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: 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-1 Waiver of the Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement, No Objection Statement

 NATIONALITY: Nepalese

 LOCATION: Bothell, WA

Our Nepalese client came to the U.S. on a J-1 exchange visitor’s visa for his research program. Abroad, he changed his status from J-1 to F-1 to finish his Ph.D. program in the United States. His employer intended to file an I-129 H-1B petition for him. However, his J-1 visa made him subject to the two-year foreign resident requirement. Due to the two-year foreign residency requirement, he had to obtain a waiver first before his H-1B process.  

After he retained our firm, we prepared and filed a waiver request through a No Objection Statement (NOS) from the Nepalese Embassy in the United States.  Our office contacted the Nepalese Embassy in Washington D.C. to make sure we knew all the requirements needed for their office to issue a no objection statement.  The Embassy requested numerous documents including a statement of reason for the waiver, the applicant’s resume, a copy of his valid Nepalese passport, a copy of DS-2019, and a copy of Third Party Bar Code Page

On February 22, 2022, the J-1 Waiver (Form DS-3035) Application was filed to the Department of State.  We also sent a request to the Nepalese Embassy to issue a No Objection Statement and recommend this waiver based on the fact that our client would have been eligible to file an H-1B petition but for the waiver.

The Nepalese Embassy eventually issued a No Objection Statement for our client, and sent this letter to the State Department’s Waiver Review Division.  On May 4, 2022, the Waiver Review Division issued a favorable recommendation based on the No Objection statement. The CIS then issued a receipt and an I-612 approval notice on July 6, 2022.

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CASE: I-485 Adjustment of Status I-140 (EB-3 Category) / Schedule A 

APPLICANT: Indonesian Registered Nurse 

LOCATION: Shoreline, WA

Our client is an Indonesian registered nurse who currently lives in Seattle, WA. Her prospective employer was willing file a third-preference employment immigrant visa petition (I-140) as a registered nurse. 

Since she is a registered nurse, she is eligible for “Schedule A” classification. The Department of Labor (DOL) maintains a schedule of occupations in its regulations, Schedule A included, for which the individual permanent labor certification procedure is not required. The schedule of pre-certified occupations is referred to as Schedule A, and is included in DOL regulations at 20 CFR 656.10. Based on an occupation’s inclusion on Schedule A, an employer may file an immigrant visa petition (I-140) directly with the (USCIS) without first going to the DOL for a labor certification. Usually, prior to filing I-140 petitions (EB-2 or EB-3 category), the employer must file a Labor Certification to the Department of Labor. However, for Schedule A cases, the employer does not have to go through the labor certification process. The position of Professional Nurses is included in Schedule A.

Our client has a nursing degree and has a Washington Registered Nursing License. Our firm told her that her prospective employer can petition her as a Registered Nurse under the schedule A category. Our office was retained on March 22, 2021 and we started on her Prevailing Wage Request. Her PW request was filed on March 25, 2021.  

We filed the I-140 application on September 3, 2021 via premium processing. We included the job offer letter, the notice of filing, financial ability to pay letter, and other necessary supporting documents. On September 13, 2021, our client’s I-140 petition was approved without any Request for Evidence (RFE). 

Once her I-140 petition was approved, she retained our office again to file an adjustment of status application for her and her husband. On October 1, 2021, our office filed the I-485 adjustment of status applications for our client and her husband. Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices and fingerprint appointment came on time. On April 25, 2022, she and her husband’s green card applications were approved. 

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CASE: I-140 (EB-3 Category) / Schedule A 

EMPLOYER: Nursing / Rehabilitation Center

BENEFICIARY: Indonesian Registered Nurse 

LOCATION: Seattle, WA

Our client is an Indonesian registered nurse who currently lives in Seattle, WA. Her prospective employer was willing to petition her for a third-preference employment immigrant visa petition (I-140) as a registered nurse. 

Since she is a registered nurse, she is eligible for “Schedule A” classification. The Department of Labor (DOL) maintains a schedule of occupations in its regulations, Schedule A included, for which the individual permanent labor certification procedure is not required. The schedule of pre-certified occupations is referred to as Schedule A, and is included in DOL regulations at 20 CFR 656.10. Based on an occupation’s inclusion on Schedule A, an employer may file an immigrant visa petition (I-140) directly with the (USCIS) without first going to the DOL for a labor certification. Usually, prior to filing I-140 petitions (EB-2 or EB-3 category), the employer must file a Labor Certification to the Department of Labor. However, for Schedule A cases, the employer does not have to go through the labor certification process. The position of Professional Nurses is included in Schedule A.

