tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59608381758127862872024-03-05T12:27:25.108+08:00Bridgeway Immigration ConsultancyBridgeway Immigration Consultancy is an American immigration and visa consulting firm holding offices Manila, Philippines and the United States. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-21051251759951901442018-06-25T09:11:00.000+08:002018-06-25T09:11:42.721+08:00How to Apply for Naturalization if your American Spouse is Stationed Abroad<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQzmPfCgLSbra4klJ5JZ4FMrF5ZI5TeTNpJtQ68XBNGz9ruV6qquxJZZjiKxJflHs6AA2ud1iFSp_pfHVS67bAnx-gIBJ6yQTaxEFm9lJEqeO-elZKILDahzTCJLJlmxn5SX9hHxeDXs/s1600/naturalization.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to Apply for Naturalization if your American Spouse is Stationed Abroad" border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="600" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQzmPfCgLSbra4klJ5JZ4FMrF5ZI5TeTNpJtQ68XBNGz9ruV6qquxJZZjiKxJflHs6AA2ud1iFSp_pfHVS67bAnx-gIBJ6yQTaxEFm9lJEqeO-elZKILDahzTCJLJlmxn5SX9hHxeDXs/s400/naturalization.png" title="How to Apply for Naturalization if your American Spouse is Stationed Abroad" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Filipino spouses of American citizens are generally eligible for permanent residency and, eventually naturalization based on their marriage. In general, a Filipino spouse may only be naturalized after showing that they have resided continuously as a green card holders within the United States for a certain prescribed period of time. These requirements are called the residency and physical presence requirements. The issue then arises, what about those Filipino citizens who are married to an American citizen, but the couple is living and raising a family in the Philippines. How are they expected to meet the residency and physical presence requirements under U.S. immigration law? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">To address this situation, Act 319(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provides for an exception to the residency and physical presence requirements for a Filipino spouse of a U.S. citizen who is regularly stationed abroad under a qualifying employment. A qualifying employment abroad means that the American spouse must be stationed abroad for at least one year under an employment contract or order in any of the following entities or position: </span></div>
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<li>Government of the United States (including the U.S. armed forces); </li>
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<li>American institution of research recognized by the Attorney General; </li>
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<li>American firm or corporation engaged in whole or in part in the development of foreign trade and commerce of the United States or a subsidiary thereof; </li>
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<li>Public international organization in which the United States participates by treaty or statute; </li>
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<li>Authorized to perform the ministerial or priestly functions of a religious denomination having a bona<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>fide<span style="font-family: inherit;"> organization within the United States; or </span></li>
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<li>Engaged solely as a missionary by a religious denomination or by an interdenominational organization having a bona<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>fide<span style="font-family: inherit;"> organization within the United States. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">To qualify for naturalization under Act 319(B) of the INA, the spouse must establish that he or she meets the following criteria: </span></div>
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<li>18 years or older at the time of filing; </li>
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<li>A lawful permanent resident at the time of filing of the naturalization application; </li>
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<li>Continue to be the spouse of the U.S. citizen regularly stationed abroad in qualifying employment for at least one year; </li>
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<li>Married to a U.S. citizen regularly stationed abroad in qualifying employment for at least a year; </li>
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<li>Has a good faith intent to reside abroad with the U.S. citizen spouse upon naturalization and to reside in the United States immediately upon the citizen’s termination of employment abroad; </li>
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<li>Establish that he or she will depart to join the citizen spouse within 30 to 45 days after the date of naturalization; </li>
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<li>Understanding of basic English, including the ability to read, write and speak; </li>
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<li>Knowledge of basic U.S. history and government; </li>
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<li>Demonstrate good moral character for at least three years prior to filing the application until the time of naturalization </li>
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<li>Attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution and well-disposed to the good order and happiness of the U.S. during all relevant period under the law. </li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you are a Filipino spouse of an American citizen who is working in the Philippines simply like to know more about the topic, you may contact an US immigration lawyer in the Philippine for more advice or information on the procedures for availing the exemption discussed above.</span></div>
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<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-66407369242720072092018-06-01T13:44:00.000+08:002018-06-01T15:15:47.037+08:00Conviction of a Crime of Moral Turpitude: A Bar to a US Visa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGzKmYmm3z1MAoLzMbkAnn0DXGCifkyQehd1Elt3sgDQLZY9VXtJOnMNnEbXKdBJ7LIaqxQE9lKvApKJjNR0Wuc5D8iz039U9kHTsVlC4o58jh3uIfXyQ4Eb4B7QEj3DCJy0-F41rQwM/s1600/convictionofacrime.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Conviction of a Crime Involving a Crime of Moral Turpitude: A Bar to a United States Visa" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="794" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGzKmYmm3z1MAoLzMbkAnn0DXGCifkyQehd1Elt3sgDQLZY9VXtJOnMNnEbXKdBJ7LIaqxQE9lKvApKJjNR0Wuc5D8iz039U9kHTsVlC4o58jh3uIfXyQ4Eb4B7QEj3DCJy0-F41rQwM/s400/convictionofacrime.png" title="Conviction of a Crime Involving a Crime of Moral Turpitude: A Bar to a United States Visa" width="317" /></a></div>
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Last January, Robin Padilla shared a video of Mariel Rodriguez and their baby daughter in the United States. He was unable to join them because, despite being granted executive clemency last November, he still does not have a U.S. visa. Considering the recent conviction of businessman Cedric Lee for the kidnapping of his daughter with actress-singer Vina Morales, one has to wonder, does the conviction of a crime automatically disqualify a person from receiving a visa to the United States? </div>
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The short answer is it depends on the crime. If the crime involves moral turpitude, then a person convicted becomes ineligible to receive visa to the United States and to be admitted therein. This provision is not just limited to a conviction. Section 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(I) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) also expands the ineligibility to include persons who admits to having committed, or who admits committing acts which constitute the essential elements of a crime involving moral turpitude (other than a purely political offense) or an attempt or conspiracy to commit such a crime.</div>
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But who decides whether a crime involves moral turpitude? What are the standards to be applied in determining whether a crime involves moral turpitude?</div>
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Under Section 22.21(a) of the Code of Federal Regulations, the Consular Officer must determine whether the crime involves a moral turpitude against the moral standards generally prevailing in the United States. </div>
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In the <i>Matter of Cristoval Silva-Trevino</i> (26 I&N Dec. 826 (BIA 2016), the Board of Immigration Appeals held that the term “moral turpitude” generally refers to conduct that is “inherently base, vile, or depraved, and contrary to the accepted rules of morality and the duties owed between persons or to society in general.” It requires two essential elements: reprehensible conduct and a culpable mental state. </div>
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However, pursuing the American dream is still possible for person who are ineligible under Section 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(I). Persons who are ineligible to receive a visa and to enter the United States may still be admitted if the Attorney General consents to the person’s applying or reapplying for a visa, for admission to the United States, or adjustment of status and a waiver is granted to them. Under Section 212(h) of the INA, the Attorney General may, in his discretion waive the application of Section 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(I). The waiver may be granted if it is established to the satisfaction of the Attorney General that: </div>
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1. The admission to the United States would not be contrary to the national welfare, safety, or security of the United States; and</div>
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2. The alien has been rehabilitated.</div>
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If person who is ineligible under Section 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(I) is the spouse, parent, son, or daughter of a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, then the person must establish to the satisfaction of the Attorney General that the alien’s denial or admission would result in extreme hardship to the United States citizen or lawfully resident spouse, parent, son, or daughter of the ineligible person. </div>
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A person who is ineligible may also qualify for a waiver if they are a Violence Against Women’s Act self-petitioner. </div>
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Despite the availability of the waiver for ineligible persons, Section 212(h)(2) states that no waiver shall be provided in the case of an ineligible person who has been convicted of (or who has admitted committing acts that constitute) murder or criminal acts involving torture, or an attempt or conspiracy to commit murder or a criminal act involving torture. </div>
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If you or anyone you know have any questions relating to ineligibility in receiving a visa to the at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, please contact a U.S. immigration attorney for more information.</div>
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<a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog" style="background-color: white; color: #771000; font-family: "source serif pro", serif; font-size: 21px;" target="_blank">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a></div>
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<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-28831101841359020192018-05-16T09:26:00.000+08:002018-05-18T07:50:14.203+08:00Proposed USCIS Policy Changes on Accrued Unlawful Presence for J, F, and M Visa Holders To Affect Filipinos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9RLPrk4z-JLJvLWUqOqarqop00_ozhqPzo644FSiGo_XOSZuCS3TlmzbNh2CbxzVxClljNrgg9dXTXPi9OCBhiyaIjMQdnF2F9ci3kV6l1ATjogNJ-R-8Ss1Hz4spI6Yq8H9RAG1jmI/s1600/USCISpolicychanges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Propose USCIS Policy Changes on Accrued Unlawful Presence for J, F, and M Visa Holders To Affect Filipinos" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9RLPrk4z-JLJvLWUqOqarqop00_ozhqPzo644FSiGo_XOSZuCS3TlmzbNh2CbxzVxClljNrgg9dXTXPi9OCBhiyaIjMQdnF2F9ci3kV6l1ATjogNJ-R-8Ss1Hz4spI6Yq8H9RAG1jmI/s400/USCISpolicychanges.jpg" title="Propose USCIS Policy Changes on Accrued Unlawful Presence for J, F, and M Visa Holders To Affect Filipinos" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Filipinos working
and studying in the United States under the J-1, F, and M nonimmigrant visas
should take note of the proposed changes in the manner of calculating unlawful
presence by USCIS. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The policy
memorandum which was posted on May 11, 2018 s in line with President Donald
Trump’s Executive Order: Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United
States and is set to take effect on August 9, 2018. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_gjdgxs"></a><span lang="EN-US">The policy amends Section 40.9.2 of the USCIS Adjudicator’s Field
Manual by adding a section concerning F, J, and M nonimmigrants and the manner
of calculating their unlawful presence. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Under
the policy memorandum, individuals in F, J, and M status who failed to maintain
their status before Aug. 9, 2018, will start accruing unlawful presence on that
date based on that failure, unless they had already started accruing unlawful
presence, on the earliest of any of the following:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The day after DHS denied the request for an immigration benefit, if DHS made a formal finding that the individual violated his or her nonimmigrant status while adjudicating a request for another immigration benefit;</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The day after their I-94 expired; or</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The day after an immigration judge or in certain cases, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), ordered them excluded, deported, or removed (whether or not the decision is appealed).</span></li>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Individuals in
F, J, or M status who fail to maintain their status on or after Aug. 9, 2018,
will start accruing unlawful presence on the earliest of any of the
following: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The day after they no longer pursue the course of study or the authorized activity, or the day after they engage in an unauthorized activity;</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The day after completing the course of study or program, including any authorized practical training plus any authorized grace period;</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The day after the I-94 expires; or</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The day after an immigration judge, or in certain cases, the BIA, orders them excluded, deported, or removed (whether or not the decision is appealed).</span></li>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Individuals who
have accrued more than 180 days of unlawful presence during a single stay, and
then depart, may be subject to three-year or 10-year bars to admission,
depending on how much unlawful presence they accrued before they departed the
United States. Individuals who have accrued a total period of more than one
year of unlawful presence, whether in a single stay or during multiple stays in
the United States, and who then reenter or attempt to reenter the United States
without being admitted or paroled are permanently inadmissible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those subject to
the three-year, 10-year, or permanent unlawful presence bars to admission are
generally not eligible to apply for a visa, admission, or adjustment of status
to permanent residence unless they are eligible for a waiver of inadmissibility
or another form of relief.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nonimmigrants
holding F, J, or M as well as those who previously departed the United States
are strongly advised to consult with a US immigration lawyer to verify their
status or to clarify any questions that they may have.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog" style="background-color: white; color: #771000; font-family: "source serif pro", serif; font-size: 21px;" target="_blank">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-84292421363538225542018-05-12T08:31:00.000+08:002018-05-12T08:31:15.775+08:00Job Opportunities for Filipino Teachers in USA<br />
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Times in the United States have become more challenging for American teachers as more teachers protest low pay and education funding shortfalls. Moreso in Arizona where teacher pay is $10,000.00 less than the national average of $59,000.00. </div>
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But what is too low for American teachers is a dream come true for Filipino teachers looking for U.S. Visas. At $40,000.00, the salary offered for teachers in Arizona is ten times more than what they would have made back in the Philippines doing the same job. </div>
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The difficulties in finding American teachers to work for the pay offered has made school districts more creative and innovative in recruiting, looking to foreign teachers to fill the gap. The foreign teachers that the schools recruit enter and work temporarily under the J-1 visa, a visa that offers no path to citizenship. The J-1 visa for teachers lasts for three years, with the option to extend twice for one year. </div>
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In 2017, more than 2,800 foreign teachers arrived in the United States under the J-1 visa. The top sender was the Philippines, sending 472 teachers under the J-1 visa, followed by Jamaica and China sending 324 and 321, respectively. </div>
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School districts found it easy to find and recruit qualified teachers from the Philippines as they speak English, are willing to work and are purposefully trained to easily pass muster from licensing authorities in the United States. </div>
