsor him for permanent residence through the filing of PERM. PERM was filed and certified in 2006. We subsequently filed I-140, immigrant petition for alien worker, for which we received a difficult RFE in December. We started working with the employer right away on gathering further information and submitted our response in February 2007. An approval notice was received in just two weeks. We look forward to filing for permanent residency once his quota opens.

I-140 for a system engineer (Pakistan citizen) was filed in 05/06 and an approval followed in just two months through regular processing. I-485 was submitted while I-140 was awaiting adjudication and it was approved in just eight months. During the years before, we were also his attorney working on his H-1B petition and extensions.

We received an expeditious approval of concurrent I-140 and I-485 filing for our client from Bulgaria beginning of March 2007. He is an analyst and after his PERM was certified, we filed I-140 and I-485 on December 18, 2006. Both the I-140 and green cards were approved at the end of February 2007.

Our Pilipino client undertook a long journey to a green card in the United States . We field I-140 for him based on his employment in 2002 and subsequently filed I-485. Client was fingerprinted and interviewed more than once. In the meantime, he had to change jobs and we helped him in this process so he would not lose his status. We did numerous inquiries and persistently pushed his case to be approved and communicated with client on a daily basis. In December 2006, his green card was finally approved.

CSPA success: client’s  I-140 approved on 10/01/2001, daughter was 19 at this time.
Client’s I-485 filed in 2001, I-485 approval on 2/4/2005 (also I-824 approval) when daughter was 22 1/2.  The I-824 was sent to process daughter’s IV application in A/C Guangzhou PRC in FEB 2005 from CIS.  We submitted the Packet 3 immediately.
Guangzhou mistaken FEB 2005 was the priority date for daughter, instead of the priority date
MARCH 15, 2001, when client’s labor certification was filed.
We emailed the Consulate in Oct 2006 to A/C Guangzhou and explained to the chief consul the dates and facts and that they have mistaken the priority date.  We requested the IV issued to daughter under CSPA.  The Daughter was granted IV in Feb 8, 2007.  Daughter is now 24 and a half when entering USA.

Our office filed an immigrant visa under EB-12 outstanding professor/researcher category in June 2006 for a young Chinese researcher to Lincoln  Service Center and the I-140 got approved February 2007 without RFE.

In 2002 our office filed I-140 process for our client after we received certified ETA for our client from Mexico. He works as stonemason for a construction company in Ohio State. Soon we filed I-485 application for our client when I-140 was pending. We received RFE for I-140 a year after I-485 was filed and we responded right away. Very quickly his I-140 was approved. In October 2005, our client was interviewed in Cleveland local office. In January 2007, we received welcome letter from the local office that our client’s permanent residency application had been approved. Our client will receive his green card in the next 6 months.

Mr. S from Hungary and his wife and two children came to visit the US in March 1999. After getting two extensions, they still overstayed their second extension. Fortunately, an ethnic restaurant wanted to sponsor him and his family for a green card. What was more fortunate was that their labor certification was submitted on April 30, 2001, which was the last eligible day for 245 (i) protection. I-140 and I-485 were both filed in June 2006. While I-140 was approved, a request for additional evidence was received in our office in November. We submitted the required documentation-employment verification etc-and in on January 23 2007 all four people’s welcome notices were received in our office. This proud family of four now enjoys the privilege of living permanently in the United States.

Our client from Hong Kong has a DDS in dental surgery and is employed by a dentist’ office in Ohio. Although his Labor Certificate took a long time to get approved because it was routed to Dallas backlog center, his I-140 was approved fast-filed in May 2006 and approved in November 2006. I-485 was concurrently filed with Nebraska Service Center. On January 17, 2007 we received his welcome notice, warmly welcoming him as a permanent resident of the United States.

Our client is the daughter of our client for whom we obtained a green card based on his employment. She came to visit her father as a visitor from Canada in August 2006. In October, we were retained once more to obtain her green card. Client is a citizen of Canada. Along with the green card application we also submitted advance parole application so that she could travel to Germany to see her mother. As the advance parole was approved in the mid of January, her green card was approved in the end of January 2007.

Our client retained our law firm after his and his family’s green card applications were denied on claims that they failed to show up for their fingerprint appointments. While it is true that they did not show up for their second fingerprint appointment, it was because they had just gone for an earlier appointment not long ago. Within the deadline we submitted Motion to Reopen and at the same time filed new applications for them. Their MTR was granted and CIS moved to review their cases. Just before Thanksgiving of 2006, all three received their green card. Their second applications were terminated after they received their green cards.