Our client has a nursing degree and has a Washington Registered Nursing License. Our firm told her that her prospective employer can petition her as a Registered Nurse under the schedule A category. Our office was retained on March 22, 2021 and we started on her Prevailing Wage Request. Her PW request was filed on March 25, 2021.  

We filed the I-140 application on September 3, 2021 via premium processing. We included the job offer letter, the notice of filing, financial ability to pay letter, and other necessary supporting documents. Eventually, on September 13, 2021, our client’s I-140 petition was approved without any Request for Evidence (RFE). Now, our client can file an adjustment of status application based on the approved I-140 petition.

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CASE: I-485 / National Interest Waiver

CLIENT: Canadian

LOCATION: Spokane, WA

Our client contacted us about the possibility of doing a National Interest Waiver self-petition. He is a lead mining engineer from South Korea (Citizen of Canada) and currently works for a federal agency under his TN status. He is an exceptional researcher and scientist in the field of mining engineering and rock mechanics research. 

Our client’s significant contributions have placed him at the pinnacle of his field. He is an extraordinary researcher and scientist in the field of Mining Engineering and Rock Engineering Research with over 22 years of practical research experience with emphasis on the development of safe and economical excavations in underground mines – from which to extract minerals. Specifically, our client’s work has the purpose of determining hazard recognition and engineering solutions for the ground control problems that cause injuries and fatalities in the mining industry. Moreover, his research works were highly evaluated by reviewers of various journals and by colleagues and experts in the field.

Upon review of his credentials and qualifications, our office determined that he was definitely qualified for the National Interest Waiver (NIW) category. Being qualified for NIW is beneficial since you would not need an employer nor family member to petition for you for green card purposes. You’d be eligible for a self-petition and unless you are from China or India, in which case you’d still have to wait for priority dates to be current, you would be eligible to apply for adjustment of status (green card) immediately without any lag in priority dates.

As a primer, NIW applicants must have a master’s or higher degree. While we prepared his case, the AAO set the new standards for NIW cases in Matter of Dhanasar, 26 I&N Dec. 884 (AAO 2016). Under the new standard, the petitioner must demonstrate that the foreign national’s proposed endeavor has both substantial merit and national importance. Next, it must be shown that he or she is well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor. Finally, the petitioner seeking the waiver needs to demonstrate that, on balance, it would be beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer and labor certification requirements. Id. 

Our office prepared a 24-page brief for our client’s NIW filing. Our client also obtained 6 letters of recommendation from his colleagues and internationally-recognized researchers. Our office also included his publication records, presentation records, and conference materials in the NIW application. We demonstrated that our client is one of the few elite researchers who have made significant and substantial contributions to his field of endeavor, that he is well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor, and it would be beneficial to the United States to waive the requirements of a job offer and thus of a labor certification for our client. 

Our office filed his I-140(NIW) petition to the USCIS Nebraska Service Center on October 10, 2018. Eventually, on April 22, 2019, the USCIS approved his I-140 petition without any Requests for Evidence.  

Once his I-140 petition was approved, he retained our office again and determined to file an adjustment of status application for him and his immediate family members. On June 19, 2019, our office filed an I-485 adjustment of status application for our client and his family. Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices and fingerprint appointment came on time.

Prior to the interview, we thoroughly prepared our client via conference calls as well. On December 4, 2019, our client was interviewed at Spokane Washington USCIS office. The interview went well, our client and his family members’ adjustment of status applications were approved by the USCIS on the same day of the interview. 

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CASE: I-140 / National Interest Waiver

CLIENT: Canadian

LOCATION: Spokane, WA

Our client contacted us about the possibility of doing a National Interest Waiver self-petition. He is a lead mining engineer from South Korea (Citizen of Canada) and currently works for the federal agency under a TN status. He is an exceptional researcher and scientist in the field of mining engineering and rock mechanics research.

Our client’s significant contributions have placed him at the pinnacle of his field. He is an extraordinary researcher and scientist in the field of Mining Engineering and Rock Engineering Research with over 22 years of practical research experience with emphasis on the development of safe and economical excavations in underground mines – from which to extract minerals. Specifically, our client’s work has the purpose of determining hazard recognition and engineering solutions for the ground control problems that cause injuries and fatalities in the mining industry. Moreover, his research works were highly evaluated by reviewers of various journals and by colleagues and experts in the field.