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To qualify for a J-1 visa, candidates must: </div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Meet the qualifications for teaching in primary or secondary schools in their country of nationality or last legal residence; </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Be working as a teacher in the home country or country of legal residence at the time of application, or, if not working as a teacher, otherwise meet the eligibility qualifications and (a) have recently (within 12 months of application) completed an advanced degree and (b) have two years of full-time teaching experience within the past eight years; </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Have a degree-equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree in either education or the academic subject field in which they intend to teach; </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Have a minimum of two years (24 months) of teaching or related professional experience; </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Satisfy the standards of the U.S. state in which they will teach; </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Be of good reputation and character; </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Be seeking to enter the United States for the purpose of full-time teaching as a teacher of record at a primary (including pre-kindergarten) or secondary accredited educational institution in the United States (pre-kindergarten teachers must teach full-time, and at the pre-kindergarten level, may teach only language immersion at an accredited host school); </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Possess sufficient proficiency in the English language. </li>
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In the Philippines, the applicant for a J-1 visa must have their documents processed in the Philippines Overseas Employment Administration so they can be issued an Overseas Employment Certificate, which serves as the Overseas Foreign Worker’s travel exit clearance at the airport and immigration centers. </div>
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Aside from paying the fees, the applicant must also undergo a medical examination by a clinic or hospital accredited by the Department of Health and attend a pre-departure orientation seminar. </div>
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Interested teachers should consult with a lawyer or an immigration consultant for more information on American immigration.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Ryan Barshop</span></div>
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<a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog" style="background-color: white; color: #771000; font-family: "source serif pro", serif; font-size: 21px;" target="_blank">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a></div>
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<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-14551709869222023202018-04-25T10:45:00.000+08:002018-04-25T10:45:39.515+08:00SC: Foreign divorce obtained by Filipino from foreign spouse now recognized<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIIwtDKDrPBJqz8_kBGicJoprq42UQVcmatIBSbKz8VqTAaXBNUqGUqQKbEgBykCAvdpyXSSl-Xk_wNxuQTaPe5FjD22D2xrUmxoSML0Botp0uJgtceoMrvNW5ydPvqQQovikDpsZXYU/s1600/scdivorce.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="SC: Foreign divorce obtained by Filipino from foreign spouse now recognized" border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIIwtDKDrPBJqz8_kBGicJoprq42UQVcmatIBSbKz8VqTAaXBNUqGUqQKbEgBykCAvdpyXSSl-Xk_wNxuQTaPe5FjD22D2xrUmxoSML0Botp0uJgtceoMrvNW5ydPvqQQovikDpsZXYU/s400/scdivorce.png" title="SC: Foreign divorce obtained by Filipino from foreign spouse now recognized" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court decided last Tuesday that a foreign divorce secured by a Filipino from their foreign spouse will now be considered as valid in the Philippines. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The decision comes in relation to the case of Marelyn Tanedo Manalo, a Filipino, whose petition for divorce from her Japanese spouse, a certain Minoru Yoshino, was granted by the Japanese court on December 6, 2011. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Manalo<span style="background-color: transparent;"> then filed a petition for </span>cancelation<span style="background-color: transparent;"> of marriage on January 10, 2012 in a </span>Dagupan<span style="background-color: transparent;"> court so that the foreign divorce can be recognized in the Philippines. However, the </span>Dagupan<span style="background-color: transparent;"> court denied her petition ruling that Article 26(2) of the Family Code did not apply because it was the Filipino spouse that initiated the divorce. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Article 26(2) provides that “where a marriage between a Filipino citizen and a foreigner is validly celebrated and a divorce is thereafter validly obtained abroad by the alien spouse capacitating him or her to remarry, the Filipino spouse shall have capacity to remarry under Philippine law.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Manalo<span style="background-color: transparent;"> then appealed the decision to the Court of Appeals who overturned the lower court’s decision ruling that Article 26 of the Family Code applies since the Japanese spouse is now already free to remarry thus </span>Manalo<span style="background-color: transparent;"> must also be free to remarry. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The appellate court held that it would be the unjust and discriminatory to hold the Filipino spouse to still be married to the foreign spouse who, because of the divorce, is no longer married to the Filipino spouse. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The appellate court also held that the non-recognition of the divorce filed by the Filipino spouse would result in an “inconsistency between the recognition of the effectivity of the foreign judgment and public records in the Philippines.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Office of the Solicitor General appealed the decision of the appellate court to the Supreme Court, which, in turn, sustained the ruling, voting 10-3-1. The three dissenting magistrates were Associate Justices Mariano del Castillo, Estela Perlas-Bernabe, and Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa. Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza inhibited from the case while Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is still on leave from her office. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The decision comes in the wake of the passage of the divorce bill in the lower house of the Philippine Congress. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">On March 19, the lower house of Congress approved House Bill 7303 or “An Act Instituting Absolute Divorce and Dissolution of Marriage in the Philippines.” The bill aims to legalize divorce in the Philippines. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The approved bill is now set to be received by the Senate. However, several senators have already stated their opposition to the bill. President Rodrigo Duterte has likewise expressed his opposition to divorce during the 2016 presidential debates. His opposition was reiterated by presidential spokesman Harry Roque just hours before the voting at the lower house. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Philippines and the Vatican are the only states in the world where divorce is not allowed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Ryan Barshop</span></div>
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<a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog" style="background-color: white; color: #771000; font-family: "source serif pro", serif; font-size: 21px;" target="_blank">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a></div>
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<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-52389123341585996752018-04-19T08:13:00.000+08:002018-04-19T08:13:10.109+08:00Fraud in Obtaining US Visas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHipQBWTVNJTilS9Xl8RT65TKM9BRZCmhfc1LJf6ZIAu74bpn0Y7WzPoqUv6QBNF3TLKs_3qB_9i2t1cxOX_NqtfqKu258FeMJxiCdqOgT9FVc8KyFaqyCvheKgZQqBWVxYkGywKULac0/s1600/fraudVisa.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fraud in Obtaining US Visas" border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="500" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHipQBWTVNJTilS9Xl8RT65TKM9BRZCmhfc1LJf6ZIAu74bpn0Y7WzPoqUv6QBNF3TLKs_3qB_9i2t1cxOX_NqtfqKu258FeMJxiCdqOgT9FVc8KyFaqyCvheKgZQqBWVxYkGywKULac0/s400/fraudVisa.png" title="Fraud in Obtaining US Visas" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Every year, hundreds of thousands of Filipinos apply for a U.S. visa, whether it be for tourist purposes or to become an immigrant to live out the American dream. However, some have found the process to be too long or the risk of denial to be too great. To ensure approvals, they look to other avenues for help in getting their U.S. visas approved so they can enter the United States. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some make use of visa agents who assure the approval of U.S. visas. Some visa agents provide their clients with documents such as fake passports or identities with an approved U.S. visa. They assure their clients that it is okay to travel under the fake documents. Other visa agents provide fake documents such as bank books, bank certifications, deeds of sale of real property, tax documents and business registration certificates to prove financial capacity to travel to the United States and to establish legitimate ties to their country of origin. Those seeking U.S. visas pay fees ranging from exorbitant, non-refundable fees for orientation, coaching and the fake documents. If they are successful in their visa applications, the applicants are required to pay their visa agents a “success fee,” which is just as exorbitant, if not more. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In scenarios like these, it is not just the visa agencies that may be criminally charged. The applicants will also face consequences such as deportation for their use of fake documents.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">On the other hand, some make use of recruiters who take advantage of the applicant’s economic needs. As it could take years for visas to be approved, it is hard to predict what needs will have to be met by the workers. Recruiters have the advantage of being able to move people around according to the demand. However, applicants don’t realize the underlying risks of signing with a recruiter. There are some instances where the applicant signs contracts wherein their recruiters take a percent of their salary or they are paid less than the minimum wage. The recruiters hold them hostage to their contracts through the constant threat of deportation. The workers become especially vulnerable due to their lack of knowledge and understanding of what it takes to get a new contract to maintain their visa. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Applicants from the Philippines should be wary of visa agencies and recruiters that are using illegal means to obtain a visa to the United States. They should be more circumspect in choosing immigration consultants lest they fall victim to unscrupulous groups. In doing so, applicants should be informed that only licensed attorneys can legally offer immigration assistance. </span></div>
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<a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog" style="background-color: white; color: #771000; font-family: "source serif pro", serif; font-size: 21px;" target="_blank">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a></div>
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<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-10509110324682138702018-04-10T10:03:00.000+08:002018-04-10T10:03:24.309+08:00Changes in Immigration Policy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A series of small moves concerning the immigration policy of the US have been undertaken in the past week by the Trump administration. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">CNN reports the following actions made by the administration:</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Attorney General Jeff Sessions has issued a Decision directing the Board of Immigration Appeals to refer cases for his review when said cases have issues relating to when there is “good cause” to grant a continuance for a collateral matter to be adjudicated. Under this Decision, the Board’s decisions on the matter are automatically stayed pending the Attorney General’s review. </span></li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">On 27 March 2018, President Donald Trump issued a Memorandum finding that the conditions in Liberia no longer warrant the extension of the Deferred Enforcement Departure (DED). Due to the conflicts in Liberia, the DED was first authorized by President Clinton in 1999 to allow certain Liberian nationals and persons without nationality who last habitually resided in Liberia to remain in the U.S when they would otherwise have been deported. The DED for Liberians were repeatedly extended by President Bush and President Obama. </span></li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Commerce Department announced that it will include a question on citizenship in the 2020 Census.</span></li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced a new directive wherein immigration officers will no longer default to trying to release pregnant women in immigration custody but will instead require a case-by-case evaluation.</span></li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The State Department proposed that applicants for visas and alien registration be required to submit five years of identifiers for certain social media platforms, previously used telephone numbers, email addresses, and international travel.</span></li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the White House is reviewing a proposal requiring immigration caseworkers to consider a wider range of factors to determine whether an applicant is likely to become dependent on public assistance. The proposal seeks to define the term “public charge” as used in the Immigration and Nationality Act and to define the types of public benefits that are considered in the determinations. U.S. Law authorizes the rejection of immigrants if they are likely to become a “public charge.”</span></li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Department of Justice and the City of West Spring Palm Beach announced that it has reached an agreement regarding West Palm Beach’s Resolution Number 112-17. The City agreed to issue a memorandum stating its position that its local laws do not restrict information sharing with the DHS.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Immigration lawyers say that the greater scrutiny of visa applications have slowed down the process and have set the bar higher for longstanding categories of visas.</span></div>
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<a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog" style="background-color: white; color: #771000; font-family: "source serif pro", serif; font-size: 21px;" target="_blank">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-31805539998488882032018-04-03T12:50:00.001+08:002018-04-10T10:01:37.693+08:00U.S. To Require Visa Applicants To Disclose Social Media Handles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; text-indent: 50px;">In a notice posted on March 30, 2018, the State Department is proposing to revise the collection of biographical information from nearly all visa applicants by requiring them to provide their social media identities on certain social media platforms during the five years preceding the date of application – with an option to list handles not explicitly required.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The proposal follows the Trump administration’s promise of “extreme vetting” of foreigners entering the U.S. to prevent terrorism. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It is also an extension of the previous administration’s instructions to collect social media identifiers when the State Department determines “that such information is required to confirm identity or conduct more rigorous national security vetting.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Greater attention was placed on immigrants’ social media use after it was revealed that one of the attackers of the 2015 San Bernardino terrorist attack had, under a pseudonym, advocated jihad in posts on a private social media account. Authorities did not find the account until after she was allowed entry into the U.S. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">If approved, approximately 15 million people will be affected annually, including applicants for permanent residency.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Some expressed their concerns on the proposal’s effects on freedom of speech and association and on privacy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">On a more practical note, critics also complain that the proposal would make it harder to legally immigrate to the U.S. as the proposal would make the process slower.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In addition, the State Department also proposes to require information on five years of previously used telephone numbers, email addresses, and international travel, and whether specified family members have been involved in terrorist activities, regardless of visa application. For applicants for Immigration Visa and Alien Registration, applicants will be required to disclose all prior immigration violations while applicants for Nonimmigrant visa will be asked whether they have been deported or removed from any country.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The State Department intends not to routinely ask the question of applicants for most diplomatic and official visa applicants.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Upon its publication, the public has 60 days, or until May 29, 2018, to comment on the proposal. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Ryan Barshop</span></div>
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<a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog" style="background-color: white; color: #771000; font-family: "source serif pro", serif; font-size: 21px;" target="_blank">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a></div>
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<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.</blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-79173505338258567992018-02-06T08:44:00.000+08:002018-02-06T08:44:49.381+08:00Trump's plan vs. chain migration to cost many Pinoys chance to live in US<div style="font-family: "source serif pro", serif; font-size: 21px;">
