CASE: Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

NATIONALITY: Filipina                                                                                         

LOCATION: Des Plaines, IL 

Our client came from the Philippines on a J-1 visa. She was not subject to the 2-year foreign residency requirement. In June 2018, our client is married her current U.S. citizen husband.  She retained our office on January 26, 2021, for her green card application.  Our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on February 12, 2021.  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 via conference calls. On August 18, 2021, our client was interviewed at the Chicago, IL USCIS office. On the same day of her interview, her green card application was approved.

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CASE: I-130 (Petitions for Parents) and Adjustment of Status

CLIENT: Filipinos

LOCATION: Bronx, NY

Our client retained us to petition her parents for a green card. Our client was born and raised in the Philippines, but was naturalized in the United States. She contacted our office in February 2021 and discussed with us the green card process. After consultation, she retained our office on February 5, 2021.

Once retained, our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on March 5, 2021 for her parents.  Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices, fingerprint appointment, and work permits all came on time.  Eventually, on August 12, 2021, our client’s parents’ adjustment of status applications was approved. Now, they are green card holders.

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CASE: I-130/I-485 Marriage-Based Green Card

NATIONALITY: Philippines

LOCATION: Sunnyvale, CA

Our client came from the Philippines on a J-1 in August 2017. She was subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement. 

In July 2019, she got married to her U.S. citizen husband and later on retained our firm for her J-1 visa waiver. On October 16, 2019, the J-1 Waiver Application (Form DS-3035) was filed to the Department of State.  On November 26, 2019, 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 May 5, 2020, the Waiver Review Division issued a favorable recommendation based on the No Objection statement.  Eventually, on May 18, 2020, 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 May 22, 2020.  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 August 11, 2021, our client was interviewed at the Santa Clara, CA USCIS office.  The interview went well, and eventually, on August 17, 2021, her green card application was approved.

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APPLICANT: Nigerian

LOCATION: Richmond Heights, OH

Our client contacted our office in June of 2020 regarding his I-751 application.

He is from Nigeria and he married a U.S. citizen. Through his marriage, he obtained his 2-year conditional green card in September of 2020. He retained our office on June 16, 2020. 

On July 3, 2020, our office filed an I-751 application to the USCIS with multiple affidavits from his friends and family members, joint taxes, utility bills, insurance policies, and photos of our client and his wife to demonstrate the bona fideness of their marriage.

The USCIS issued a Request for Evidence (RFE). We filed an extensive Response s on May 24, 2021.    

In July 2021, the USCIS scheduled an interview for our client and his wife. Prior to the interview, our office prepared them thoroughly via conference calls. Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu from our office accompanied our clients at the interview. The interview went well and on August 17, 2021, the same day of the interview, the I-751 was approved.

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CASE: Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

NATIONALITY: Filipina                                                                                         

LOCATION: Jacksonville, FL 

Our client is from the Philippines who came to the U.S. on a B-2 visitor’s visa in November 2019. She has remained in the United State since then. In March 2020, our client married her U.S. citizen husband.  She retained our office on May 6, 2020 for her green card application.  Our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and I-485Adjustment of Status Application on June 5, 2020.  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 via conference calls. On August 4, 2021, our client was interviewed at the Jacksonville, FL USCIS office. On the same day of her interview, her green card application was approved.

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CASE: I-751

APPLICANT: Ivorian

LOCATION: Toledo, OH

Our client contacted our office in January of 2020 regarding his I-751 application.

He is from Ivory Coast and he married a U.S. citizen in May 2017. Through his marriage, he obtained a 2-year conditional green card in March 2018.  His conditional residency terminated in March 2020.

To comply with immigration requirements, our client and his wife had to file an I-751 Joint Petition to Remove Conditions. He retained our office on January 17, 2020 and our office prepared the I-751 application.

On March 4, 2020, our office filed an I-751 application to the USCIS with multiple affidavits from his friends and family members, joint bank statements, joint taxes, utility bills, insurance policies, and photos of our client and his wife to demonstrate the bona fideness of their marriage.

The USCIS issued a Request for Evidence (RFE). We filed an extensive Response to RFE to the USCIS with more bona fide marital documents on June 18, 2021.   

On July 16, 2021, the USCIS approved our client’s I-751 application and our client received his 10-year green card which removed the conditions.