In 2002 our office filed I-140 process for our client after we received certified ETA for our client from Mexico. He works as stonemason for a construction company in Ohio State. Soon we filed I-485 application for our client when I-140 was pending. We received RFE for I-140 a year after I-485 was filed and we responded right away. Very quickly his I-140 was approved. In October 2005, our client was interviewed in Cleveland local office. In January 2007, we received welcome letter from the local office that our client’s permanent residency application had been approved. Our client will receive his green card in the next 6 months.

When our client retained our firm, he was in removal proceedings.  However, he was eligible for adjustment of status under the Cuban Adjustment Act.  The problem was that under regulations that were issued in May 2006, our client could not apply for adjustment of status with the Immigration Court .  We filed the adjustment application with CIS and were able to successfully convince them that they had jurisdiction to grant the application despite the fact our client was in removal proceedings.  Once the adjustment of status application was granted, we filed a Motion to Terminate Removal Proceedings with the Immigration Judge.  The Judge granted our request in December 2006.  Our client has received his green card and is now able to benefit from the privileges of being a lawful permanent resident.  Scott Bratton and Lori Pinjuh handled this case for Margaret Wong and Associates.

An Indian client got married to a US citizen and in August 2006 our office was retained to assist her in getting her a green card through filing family-based green card applications. On the following day they came in to see us, we sent out all the paperwork and client returned everything in September. We lost no time in filing I-130 and I-485, as well as work permit and advance parole because client wanted to work and travel while her I-485 was pending. She was called in to process fingerprinting in September and was interviewed in October. In December, just before Christmas, all of our client’s 4 applications were approved. With a green card in hand, she no longer needs advance parole and work permit. Our client informed us that was the best Christmas gift ever given to her.

Our office first filed the first I-140 based on a lien of extraordinary ability for this client with concurrent filing of I-485 and then did the RFE Response. While the RFE response was pending review, our office filed another I-140 under outstanding research and professor with request of premium processing which was approved in two weeks.   One month and a half later, USCIS approved our client and his dependents’ 485s based on the second I-140 approval, although all the I-485s were filed with the first I-140.

Client  retained our office because his Green Card expired and he has to come back to the Philippines for business. An hour after he retained our office, his I-90 was filed. He obtained a stamp in less than a week and his fingerprints in less than 2 weeks. A month later, the I-90 got approved.

Client married a US citizen. We filed a Green Card application early this year. The application had been delayed by the INS, but we kept on sending follow-ups on a monthly basis. We then filed mandamus to speed up the process. The client apparently had to travel by December to Poland . In mid-November, the green card got approved. Scott and JP worked on this case.

Our client is a national of Costa Rica and he came to the US on B-2 in 2001. He later wished to obtain permanent residence in the US as a landscaping company in Ohio desired to hire him as Landscape Supervisor and would like to sponsor him for labor certificate. We therefore filed LC for our client in May 2002 and it was approved in March 2003. I-140 filing followed and it was approved in two months, in July 2003. We concurrently filed green card applications for him and his wife in April. Clients were interviewed in USCIS local officer in 2005 and were once more fingerprinted in 2006. Soon after the biometrics appointment in June 2006, client and his wife received their green cards in November.

Our office helped our Pilipino client in securing an I-140 approval based on her EB-2 priority. She is a medical doctor working for a medical center in Las Vegas . We submitted the I-485 application for her and her husband and child in August 2006 and they were all approved in just three months. Client got fast approvals due to the combined factors that she is from a country with greater visa availability and that she holds and advanced degree.

Our office just received two I-485 approval notices for our Pakistan client and her husband. Their LC case was filed and approved in 2002 and I-140 in 2003. As an EB-2 from a country of the “all other chargeability areas’, quota was open for them so our office filed green card applications in the same year. In 2005 we were requested to submit further evidence regarding our client’s spouse’s education, employment, and entry history. We complied with the deadline and instructions specified and file dour response to Nebraska Service Center. In 2006 we were required to submit updated information regarding the principal applicant. After that we soon received approval notices for both of them and they can expect to receive the actual green cards in the mail in the next couple of days.

