CASE: N-400 (Citizenship / Naturalization)

APPLICANT: Chinese

LOCATION: Seattle, WA

Our client contacted us in March 2020 to seek legal representation for his naturalization application. He came to the United States from China and obtained his green card in July 2015. 

His N-400 application was filed on April 6, 2020, with all supporting documents. Prior to his citizenship interview, our office prepared him via conference calls.  On July 26, 2022, our client appeared at the Seattle, WA USCIS office for his naturalization interview. Our client answered all questions correctly and passed his naturalization interview. Eventually, on the same day of the interview, his application was approved and he took his oath. He became a naturalized U.S. Citizen. 

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CASE: N-400 (Citizenship / Naturalization)

APPLICANT: Chinese

LOCATION: Columbus, OH

Our client contacted us in March 2022 to seek legal representation for his naturalization application. He came to the United States from China and obtained his green card in May 2010. 

His N-400 application was filed on March 15, 2022 with all supporting documents. On July 20, 2022, our client appeared at the Columbus, OH USCIS office for his naturalization interview. Our client answered all questions correctly and passed his naturalization interview. On July 28, 2022, his application was approved. His oath taking is scheduled in which he will become a naturalized U.S. Citizen.

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CASE: J-2 Waiver of Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement Post-Divorce

NATIONALITY: Chinese

LOCATION: Bellevue, WA

Our client is a citizen of China who came to the U.S. on a J-2 Visa in September 2014. She came with her husband who held a J-1 Visa as a researcher. Both were subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement. 

She got divorced from her husband in 2017 and changed her status to F-1. Our client wanted to be petitioned for H-1B by her prospective employer; however, she cannot do it unless she fulfills the two-year foreign residency requirement or obtains a waiver.

She retained our firm to do her J-2 waiver. On May 20, 2022, the J-2 Waiver (DS-3035) was filed to the Department of State. We also sent a request to the DOS to be an interested government agency and recommend this waiver based on the fact that our client was divorced from the J-1 visa holder.  Eventually, on June 7, 2022, the DOS recommended to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) that our client be granted a waiver. The USCIS issued the I-612 waiver approval notice on July 19, 2022.

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CASE: J-2 Waiver of Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement / Over 21-year-old dependent child

NATIONALITY: Chinese

LOCATION: Champaign, IL

Our client is a citizen of China who came to the U.S. on a J-2 Visa in August 2017.  She entered with her mother who came on a J-1 Visa as a researcher in the U.S. Both were subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement, meaning they had to go back to their home country for two-years before they can apply for permanent residency or some non-immigrant visa such as the H, L, and O visas.

She turned 21 in May 2021.  By getting a waiver, she would have the ability to be petitioned for H-1B status by her prospective employer. However, because of her two-year foreign residency requirement, our client cannot change her status in the United States without the fulfillment of requirement or the waiver. 

Although J-2 dependents cannot independently apply for a waiver, in cases where a J-2 child reaches 21, the Waiver Review Division may consider requests for waivers on behalf of the J-2 dependent.  The Department of State’s policy allows for that process in instances where the J-2 dependent obtains a divorce form the J-1 principal, the J-1 principal dies, or in cases where the J-2 dependent turns 21, which is our client’s case. In fact, our client turned 21 in May 2021.  

Our firm was retained to do her J-2 waiver, and on March 3, 2022, the J-2 Waiver application (Form DS-3035 and supporting documents) was filed to the Department of State. We also sent a request to the DOS to be an interested government agency and recommend this waiver based on the fact that our client reached the age of 21 and was not a dependent of a J-1 visa holder anymore.  Eventually, on May 27, 2022, the DOS recommended to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) that our client be granted a waiver.  On July 13, 2022, the USCIS issued an I-612 approval notice for our client’s waiver request.

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CASE: J-2 Waiver of Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement / Over 21-year-old dependent child

NATIONALITY: Chinese

LOCATION: San Jose, CA

Our client is a citizen of China who came to the U.S. on a J-2 Visa in July 2011.  She came with her mother who entered on a J-1 Visa as a researcher in the U.S. Both were subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement, meaning they had to go back to their home country for two-years before they can apply for permanent residency or some non-immigrant visa such as the H, L, and O visas.

She turned 21 in April 2019.  By getting a waiver, she would have the ability to be petitioned for H-1B status by her prospective employer. However, because of her two-year foreign residency requirement, our client cannot change her status in the United States without the fulfillment of requirement or the waiver. 

Although J-2 dependents cannot independently apply for a waiver, in cases where a J-2 child reaches 21, the Waiver Review Division may consider requests for waivers on behalf of the J-2 dependent.  The Department of State’s policy allows for that process in instances where the J-2 dependent obtains a divorce form the J-1 principal, the J-1 principal dies, or in cases where the J-2 dependent turns 21, which is our client’s case. In fact, our client turned 21 in April 2019.  

