CASE: I-140 (EB-2)
EMPLOYER: Dental Group in Cleveland, OH
BENEFICIARY: Korean Dentist

Our client is from South Korea, who is currently working in the United States as an associate dentist under F-1 (OPT) status. His current employer was willing to do an immigration petition for him, second-preference. Our client has a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree in the United States. After talking to our client, our firm concluded that his employer can petition him as an associate dentist. Based on our client’s education, professional and work background, our office determined that he is clearly eligible for EB-2 classification.

Prior to filing PERM, our firm prepared the prevailing wage request, job order, advertisements, internal job posting, recruitment report, and all other steps which are important pre-PERM filing. Take note that PERM could be filed at least 60 days from the job posting date or 30 days from the last ad. On October 6, 2015, the prevailing wage request was filed.  After we obtained Prevailing Wage determination, our office filed the job order on December 17, 2015.  On March 3, 2016, we promptly filed PERM.  Eventually, on June 27, 2016, the PERM Labor Certification was approved – an EB2 position for the Korean beneficiary.

We then proceeded with the I-140 Petition filing. We submitted the “ability to pay” letter for the I-140 petition application. We included the job offer letter, employer’s tax records, and other necessary supporting documents. The I-140 Petition was filed on July 22, 2016 via regular processing service. Eventually, on January 25, 2017, the I-140 EB-2 Petition for our Korean client was approved without any Request for Evidence (RFE). Our client already filed his I-485 adjustment of status application with his I-140 petition concurrently and his green card application will likely be approved soon.  

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CASE: H-1B Visa Petition

PETITIONER: IT Consulting Company in Jacksonville, FL

BENEFICIARY: Indian Systems Analyst in Charlotte, NC

Our client is an IT Consulting Company located in Jacksonville, FL.  They contacted our office in the middle of February last year to seek legal assistance for a possible H-1B petition for their foreign employee.

The beneficiary obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology in Belgium. Beneficiary is currently working in the United States under L-1 status. The proffered position for the Beneficiary is a Systems Analyst which we argued qualifies as a specialty occupation.

Upon retention, our office prepared and eventually filed the H-1B visa petition with various supporting documents on March 31, 2016 via regular processing. This H-1B petition was selected after the lottery.

However, on September 29, 2016, the USCIS issued Request for Evidence (RFE) for our client’s H-1B petition. USCIS requested Petitioner to submit additional evidence to establish that the proffered position to the beneficiary qualified as a “Specialty Occupation”, plus additional questions about the “in-house” nature of the employment. Moreover, the RFE requested our client to prove the Beneficiary’s qualification is sufficient to work as a systems analyst.

We gathered supporting documents from both the Petitioner and Beneficiary and did research on the industry, focusing on similarly sized businesses, to demonstrate that a bachelor’s degree is commonly required for this position. We also provided in-house employment proof.

In the response brief, our office argued that the degree requirement is common to this industry in parallel positions among similar organizations.  We provided evidence that the position of Systems Analyst or Computer Systems Analyst is a common position required by similarly sized IT consulting company.  Also, we provided evidence that Petitioner’s competitors normally require degrees in a specific specialty for closely related positions like that of Systems Analyst.  Moreover, our office asserted that the nature of the specific duties is so specialized and complex that knowledge required to perform the duties is usually associated with the attainment of a baccalaureate or higher degree in a specific specialty. Furthermore, we included several professional evaluation letters for Beneficiary’s degree and previous work experience to demonstrate that he is qualified. Other documents pertaining to an in-house project was also submitted.

Our office filed a detailed Response to RFE brief with many exhibits to the USCIS Vermont Service Center on December 19, 2016.  Eventually, our client’s H-1B application was approved on January 12, 2017. Now, the beneficiary can work for the Petitioner until August 2019.

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CASE: Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

CLIENT: South African

LOCATION: New York

Our client came to the United States in August 2015 on a B-2 visitor’s visa from South Africa. Later, she married a U.S. Citizen in February 2016 and retained our office for her petition and adjustment of status application.

She also asked us to file her son’s (Petitioner’s step-son) adjustment of status application.

Once retained, our firm prepared and filed the I-130 petition and I-485 adjustment of status application on August 4, 2016. 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 January 18, 2017, our clients were interviewed at the Latham, New York USCIS office. The interview went well, and our client and her son’s green card applications were approved on the same day of the interview.

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CASE: N-400 (Citizenship / Naturalization)

APPLICANT: Canadian

LOCATION: Pennsylvania

Our client contacted us in May 2016 to seek legal representation for his naturalization and citizenship N-400 application. He came to the United States from Canada and obtained his green card in May 2013 through marriage to his US Citizen spouse.

Once retained, his N-400 application was filed on May 31, 2016 with all supporting documents. Prior to his citizenship interview, our office prepared him via conference call. On January 12, 2017, our client appeared at the Philadelphia, PA USCIS office for his naturalization interview. Our client answered all questions correctly and passed his naturalization and citizenship interview. Eventually, his application was approved on January 13, 2017. His oath taking is scheduled in which he will become a naturalized U.S. Citizen.