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CASE: I-751 / Waiver of the Joint Waiver Requirement
APPLICANT: Jamaican
LOCATION: Shaker Heights, OH

Our client contacted our office in February of 2020 regarding his potential I-751 filing. He is from Jamaica and he married a U.S. citizen in May 2018. Through his marriage with a U.S. citizen spouse, he obtained a 2-year conditional green card in October of 2018. Therefore, his conditional residency terminated in October 2020.

Unfortunately, during their marriage, our client and his ex-wife went through struggles. Therefore, they eventually lived separately and their divorce was finalized. Thus, our client could not file the I-751 application jointly with his ex-wife. After consultation, we advised that we can help him file the I-751 application with a waiver of the joint filing requirement. We requested a waiver because our client entered into the marriage in good faith, but the marriage was terminated through divorce or annulment before they can file a joint petition.

On March 23, 2020, our office filed the I-751 application with various supporting documents to demonstrate our client’s bona fide marriage with his ex-wife. 

In June 2021, the USCIS scheduled an I-751 interview for our client. Prior to the interview, our office thoroughly prepared our client at our office and informed him of potential issues at the interview.

On July 13, 2021, our client was interviewed for his I-751 application at the USCIS Cleveland, OH Field Office.  Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu from our office accompanied our client.  The interview was very extensive.  Nevertheless, the USCIS approved our client’s I-751 application on the same day of his interview. Now, he has his ten-year green card.

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CASE: Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

NATIONALITY: Chinese                                                                                                

LOCATION: Mentor on the lake, OH 

Our client is from China who came to the U.S. on a B-2 visitor’s visa in April 2016. Since then, she has remained in the United States. In January 2021, our client is married her current U.S. citizen husband.  She retained our office on January 19, 2021 for her green card application.  Our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on January 29, 2021.  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 July 16, 2021, our client was interviewed at the Cleveland, OH USCIS office. Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu accompanied our clients as well. Eventually, on the same day of her interview, her green card application was approved.

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Case: I-130/I-485
Applicant/Beneficiary – Taiwanese
Location: North Olmsted, OH

Our client entered the United States in February 2019 from Taiwan under the visa waiver program. As a Visa Waiver Entrant, she was only authorized to remain in the United States for 90 days.  She married her U.S. citizen spouse in June 2020.

In August 2020, they contacted our office and consulted with us regarding adjustment of status. After consultation, they retained our office on August 11, 2020.  One main issue in her green card application was the fact that she came to the United States under the visa waiver program.   As our office wrote in our previous success story with a similar issue,  under the visa waiver program, citizens of certain countries can enter the U.S. for 90 days without a visa with the condition that the visitor waives his or her right to contest removal (other than on the basis of asylum).  The “no-contest” provision of the Visa Waiver Program is fundamental; if someone could enter under the VWP and then contest removability, it would defeat the whole purpose of the Program which is to make it easy for certain nationals to come to the United States to visit and then leave without all the red-tape involved in visa issuance.

Since our client resided in North Olmsted, Ohio, her application had a better chance compared to states under the 9th Circuit (see Momeni v. Chertoff).  However, it was quite foreseeable that the USCIS field office will exercise its discretion to deny his application because of her visa waiver entry.  

Nevertheless, our office filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on September 29, 2020.  Our office requested the CIS to exercise favorable discretion in granting adjustment of status. Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices, fingerprint appointment, and work permit all came on time. Prior to the interview, we thoroughly prepared our clients. On July 14, 2021, our client was interviewed at the Cleveland, Ohio USCIS Field Office.  Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu, Esq. accompanied our clients. The interview went well, and the USCIS approved her adjustment of status application on the same day of the interview.  Now, our client is a green card holder. 

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CASE: I-751

APPLICANT: Indian

LOCATION: Cleveland, OH

Our client contacted our office in September of 2020 regarding his I-751 application.

He is from India and he married a U.S. citizen in July 2018. He obtained his 2-year conditional green card in December 2018. His conditional residency terminated in December 2020.

To comply with immigration requirements, our client and his wife had to file an I-751 Joint Petition to Remove Conditions. He retained our office on October 2, 2020. On October 13, 2020, our office filed the I-751 application to the USCIS. There was no RFE. On July 8, 2021, the USCIS approved the case and he received her 10-year green card.

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