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The Trump administration's plan to end "chain migration" or family-based immigration could bring many Filipinos' pending immigrant petition to the US to naught, GMA News' Cedric Castillo reported on 24 Oras on Monday.</div>
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In his State of the Union Address last week, US President Donald Trump blamed the recent terrorist attacks in New York to chain migration, which allows an immigrant to bring to the US his or her distant relatives.</div>
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"In recent weeks two terrorist attacks in New York were made possible by the visa lottery and chain migration," Trump said. "In the age of terrorism, these programs present risks we can just no longer afford."</div>
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The report said Trump wants the granting of sponsorship to be limited only to the immigrant's wife and children who are minors.</div>
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There are two categories for sponsorship to the US: immediate relatives, which covers the wife, children and parents of a US citizen; and family-based immigration, which covers the US' citizen's children who are 21 years and above, as well as his or her. The latter also covers the family of a permanent resident.</div>
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<b>Lawyer Ryan Barshop, an immigration consultant</b>, said it is easier for immediate relatives of a US citizen to get an immigrant status.</div>
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<i>"Let's say we have an American citizen who is living in the Philippines and wants to bring over his Filipino spouse or child to the US. The process can take as little as six weeks," Barshop said.</i></blockquote>
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<i>However, the process under the immediate relative category could last up to 25 years, he said.</i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">The Philippines is fourth country that has the biggest number of petitions for immigration in the US.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Based on the latest visa bulletin of the US State Department for the F4 category, it is currently processing petitions submitted before October 1, 1994 — or almost 24 years ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Malacañang has yet to comment on Trump's immigration plan.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: , "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(Source: </span><span style="font-family: , "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/immigrationguide/642239/trump-s-plan-vs-chain-migration-to-cost-many-pinoys-chance-to-live-in-us/story/)</span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/">http://bridgewayimmigration.com</a></span></div>
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<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.</blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-91115162085677633792017-11-13T11:10:00.000+08:002017-11-13T11:10:38.441+08:00Trump’s immigration proposal could dash Filipinos’ “American Dream”<h3 style="color: #333333; font-family: "Cantata One", serif; text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;">
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Filipino anti-U.S. activists sent a clear message ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s arrival in the Philippines: No, he isn’t welcome. But while many other Filipinos may share their contempt for Trump, they don’t share the anti-U.S. sentiment.</div>
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“Everyone’s dream — naman — is to go to the U.S.A.,” said U.S. immigrant-hopeful Jonalyn Caliwag.</div>
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It’s a dream that Caliwag’s mother and siblings, as well as close to 4 million other Filipinos, are living now. Filipinos make up the second largest Asian ethnic minority in America.</div>
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For those wanting to move to the United States, there is no more important building than the U.S. Embassy in Manila.</div>
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Caliwag was already approved as a minor petitioned by a parent living in the U.S. But then she turned 21, at which point she had to be moved to another visa category. Now she fears she may never set foot in the United States.</div>
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“From what I’ve seen in the news, Trump does not want more foreigners to be living in the U.S. So I’m worried my mother’s petition for me might never materialize or that I might have to wait a lot longer,” she said.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Earlier this month, Trump told Fox News he plans to also put a stop to chain migration, a policy that has allowed legal immigrants to apply for relatives to come to the U.S., as part of a plan to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA program.</span></div>
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But Ryan Barshop, a U.S. immigration attorney based in Manila, says it’s not likely to be a doomsday scenario for petitioned relatives.</div>
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“If they did end it and it was passed by Congress, you would have a grace period,” he explained.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">“Okay, we’re gonna allow 18 months, let’s just say 18 months to two years, we’re gonna push through all the backlog in that 18 months to two years, get everybody in, and you’re also gonna have 18 months to two years to file.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">But Barshop conceded that doesn’t mean people won’t be hurt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">“Now, if it does change the system, will there be innocent parties? Absolutely, there’s no question about it, people are going to be hurt. In that situation, there are no winners,” he said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Caliwag has waited close to 20 years to be reunited with her mother. She says she wouldn’t mind waiting another ten, as long as her family can be together again.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: , "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(Source: </span><span style="font-family: , "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">https://america.cgtn.com/2017/11/11/trumps-immigration-proposal-could-dash-filipinos-american-dream)</span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/">http://bridgewayimmigration.com</a></span></div>
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<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.</blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-31748130470536586202017-07-10T09:22:00.000+08:002017-07-12T08:36:47.757+08:00Proxy Marriage?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "lora"; font-size: 18.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe a proxy marriage is for you, maybe not.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9PINL5DkqYQwLwiKFqF6i96s_0QbFsriQL8jw4B0MX149PvUVAL2iIUn5Ihu-k-8STkzzONGKaxt8L0oUBRwftkStvQfFnU9z3TK9st_5gxwH4Us5MVGcnxwnU08SWzvNXYJEhJUBpjw/s1600/certofmarriage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Proxy Marriage" border="0" data-original-height="943" data-original-width="1200" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9PINL5DkqYQwLwiKFqF6i96s_0QbFsriQL8jw4B0MX149PvUVAL2iIUn5Ihu-k-8STkzzONGKaxt8L0oUBRwftkStvQfFnU9z3TK9st_5gxwH4Us5MVGcnxwnU08SWzvNXYJEhJUBpjw/s640/certofmarriage.JPG" title="Proxy Marriage" width="640" /></a></div>
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A proxy wedding or (proxy marriage) is a wedding in which one or both of the individuals being united are not physically present, usually being represented instead by other persons. If both partners are absent a double proxy wedding occurs.<br />
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Marriage by proxy is usually resorted to either when a couple wish to marry but one or both partners cannot attend for reasons such as military service, imprisonment, or travel restrictions; or when a couple lives in a jurisdiction in which they cannot legally marry.
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Proxy weddings are not recognized as legally binding in most jurisdictions: both parties must be present. A proxy marriage contracted elsewhere may be recognised where proxy marriage within the jurisdiction is not; for example, Israel recognises proxy marriages abroad between Israelis who might not have been permitted to marry in Israel. Under the English common law, if a proxy marriage is valid by the law of the place where the marriage was celebrated (the lex loci celebrationis) then it will be recognised in England.<br />
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<b style="font-size: 25px;">United States</b></div>
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In the United States, proxy marriages are provided for in law or by customary practice in Texas, Colorado, Kansas, and Montana. Of these, Montana is the only state that allows double-proxy marriage. Proxy marriages cannot be solemnized in all other U.S. states.
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In 1924, a federal court recognized the proxy marriage of a resident of Portugal, where proxy marriages were recognized at the time, and a resident of Pennsylvania, where common-law marriages could be contracted at the time. The Portuguese woman was allowed to immigrate to the United States on account of the marriage, whereas she would have been inadmissible otherwise due to being illiterate.<br />
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During the early 1900s, United States proxy marriages increased significantly when many Japanese picture brides arrived at Angel Island, California. Since the early 20th century, it has been most commonly used in the United States for marriages where one partner is a member of the military on active duty. In California, proxy marriage is only available to deployed military personnel. In Montana, it is available if one partner is either on active military duty or is a Montana resident.<br />
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<b>Philippines</b></div>
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Marriage is an inviolable social contract and institution where a man and a woman enter into a permanent union governed by law to establish a conjugal and family life. Its consequences and incidents are governed by law and not subject to stipulation except for the property relations between husband and wife in the marriage settlement. <br />
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The essential elements of marriage are the following: the contracting parties must be male and female with the legal capacity to enter into marriage and their consent must be given freely in the presence of the solemnizing officer.
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<b>Formal Requisites:</b><br />
<ol>
<li>Authority of the solemnizing officer</li>
<li>Valid marriage license</li>
<li>Inconsistencies between application and evidence</li>
<li>The marriage ceremony must take place with both parties before the solemnizing officer and at least 2 witnesses of legal age where they (the parties) give their personal declaration to take each other as husband and wife</li>
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<b>Marriage by proxy is not allowed in the Philippines;</b> but such marriages are recognized here if valid in the countries where they're performed. The marriage license is issued by the local civil registrar of the municipality where either of the parties resides. The marriage license is valid anywhere in the Philippines for 120 days. It isn't an essential requisite but it's the best evidence of the marriage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSZpetBZXxoetoH3El4Js4SrzTKf0ZHXS4oZWZgY2JObT-CKa_W6YZJQ47oiqC5X7InU0ykRwJy3DGD_aZtLfLUw4cid7NVIBk8zTB8biIIIT1w87DiUGkl2-OYsgoPmcU-DnpIrWSdQ/s1600/falsehope.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="231" data-original-width="620" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSZpetBZXxoetoH3El4Js4SrzTKf0ZHXS4oZWZgY2JObT-CKa_W6YZJQ47oiqC5X7InU0ykRwJy3DGD_aZtLfLUw4cid7NVIBk8zTB8biIIIT1w87DiUGkl2-OYsgoPmcU-DnpIrWSdQ/s400/falsehope.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Don't waste your money</b></div>
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Contact an immigration attorney before you embark on any Proxy Marriage journey. A proxy marriage may add to proof of a bona fide relationship to obtain a K-1 Visa as it demonstrates commitment.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Ryan Barshop</span></div>
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<a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog" style="background-color: white; color: #771000; font-family: "source serif pro", serif; font-size: 21px;" target="_blank">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a></div>
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<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.</blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-20632829183222552452017-07-05T09:26:00.000+08:002017-07-05T09:26:49.321+08:00K-1 Visa Problems!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "lora"; font-size: 18.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Waiver of K-1 two year limit extreme hardship or violate/religious tradition. Or physically unable to fly married within 90 days.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_23hQ4pq2OB_Tl0VC72ygXvLmAJmAPHmwEletB_5wXBI0vfJqBwin4K1P1NwVJ_aS-A_ym-zfdxvjGrQ4DnV8ImxwskGeYtCGvTxpUsZbp9bRigflLhYbqJ5knrxVraUvdkIUj6P5msM/s1600/K-1-Visa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="K-1 Visa Problems" border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="849" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_23hQ4pq2OB_Tl0VC72ygXvLmAJmAPHmwEletB_5wXBI0vfJqBwin4K1P1NwVJ_aS-A_ym-zfdxvjGrQ4DnV8ImxwskGeYtCGvTxpUsZbp9bRigflLhYbqJ5knrxVraUvdkIUj6P5msM/s640/K-1-Visa.jpg" title="K-1 Visa Problems" width="640" /></a>
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A <b>K-1 visa</b> is a <b>visa</b> issued to the fiancé or fiancée of a United States citizen to enter the United States. A <b>K-1 visa</b> requires a foreigner to marry his or her U.S. citizen petitioner within 90 days of entry, or depart the United States.<br />
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There may be problems with this process, and I will try to help you understand them and what to do to fix them<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1zRoyA10aR0UtUvsSNw9-VHEt47VhCI67oURMa38NSNLBllX89cmlBeA0DUIxhuVYfFLm9GltMnNzKdUSP23rdZPkSsEsq_ynbUr8UtYrSvGEGIZI1FW_flov5wgW16JQRiETDUGY5U/s1600/k1-visa-interview-questions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="K-1 Visa Interview Quesstions" border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="638" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1zRoyA10aR0UtUvsSNw9-VHEt47VhCI67oURMa38NSNLBllX89cmlBeA0DUIxhuVYfFLm9GltMnNzKdUSP23rdZPkSsEsq_ynbUr8UtYrSvGEGIZI1FW_flov5wgW16JQRiETDUGY5U/s400/k1-visa-interview-questions.jpg" title="K-1 Visa Interview Quesstions" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-fe1cfddb-1049-9a94-1749-376445b98543"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "quicksand"; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first and most likely problem comes with the K-1 Visa Interview Questions...</span></span></blockquote>
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<b>Reason #1 Insufficient evidence of a Bona Fide Relationship</b></div>
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These could be anything from your age difference to what vibe they feel during the interview.<br />
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<b>Some items that may raise a red flag as to your relationship’s legitimacy:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Engaged a very short time after meeting</li>
<li>Huge age difference</li>
<li>Different religions</li>
<li>Severe difference in culture</li>
<li>No common spoken language</li>
<li>Very little physical time together</li>
<li>Poor interview - such as deceptive responses or inconsistency</li>
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<b>Reason #2 Fraud or Misrepresentation</b></div>
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<b>As the law states:</b><br />
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<b>Here are some examples we’ve seen of fraud and misrepresentation:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Photoshopping or fake photos</li>
<li>Falsified affidavits from friends and family</li>
<li>Inconsistencies between application and evidence</li>
<li>Applying for the wrong type of visa to intentionally circumvent the immigration process</li>
<li>Not disclosing medical or criminal history</li>
<li>Falsifying income</li>
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<b>Reason #3 Unqualified</b></div>
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<b>Here are a few examples we see related to this one:</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>2 year meeting requirement</b> Applicant starts the petition qualified, but takes their time filling out the information, and by the time they file it 6 months later, they find , themselves out of the 2 year meeting requirement. <b>Keep in mind the 2 year meeting requirement is from the date you file your petition with the USCIS.</b>
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<li><b>Income requirement</b> Either the petitioner’s income changes for the worse during the application, or the numbers just don’t add up via the evidence and the income requirement can’t be met.</li>
<li><b>Free to marry requirement</b> Petitioner or applicant are in the process of a divorce or annulment when the application is submitted, however divorce or annulment isn’t finalized. If you’re already married, this disqualifies you from being eligible to marry.
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<b>What to do if you are denied for any of these reasons.</b></div>
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The first step is to figure out what went wrong which an attorney can help you. Sometimes no explanation is given especially if it is a subjective opinion of the interviewer. The most common is the lack of a bona fide relationship.
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<b>Here are the alternatives if denied either by USCIS or Embassy.