Our firm was retained to do her J-2 waiver, and on February 14, 2022, the J-2 Waiver application (Form DS-3035 and supporting documents) was filed to the Department of State. We also sent a request to the DOS to be an interested government agency and recommend this waiver based on the fact that our client reached the age of 21 and was not a dependent of a J-1 visa holder anymore.  Eventually, on June 21, 2022, the DOS recommended to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) that our client be granted a waiver.  On July 8, 2022, the USCIS issued an I-612 approval notice for our client’s waiver request.

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CASE: I-751

APPLICANT: Chinese

LOCATION: Fremont, OH

Our client contacted our office in January 2021 regarding her I-751 application.

She is from China and she married a U.S. citizen in September 2018. Through her marriage, she obtained a 2-year conditional green card in April 2019.  Her conditional residency terminated in April 2021.

To comply with immigration requirements, our client and her husband had to file an I-751 Joint Petition to Remove Conditions. She retained our office on January 22, 2021, and our office prepared the I-751 application for our client. 

On February 2, 2021, our office filed the I-751 application to the USCIS with multiple affidavits from her friends and family members, joint bank statements, joint taxes, utility bills, insurance policies, and photos of our client and her husband to demonstrate the bona fideness of their marriage. On May 9, 2022, the USCIS approved our client’s I-751 application without any Request for Evidence (RFE). Our client received her 10-year green card which removed the conditions.

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CASE: J-2 Waiver of Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement / Over 21-year-old dependent child

NATIONALITY: Chinese

LOCATION: Jersey City, NJ

Our client  is a citizen of China who came to the U.S. on a J-2 Visa in January 2014.  He came with his mother who entered on a J-1 Visa as a researcher in the U.S. Both were subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement, meaning they had to go back to their home country for two-years before they can apply for permanent residency or some non-immigrant visa such as the H, L, and O visas.

He turned 21 in March 2019.  By getting a waiver, he would have the ability to be petitioned for H-1B status by his prospective employer. However, because of his two-year foreign residency requirement, our client cannot change his status in the United States without fulfilling the 2-year rule or the waiver. 

Although J-2 dependents cannot independently apply for a waiver, in cases where a J-2 child reaches 21, the Waiver Review Division may consider requests for waivers on behalf of the J-2 dependent.  The Department of State’s policy allows for that process in instances where the J-2 dependent obtains a divorce form the J-1 principal, the J-1 principal dies, or in cases where the J-2 dependent turns 21, which is our client’s case. In fact, our client turned 21 in March 2019.  

Our firm was retained to do his J-2 waiver and on November 9, 2021, the J-2 Waiver application (Form DS-3035 and supporting documents) was filed to the Department of State. We also sent a request to the DOS to be an interested government agency and recommend this waiver based on the fact that our client reached the age of 21 and was not a dependent of a J-1 visa holder anymore.  Eventually, on March 18, 2022, the DOS recommended to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) that our client be granted a waiver.  On April 15, 2022, the USCIS issued an I-612 approval notice for our client’s waiver request.

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CASE: Asylee Adjustment of Status
CLIENT: Chinese
LOCATION: Fremont, CA

Our client came to the United States from China and was granted asylum in November 2019.

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, an asylee may apply for lawful permanent resident status after he or she has been physically present in the United States for a period of one year after the date he or she was granted asylum status. Around November 2020, our client contacted our office again and sought legal assistance for his adjustment of status.  We prepared and filed his I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on November 13, 2020. Everything went smoothly and the receipt notice and fingerprint appointment all came on time.

On April 11, 2022, the USCIS approved our client’s Adjustment of Status application without an interview. He is now a permanent resident of the United States.

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CASE: I-485 based on Approved I-140 (EB-2)

 APPLICANT: Chinese

 LOCATION: Solon, OH

Our client is an assistant professor from China, who is currently teaching at a state university which was willing to petition for a second-preference I-140.  Our client has a Ph.D. degree and has worked for this school since July 2017. He has maintained his status as an H-1B visa holder in the United States.  He had an approved I-140 petition which was filed by his current employer and this I-140 petition’s priority date was May 17, 2018.

In August 2021, he contacted our office and retained us for his I-485 adjustment of status application once his priority date became current. Our office filed the I-485 adjustment of status application for our client on September 24, 2021. Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices and fingerprint appointment came on time. Eventually, on February 28, 2022, he and his wife’s green card applications were approved.

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CASE: Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

NATIONALITY: Chinese                                                                                                

LOCATION: Maplewood, OH 

Our client is from China who came to the U.S. on a B-2 visa in September 2021. Since then, she has remained in the United States. In November 2021, our client married her U.S. citizen husband.  She retained our office on November 12, 2021 for her green card application.  Our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on November 18, 2021.  Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices and fingerprint appointment all came on time. Prior to the interview, we thoroughly prepared our clients. On February 15, 2022, our client was interviewed at the Cincinnati, OH USCIS office. Eventually, on March 1, 2022, her green card application was approved.

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