CASE: I-485 Adjustment of Status after Termination of Removal Proceedings with an Approved I-130 Petition

CLIENT: Ukrainian
LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA

Our Ukrainian client came to the United States in March 2010 on a J-1 visa. Her program was not subject to the 2 year foreign residency requirement. She remained in the United States since then. Later, she filed an asylum application to the USCIS and her asylum case was referred to the Los Angeles Immigration Court.

In May 2016, she married her U.S. citizen husband and an I-130 petition was filed for her. While her I-130 petition was pending, the Immigration Judge administrative closed her removal proceedings. Eventually, the I-130 petition was approved in February 2017.

Once the I-130 petition was approved, our client contacted our office to seek a legal representation at the Immigration Court and adjustment of status hearing. She also wanted us to file Request to Join in a Motion to Terminate to USDHS office in Los Angeles, CA.   

Our client retained us on February 20, 2017. Once retained, our office filed Motion to re-calendar to the LA immigration court. Her case was re-calendared on the IJ’s docket and her individual hearing date was scheduled. Later, our office filed Request to Join in a Motion to Terminate to USDHS office in Los Angeles on November 10, 2017. However, the DHS office refused to join in a Motion to Terminate. Thereafter, our office prepared and filed the I-485 Adjustment of Status Application and other supporting documents to the Los Angeles Immigration Court.   

On May 24, 2018, Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu represented our client’s at her Individual Hearing for adjustment of status at the Los Angeles Immigration Court.  Prior to the hearing, Immigration Judge held a pre-trial conference with Attorney Yu and the DHS counsel. During the pre-trial conference, and all of the possible issues were examined. At the conclusion of the conference, DHS agreed not to oppose our Motion to Terminate without prejudice.

Our office filed Unopposed Motion to Terminate without prejudice to USDHS office in Los Angeles, CA on June 21, 2018. On June 29, 2018, the Immigration Judge granted our motion and terminated our client’s case without prejudice.

Our office informed the USCIS that our client’s removal proceeding was terminated. The USCIS scheduled the adjustment of status interview for our client. Prior to the interview, we thoroughly prepared our clients via conference call. On November 19, 2018, our client was interviewed at the Los Angeles, CA USCIS. After the interview, her I-485 application was approved.  Now, our client became a green card holder.

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CASE: Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

NATIONALITY: Jamaican                                                                                                  

LOCATION: Charlotte, NC

Our client is from Jamaica who came to the U.S. on a B-2 visitor’s visa in 2017. In September 2017, our client married his current U.S. citizen wife.  He retained our office on May 2, 2018 for his green card application. Our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on July 27, 2018. 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 via conference calls. On November 20, 2018, our client was interviewed at the Charlotte North Carolina USCIS office. Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu from our office accompanied our clients. On the same day of the interview, his green card application was approved.

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CASE: Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

NATIONALITY: Filipina                                                                                                      

LOCATION: Baltimore, MD

Our client is from the Philippines who came to the U.S. on an H-4 visa in 2006.  In May 2017, our client married her current U.S. citizen husband. After she got married, she retained our office for her green card application.  Our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on September 6, 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 via conference calls as well. On August 8, 2018, our client was interviewed at the Baltimore, Maryland USCIS office. Eventually, on October 19, 2018, her green card application was approved.

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CASE: Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

CLIENT: Nigerian

LOCATION: Philadelphia, PA

Our client came to the United States from Nigeria on a B-2 Visitor’s visa in January 2010. After his authorization of stay period expired, he remained in the United States.  He married a U.S. Citizen in August 2017 and retained our office on August 8, 2017 for his green card application. Our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on October 25, 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 via conference calls. On November 14, 2018, our client was interviewed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Eventually, on November 14, 2018, his green card application was approved.

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CASE: Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

NATIONALITY: Filipina

LOCATION: Houston, TX

Our client is from the Philippines who came to the U.S. on an H-1B visa. In May 2016, our client married her U.S. citizen husband.  She retained our office for her green card application, and our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on April 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 via conference calls. On November 6, 2018, our client was interviewed at the Houston USCIS office.  The interview went well, and eventually, her green card application was approved on the same day of the interview.