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<b>A. Appeal the denial at the USCIS Level.</b><br />
Appealing the denial is one option provided that the denial occurs at the USCIS level. You have 33 days to file a form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion. There is a non-refundable $630 fee. Whether or not your denial is overturned, this fee will not be returned.<br />
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If your K1 Fiance Visa has been denied by USCIS, you have the right to an appeal. You must file your appeal with USCIS within 30 days of the date that your petition was denied. You will have to submit your appeal on form I-290B with the filing fee. The other option is to withdraw your first petition with a “letter of withdrawal” and then file again. For many reasons, costs being one of them, this is a good option.<br />
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If your case has already been returned to USCIS for further processing, you can USCIS to reaffirm their original approval and re-submit your application to the Embassy for a second time. Keep in mind, this process can take a very long time and for that reason, you may be best to simply withdraw your petition and then re-file.<br />
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<b>B. Start over with the K1 visa process.</b><br />
Wherever the denial stems, USCIS or Embassy, another common thing people do is start over from scratch by re-applying for the K-1 visa. Be aware that your previous denial could play into the whole scenario. If you do re-apply, you should do it with the knowledge of what went wrong so you can fix that this time around. Your goal is to leave no doubt in the government’s mind that your relationship is bona fide, and you are eligible for the visa.<br />
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I can help you to make sure you meet the government requirements. If you are truthful and we cover all the potential reasons for denial, we can get a good chance you’ll be approved. However, if you are from certain regions like western Africa or Jamaica, you may have a tougher time with the K-1 than the Philippines in my experience. We want you to succeed.<br />
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<b>C. Get married and apply for a CR-1 visa.</b><br />
Another route denied couples get is to just bite the bullet, get married outside the United States and apply for a CR-1 spousal visa. Getting married could overcome the challenge of convincing the officer that you are serious about your relationship. Perhaps the consular officers feel it’s less likely for people to commit immigration fraud on a spousal visa rather than a fiance visa.<br />
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<b>Seeking a Waiver</b><br />
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<b>A waiver is needed in the event that the petitioner is barred (i.e. a sex offense conviction under Adam Walsh Act). Here are the applicable sections of the K-1 law.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Extraordinary Circumstances Waiver. This is the waiver you will need if for example you were unable to travel/meet within the two year requirement. This may be due to illness or some extraordinary circumstance. In one case I had the US Citizen was in the Military and met his fiance while in the Philippines. They decided to marry after he left. Before they could arrange the travel he was stationed remotely where he could not bring his wife. The two year requirement could not be met for that reason and they got this waiver.<br />
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If you have ever been convicted of a violent criminal offense against a person or persons, USCIS will not grant a filing limitations waiver unless you submit evidence to demonstrate that extraordinary circumstances exist. In addition to evidence explaining the reasons for your multiple filings, you must also submit evidence of extraordinary circumstances. Examples of such evidence may include, but are not limited to: police reports, court records, news articles, trial transcripts reflecting the nature and circumstances surrounding your violent criminal offenses, your rehabilitation, ties to the community, or records demonstrating good conduct and exemplary service in the uniformed services.<br />
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Mandatory Waiver. If you committed violent criminal offenses against a person or persons, but were battered or subjected to extreme cruelty by a family member or intimate partner at the time you committed your violent offenses, and you were not the primary perpetrator of violence in the relationship, <b>you may still be eligible for a waiver</b> if USCIS determines that you violated a protection order intended for your protection; you were acting in self-defense; or you committed, were arrested for, were convicted of, or pleaded guilty to committing a crime that did not result in serious bodily injury and there was a connection between the crime committed and you having been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty. You must submit evidence explaining the reasons for your multiple filings, as well as evidence to support a finding that you qualify for a mandatory waiver based on being subjected to battery or extreme cruelty. Examples of such evidence may include, but are not limited to: police reports, court records, news articles, trial transcripts, evidence you acted in self-defense, evidence you were a victim of abuse or battery, evidence you violated a protection order intended for your protection, and any credible evidence that is relevant to your request for a waiver. <br />
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USCIS cannot approve your petition unless a waiver of the multiple-filing limitation is granted. <b>*Obviously if you are in this category you need the help of an Attorney to ensure you get the best chance of waiver.</b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Ryan Barshop</span></div>
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<a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog" style="background-color: white; color: #771000; font-family: "source serif pro", serif; font-size: 21px;" target="_blank">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a></div>
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<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.</blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-42947669453864727612017-06-19T13:38:00.000+08:002017-06-19T13:39:05.760+08:00Adam Walsh Act!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "lora"; font-size: 18.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">What it might mean to you and immigration.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3h_JyjhhOe78W7gu6GY-03xeqb90cz1QFzey8gMLg1gJggFaZwti1d3sWcOCUSG2Z9xUjB6ieFsKMVNqf8d1Zju-mQ5ZGWQVp8okoQukBKzF9vejj21h2B6r7YVYtdWeXqa6aqhYg-AI/s1600/adamWalshAct.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Adam Walsh Act" border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="450" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3h_JyjhhOe78W7gu6GY-03xeqb90cz1QFzey8gMLg1gJggFaZwti1d3sWcOCUSG2Z9xUjB6ieFsKMVNqf8d1Zju-mQ5ZGWQVp8okoQukBKzF9vejj21h2B6r7YVYtdWeXqa6aqhYg-AI/s400/adamWalshAct.jpg" title="Adam Walsh Act" width="400" /></a></div>
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Walsh is known for his anti-crime activism and his extreme hatred of criminals, with which he became involved following the murder of his son, Adam, in 1981.<br />
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The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act (AWA) is a federal statute that was signed into law by U.S. President George W. Bush on July 27, 2006 on the 25th anniversary of the abduction of Adam Walsh from a shopping mall in Broward County, Florida. Walsh, a six year old child at the time of the abduction was found decapitated 16 days after his abduction in 1981; his body was never found.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKoPBXS7Q63yIC71xsS0F3A1PmtT5547pBi1P67baWyCCyP9dyB5xj28Byap6HhnpDzabS66GYq_Pryr6Rn5ytp7dfvoqOW00x2mDyhwUa5UCnLoCRaYG3Pa_1HwX_dLa9xTKeY3F63I/s1600/Adam%252BWalsh%252BAct.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKoPBXS7Q63yIC71xsS0F3A1PmtT5547pBi1P67baWyCCyP9dyB5xj28Byap6HhnpDzabS66GYq_Pryr6Rn5ytp7dfvoqOW00x2mDyhwUa5UCnLoCRaYG3Pa_1HwX_dLa9xTKeY3F63I/s400/Adam%252BWalsh%252BAct.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>AWA Litigation in US Federal Court Is Evolving</b></div>
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Generally, a US citizen or permanent resident green card holder must file a petition to immigrate foreign family members to the United States. Such family members include spouses and children. However, the AWA prevents a family member from immigrating if that U.S. citizen or permanent resident petitioner has been convicted of a specified sexual offense against any minor child under 18. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Walsh_Child_Protection_and_Safety_Act" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AWA</a> limitation also applies to fiancee petitions by US citizens.<br />
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Under the AWA, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must first <b>determine that the US citizen or green card holder poses no risk of harm to the foreign family member before the petition to immigrate may proceed</b>. Foreign family members cannot immigrate to the U.S. based on the family relationship if an application for a "no risk" determination pursuant to AWA is denied. Since 2011, the USCIS has denied the vast majority of applications to waive the AWA bar. Many petitioners who fall under AWA provisions are stuck.<br />
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According to the USCIS, a successful AWA waiver application requires that the U.S. citizen or resident petitioner show beyond a reasonable doubt he poses no risk of harm to the foreign family member. Often, a US citizen believes he has enough evidence to satisfy the USCIS because it seems obvious he is not a threat to his family member. However, USCIS has set the bar very high to the point that nearly all cases are denied. In its current state, the process seems unfair and unbalanced.<br />
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<b>When USCIS receives an AWA Case, it will consider the following questions:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Whether the classification of a particular conviction as a “specified offense against a minor” was to be done using a “categorical” analysis, in which only the elements of the state crime were analyzed, rather than the actual conduct of the United States citizen petitioner;</li>
<li>Whether USCIS was correct in interpreting the “no risk” element of the AWA to mean that petitioners must provide evidence showing “beyond a reasonable doubt” (which is the standard used in criminal proceedings) that they weren’t a threat to their own relatives, or whether the ordinary “preponderance of the evidence” standard should be used;</li>
<li>Whether it was the government’s job to prove the existence of a disqualifying petition, or if that job fell to the petitioner;</li>
<li>Whether a petitioner could appeal certain legal aspects of a “no-risk” determination, or whether the BIA lacked jurisdiction even over these non-discretionary issues; and</li>
<li>Whether the AWA would apply to an individual whose disqualifying offense happened before the new law took effect.</li>
</ul>
Obviously, you should seek advice from an Immigration Attorney as soon as you can before you begin the process. Urinating in public when you were 19 years old at a Rock Concert might be enough to cause you problems today from the AWA when petitioning for your spouse in the Philippines to join you in the USA.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Ryan Barshop</span></div>
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<a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog" style="background-color: white; color: #771000; font-family: "source serif pro", serif; font-size: 21px;" target="_blank">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a></div>
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<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.</blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-17825782326357975972017-06-13T10:26:00.001+08:002017-06-13T10:26:14.532+08:00US IRS Debt: Can you travel?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0psbsOeh3Umj8b5Zw66eFEuuo6rOOQEP3Z0snXLeWKIQ4_X0AN-YFVmBGnFUSr_fgQZi0DDBTVKkzzucWFK9RYppXD3lXRfMIAVU-RXK3BLjy-PxzPswD2gxdvDOMdKXjBHuskTy3p-w/s1600/taxdebt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="476" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0psbsOeh3Umj8b5Zw66eFEuuo6rOOQEP3Z0snXLeWKIQ4_X0AN-YFVmBGnFUSr_fgQZi0DDBTVKkzzucWFK9RYppXD3lXRfMIAVU-RXK3BLjy-PxzPswD2gxdvDOMdKXjBHuskTy3p-w/s400/taxdebt.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>INTRODUCTION</b><br />
If you are a U.S. Citizen in the Philippines and owe back taxes, you may have heard that your passport may be revoked. That is true, so if you are in this situation this article will be of interest to you. <br />
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<b>The Law</b><br />
Tax code Section 7345 is labeled, “Revocation or Denial of Passport in Case of Certain Tax Delinquencies.” The law isn’t limited to criminal tax cases, or even cases where the IRS thinks you are trying to flee. The idea of the law is to use travel as a way to enforce tax collections. It was proposed and rejected in 2012. But by late 2015, Congress passed it and President Obama signed it.<br />
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The IRS web Site says this...<br />
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<b>IRS Site</b><br />
Revocation or Denial of Passport in Case of Certain Unpaid Taxes<br />
The IRS has not yet started certifying tax debt to the State Department. Certifications to the State Department will begin in 2017, and this message will be updated to indicate when the process has been implemented. The content presented here is for informational purposes only.<br />
(as of today June 10, 2017, it has not changed)<br />
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If you have seriously delinquent tax debt, IRC § 7345 authorizes the IRS to certify that debt to the State Department for action. The State Department generally will not issue a passport to you after receiving certification from the IRS. <br />
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See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/revocation-or-denial-of-passport-in-case-of-certain-unpaid-taxes" rel="nofolow" target="_blank">https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/revocation-or-denial-of-passport-in-case-of-certain-unpaid-taxes</a> for more details and links. <br />
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Upon receiving certification, the State Department shall deny your passport application and/or may revoke your current passport. If your passport application is denied or your passport revoked and you are overseas, the State Department may issue you a limited validity passport good only for direct return to the United States.<br />
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<b>Certification Of Individuals With Seriously Delinquent Tax Debt</b><br />
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Seriously delinquent tax debt is an individual's unpaid, legally enforceable federal tax debt totaling more than $50,000* (including interest and penalties) for which a:<br />
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<li>Notice of federal tax lien has been filed and all administrative remedies under IRC § 6320 have lapsed or been exhausted or</li>
<li>Levy has been issued</li>
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Some tax debt is not included in determining seriously delinquent tax debt even if it meets the above criteria. It includes tax debt:<br />
<ul>
<li>Being paid in a timely manner under an offer in compromise accepted by the IRS or a settlement agreement entered into with the Justice Department</li>
<li>For which a collection due process hearing is timely requested in connection with a levy to collect the debt</li>
<li>For which collection has been suspended because a request for innocent spouse relief under IRC § 6015 has been made</li>
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So what can you do?<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Seriously - </b> Don’t be 'seriously delinquent.' A seriously delinquent tax debt is a key term. If you don’t have one, your passport is safe. So if you owe the IRS back taxes, keep your debt below $50,000. This however includes penalties and interest, so beware. A $20,000 tax debt could eventually grow to $50,000. And be careful, once your tax debt is labeled 'seriously delinquent,' you paying it down to $49,999 may not help. The IRS will not reverse a certification because the taxpayer pays the debt below $50,000.</li>
<li><b>Keep it going - </b> Keep your dispute with IRS going. You can usually contest tax bills if you do so promptly. The IRS usually sends multiple notices for any tax debt, and you should respond. Explain why the IRS is incorrect, and keep protesting. If you receive an IRS Notice of Proposed Deficiency or Examination Report, respond. It is sometimes called a "30-day letter," because of the deadline for response. Prepare a protest, and sign and mail it before the deadline. Keep a copy, and proof of mailing, preferably certified mail. Normally a protest will land you in the IRS Appeals Office, where you have another chance to resolve it.</li>