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Case: I-130/I-485

Client: British

Location: Miami, FL

Our client entered the United States in November 2013 from the United Kingdom under the visa waiver program. He came here to visit his U.S. citizen girlfriend (now his wife).  As a Visa Waiver Entrant, he was only authorized to remain in the United States only for 90 days.  

Later, in February 2014, our client and his U.S. citizen girlfriend married in the United States. They contacted our office, and retained us after they got married.  One main issue in his green card application through marriage was the fact that he 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 Miami, FL, his 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 his visa waiver entry.  

Nevertheless, our office filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on February 28, 2014.  Our office requested the CIS to exercise favorable discretion in granting adjustment of status and argued that the application was filed before his authorized stay period was expired. Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices, the fingerprint appointment, and the work permit all came on time. Prior to the interview, we thoroughly prepared our clients via conference calls. On August 17, 2014, our client was interviewed at the Miami, FL USCIS Field Office.

After the interview, his adjustment of status application was pending for a while. Later in 2015, the USCIS Miami Field Office scheduled an additional interview for our client. On April 10, 2015, Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu accompanied our client and his wife at the Miami, FL USCIS office his second interview. The interview took more than three hours and the officer thoroughly asked our client and his wife about the bona fide nature of the marriage and some martial issues that the officer had suspicions on.

On January 20, 2016, the USCIS issued a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID).  The NOID claimed that there was substantial and probative evidence that the marital union between the Petitioner and Beneficiary is not bona fide.  Moreover, the NOID points out that the submitted documentation of Petitioner and Beneficiary does not establish a bona fide nature of their marriage.

In response to the USCIS’s NOID, our office helped our clients draft an extensive affidavit. Multiple supporting documents and an affidavit from our client were all included as well as letters from their friends and neighbors, joint utility bills, joint insurance, and several pictures of our client and his wife in several occasions with different people.  Several legal authorities were cited based on particular issues discussed, and on February 5, 2016, we filed the Response to NOID prior to the 30-day deadline.

Nonetheless, the USCIS Miami Field Office scheduled additional interview for our client to appear. On January 12, 2017, Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu accompanied our client and his wife again at the Miami, FL USCIS office his third interview.  Despite the visa waiver issue and the NOID, the USCIS officer finally approved his green card application on the same day.  Now, our client becomes a green card holder.

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CASE: Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

NATIONALITY: DR Congo                                                                                                        

LOCATION: Washington DC

Our client is from the Democratic Republic of Congo who came to the U.S. on an F-1 Student Visa in July 2013.  In January 2016, our client married her current U.S. citizen husband.  She retained our office in February 2016 for her green card application.  Our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on August 15, 2016.  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 January 12, 2017, our client was interviewed at Fairfax Virginia USCIS office. Eventually, after the interview, her green card application was approved.

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CASE: I-485 Adjustment of Status based on Approved  I-360 Petition

NATIONALITY: Kenyan

LOCATION: Atlanta, GA

Our client is from Kenya who came to the U.S. on a J-1 Visa in May 2002.  After she finished her J-1 program, has remained in the United States. With our office’s assistance, she got her J-1 waiver in February 2015.

In February 2016, she contacted our office to seek legal representation for her I-360 petition. According to her story, our client’s marital life was deteriorating and she was a spouse of an abusive U.S. Citizen.  With her story and other evidence, our office determined that she would be eligible for a VAWA I-360 self-petition as a spouse of an abusive U.S. citizen.

Our client experienced domestic violence and spousal abuse during her marriage. Her husband physically and mentally abused our client throughout the years. Thus, we filed and prepared her I-360 petition, which included several exhibits and a detailed brief to the USCIS Vermont Service Center on March 17, 2016.  

Despite our client’s thoroughly prepared I-360 application, in April 2016, the USCIS Vermont Service Center issued a Request for Evidence (RFE).  Specifically, the RFE letter requested our client to submit more documents to prove her good moral character. Our client and our office thoroughly gathered the requested documents, and filed a response to RFE on May 24, 2016.

Finally, on October 18, 2016, the USCIS Vermont Service Center approved our client’s I-360 petition. With the approved I-360 petition, our firm prepared and filed her Adjustment of Status Application.  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 call. On January 13, 2017, our client was interviewed at the Atlanta, Georgia USCIS.  Eventually, on the same day of the interview, the USCIS approved our client’s adjustment of status application and issued a green card.

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CASE: I-130/I-485 / J-1 Waiver (No Objection Statement)

NATIONALITY: Philippines

LOCATION: Alaska

Our client came from the Philippines on a J-1 in August 2012 to work as a speech teacher. According to her DS-2019, she was subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement. After her authorized stay period expired, she remained in the United States.