Upon review of his credentials and qualifications, our office determined that he was definitely qualified for the National Interest Waiver (NIW) category. Being qualified for NIW is beneficial since you would not need an employer nor family member to petition for you for green card purposes. You’d be eligible for a self-petition and unless you are from China or India, in which case you’d still have to wait for priority dates to be current, you would be eligible to apply for adjustment of status (green card) immediately without any lag in priority dates.

As a primer, NIW applicants must have a master’s or higher degree. While we prepared his case, the AAO set the new standards for NIW cases in Matter of Dhanasar, 26 I&N Dec. 884 (AAO 2016). Under the new standard, the petitioner must demonstrate that the foreign national’s proposed endeavor has both substantial merit and national importance. Next, it must be shown that he or she is well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor. Finally, the petitioner seeking the waiver needs to demonstrate that, on balance, it would be beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer and labor certification requirements. Id.

Our office prepared a 24-page brief for our client’s NIW filing. Our client also obtained 6 letters of recommendation from his colleagues and internationally-recognized researchers. Our office also included his publication records, presentation records, and conference materials in the NIW application. We demonstrated that our client is one of the few elite researchers who have made significant and substantial contributions to his field of endeavor, that he is well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor, and it would be beneficial to the United States to waive the requirements of a job offer and thus of a labor certification for our client.

Our office filed his I-140(NIW) petition to the USCIS Nebraska Service Center on October 10, 2018. Eventually, on April 22, 2019, the USCIS approved his I-140 petition without any Requests for Evidence.  He can file his adjustment of status application now since his priority date is current.

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CASE: I-485 Adjustment of Status / I-140 (EB-3 Category) / Schedule A

EMPLOYER: Nursing / Rehabilitation Center

BENEFICIARY: Nigerian

LOCATION: Spokane, WA

Our client’s beneficiary is a registered nurse from Nigeria licensed in the state of Washington. She came to the United States and currently pursues his Ph.D. degree in nursing in the United States.  His prospective employer was willing to petition him for a third-preference employment immigrant visa petition (I-140).

Since he is a registered nurse, he was eligible for “Schedule A” classification. The Department of Labor (DOL) maintains a schedule of occupations in its regulations, Schedule A included, for which the individual permanent labor certification procedure is not required. The schedule of pre-certified occupations is referred to as Schedule A, and is included in DOL regulations at 20 CFR 656.10. Based on an occupation’s inclusion on Schedule A, an employer may file an immigrant visa petition (I-140) directly with the (USCIS) without first going to the DOL for a labor certification. Usually, prior to filing I-140 petitions (EB-2 or EB-3 category), the employer must file a Labor Certification to the Department of Labor. However, for Schedule A cases, the employer does not have to go through the labor certification process. The position of Professional Nurses is included in Schedule A.

Our client has a nursing degree and has a valid state RN license. Our firm told him that his prospective employer can petition him as a Registered Nurse under the schedule A category. Our office was retained on January 10, 2017 and started on his Prevailing Wage Request.

We filed the I-140 application on May 19, 2017 via premium processing. We included the job offer letter, the notice of filing, and other necessary supporting documents.  Eventually, on May 30, 2017, the I-140 was approved without any Request for Evidence (RFE).

Once his I-140 petition was approved, he retained our office again and determined to file an adjustment of status application for him and his immediate family members. On July 10, 2017, our office filed an I-485 adjustment of status application for our client. Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices and fingerprint appointment came on time. 

Prior to the interview, we thoroughly prepared our client at via conference calls as well. On April 25, 2018, our client was interviewed at Spokane Washington USCIS office. Eventually, on April 26, 2018, his and his family members’ green card applications were approved.

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CASE: I-130 / I-485 Adjustment of Status

NATIONALITY:  Filipina

LOCATION: Seattle, WA

Our client came from the Philippines on a J-1 visa in 2008.  She got her J-1 as a recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship in the United States and her J-1 status made her subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement. Later, she changed her status from J-1 to F-1 and maintained her non-immigrant visa status.

In 2012, she married her U.S. citizen husband. She would like to file her adjustment of status application along with her husband’s I-130 petition, however, due to her two-year foreign residency requirement, she had to get a waiver or fulfill the requirement before she files an adjustment of status application.  