<li><b>Go To Court - </b> Go to Tax Court. If you fail to protest or you don’t resolve your case at IRS Appeals, you probably will receive a Notice of Deficiency. An IRS Notice of Deficiency comes via certified mail. It is often called a "90-day letter," because you have <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/2016/02/24/how-to-respond-to-irs-very-carefully/#5b3984ba7023" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">90 days to respond</a>. Only one response to a Notice of Deficiency is permitted: filing a Tax Court petition in the U.S. Tax Court clerk’s office in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Tax Court cannot hear your case if you miss the 90-day deadline. You want to keep your tax dispute going so the tax debt does not become final.</li>
<li><b>Extend - </b> Get extensions. You can sometimes get extensions from the IRS, so keep communicating. For many notices, the IRS will grant an extension of time to respond. In some cases, though, they can’t. For example, when you receive a Notice of Deficiency (90-day letter), you must file in Tax Court within 90 days, and this date cannot be extended. Most other notices are less strict. If you do ask for an extension, confirm it in writing. In fact, confirm everything you do with the IRS in writing.</li>
<li><b>Communicate - </b> Communicate with IRS. If you get a certification that your debt is 'seriously delinquent' contact the phone number listed on the IRS Notice. If you’ve already paid the tax debt, send proof to the address on the Notice.</li>
<li><b>Need Proof - </b> Prove you need your passport. If you need your U.S. passport to keep your job, once your seriously delinquent tax debt is certified, you must fully pay the balance, or make an alternative payment arrangement to keep your passport. Once you’ve resolved your tax problem with the IRS, the IRS will reverse the certification within 30 days of resolving the issue.</li>
<li><b>Agree - </b> Make an installment agreement. It is often not too hard to get an installment agreement with the IRS to pay your tax debt over time. If you sign one, stick to its terms. Even if your debt is huge, the IRS doesn’t call it 'seriously delinquent' if you are paying the installments on time.</li>
<li><b>Settle - </b> Offer in compromise or settlement. You can also try this route too to settle with the IRS. If the IRS accepts an offer in compromise to satisfy the debt, the rest of it can be forgiven. See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/payment-plans-installment-agreements" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">IRS Offer in Compromise and IRS Payment Plans, Installment Agreements</a>. In some cases, the Justice Department too can enter into a settlement agreement to satisfy a tax debt.</li>
<li><b>Innocent - </b> Innocent spouse relief. If the tax debt was your spouse’s, and you are saddled with it because of joint tax returns, you might qualify for innocent spouse treatment. This is a separate big topic, and rules are more complex than you might think. See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc205.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">IRS Tax Topic 205, Innocent Spouse Relief</a>. However, it's significant that the IRS can suspend collection efforts if you request innocent spouse relief (under IRC Section 6015)</li>
<li><b>Due Process - </b> Due process. There are many taxpayer protections when it comes to IRS collections. One set of protections is <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/collection-due-process-cdp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">collection due process hearings</a>. If you make a timely request for a collection due process hearing in connection with a levy to collect the debt, you may at least buy time to work out a deal with the IRS. See <a href="https://taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/Media/Default/Documents/2016-ARC/ARC16_Volume1_MLI_02_AppealsCollection.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Taxpayer Advocate 2016 Annual Report to Congress, Appeals From Collection Due Process Hearings Under IRC §§ 6320 and 6330.</a></li>
</ol>
<b>Finally</b><br />
Before denying a passport, the State Department will hold your application for 90 days to allow you to:<br />
<ul>
<li>Resolve any erroneous certification issues</li>
<li>Make full payment of the tax debt</li>
<li>Enter into a satisfactory payment alternative with the IRS</li>
</ul>
By all means, contact an attorney to help you before you find yourself stranded.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Ryan Barshop</span></div>
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<a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog" style="background-color: white; color: #771000; font-family: "source serif pro", serif; font-size: 21px;" target="_blank">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a></div>
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<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.</blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-21178439082672280712017-06-02T11:31:00.000+08:002017-06-02T11:31:21.398+08:00Pregnant Travel:What you need to know!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-6bf6f150-3f1b-a828-729d-834d45aa79bb"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "lora"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So you are pregnant and want to travel?</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildugO1_38osjfxMIOlGkTP-dW7qVHiwmALZHFbFqcgAU4bFkUpJ7h2kZ0AvNfxAKqjYtC9ZjDqeRYU1uiN9NSd2_qKLZtWJzGxOWNKTDK9koMqJFHFg8hGyxirIIUQAM9hq5y1XeNCPA/s1600/pregnantTravel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pregnant Travel" border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="470" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildugO1_38osjfxMIOlGkTP-dW7qVHiwmALZHFbFqcgAU4bFkUpJ7h2kZ0AvNfxAKqjYtC9ZjDqeRYU1uiN9NSd2_qKLZtWJzGxOWNKTDK9koMqJFHFg8hGyxirIIUQAM9hq5y1XeNCPA/s400/pregnantTravel.JPG" title="Pregnant Travel" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Getting travel visa if you are pregnant</b></div>
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While you may not plan on giving birth while traveling, you need to keep some things in mind, especially when doing your interview with the admitting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer for travel to the USA. </div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Most important, do not lie in your Interview!!!</b><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></span></blockquote>
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<b><span style="color: red;">- Ryan Barshop, Atty.</span></b></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNwe9Hfx9X0TtfLqVLGqjebhK9j5Wxu-Uus0kYAknEcaubs2H73VQOMwt1lIGPUK1CYUGoMajLuGCcJJRxUtn-BCghsNxQAWNwIU-HWvNlmOJDPBssv0UHPmKVxuUwSScjNL6dWNqe58/s1600/babyVisa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="436" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNwe9Hfx9X0TtfLqVLGqjebhK9j5Wxu-Uus0kYAknEcaubs2H73VQOMwt1lIGPUK1CYUGoMajLuGCcJJRxUtn-BCghsNxQAWNwIU-HWvNlmOJDPBssv0UHPmKVxuUwSScjNL6dWNqe58/s320/babyVisa.JPG" width="320" /></a> <b>Is this your goal?</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px;">Although there are no specific regulations prohibiting pregnant foreign nationals from entering the U.S., entry is allowed or denied at the discretion of the admitting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px;">If the interviewer thinks Citizenship is your only goal, expect the tourist visa to be denied. If your due date is before your planned return date, expect the tourist visa to be denied. If you say your due date is beyond your travel return, yet your baby bump looks like a watermelon in your belly, expect the Visa to be denied. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndYTVQaIanrmbGVDPTmt6eMU_36t-KorBQbpgTc6tJe8X7tizp9ub5hcFNbTqq3NVM4gyRTf_lfIqMwSyo4VVBUwP1gSnJ1qU81DknrdB7gUB50eQ1N1MLFHKP-8DHJSO20zdv88klJI/s1600/abroad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="1046" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndYTVQaIanrmbGVDPTmt6eMU_36t-KorBQbpgTc6tJe8X7tizp9ub5hcFNbTqq3NVM4gyRTf_lfIqMwSyo4VVBUwP1gSnJ1qU81DknrdB7gUB50eQ1N1MLFHKP-8DHJSO20zdv88klJI/s400/abroad.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "source" serif "pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">So can you tell the truth that you want to go to USA to give birth, and get that approved? Yes, you can, here are some reasons that might justify that. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "source" serif "pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d12ecf6c-66cc-92b7-3aa3-eaf3d52bee17"><span style="color: #424242; font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You may get approved even if you are near term if:</span></span></span></span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #424242; font-family: "source serif pro" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your spouse is a USA Citizen;</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #424242; font-family: "source serif pro" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; white-space: pre-wrap;">You want to use USA Doctor or Hospital for medical reasons;</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #424242; font-family: "source serif pro" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; white-space: pre-wrap;">You want to use USA Doctor or Hospital for personal or family reasons;</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #424242; font-family: "source serif pro" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can afford (including insurance) to get the medical procedures done in the USA;</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #424242; font-family: "source serif pro" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bottom line as long as you have a better reason that JUST USA Citizenship, you may be approved.</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #424242; font-family: "source serif pro" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #424242; font-family: "source serif pro" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Also, Medical Tourism to the Philippines is common, but there is no advertised Medical Tourism to the USA so don't try to use that as a reason.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #424242; font-family: "source serif pro" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best of luck, but to be safe consult and immigration attorney.</span></span></div>
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<div style="font-family: "Yu Mincho Demibold"; font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Ryan Barshop</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Yu Mincho Demibold"; font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog" style="background-color: white; color: #771000; font-family: "source serif pro", serif; font-size: 21px;" target="_blank">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a></div>
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<blockquote style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 12px; padding: 10px;">
<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.</blockquote>
</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-58964509361199311212017-05-25T19:49:00.000+08:002017-05-25T19:49:51.196+08:00Guam for Quickie Divorce for Marriages in the Philippines?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-6bf6f150-3f1b-a828-729d-834d45aa79bb"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "lora"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The facts about getting a divorce in Guam.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegM_NgaGsBwFX2XisGaWEj222MgM9VQYoP6MA2MwXB9kLk-wrsEpnt_5xG2PL3Ny2AZ7v1DWocIXIYdPJFFKJ9B0pRym4Eq7h0o8spiB3jEnyJJmI-cxihtP-MR5vD6Ayzw9RXJVcLRU/s1600/divorce-decree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Guam for Quickie Divorce for Marriages in the Philippines" border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegM_NgaGsBwFX2XisGaWEj222MgM9VQYoP6MA2MwXB9kLk-wrsEpnt_5xG2PL3Ny2AZ7v1DWocIXIYdPJFFKJ9B0pRym4Eq7h0o8spiB3jEnyJJmI-cxihtP-MR5vD6Ayzw9RXJVcLRU/s400/divorce-decree.jpg" title="Guam for Quickie Divorce for Marriages in the Philippines" width="400" /></a></div>
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So your marriage in the Philippines has broken down and is beyond the point of reconciliation. Not wanting to go through the complex and expensive annulment process to dissolve a marriage in the Philippines, you decide to look east towards the tiny United States Federal Territory of Guam for a divorce and you think that this should be easy.</div>
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But is it really that easy?</div>
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The simple fact that under current <b>Guam</b> law, an <u>uncontested <b>divorce </b></u>may be granted if both parties are in agreement to the terms of the divorce and at least one spouse visits <b>Guam</b> for a minimum of 7 days prior to filing the petition. Spending at least 7 days on the island stay satisfies the residency requirement for an uncontested <b>divorce</b>.</div>
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So you may think you just take a week’s vacation, file some papers and poof you are divorced?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEhIWyMwh0XRHAT_7pmOFiA9KrKvrw691njR5dm0zzX1ozrq0J2Wz_jOuvWeagzuFe86waVJeA3OYQuF1_jlGSZ-dF5DjaR8MUan-TLeDBCMGlq15V9YHoqBsqurpm_JEOYX441SAUnA/s1600/divorce+guam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="887" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEhIWyMwh0XRHAT_7pmOFiA9KrKvrw691njR5dm0zzX1ozrq0J2Wz_jOuvWeagzuFe86waVJeA3OYQuF1_jlGSZ-dF5DjaR8MUan-TLeDBCMGlq15V9YHoqBsqurpm_JEOYX441SAUnA/s400/divorce+guam.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Well it is easy but not that easy, consider...</span></div>
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<div style="font-family: "source serif pro", serif; font-size: 21px;">
<ul>
<li>There is no such thing on Guam as a "non-resident divorce". However, under current Guam law, an uncontested divorce may be granted if both parties are in agreement to the terms of the divorce and at least one spouse visits Guam for a minimum of 7 days prior to filing the petition. The 7-day stay satisfies the <b>residency requirement for an uncontested divorce.</b> If either spouse does not agree to any terms, including child custody or property settlement, the petitioner must file for a <b>contested divorce</b> and must meet a 90 day residency requirement as well as provide reasonable notification to the <b>off-island spouse.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Property and Custody Settlement.</b> If both parties are in agreement, a property settlement and child custodial agreement(notarized) may be attached to the petition and become part of the divorce decree. If the parties have not come to agreement on division of property or custody of the children, but still desire an immediate divorce, a divorce may be granted leaving contested property, custody and child support issues for another court having jurisdiction over the children and or property.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Off-Island Spouse.</b> An individual who has satisfied the residency requirements discussed above who desires to divorce a spouse who is not living on Guam, must give the spouse timely notice in the form of a Petition for Divorce. The spouse may consent to the divorce or may contest the petition by either appearing in person or by retaining a Guam attorney to appear for him/her in court. Should the spouse not respond within 30 days of the petition, the court may grant the divorce in their absence. The best way is to give ample notice and get an affidavit stating the Off-Island Spouse is not contesting the divorce or Property or Custody Settlement.</li>
</ul>
You may also be wondering that if your divorce is finalized on Guam, will it be recognized throughout the United States and of course, the rest of the world (minus the Philippines were divorce is not recognized. The answer is also yes because of the notion of full faith and credit. Under Article IV, Section 1 of the United States Constitution, it specifically states that:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.</blockquote>
This means that a divorce validly entered into in one state or jurisdiction shall be recognized by all other jurisdictions. <br />
<br />
As with most legal matters, this information is provided for information purposes only and <u><b>should NOT be considered legal advice.</b></u> Please consult a reputable attorney to address your particular situation.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Yu Mincho Demibold"; font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">Ryan Barshop</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Yu Mincho Demibold"; font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog" style="background-color: white; color: #771000; font-family: "source serif pro", serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;" target="_blank">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a></div>