In May 2015, 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 May 20, 2015, the J-1 Waiver Application (Form DS-3035) was filed to the Department of State.  We also sent a request to the Alaska 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 Consulate General in Chicago for further authentication.  On July 29, 2015, 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 October 8, 2015, the Waiver Review Division issued a favorable recommendation based on the No Objection statement.  Eventually, on December 3, 2015, 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 December 9, 2015.  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 January 10, 2017, our client was interviewed at the Anchorage, Alaska 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: Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

NATIONALITY: Nigerian                                                                                                        

LOCATION: Cleveland, OH

Our client is from Nigeria who came to the U.S. on an F-1 student visa in August 2015.  In March 2016, our client married his U.S. citizen wife.  He retained our office in September 2016 for his green card application.  Our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and Adjustment of Status Application on September 8, 2016.  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 as well. On January 6, 2017, our client was interviewed at the Cleveland Ohio USCIS office. Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu from our office also accompanied our clients as well. Eventually, on January 13, 2017, his green card application was approved.

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CASE: Immigrant Visa / Consular Processing based on Approved I-140 / EB-11 (Alien of extraordinary ability)

CLIENT: Korean

LOCATION: Seoul, South Korea

Our client contacted us in August 2015 about the possibility of getting an immigrant visa through the EB-11 category. He is a world-renowned Taekwondo coach and is currently working as a coach for one of the best Taekwondo teams in South Korea.  Our client was a member of the Korean National Taekwondo Team as a Taekwondo athlete and one of his students won the gold medal at Universiade. Also, he was the head coach for national Taekwondo teams in his career. Upon review of his credentials and qualifications, our office determined that he was qualified for the EB-11 category, an alien of extraordinary ability.

According to the INA Section 203(b) states, in pertinent part, that:

1. Priority workers – visas shall first be made available… to qualified immigrants who are aliens described in any of the following sub-paragraphs (A) through (C):

1. Aliens with extraordinary – an alien is described in this sub-paragraph if-

1. The alien has extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletes which has been demonstrated by sustained national or international acclaim and whose achievements have been recognized in the field through extensive documentation,
2. The alien seeks to enter the United States to continue work in the area of extraordinary ability, and
3. The alien’s entry into the United States will substantially benefit prospectively the United States.

USCIS has consistently recognized that Congress intended to set a very high standard for individuals seeking immigrant visas as aliens of extraordinary ability.  See H.R. 723 101st Cong.2d Sess. 59 (1990); 56 Fed. Reg. 60897, 60898-99 (Nov. 29, 1991).  The term “extraordinary ability” refers only to those individuals in that small percentage who have risen to the very top of the field of endeavor. Id. And 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(2).

The regulation at 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(3) requires that an alien demonstrate his or her sustained acclaim and the recognition of his or her achievements in the field.  Such acclaim and achievements must be established either through evidence of a one-time achievement (that is, a major international recognized award) or through meeting at least three of the following ten categories of evidence:

1. Documentation of the alien’s receipt of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in the field of endeavor;

1. Documentation of the alien’s membership in associations in the field for which classification is sought, which require outstanding achievements of their members, as judged by recognized national or international experts in their disciplines or fields;

1. Published material about the alien in professional or major trade publications or other major media, relating to the alien’s work in the field for which classification is sought.  Such evidence shall include the title, date, and author of the material, and any necessary translation;

1. Evidence of the alien’s participation, either individually or on a panel, as a judge of the work of others in the same or an allied field of specialization for which classification is sought;

1. Evidence of the alien’s original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance in the field;

1. Evidence of the alien’s authorship of scholarly articles in the field, in professional or major trade publications or other major media;

1. Evidence of the display of the alien’s work in the field at an artistic exhibitions or showcases;

1. Evidence that the alien has performed in a leading or critical role for organizations or establishments that have a distinguished reputation;

1. Evidence that the alien has commanded a high salary or other significantly high remuneration for services, in relation to others in the field; or

1. Evidence of commercial successes in the performing arts, as shown by box office receipts or record, cassette, compact disk, or video sales.

After the review of our client’s credentials and qualifications, we determined that our client meets 5 of the 10 categories, which is more than 3 required as an alien of extraordinary ability. Our client has made an original contribution to the sport of Taekwondo; has been awarded numerous national and international coaching awards and his student-players have won numerous national and international competitions including Summer Universiade; has played a critical role for distinguished organizations; has a membership in an organization with distinguished reputation that requires outstanding achievement; and our client’s coaching successes were published in professional and major media.

Our office prepared a 18-page brief for our client’s EB-11 filing. Our client also obtained 7 letters of recommendation from World Taekwondo Federation, Korea Taekwondo Association, former Olympic champions, Taekwondo head coaches from other national teams, etc. Our office also included his coaching records, awards, media coverage, medals, athletic career records, and other materials to show that he is an alien of extraordinary ability in Taekwondo coaching. His EB-11 I-140 application contained 50 exhibits.

Our office filed his I-140 (EB-11) petition to the USCIS Nebraska Service Center via premium processing service on May 9, 2016. On May 24, 2016, the USCIS Nebraska Service Center approved his I-140 self-petition.

Once his I-140 was approved, our client retained our office again for his and his family members’ immigrant visa processing. Once we were retained, our office filed the immigrant visa packets to the National Visa Center on July 28, 2016, who in turn forwarded the 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. On January 10, 2017, our client and his son appeared at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea The interview went well, and on the same day, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea approved and issued his and his son’s immigrant visas.

With the approved Immigrant visas, our client and his son can come to the United States immediately, and they will get their green cards within two months of entry.

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