Our Macedonian client came to the US in 1999 on a J-1 visa and overstayed his status. On April 18^th, 2001 our office filed RIR for him, which made him just eligible for 245 (i). His employer serves the transportation industry and both him and his wife work for the same employer. After four years, RIR was finally certified in October 2005. In March 2006 we filed I-140 and I-485 for him and his wife. While the I-140 petition was approved in August, the I-485 applications were both approved in October. Congratulations to our client and his family-several years’ prolonged waiting has reaped big rewards for them. 

In April 2004 our office re-filed I-485 for our client from Romania who is a national interest waiver physician. His J waiver was secured in 2001 but his previous 485 application had been denied in 2003. In 2005 we were requested to submit proof evidencing that our client complied with the required medical service. We fully submitted the required documents and after updated medical results were submitted, we received a welcome notice for our client and his wife on October 31, 2006.

In January 2003 our law firm filed I-140 and I-485 concurrently for our client from Mexico. This is a family of four, with two children. Client’s priority date was May 2002 and he was petitioned as a specialty chef by a very popular restaurant in Ohio. Although both our client and his family entered without inspection (1996), we successfully secured a green card for the whole family in October 2006.

I-485 Applications on behalf of the Korean couple were filed with USCIS on June 23, 2005, concurrently with I-140 Substitution. After numerous requests for evidence from CIS; each time, our office put an enormous effort and finally had these cases approved on October 17, 2006. Clients were granted Permanent Residency.

Our client is a national of Pakistan and is classified as an alien of extraordinary ability as a dermatopathologist. A medical service center admired his specialty and petitioned him for an O-1 petition in 2004. We got the approval, which was valid through 2007. His I-140 was also approved in August 2005. We filed green card applications for our client, his wife and their child in February 2006. RFE’s were issued in June and we duly responded. On October 2 all three welcome notices were received. Congratulations to our client and his family!

Our client, a physician, came from India on J-1 program so after the program ended our law firm secured a waiver for her. She had since been working as an H-1B holder. Her application for green card was submitted in January 2005 after his husband’s I-140 and I-485 had both been approved in 2000 and 2001 respectively. An RFE was issued in August 2006 regarding our client’s marriage validity and law. We responded on September 25^th and received an approval on October 12.

Back in April 2001 our law firm filed RIR for our client from Ohrid, Macedonia. His visa had already expired when we filed the LC application. Although with only high school education, our client was an excellent European specialty chef and a company in the food industry desired to sponsor him for a green card. After prolonged waiting, we finaly received the 45-day letter in August 2005. Two months later we received certified RIR. In May 2006 we filed I-140 and in June we filed I-485 and I-765 for our client and his wife as his priority date was open. Both I-765 applications were approved in August and I-140 in September. Better yet, both of the I-485 applications were approved on October 6! This is one of the many fast approvals our law firm has been able to secure.

On January 17, 2006 our office filed PERM application for our client who is a citizen of Guatemala. Client is an orthodontist working for a doctor’s office in Ohio. On March 1^st it was already certified. We thus filed I-140 near the end of April and again it only took a month for it to get approved. The I-485 applications for our client and his wife, a citizen of El Salvador , which were filed soon after the I-140 filing, were also approved in just 4 months and a half, on September 27. The whole process from PERM to Green Card only took 8 months.

Our client came to the US on J-1 visa in 2004 from Jamaica, which expired in June, 2006. He fell in love with a former citizen of Jamaica, now a US citizen, and they married in April. In May we filed I-130 and I-485 for our client. In June we received both Request for Evidence and fingerprint notice. We advised our client to appear for biometrics and at the same time to complete medical examinations to respond to RFE. We responded in the same month and an interview notice was issued, requesting our client to appear for interview in September. We thoroughly prepared our client for the interview and our client successfully passed it. An approval notice was sent out just after 3 weeks.

Client came to the US from Seoul, Republic of Korea as a visiting scientist and obtained his PhD and MS from two accredited universities in the US. Client is an expert on heat transfer. NIW was filed on August 23, 2004. RFE was issued on June 23, 2005 asking for additional documents to establish client’s status as above other scientists of comparable qualifications. On August 23 we responded and it met with Nebraska Service Center’s approval and was approved on September 22, 2005. Client’s green card was approved on March 2, 2006 and wife can expect her green card in the near future.