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<blockquote style="border: 1px solid #ccc; font-size: 12px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify;">
<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.</blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-81932311398143909492017-05-19T09:05:00.000+08:002017-05-22T09:08:19.893+08:00Immigration and Filipino Divorce!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-e2be4553-1e2d-b1ae-807c-903f6b34f00a"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "lora"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are many myths and falsehoods you need to be aware of.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyh1t1SCYNX2uwPIe8ZISAeq8ZaNI-IlyoCJ8V2gUUmsuBCI5X-XxRMn7n2Z6fwVFl3r6ifRL-Kzd5hii1VyDRWTjoboCbUMw0E6VCvtB3VIBeff6yX8VOmTcEnLiivZd2XyVOAz7Xns/s1600/divorce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Immigration and Filipino Divorce" border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyh1t1SCYNX2uwPIe8ZISAeq8ZaNI-IlyoCJ8V2gUUmsuBCI5X-XxRMn7n2Z6fwVFl3r6ifRL-Kzd5hii1VyDRWTjoboCbUMw0E6VCvtB3VIBeff6yX8VOmTcEnLiivZd2XyVOAz7Xns/s400/divorce.jpg" title="Immigration and Filipino Divorce" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here is a scenario - A USA Army Officer comes to the Philippines, meets a beautiful Filipina, and they legally <b>marry in the Philippines</b>. Following marriage, he applies for a spousal visa for her and they move to the USA. After 20 years of marriage, they decide to divorce while living in the United States. At the time of divorce, she was still a citizen of the Philippines having not ever naturalized as a US citizen. <br />
<br />
The following are common questions about this couple’s scenario and the common Answers (right, wrong or myth):<br />
<ol>
<li>Their USA divorce is invalid because she is Filipina and the Philippines does not allow divorce, her only option is annulment.</li>
<li>Their divorce is valid only in the USA.</li>
<li>She can never remarry in the Philippines.</li>
<li>If they have children, they will always have the same legal rights whether their parents divorce in the USA or not.</li>
</ol>
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<hr />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Now the TRUTH</b></div>
<ol>
<li>Because at the time of divorce, one of the parties was not a Philippines citizen, the divorce is valid even in the Philippines. However, because the wife was still a Philippines citizen at the time of the divorce, if she wants to <b>remarry in the Philippines</b> she must seek a <a href="http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/jun2013/gr_196049_2013.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Judicial Recognition of Foreign Judgment</a><br /><b>When is the judicial recognition of foreign judgment/ divorce decree applicable? It is applicable when one of the parties to the marriage is a foreigner; and, the foreigner obtains a valid divorce/ nullity of marriage in his/her country.</b></li>
<li>The divorce and all associated separation agreements including property and child rights are valid.</li>
<li>She may remarry if she gets an annulment or a Judicial Recognition of Foreign Judgement.</li>
<li>Myth, Parental rights may apply in certain conditions, but only when the two parties do not agree in writing during the divorce.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "source serif pro", serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">Ryan Barshop</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "source serif pro", serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;" /><a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog" style="background-color: white; color: #771000; font-family: "source serif pro", serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a>
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<blockquote style="border: 1px solid #ccc; font-size: 12px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify;">
<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.</blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-73723441390749472702017-05-12T08:19:00.000+08:002017-05-22T09:07:10.995+08:00Visa Denied What's Next?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2oHn0eYFf35-gQyrn_jg73ckt0MfveimXQY_-uuNyYsdvGOv9skE0SYvPSQUFCi7E4TfUPGGwq-_jmTAMXRaz6m60UvMX6fvOfxSFLT_gKz-ZAQ-de4FYOMhI18yr8zgHUyvWRDbU2k/s1600/us-visa-denied.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Visa Denied What's Next?" border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2oHn0eYFf35-gQyrn_jg73ckt0MfveimXQY_-uuNyYsdvGOv9skE0SYvPSQUFCi7E4TfUPGGwq-_jmTAMXRaz6m60UvMX6fvOfxSFLT_gKz-ZAQ-de4FYOMhI18yr8zgHUyvWRDbU2k/s400/us-visa-denied.jpg" title="Visa Denied What's Next?" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
So you applied for a tourist Visa to the USA for your spouse, paid the fee, filled out the application and did the interview. Then you are told the Visa application was denied. Most likely cause is the interviewer determined there was insufficient reasons to determine the applicant would return to the Philippines.<br />
<br />
<b>What do you do now?</b><br />
<ol>
<li><b>Contact an Immigration Attorney - </b>They can review your application and analyze your interview and assist you in providing truthful and credible justification of the ties that were missed the first time</li>
<li><b>Re-apply - </b>Yes fill out a new application and pay your fee. There is no limitation on when, but your immigration attorney should help you, to avoid possible mistakes in the first application and interview preparation.</li>
<li><b>Prepare for the interview - </b>do NOT think you need to embellish or exaggerate. It may or may not be the same person to interview you, and the danger is that they may get suspicious if your story is radically different. Remember this is subjective so your job is to provide additional ties you may have missed the first time. Check the list of well known ties interviews are looking for.</li>
</ol>
<br />
<b>The ties that bind</b><br />
<ol>
<li><b>Business Ties - </b>do you run a business, have employees or have operational control over some part of an ongoing business where your return is necessary?</li>
<li><b>Family Ties - </b>do you have family members here that need you? Children alone may not be enough but dependents are a factor. Remember it is subjective and therefore it is the total impression.</li>
<li><b>Home Ties - </b>Are you an active member of the community or church? These ties may be the most influential but they also may not have come up in the first interview when asked,"Why do you think you will return?"</li>
<li><b>Political Ties - </b>Are you active in politics at any level? You may not want to tell others how active you are, you may not want it public. But if you are, that may be something you share with the interviewer. </li>
</ol>
<br />
Remember the interview is subjective, it is your job to convince the interviewer. Clearly if you did the first application on your own, this time do it better with the assistance of an Immigration Attorney!<br />
<br />
Good luck!<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Ryan Barshop</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog" style="background-color: white; color: #771000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a><br />
<br /></div>
<br />
<blockquote style="border: 1px solid #ccc; font-size: 12px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify;">
<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.</blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-5635948670199056172017-05-10T10:59:00.001+08:002017-05-22T08:42:23.835+08:00Getting Married to an American citizen on a Tourist Visa: Know the risks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnndWcoTjk5DMp-0TU7eegXsPs5s6Ez_fqBq9fMOmyfwkUzh4YcY7300LYhEe7WB9W_xK329KR6NqiTKtdwnSiPrkukCleYHcJteIp2OZH3_MfS_Yt8M6AxgQcQ9txmH7VkYR-r3EilCg/s1600/gettingMarried.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Getting Married to an American citizen on a Tourist Visa: Know the risks" border="0" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnndWcoTjk5DMp-0TU7eegXsPs5s6Ez_fqBq9fMOmyfwkUzh4YcY7300LYhEe7WB9W_xK329KR6NqiTKtdwnSiPrkukCleYHcJteIp2OZH3_MfS_Yt8M6AxgQcQ9txmH7VkYR-r3EilCg/s400/gettingMarried.jpg" title="Getting Married to an American citizen on a Tourist Visa: Know the risks" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
If you are applying for a US tourist visa for purposes of marriage to an American citizen in the United States during your brief stay in the country and hope fast track your legal status from tourist/ visitor to immigrant, then you must think twice before doing it. <br />
<br />
While love does move “in mysterious ways”, proving the validity of a whirlwind marriage to the probing eyes of United States Department of State can be extremely difficult and may hold unfavorable and devastating consequences to you and your fiancé/ fiancée.<br />
<br />
Similarly, if your intention to obtain a tourist/ visitor visa is to marry an American citizen in the United States with the promise of coming back after your limited stay expires, that may still not guarantee you an approval from the US Embassy.<br />
<br />
<b>What are the risks?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Although you may reason that true love is the ultimate cause of your whirlwind marriage to your American citizen fiancé/fiancée, the Embassy is not easily get convinced that you are telling the truth. Due to the number of cases of visa fraud involving non-immigrants using their US tourist visas to hasten the process of applying for permanent residence by marriage to their American citizen lovers during their brief stay in the United States as tourists, your case, more than likely, will be an item for investigation.<br />
<br />
Once the Embassy conducts a field investigation and you fail to prove that your intention to get married is not to hasten the process of obtaining immigrant status by immediately applying for permanent residence after the marriage, allowing you to have a reason to extend your stay in the United States, then you may face fraud charges and possibly be banned from entering the United States. Your US citizen fiance at the same time may be subjected to criminal prosecution if it is proven that he/ she took part in assisting with fraud.<br />
<br />
<b>What is the better option?</b><br />
<br />
Because nothing is impossible, coming to the United States on a tourist visa and meeting someone who is an American citizen and marrying that someone during the tourist visa holder’s brief stay can happen. It can even be a viable reason for the tourist to adjust their status from a visitor to permanent residency after the marriage but the potential risks of proving that the couple’s intentions are pure and not fraudulent can still be a looming possibility.<br />
<br />
There are many other ways to get married and obtain immigrant status in the United States but they have certain requirements that involve a lengthier process. Sometimes, for various reasons ranging from poor health to financial constraints, applicants trying to get to the United States on a permanent basis through marriage find ways to shorten the process by resorting to illegal and fraudulent means such as using a tourist visa instead of properly applying for a K1 or Fiancé/ Fiancée Visa. <br />
<br />
<b>What’s the difference between a tourist/ visitor visa and a K1 visa?</b><br />
<br />
There are two kinds of <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/visit/visitor.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">visitor visas</a>, a "nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence".<br />
<br />
A tourist/ visitor visa is obtained by people who want to stay in the United States on a temporary basis.<br />
<br />
Technically, a tourist visa falls under three categories.<br />
<br />
The B-1 tourist visa is obtained for business purposes. The B-2 tourist visa is obtained for pleasure such as tourism, vacations or for visiting purposes. The B-1/B-2 tourist visa is a combination of both.<br />
<br />
According to the US Department of State, obtaining permanent residence is not allowed on visitor visas.<br />
<br />
To find out what are permitted and not permitted on visitor visas, <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/visit/visitor.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, K-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows the applicant to get married with his or her American citizen fiancé/ fiancée for a limited time in the United States. This type of visa allows the applicant to obtain permanent residence after the marriage ceremony has taken place and the proper application for permanent residence had been filed. <br />
<br />
To get more information about K-1 visa, you may visit the USCIS website or click <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/family/family-us-citizens/fiancee-visa/fiancee-visas" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a><span id="goog_640605051"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_640605052"></span>.<br />
<br />
<b>I want to know more about my options, who can I contact?</b><br />
<br />
Consulting a licensed immigration attorney is the best option if you want to know more about getting married in the United States with your American citizen fiancé/ fiancée without fear of facing potential legal risks and consequences. <br />
<br />
Ryan Barshop<br />
<a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog" target="_blank">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a></div>
<br />
<blockquote style="border: 1px solid #ccc; font-size: 12px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify;">
<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.</blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-72240097357305967492017-05-05T09:14:00.000+08:002017-05-22T08:41:07.283+08:00How Difficult is it for a US Citizen to bring his/her Filipino/Filipina Partner/Spouse to the United States for a Visit?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFsuv45ElCZfWIfSqbWU-fquAZmtX4ydgxaaLJ0dDJNQP5HnF6TXrbFqYItxmAgSozTgrq3zVUOLmARfmVPcJD0DqyM5FIbdLtMMGpcB-H0aI2AnfboiQx3-qdzpghneZK1mNMCV8olc/s1600/howdifficulttobring.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How Difficult to Bring Partner in US for Visit" border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFsuv45ElCZfWIfSqbWU-fquAZmtX4ydgxaaLJ0dDJNQP5HnF6TXrbFqYItxmAgSozTgrq3zVUOLmARfmVPcJD0DqyM5FIbdLtMMGpcB-H0aI2AnfboiQx3-qdzpghneZK1mNMCV8olc/s400/howdifficulttobring.png" title="How Difficult to Bring Partner in US for Visit" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: center;">
<b>Easy if you know the ins and outs!</b>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<ol>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
The common misconception is that all it takes is money in the bank. That is a factor, but not the only factor.
</li>
<br />
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
The key to focus on is the US Embassy's determination if the visa applicant has established "sufficient ties." This a broadly defined term and it eventually boils down to whether the interview American consular officer is convinced that the Filipino visa applicant will come back upon the conclusion of their trip.
</li>
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<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
If the "ties" are substantial like the following you are more likely to be approved:
<ul>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
The Filipino/Filipina has an ongoing business here;
</li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
Membership in Philippine Organizations such as Church or Charities;
</li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
Children in Philippine Private School
</li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
Any subjective factor in the eyes of the interviewer.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<br />
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
The following may NOT be viewed as sufficient "ties"
<ul>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
Just having children, especially teens;
</li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
Bank Accounts;
</li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
Jobs, especially if the Philippine Job is not unique to the Philippines
</li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
Land or other fixed assets as they can always be sold;
</li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
Here too if in the opinion of the interviewer there are insufficient ties.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
This is not intended to hassle anybody, so getting up tight or irritated is not going to be helpful.<br />
<br />
Be prepared but not scared. Be honest and cooperative. Any sense of evasion may mean a denial of the Visa. <br />
<br />
If you are turned down there is a waiting period to reapply. If they judge there was deception the denial may carry additional restrictions. We will talk about the appeal and reapply process in future blogs.<br />
<br />
<b>How to Apply</b><br />
<ol>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
Pay the visa application fee.
</li>
<br />
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
Complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form.