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

NATIONALITY: Philippines

LOCATION: South Carolina

Our client came from the Philippines on a J-1 in September 2015 to work as a teacher. According to her DS-2019, she was subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement.

In November 2017, she got married to her U.S. citizen husband and later on consulted with our firm for her J-1 visa waiver prior to applying for adjustment of status. If someone is subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement, he or she cannot get a green card in the United States until he or she fulfills the requirement or obtains a waiver.

Upon retention, our office promptly prepared a waiver request through a No Objection Statement (NOS) from the Philippine Embassy in the United States and eventually the EVP in the Philippines.

On December 5, 2017, the J-1 Waiver Application (Form DS-3035) was filed to the Department of State.  We also sent a request to the Montana State Government to get authentication for the necessary documents.  Later, these authenticated documents and No Objection Application (for the Philippines Government) were sent to the Philippines Embassy in D.C. for further authentication.  On January 22, 2018, our office sent our client’s materials to the Waiver Review Committee in Manila, Philippines. Then, the Waiver Review Committee forwarded the materials and favorable recommendation to the Philippine Embassy in D.C. who eventually issued a No Objection Statement.

On April 2, 2018, the Waiver Review Division issued a favorable recommendation based on the No Objection statement.  Eventually, on June 28, 2018, the USCIS issued an I-612 approval notice for the waiver.

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 July 31, 2018.  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 30, 2018, our client was interviewed at the Greer, South Carolina 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: I-130 and Consular Processing (Immigrant Visa) – Marriage-Petition

Our client is a South Korean citizen who married her US Citizen husband in October 2017 in Seoul, South Korea. Our client’s husband would like to file an I-130 petition for our client. They contacted and retained our office on October 3, 2017.

Once retained, our office prepared and filed the I-130 petition for our client to the USCIS on October 30, 2017. After the I-130 petition was filed, everything went smoothly, there were no requests for evidence, and the receipt notice came on time. The I-130 Petition was approved on May 15, 2018.

Then, we filed the immigrant visa packets to the National Visa Center on August 22, 2018, who in turn forwarded our client’s materials to the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea. An interview notice was set for the client at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, and we prepared her for the interview. On October 22, 2018, the interview was conducted.  The interview went well and after the interview, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea approved and issued her immigrant visa.

With the approved Immigrant Visa, our client can come to the United States immediately, and she will get her green card within two months of entry.

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CASE: Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

NATIONALITY: Korean

LOCATION: Cleveland, OH

Our client is from South Korea who came to the U.S. on a F-1 student visa to study music. In March 2018, our client married her current U.S. citizen husband.  She retained our office for her green card application, and our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on June 5, 2018.  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 at our office. On October 18, 2018, our client was interviewed at the Cleveland Ohio USCIS office.  Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu from our office also accompanied our clients. Eventually, on the same day of the interview, her green card application was approved.

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CASE: Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

NATIONALITY: India                                                                                                        

LOCATION: Cleveland, OH

Our client is from India who came to the U.S. on an H-1B visa. In August 2017, our client married his current U.S. citizen wife.  He retained our office on February 13, 2018 for his green card application. Our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on April 23, 2018. 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 at our office. On October 11, 2018, our client was interviewed at the Cleveland Ohio USCIS office. Attorney JP Sarmiento from our office accompanied our clients at their interview as well.  Eventually, on October 12, 2018, his green card application was approved.

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CASE: Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

NATIONALITY: Korean                                                                                                        

LOCATION: Des Moines, IA

Our client is from South Korea who came to the U.S. on F-1 student’s visa in 2007 to pursue her graduate studies. In July 2015, our client married her current U.S. citizen husband.  She retained our office in June 2017 for her green card application. Our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on August 21, 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 via conference calls. On October 10, 2018, our client was interviewed at Des Moines Iowa USCIS office. Eventually, on October 11, 2018, her green card application was approved.

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