In August 2002 we concurrently filed NIW and RIR for a client from China and both were approved in September 2003. Client is an extraordinary research scientist in the field of biomedical for application in medical and diagnostic devices. In November 2003 we filed I-485 for client and wife and we received approval notices on August 14, 2006. Congratulations!

I-140 based on NIW was filed on December 18, 2003 and was approved on January 26, 2006 after our timely response to a RFE. Client is a PhD with geology expertise in earthquake hazards research and is from PRC. I-485 was filed on October 14, 2005 and was approved on July 24, 2006 after we responded to RFE regarding medical examination on July 24, 2006. Wife and daughter’s green cards were subsequently approved on August 10, 2006 after we responded to Request for Evidence on August 2 2006.

Our law firm filed I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, on April 27 2006 and it was approved on May 27, 2006, after just one month. Client is a medical doctor petitioned by the medical industry. We then filed green card for client and wife on May 5 2006 and they were fingerprinted on May 22, 2006. Client and wife can expect their green cards in the foreseeable future.

We had a very young client who is from Taiwan and she obtained her Ph. D from a university in Texas in 2005. On February 8, 2006 our law firm was retained to file National Interest Waiver based on her expertise in using cellular and molecular biology to investigate cancer and AIDS. On June 13 it was already approved, without issuance of Request for Evidence. On July 25 we filed I-485 for our client and she was fingerprinted on August 12. On September 7 her I-485 was already approved, again without any further request for evidence. The whole process from filing I-140 to green card approval took less than 7 months and our client is already a proud permanent resident of the United States !

We filed I-485 based on our client’s I-140 NIW approval. Our client is a Ph. D Medical Research Associate working for a prestigious health care provider in Cleveland, Ohio. We filed I-485 for our client, who is from South Korea , her husband, and their child on November 26, 2004. They were required to go for fingerprint on in May, 2006. Soon after the fingerprint, client and son received their green cards in June. On September 15^th , husband was notified to appear for interview in Cleveland CIS office. He appeared for his interviewed as scheduled and was notified right away that his green card got approved! Congratulations to this family-they can now live happily after with their USC son born in 2003.

Our client who is from Fayoum, Egypt came to the US with his wife after obtaining his MD from his home country. A private medicine practice wanted to employ him to be an internist. With priority date being October 28, 2005, PERM was certified on November 9, in just 12 days. As quota for Egypt was open, I-485 for our client and his wife was filed on January 18, 2006. They were required to appear for biometrics in March and our client and his wife showed up as scheduled. On June 1, both of them received their approval notices in the mail. They can now live permanently in the US with their 12 year old daughter and 8 year old son, who are both citizens of the United States . The entire process from PERM to green card took less than a year as the availability of visa numbers is greater for their home country.

Back in July 2001 our law firm filed Labor Certification for a Korean client. Our client had a Bachelor’s degree in engineering from his home country and a Master’s in management from a state university in the US plus years of work experience. In December LC was certified. In August 2002 we filed I-140 for our client and later concurrently filed I-485 for our client and his wife. LC was approved in December 2002. Due to prolonged and delayed processing, our client and his wife had to show up for fingerprinting four times.  After the last biometrics in May 2006, we received Request for Evidence asking us to explain the difference in our client’s current residence and that in the original petition. We promptly responded.  On August 8, 2006 we received both approval notices for our client and his wife. Congratulations to our client whose patience and persistence has won in the long journey to permanent residence in the United States .

In 2001 our law firm filed Reduction in Recruitment for a client from Caracas, Venezuela. Client entered the country on H-1B visa and was petitioned by an international corporation in Beachwood, Ohio. Our client obtained his J.D. from his home country and his M.S. in law from a university in Washington DC. A Final determination, i.e. an approval, was made on July 11, 2002. We subsequently filed I-140 and it was approved without any further request for evidence in 2003. On the same day we received the approval notice for I-140 we filed green card for our client. 1 year later client’s wife decided to apply for her green card also and we submitted the filing. While husband’s green card was approved in January 2005, wife’s was approved in September 2006. Congratulations! Although our client and his wife decided to apply for their green card at different times, they ultimately both realized their dreams of becoming a family of lawful permanent residents of the United States .