</li>
<br />
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
Schedule your appointment on the web page at <a href="http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-typeb1b2.asp" target="_blank">http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-typeb1b2.asp</a>
</li>
<br />
<ul>
<li>
You will need three pieces of information in order to schedule your appointment:
<ul>
<li>
Your passport number
</li>
<li>
Your MRV fee payment receipt number
</li>
<li>
The ten (10) digit barcode number from your DS-160 confirmation page
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
Visit the U.S. Embassy/Consulate on the date and time of your visa interview.
</li>
</ul>
</ol>
<br />
Keep Cool but don't freeze. Enjoy your trip!<br />
If you need help or run into problems don't hesitate to call me.<br />
<br />
Ryan Barshop<br />
<a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog" target="_blank">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a></div>
<br />
<blockquote style="border: 1px solid #ccc; font-size: 12px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify;">
<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.</blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-37061389418348526932017-04-28T10:30:00.000+08:002017-05-22T08:40:32.207+08:00Oh My God my passport is REVOKED! <div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 30px; text-align: center;">
<h2>
What do I do now?</h2>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrS8HQHgoq0qN4ujIhpwC_aSU2EbrhMXYO8AU_RGmjQAWGfzCIkPdjqNvorSxXlHCZNV9zV2mA_3OSgAU0uPJ7haE-ROg2bkC9FTcV4r0KZ9yhP1ndCpRm9KtpRongTSrf7TZaXlmkc48/s1600/PassportRevoked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrS8HQHgoq0qN4ujIhpwC_aSU2EbrhMXYO8AU_RGmjQAWGfzCIkPdjqNvorSxXlHCZNV9zV2mA_3OSgAU0uPJ7haE-ROg2bkC9FTcV4r0KZ9yhP1ndCpRm9KtpRongTSrf7TZaXlmkc48/s400/PassportRevoked.jpg" width="400" /></a>
</div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
So you just got the news that your passport has been revoked. It may be due to Back Taxes, Unpaid Child Support, or a Warrant for your arrest. It may be unexpected or it may be something you have feared. Nonetheless, you must deal with it or you cannot travel in the best case or be detained in the worst case.<br />
<br />
What do you do now?<br />
<br />
Without question, the best thing you can do is retain the services of an Immigration Attorney! This may not be apparent, after all you are not immigrating. But here are the reasons:</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeuaJfyu87V2k4H9lYUR29_My1uIEwMU-A45jKW8n7v3_l-71QZhtVp8H5Q4xzuYHN_9jfI8c8jqk_VMhcjtlkuDCQbKXFVxAVV-0atGtyJEWYcRwaTpTIzszHbF-vMuHu0OSdpxiVTM/s1600/LegalAdvice.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeuaJfyu87V2k4H9lYUR29_My1uIEwMU-A45jKW8n7v3_l-71QZhtVp8H5Q4xzuYHN_9jfI8c8jqk_VMhcjtlkuDCQbKXFVxAVV-0atGtyJEWYcRwaTpTIzszHbF-vMuHu0OSdpxiVTM/s400/LegalAdvice.jpeg" width="400" /></a>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: center;">
<b>Reasons to retain an Immigration Attorney:</b>
</div>
<ol>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b>He knows your Rights.</b>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">By federal statute, the Secretary of State may issue a U.S. passport only to United States citizens and nationals.</li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">Every United States citizen is entitled to a U.S. passport provided that they, or an adult acting on a child’s behalf, comply with all applicable requirements, and that there is no statutory or regulatory reason to deny the passport.</li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">A U.S. passport is issued to each eligible applicant.</li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">Children may acquire the citizenship of a non-U.S. citizen parent and potentially have a passport from both the U.S. and the country of the non-U.S. citizen parent’s citizenship at the same time.</li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">U.S. passport books and U.S. passport cards for adults are valid for 10 years.</li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">U.S. passport books or U.S. passport cards for minors under age 16 are valid for 5 years.</li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">You may apply for a U.S. passport within the United States and at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad. Within the United States passport applications may be submitted at <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/information/where-to-apply/agencies.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">passport agencies</a> or at more than 9,400 designated local <a href="http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">applications acceptance facilities</a> nationwide.</li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">All minors and most passport applicants (when submitting <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/forms.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Form DS-11</a>) must appear in person.</li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">A U.S. passport book or U.S. passport card is now required to return to the United States from Western Hemisphere countries. Learn more about on <a href="https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/western-hemisphere-travel-initiative" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">WHTI Travel requirements</a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<br />
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b>He knows the applicable Passport Laws of the USA.</b>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">22 U.S.C. sec. 212; <a href="http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Passports</a></li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">22 U.S.C. sec. 211a; <a href="http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Passports</a></li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_8_of_the_United_States_Code" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">8 U.S.C</a>. <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1185" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">§ 1185</a></li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/22/51.7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">22 CFR 51.7 - Passport property of the U.S. Government.</a></li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_22_of_the_United_States_Code" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">22 U.S.C.</a> <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/22/2705" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">§ 2705</a></li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">Many More!!!</li>
</ul>
</li>
<br />
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b>He knows his way around the Embassy and likely the very officials you must work with.</b>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">Who can you trust to connect you with the proper people? The Security Desk at the Embassy or an Immigration Attorney that has represented hundreds of people in your situation, who, where, how to best represent your rights and needs?</li>
</ul>
</li>
<br />
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b>He can represent you to a U.S. Attorney.</b>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">If you need representation in the USA, an Immigration Attorney will have professional relationships with many corresponding attorney’s in the USA, this alone could save you a lot of effort and ensure you get the right qualifications.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<br />
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b>Save time and money by retaining someone that can help you best.</b>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">Just knowing what you need to do will save you many hours of anguish.</li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">Knowing who you should talk to will save you many hours of trying to get answers to your questions.</li>
<li style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">Having a network of qualified Attorneys will save you many hours and potentially many dollars in the search for the best suited experts in your situation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<b>Bottom Line</b> - There is an old saying, “There is nothing more expensive than the cheapest.” This simply could not be more true when it comes to legal representation. Yes it will be cheaper if you do it yourself...cheaper in cash outflow, but much more expensive in your time and the errors you might make. What is your time worth? What are you risking by doing it yourself, what about the mistakes you might make that make things worse? Another old saying, "Pay me now or pay me later." The money you think you might save in doing it yourself could end up being just added expense to fix what you make worse, perhaps much worse on your own.
</div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
Let me help you save time and money,<br />
Ryan Barshop<br />
<a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog" target="_blank">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a>
</div>
<br />
<blockquote style="border: 1px solid #ccc; font-size: 12px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify;">
<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.</blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-49837125126354778502017-04-24T08:45:00.000+08:002017-05-22T08:40:05.799+08:00You get what you pay for: The disadvantages of hiring a US immigration consultant versus hiring a US immigration lawyer.<div class="separator" style="font-family: "source serif pro", serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/AAEAAQAAAAAAAA2kAAAAJDMwNTZjZDdkLWUzYzAtNDVkNi04ZWEyLTIwZjE0NTg5YzdiYQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Immigration Lawyer Vs Immigration Consultant" border="0" height="261" src="https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/AAEAAQAAAAAAAA2kAAAAJDMwNTZjZDdkLWUzYzAtNDVkNi04ZWEyLTIwZjE0NTg5YzdiYQ.jpg" title="Immigration Lawyer Vs Immigration Consultant" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
In our last article, we discussed why hiring an immigration lawyer is a worthy investment.</div>
<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
Simply put, an immigration lawyer provides valuable legal assistance and services to clients seeking help with various immigration related cases that are, more often than not, complicated and confusing. </div>
<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
In the United States, an immigration lawyer is the only person authorized by law to offer and give legal advice and represent a client.</div>
<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
For those seeking a US visa or getting an immigration case resolved through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), hiring a US immigration lawyer is undoubtedly the best option to ensure a smooth journey towards obtaining positive results.</div>
<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
Unfortunately, many applicants still choose to take a different route.</div>
<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
Those who are confident with their own capabilities to obtain the USCIS’ stamp of approval sometimes prefer to go through the application process pro se while those who cannot or do not want to rely on themselves to go through the process, but are hesitant to invest on a US immigration lawyer, choose to employ the services of an immigration consultant.</div>
<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<b>What is a US immigration consultant?</b></div>
<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
A US immigration consultant is anyone who provides assistance to applicants trying to obtain a US visa and those going through various applications related to immigration. The US immigration consultant can be anyone with either a vast or very little knowledge about immigration and its corresponding policies and regulations.</div>
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<b>What can a US immigration consultant do for you?</b></div>
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The role of a US immigration consultant is limited to preparing paperwork such as filling out forms for applicants who cannot or do not want to fill out the forms on their own. The US immigration consultant, while filling out the forms for the applicant, can translate the questions for non-English speaking applicants and write their responses on the forms in English, if necessary. Any services done beyond paperwork require the intervention and supervision of a qualified lawyer.</div>
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<b>Are US immigration consultants legally authorized to render services?</b></div>
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Different states have different laws governing US immigration consultants. However, the United States does not have a standard process on certifying immigration consultants so there are currently no licensed US immigration consultants in existence with the exception of one state– California. In California, an immigration consultants are recognized by the state but it is mandatory for them to “register with the Secretary of State” and satisfy the state’s <a href="http://www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/special-filings/immigration-consultant-qualifications/" target="_blank">qualification requirements</a> first before being allowed to render services to their clients.</div>
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Quite the opposite, some US states stipulate that no immigration consultant is legally authorized to render immigration services to anyone within the state unless he or she is a qualified lawyer.</div>
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<b>What are the advantages of hiring a US immigration lawyer?</b></div>
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US immigration consultants are only allowed by law to render paperwork services and translation assistance and nothing else.</div>
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US immigration lawyers, on the other hand, have more functions that include giving legal advice and representing clients with the USCIS aside from rendering paperwork and translation services during the entire application process. US immigration lawyers are experts in their field of practice and are authorities on any subject pertaining to immigration which is a tremendous advantage to those going through complex US visa and other immigration related applications.</div>
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<b>Who charges higher fees?</b></div>
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With the quality and variety of services offered by a US immigration lawyer, it goes without saying that he or she is legally allowed to charge higher fees.</div>
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US immigration consultants can only charge minimal fees per their respective states’ laws.</div>
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<b>Who should I hire?</b></div>
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If you are still on the fence on who to hire for your immigration needs, just remember that your decision will greatly affect the outcome of your application.</div>
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Simply put, you get what you pay for.</div>
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You can opt to pay a US immigration consultant to fill out your application form for you or you can choose to invest on a qualified US immigration lawyer who understands immigration laws, who can and will represent you before the meticulous and quite intimidating USCIS if needed, who will tell you the correct forms to file, who will coach you with your responses especially during your interview, who will do the legwork for you, and most significantly, who will give you invaluable legal advice.