Unlike our other J-1 clients, our client could not pursue her waiver under No Objection Statement or Interest Government Agency (IGA). Our client also received government funding (Fulbright Scholarship) for her research programs which made her case tougher for the No Objection Statement or IGA waiver route. Our client, though, would like to pursue her J-1 waiver based on exceptional hardship standard. In fact, our client’s U.S. citizen husband is experiencing exceptional medical hardships.

According to 8 C.F.R. Section 212.7(c)(5), “an alien who is subject to the foreign residence requirement and who believes that compliance therewith would impose exceptional hardship upon her spouse or child who is a citizen of the United States… may apply for a waiver on Form I-612.”

Some of the factors in analyzing extreme hardship are as follows: age of the subject, family ties in the U.S. and abroad, length and residency in the U.S., health / medical conditions, conditions in the country of removal – economic and political, financial status – business and occupation, position in / ties to the community. Matter of Anderson, 16 I&N Dec. 596 (BIA 1978).

After she retained our firm, we prepared and filed a waiver request through an exceptional hardship basis. On September 10, 2015 the J-1 Waiver (Form DS-3035) Application was filed to the Department of State.  Thereafter, our office prepared affidavit of our client, extensive brief in support for our client’s J-1 waiver application, and other supporting documents. Our client provided us with extensive medical documents and doctor’s reports for her U.S. citizen husband’s medical conditions.  On September 24, 2015, our office filed I-612 application to the USCIS and asked for them to issue and recommends this waiver based on the fact that our client’s husband would experience exceptional hardship if our client needs to go back to the Philippines for two years.

Eventually, the USCIS approved her I-612 waiver on December 15, 2016.

Once her J-1 waiver was approved, our client retained our office again for her adjustment of status application. Our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and Adjustment of Status Application on January 4, 2017.  Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices, fingerprint appointment, and work permits all came on time. Prior to the interview, we thoroughly prepared our clients through conference calls. On October 26, 2017, our client was interviewed at the Seattle, Washington USCIS office.  The interview went well, and eventually, on the same day of the interview, her green card application was approved.

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CASE: J-1 Waiver of the Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement, Exceptional Hardship

NATIONALITY:  Filipina

LOCATION: Seattle, WA

Our client came from the Philippines on a J-1 visa in 2008.  She got her J-1 status as a recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship in the United States and her J-1 status made her subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement. Later, she changed her status from J-1 to F-1 and maintained her non-immigrant visa status. In 2012, she married her U.S. citizen husband. She would like to file her adjustment of status application along with her husband’s I-130 petition for her. However, due to her two-year foreign residency requirement, she has to get the waiver or fulfill the requirement before she files the adjustment of status application.  

Unlike our other J-1 clients, our client could not pursue her waiver under No Objection Statement or Interest Government Agency (IGA). Our client also received government funding (Fulbright Scholarship) for her research programs which made her case tougher for the No Objection Statement or IGA waiver route. Our client, though, would like to pursue her J-1 waiver based on exceptional hardship standard. In fact, our client’s U.S. citizen husband is experiencing exceptional medical hardships.

According to 8 C.F.R. Section 212.7(c)(5), “an alien who is subject to the foreign residence requirement and who believes that compliance therewith would impose exceptional hardship upon her spouse or child who is a citizen of the United States… may apply for a waiver on Form I-612.”

Some of the factors in analyzing exceptional hardship are as follows: age of the subject, family ties in the U.S. and abroad, length and residency in the U.S., health / medical conditions, conditions in the country of removal – economic and political, financial status – business and occupation, position in / ties to the community. Matter of Anderson, 16 I&N Dec. 596 (BIA 1978).

After she retained our firm, we prepared and filed a waiver request through an exceptional hardship basis. On September 10, 2015 the J-1 Waiver (Form DS-3035) Application was filed to the Department of State.  Thereafter, our office prepared affidavit of our client, extensive brief in support for our client’s J-1 waiver application, and other supporting documents. Our client provided us with extensive medical documents and doctor’s reports for her U.S. citizen husband’s medical conditions.  On September 24, 2015, our office filed I-612 application to the USCIS and asked for them to issue and recommends this waiver based on the fact that our client’s husband would experience exceptional hardship if our client needs to go back to the Philippines for two years.

Eventually, the USCIS approved her I-612 waiver on December 15, 2016. Now that our client’s two-year foreign residency requirement is waived, she can file her adjustment of status application along with her husband’s I-130 petition.  

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