We filed LC back in 2001 and I-140 in 2002 for our client from Bulcan, Philippines and both were approved, with I-140 approved in May 2005. In 2003 we filed I-485 and Supplement A to form I-485 for client and her daughter, highlighting the fact that our client’s LC was filed before 245(i) provision ended. Our client and her daughter had to have their biometrics captured 3 times (once a year) and we received a RFE in May 2005. the RFE requested us to submit evidence of physical presence as our client was a beneficiary of an immigrant visa petition or LC filed after January 14, 1998 but or before Aril 30, 2001. The RFE also requested us to submit documentation regarding our client’s employment. We timely responded on August 10 2005 and our client was notified to have their last fingerprint performed in May 2006. In July, our client, the mother, received her welcome notice welcoming her to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States . Two months later on September 12^th her daughter also received her welcome notice.

May 10. On June 21 2006, an approval notice for I-140 was mailed out to our office. Our client’s biometrics was captured on May 30 and on August 10 our office received Request for Evidence for the I-485 application due to new interim procedures for certain health care workers which seek to ensure that nurses and occupational therapists immigrating to the US have education, English proficiency, experience and training. We submitted the required additional documents on August 22, although the deadline was November 10; we understand our client’s sincere desire to become a lawful permanent resident of the Unite States sooner than later. On September 5 we happily, but not unexpectedly, received an approval notice for our client’s green card application and could not wait to share the good news with our client. Our client is now expecting her green card in the mail in the next couple of days.

We had a client who is a physician (cardiologist) from Beirut, Lebanon. Our client was a holder of O-1 visa, J-1 visa and H-1B visa. On July 27, 2004 our office filed RIR with Ohio Labor Department. We received two 45-day letters, one in March 2005 and the other one in November 2005. We responded to both timely and RIR was certified on March 28 2006. After that we filed I-140 for client right away, on April 10 and an approval was received on July 28, 2006. Congratulations to our client; his I-485 application was filed on May 17 2006 and an RFE regarding our client’s medical license/ECFMG was already responded timely by our office. Our client can expect his green card in the foreseeable future.

Our client is a physician from Bucharest, Romania and came to the country on a J-1 visa. After the program, she desired to stay and her waiver was also approved. Her husband, who is a national of India, was able to stay in the US after his green card was approved based on an approved I-140 petition. We filed I-485 for our client on 03/29/2005 and client was fingerprinted on 05/18/2006. However, we later received a Request for Evidence, asking us for very specific documentation regarding: 1) evidence that client has complied with the terms and conditions of the J-1 waiver 2) evidence to demonstrate client’s marriage to her husband is bona fide 3) document showing husband’s marriage history, giving us a deadline of 10/13/2006. We started working together with our client right away and did not want to lose any time. After gathering all the necessary documents, we filed our response to the RFE on 08/14/2006. 3 weeks later our client and our office both received an approval notice for our client’s green card application. Congratulations-this whole family are now lawful permanent residents of the United States .

Our client is from Beijing, China and is an outstanding professor whose I-140 National Interest Waiver was filed by our office on 09/29/2005. On the same day, we filed I-485 applications for our client, her husband and their 8-year old daughter. Our client’s I-140 was approved on 03/26/2006 and on 08/17/2006 we received Request for Evidence for all three applications. It asked for medical examination papers and evidence that could demonstrate our client was still engaged as an outstanding professor as the application was submitted a year ago and had since been pending. We lost no time in filing our response. On September 6 2006 we happily received 3 welcome notices for this family who are now lawful permanent residents of the United States .

On June 14, 2006 our law firm filed I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, for a client from Kenya. He was petitioned by a major educational institute in Cleveland, Ohio and his L/C was certified by Dallas Backlog Center on February 21, 2005. Our client is a professor in education and human services. When the I-140 petition was received by Texas Service Center, we filed I-485 application for our client and his wife. Later on the I-140 was approved and they were soon notified to appear for fingerprinting on 07/25/2006. On October 2, we received both approval notices for our client and his wife. Congratulations to our client and his family-they can now live and work permanently in the United States .

In January 2002 our law firm filed labor certificate application for a Japanese client who is a market research analyst. His petitioner was a construction corporation and our client possesses a bachelor’s degree in business administration, which is what the petitioner desires. In November we received notice of findings from US department of labor questioning the petitioner’s recruitment efforts. We efficiently addressed these concerns of DOL and labor certificate was certified soon after, in January 2003. In April we filed I-140 and I-1485 for our client and his family. Client’s I-140 was later approved but as he is EB3, his I-485 was not approved so fast. In 2005 and 2006 we received RFE’s requesting us to submit updated information. We timely did so and in October 2006 received welcome notices for our client and his family!