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<span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.701961); font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">By: Ryan Barshop</span></div>
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<span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.701961); font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a></span></div>
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<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.</blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-90234160490354524922017-04-12T08:52:00.000+08:002017-05-22T08:38:51.948+08:00Should you hire a lawyer for your US visa application?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4zkALk_2dowgynPwBKiI895qA0fycOmduBFXMlTtBIfYZWwBlnvv3NVxFn8dplQODugqlvqSMlh1oQ5-TKlpaUstSqpWTrT6kjo3cHC5KafnktzAxD4YlvJqeDbb0zhz09rbL-6-8Ec/s1600/shouldyouhirealawyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Should you hire a lawyer for your US visa application?" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4zkALk_2dowgynPwBKiI895qA0fycOmduBFXMlTtBIfYZWwBlnvv3NVxFn8dplQODugqlvqSMlh1oQ5-TKlpaUstSqpWTrT6kjo3cHC5KafnktzAxD4YlvJqeDbb0zhz09rbL-6-8Ec/s400/shouldyouhirealawyer.jpg" title="Should you hire a lawyer for your US visa application?" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">If you were a fictional superhero character dwelling in a make-believe world, you probably won’t need any help from anyone in your lifetime because you can do it all yourself. You can be your own lawyer, doctor, dance instructor, chef, teacher and every other occupation you fancy. You can be the Jack of all Trades in your universe and that’s absolutely normal.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">In the real world, things are different.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Unlike superheroes, we are not physically fit to do everything on our own. We may be gifted with our own expertise, skills and talents, but <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/toddessig/2014/10/06/new-research-shows-people-really-do-need-other-people/#5f8de8f15128" target="_blank">we turn to others</a> for help with what we’re not capable of accomplishing. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Imagine you’re the most celebrated scientist in the world and everyone turns to you for answers. But here comes tax filing season and you can’t trust your own scientific brilliance to accomplish the task. Instead, you turn to your accountant or your licensed tax expert to deal with the numbers and file your taxes for you. Or you may be the most famous businessman in the world who owns the biggest space station yet you have no clue how to plug the simplest light bulb in your night lamp or install a TV in your bathroom. You hire a handyman and a licensed electrician to do the job for you. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Even the simplest among us turn to others for basic services to help us through life and that’s the bottom line. <a href="https://hbr.org/2016/01/you-cant-achieve-your-goals-without-the-right-support" target="_blank">Sometimes, seeking help can be the wisest investment one can ever make to successfully accomplish a goal.</a> </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">If you’re a first time applicant for a <a href="https://www.immigrationdirect.com/us-visas.jsp?utm_source=uscis.com&;utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=us-visas" target="_blank">US visa</a>, chances are, you have already researched if you can do it yourself or if you should seek the help of an Immigration lawyer to help you with your application.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">If you go the <a href="http://uscis.com/us-visas.html" target="_blank">USCIS website</a>, the government agency will give you a straightforward answer. It says <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learners/learn-about-naturalization/questions-and-answers-about-us-citizenship#lawyer" target="_blank">NO, you don’t need a lawyer</a> to help you with your US visa application as your application will go through the same process whether you have a lawyer or not. However, that does not mean you cannot or should not seek the help of a lawyer.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">The application process to obtain a US visa may not be as simple as one may think especially if there are special circumstances that may hamper an applicant’s chances of getting an approval. More often than not, having a lawyer to help with the application process improves the chances of obtaining an approved US visa. It also takes the load off of the applicant’s back during the application process. And sometimes, in more complicated cases, an applicant avoids not just a US visa denial but the grim consequence of being deported or blacklisted from entering the United States. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><b>Why should you seek the help of a US Immigration lawyer?</b> </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Immigration rules and policies change and lawyers are up to date on these changes. They will be able to submit your US visa application according to existing rules and policies to avoid penalties and delays.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Lawyers will file the application and do the necessary paper work for you. You will certainly have peace of mind knowing your application was filed timely and accurately.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">You will be prepared by your lawyer before your<a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/immigrant-process/interview/applicant_interview.html" target="_blank"> interview with the consular officer</a>. You will be informed on what to bring during the interview and how to answer possible questions that may arise depending on the circumstances related to your application.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">You may avoid penalties, deportation or charges of immigrations fraud depending on your situation, probably due to past circumstances, that may affect your application if you have a lawyer to help you prove your innocence. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Having complex circumstances such as medical conditions, past legal cases, a previous case of overstaying in the US, and other potential obstacles that may jeopardize your US visa application calls for the expertise of a lawyer who will help you obtain an approval despite your situation. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><b>Is there a huge fee for hiring a US Immigration attorney?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Some lawyers give free consultations but their services during the application process come with legal fees. You can look for the best lawyer that you can trust to handle your US visa application and consider the fees involved that will fit your budget. In doing so, keep in mind that the legal fees you will be investing on a lawyer may help you avoid the headaches and more fees that may come your way down the road, should you choose to handle your US visa application without the help of an Immigration attorney.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><b>Where can I find a licensed US Immigration attorney in the Philippines?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">For Filipinos seeking a US visa, you can find a licensed Immigration attorney in Manila that will help and guide you throughout the entire application process. Find the one that has the proven record of providing expert advice and reliable services that will help you obtain your US visa despite your complex circumstances. Hire the services of the licensed Immigration attorney in Manila that you can entrust your investment to with full satisfaction and peace of mind.</span><br />
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: start;">
<span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.701961); font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">By: Ryan Barshop</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: start;">
<span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.701961); font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a></span></div>
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<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.</blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-50186467603359449772017-03-29T11:06:00.000+08:002017-05-22T08:38:26.831+08:00K-1 Visa Applicants and the 90-day rule: What Filipinos need to know<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJizwifpdL2KbU8qv1ozBS6lujO9Ez7eYgapdq7ZXGL7472DgUJdO1Sq-Bv4z3idrZjW6M0DhC3hQ7gM0o_z9itI5_HTjBI2B-9xSsi26E4tnDDN7Bn3m5RpSFLkmYdkVYyJ9WtLVmzU/s1600/90dayrule.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="K-1 Visa Applicants and the 90-day rule" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJizwifpdL2KbU8qv1ozBS6lujO9Ez7eYgapdq7ZXGL7472DgUJdO1Sq-Bv4z3idrZjW6M0DhC3hQ7gM0o_z9itI5_HTjBI2B-9xSsi26E4tnDDN7Bn3m5RpSFLkmYdkVYyJ9WtLVmzU/s320/90dayrule.jpg" title="K-1 Visa Applicants and the 90-day rule" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">You don</span><span lang="NL">’</span><span lang="EN-US">t plant a seed
in your backyard and expect a full grown tree the following day. </span><span lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Everything in
this world takes time to develop and mature including your attainment of
success and accomplishments, trust and respect, friendship and long-lasting
relationships. </span><span lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">When it comes to
romantic relationships and marriage,</span><span class="Hyperlink0"><span lang="NL"><a href="http://verilymag.com/2015/04/getting-to-know-someone-before-you-get-married-relationships-future-spouse-marriage" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> time is essential</span></a></span></span><span lang="NL">.</span><span class="Hyperlink0"><span lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="NL"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Hyperlink0"><span lang="NL"><a href="http://www.brit.co/heres-how-long-couples-should-date-before-getting-married/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">According to experts,</span></a></span></span><span lang="EN-US"> couples need more than just a few
months to get to know each other in order for them to make a choice along the
way if being together for the rest of their lives is, in fact, a worthy
decision. </span><span lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Even great
historical figures took a long time wooing their partners in order to obtain
their hands in marriage - the French military leader Napoleon Bonaparte who </span><span class="Hyperlink0"><span lang="NL"><a href="http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/napoleon/c_napjos.html" target="_blank"><span lang="DE" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: DE;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">pursued and pursued</span><span style="color: blue;">”</span></a></span></span><span lang="EN-US"> his beloved Josephine, and the Filipino patriot </span><span class="Hyperlink0"><span lang="NL"><a href="http://www.joserizal.ph/lv01.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Jose Rizal</span></a></span></span><span lang="EN-US"> who fell in love many times in his life, are
good examples.</span><span lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The same is true
for Filipinos and their American citizen partners applying for a fianc</span><span lang="FR">é</span><span lang="EN-US">(e) visa or K-1 nonimmigrant visa. True to the nature of love and marriage,
a romantic relationship must have already flourished between the couple
applying for a K-1 visa over a period of time, a vital component in their
decision to go through the application process, so that they can eventually
live together legitimately as husband
and wife. </span><span lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>What is expected
of K-1 visa applicants?</b></span><span lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">As expected,
both applicants are already in a mature relationship as they prepare to enter
marriage. If the relationship is legitimate, courtship has already taken place
and the couple has been seriously dating for quite some time already and has
contemplated on getting married even before the application process
started. </span><span lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">If the couple
intends to </span><span lang="DE">“</span><span lang="NL">date” </span><span lang="EN-US">only
after the K-1 visa application has been approved, which some applicants have
been found guilty of, that is a clear indication that the visa was intended or
will be used for fraudulent purposes. </span><span lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>What is the
90-day rule?</b></span><span lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The USCIS has
established a stipulation for successful K-1 visa applicants to get married
within 90 days after the K-1 visa application has been issued. Once issued, the
non-immigrant applicant is allowed to enter the United States. The couple then
has 90 days to have the marriage ceremony take place. After the marriage, the non-immigrant spouse </span><span class="Hyperlink0"><span lang="NL"><a href="https://www.uscis.gov/family/family-us-citizens/fiancee-visa/fiancee-visas" target="_blank"><span lang="DE" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: DE;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">may apply for permanent residence
and remain in the United States while USCIS processes the application.</span><span style="color: blue;">”</span></a></span></span><span lang="EN-US"> The non-immigrant spouse is given permission to work within the 90-day
period by applying for Employment Authorization with the USCIS Service Center.
The work permission may be extended after 90 days if the non-immigrant spouse
has also chosen to apply for permanent residence at the same time. </span><span lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>What happens
when 90 days have passed and no marriage took place?</b></span><span lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The 90 day rule
is strictly imposed for K-1 visas and applicants who did not get married within
the limited period do not get an extension. The non-immigrant spouse is
required to leave the United States immediately or he or she may face
deportation and other immigration issues for non-compliance with the United
States</span><span lang="NL">’ </span><span lang="EN-US">immigrations laws. </span><span lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>Do you need
help?</b></span><span lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">If you have
questions on your K-1 non-immigrant visa applications, you may want to consult
a licensed US </span><span lang="FR">Immigration </span><span lang="EN-US">attorney in Manila who will guide you through a
successful attainment of a K-1 visa and let you know what to do, what not to do
and what to avoid once your visa had been issued. </span><span lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.701961); font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">By: Ryan Barshop</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.701961); font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<blockquote style="border: 1px solid #ccc; font-size: 12px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify;">
<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.</blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5960838175812786287.post-70890826785705277362017-03-14T10:43:00.000+08:002017-05-22T08:37:27.808+08:00Why Filipinos should not lie during their US visa application at any stage and at all costs <div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOlkd0OKTY6KPN0VHLgHnWpVzNE2Vunpa88caUI9leBxDUr_Y17ECPr6Be6gUA8C0wbkwOHSunHknZrP0zHJLmCpEThyjznIVA1s8AVWq051c0tAYHxa-VzERiY-y7yIgBJI5JAUibZ4/s1600/deniedvisa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Visa Application Denied" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOlkd0OKTY6KPN0VHLgHnWpVzNE2Vunpa88caUI9leBxDUr_Y17ECPr6Be6gUA8C0wbkwOHSunHknZrP0zHJLmCpEThyjznIVA1s8AVWq051c0tAYHxa-VzERiY-y7yIgBJI5JAUibZ4/s320/deniedvisa.jpg" title="Why Filipinos should not lie during their US visa application at any stage and at all costs " width="301" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">If Pinocchio, the famous fictional character whose
nose lengthens every time he lies were the poster child for Filipinos lying on
their US visa applications, the outcome of his lies would have been totally
different.</span><span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Pinocchio’s legendary nose,
if he were to represent a lying Filipino applicant trying to obtain a US visa,
would not have lengthened every time he lied, it would have been deliberately
cut off.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">What happens to applicants who lie?<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">If an applicant lies to the US embassy during any part
of the US visa application, he or she commits a major offense and such an act
can be the fastest route to a US visa denial, or worse, potential </span><span class="Hyperlink0"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><a href="https://www.us-immigration.com/blog/grounds-for-inadmissibility?referrer=cse-organic-none-inadmissibility%2520to%2520the%2520united%2520states"><span style="color: blue;" target="_blank">inadmissibility to the United States</span></a></span></span><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: DE;">.</span><br />
<span lang="DE" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: DE;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">The United States government considers lying on a visa
application as potential fraud. According to them, fraud is committed if an
applicant </span><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: DE;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">lied, omitted relevant information on their application, or
committed any fraud to get” </span><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: IT;">an approval</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Who are affected?<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">First time US visa applicants from the Philippines are
subject to such a regulation. It also
applies to Filipinos who are green card holders. They too can have their </span><span class="Hyperlink0"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><a href="https://www.us-immigration.com/us-immigration-news/us-green-card/can-my-us-green-card-be-revoked/?referrer=cse-organic-none-lying%2520on%2520us%2520visa%2520application" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">permanent status revoked</span></a></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"> if they are found to have
lied during the application process prior to obtaining their green cards. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">How is fraud by lying on a US visa application
determined?<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Lying on a US visa application can be determined in
different ways whether the lie was not intentional or done on purpose. The US
Government thoroughly investigates the information entered in US visa
applications or disclosed during interviews.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Some Filipinos, in hopes of obtaining their US visas
faster, tend to either forget their past information or deliberately cover up
past circumstances they deem harmful to their application.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Here’s just one of many examples.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">A middle aged married couple who wanted to attend
their relatives’ wedding ceremony in the United States applied for a US visa
months before the event. They had secured a wedding invitation from their
relatives in the States bearing their names as part of the wedding entourage
which took care of their purpose on why they needed to obtain a US visa.
However, during the application process, they were asked if they had been
married in the past. The wife answered NO. She was only married once to her
husband currently seeking the same US visa with her. The husband did the same.
He answered NO. The consul did a thorough investigation of the couple’s records
and discovered that the husband had a prior marriage decades ago which he
failed to disclose.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">The end result?
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">The US Visas were denied for both husband and wife and
they were barred from entering the United States for life.</span><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: DE;"> </span><br />
<span lang="DE" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: DE;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Is there a way to appeal a denial?<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">There are numerous cases of fraud out there committed
by lying on a US Visa application and Filipinos must be extra careful not to
put themselves in such a situation where in some unfortunate instances, a
compromise is impossible.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Fortunately, the USCIS offers </span><span class="Hyperlink0"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><a href="https://www.us-immigration.com/googleresult.jsp?q=waivers" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">waivers</span></a></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"> for those who had been charged of
fraud but wanted to </span><span class="Hyperlink0"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><a href="https://www.us-immigration.com/blog/uscis-filing-for-waivers-of-inadmissibility-centralized?referrer=cse-organic-none-waivers"><span style="color: blue;" target="_blank">appeal their denial</span></a></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">. However, not all appeals
can reverse an application status. In some instances, the charged applicant may
still not get approved entry to the United States.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">Where can I get help from?<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">If you are one of the many Filipinos who had been
denied a US visa because you were charged with lying during your application
and would like to appeal, the best thing to do is to consult a licensed US
immigration lawyer in the Philippines who can guide and help you with your
situation. If you are just starting a US visa application and are not certain
on how to go about the application without being charged of fraud along the
way, seeking legal help may also be the best route to a smoother journey
towards gaining entry to the United States.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.701961); font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;">By: Ryan Barshop</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.701961); font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px;"><a href="http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog">http://bridgewayimmigration.com/blog</a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<blockquote style="border: 1px solid #ccc; font-size: 12px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify;">
<b>Article Disclaimer:</b> This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.</blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03872428323793634410noreply@blogger.com1