On November 18, 2005 our law firm filed PERM for a client from Russia who is a financial analyst. Our client was employed and petitioned by a security business in Ohio. Our client has a MBA from a state university in Ohio also. On January 17, 2006 PERM was certified. In the same month we filed I-140 petition and it was approved in a little over two months. We also filed I-485 for our client and his wife in March. After one fingerprinting in May and without interview, we received welcome notices for both of our client and his wife in September. Congratulations to our client and his family as well as his employer!

After filing PERM and I-140 and getting them approved for our MD client from Thailand, we filed I-485 for our client and his wife in August 2006. Both of the applications were received on August 7, 2006.Ffingerprinting was scheduled for August 22 and on September 27, both were approved without an interview. The whole process from PERM through green card only took 6 months and a half. (March 8-September 27)

Back in August 2001 our law firm filed RIR for an Indian client although our client was born in Uganda. Our client is an accountant and obtained his BS in commerce from India. The RIR was approved in November 2002. we subsequently filed I-140 in January 2003 and it was approved very fast, in February 2002. I-485 for client and wife and their two children was file on March 14, 2003 and were approved on September 28, 2006. More than one RFE was issued and we timely responded to all of them. Congratulations to our client and his family-they had to apply for a work permit and travel document every year since 2003 to work and travel while their green card applications were pending. They can now end the history of having to do so after their years-long journey to a green card in the United States .

Our Pilipino client came to the US in1996 and later married a US citizen. We were retained to file I-130 and I-485 for him so that they could live their life together in the US legally. We filed both applications with Illinois CIS in December 2005. In March 2006 they were scheduled for biometrics and in May for interview. Our office well prepared our client and his wife for the interview after we received the interview notice and one of our attorneys also accompanied them during the interview. A month after the interview our client received his green card.

Our client is a senior research scientist who acquired his PhD from an accredited university in Iowa city , Iowa. We filed I-485 for client and his wife based on his pending NIW application on September 28 2005 and client and wife’s biometrics were captured just two months later, on November 17, 2005. On May 15, 2006 we received Request for Evidence and responded right away. On August 25 2006 both client and his wife were delighted to receive approval notices for their green card applications.

Our client is a national of the Republic of Trinidad and Taobago. She first came to the US as a visitor. Then she met a US citizen who is now her husband. Our office filed I-130 and I-485 for our client and her 3 children on February 28 2006. On March 23 2006 we received RFE’s regarding financial support for our client and her three children. We responded timely and client and her family were interviewed on August 14 2006. One of our attorneys was present during the interview. After 4 days, on August 18 2006 we received the four approval notices and our client and her children can now live happily after with her husband and their father in the United States .

Client is a national of PR.R China who first came to the U.S. on J-1 in 1993 and wife is from Taiwan and she came here on F-1. I-140 based on the fact client is an outstanding researcher was filed on October 29, 2002 and was approved on June 26, 2003 after responding to RFE on June 2003. We filed I-485 for client and wife on 07/29/2003 and received biometrics notices for 11/04/2005. We then filed writ of mandamus on behalf of client in June 2006 due to prolonged processing. Client and wife received approval notices on 08/08/2006.

We filed I-140 for client based on National Interest Waiver on December 15, 2003. . Client is a national of P.R.C. We received RFE on July 25, 2005 and after we responded timely, an approval notice was received on October 31, 2005. We also filed green card application for client on June 28, 2004 and received RFE on May 30, 2006. After we responded to RFE, we soon received approval notices for client and family’s green card applications on August 14, 2006. Congratulations!

Our client is a civil engineer from Seoul, South Korea . We filed RIR on July 16, 2001 and it was approved on December 11, 2001. I-140 was filed on august 12, 2002 and was later approved on December 27, 2002, on which day we filed I-485 for client and wife. In 2006, a RFE was issued regarding sameness of I-140 petitioner. We responded in a timely and efficient manner and I-485 was approved on August 8, 2006 soon after their fingerprints were captured on May 10 and May 18, 2006.

Permanent Residency has been obtained for an entire family. The petitions were filed at the Nebraska Service Center. They were receipted on November 25, 1998 and the approvals were granted on July 5, 2000. Congratulations to the whole family!