CASE: N-400 (Citizenship / Naturalization)
APPLICANT: Filipino
LOCATION: Cleveland, OH

Our client contacted us in August 2018 to seek legal representation for his naturalization application. He came to the United States from the Philippines and obtained his green card through a family petition in 2013. He retained our office for his naturalization application on August 21, 2018.

His N-400 application was filed on August 23, 2018 with all necessary supporting documents. Our office prepared him for his interview at our office. Our client appeared at his naturalization interview on November 6, 2018 at the Cleveland USCIS Field Office. Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu accompanied our client.  Our client answered all questions correctly and passed his citizenship interview. His N-400 was approved on November 7, 2018. His oath taking is scheduled where he will become a U.S. Citizen.

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CASE: PERM Labor Certification    
EMPLOYER:  Architecture Company in Cleveland, OH
BENEFICIARY: Chinese Architectural Designer

Our client is from China. His current employer was willing to do an immigration petition for him, third-preference. Our client has a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture. After talking to our client, our firm thought that his employer can petition him as an Architectural Designer. Based on our client’s education and work background, our office thought that he is clearly eligible for EB-3 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 February 20, 2018, the prevailing wage request was filed.  After we obtained Prevailing Wage determination, our office filed the job order on June 6, 2018. On August 28, 2018, we promptly filed PERM. Eventually, on October 29, 2018, the PERM Labor Certification was approved – an EB3 position for the Chinese beneficiary. Now our client can file the I-140 petition.

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CASE: N-400 (Citizenship / Naturalization)

APPLICANT: Romanian

LOCATION: Toledo, OH

Our client contacted us in July 2018 to seek legal representation for her naturalization and citizenship N-400 application. She came to the United States from Romania and obtained her green card in September 2013.

After we were retained, her N-400 application was filed on July 16, 2018 with all supporting documents. Prior to her citizenship interview, our office prepared her via conference calls.  On October 2, 2018, our client appeared at the Cleveland, OH USCIS office for her naturalization interview. Our client answered all questions correctly and passed her naturalization and citizenship interview. Eventually, her application was approved on October 23, 2018. Her oath taking is scheduled in which she will become a naturalized U.S. Citizen.

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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: I-130 (Petition for Father) and Adjustment of Status

CLIENT: Nigerian

LOCATION: Cleveland, OH

Our client retained us to petition his father for his green card. Our client was born and raised in Nigeria, but was naturalized in the United States in 2018. He contacted our office in June of 2018 and discussed with us the green card process. His father came to the United States from Nigeria on a B-2 visitor’s visa in May 2004 and changed his status to F-1 later. After consultation, he retained our office again on June 6, 2018.

Once retained, our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and Adjustment of Status Application on June 29, 2018 for his father.  Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices, fingerprint appointment, and a work permit all came on time. On September 27, 2018, our client appeared at his I-485 adjustment of status interview at Cleveland, Ohio USCIS Field Office. Prior to the interview, our office prepared him at our office and also accompanied him at his interview. Eventually, on October 17, 2018, our client’s father’s adjustment of status application was approved. Now, he is a green card holder.

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CASE: I-130 and Consular Processing (Immigrant Visa)

CLIENT: US Citizen Petitioner Daughter; Jordanian Beneficiary Father in Jordan

LOCATION: Petitioner: Ohio; Beneficiary: Amman, Jordan

I-130 FILED: March 29, 2017

I-130 APPROVED: October 25, 2017

IV APPROVED: October 11, 2018

Our client retained us to bring his father over from Jordan. She was born and raised in Jordan, but was naturalized in the United States. Her father took voluntary departure in 2006 to Jordan as a result of his removal proceeding case.

Once retained, on March 29, 2017, our firm filed the I-130 Petition to the CIS.  On October 25, 2017, the I-130 Petition was approved. We then started the immigrant visa processing phase of trying to get her father over to the United States.

On April 30, 2018, we filed the immigrant visa packet to the National Visa Center who in turn forwarded our client’s materials to the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan. An interview notice was set for our client’s father at the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan, and we prepared him for his interview. On October 11, 2018, the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan approved and issued his immigrant visa.

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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: I-485 Adjustment of Status / I-140 (EB-3)

CLIENT: Korean In-House Graphic / Web Design Specialist

LOCATION: Cleveland, OH

Our client had a prospective employer that was willing to petition her for a third-preference petition (I-140).  Our client has a bachelor’s degree in a graphic design in the United States and work experience. Based on our client’s education and  professional background, our office determined that she is eligible for EB-3 classification for her I-140 petition. Our client eventually retained us in May 2016.

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 the PERM application could be filed at least 60 days from the job posting date or 30 days from the last ad. Within a week from our retention, the prevailing wage request was filed.  After we obtained the PW determination, our office filed the job order on November 4, 2016. On April 7, 2017, we promptly filed PERM.

However, on August 22, 2017, the Department of Labor issued a request for audit. The DOL requested documents from Petitioner to determine whether the recruitment process was done properly. In response to the Audit request, our office prepared the response to Audit brief along with Employer’s declaration, notice of filing, and recruitment documentation on September 5, 2017.  Eventually, on December 11, 2017, the PERM Labor Certification was approved – an EB3 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 January 31, 2018 via premium processing service. Eventually, on February 12, 2018, the I-140 EB3 Petition for our Korean client was approved without any Request for Evidence (RFE).

Once her I-140 petition was approved, she retained our office again and determined to file an adjustment of status application for her. On February 20, 2018, 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 our office as well. On July 30, 2018, our client was interviewed at Cleveland Ohio USCIS office. Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu from our office also accompanied our client as well. However, the priority date of Eb-3 category for the Korean national backlogged. Our client had to wait until the priority date becomes current. In October 2018, her priority date becomes current. Eventually, her I-485 application was approved by the USCIS on October 12, 2018.

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CASE: I-130 and Consular Processing (Immigrant Visa)

CLIENT: US Citizen Petitioner Son; Chinese Beneficiary Parents in China

LOCATION: Petitioner: Ohio; Beneficiary: China

I-130 FILED: June 9, 2017

I-130 APPROVED: December 5, 2017

IV APPROVED: September 26, 2018

Our client retained us to bring his parents over from China. He was born and raised in China, but was naturalized in the United States.

On June 9, 2017, our firm filed the I-130 Petitions to the CIS. There were no Requests for Evidence throughout the pendency of the petition. On December 5, 2017, the I-130 Petitions were approved. We then started the immigrant visa processing phase of trying to get his parents over to the United States.

On May 3, 2018, we filed the immigrant visa packets to the National Visa Center who in turn forwarded our client’s materials to the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, China. An interview notice was set for our client’s parents at the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, and we prepared them for their interview. On September 26, 2018, the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, China approved and issued their immigrant visa.

With the approved immigrant visa, our client’s parents can come to the United States immediately, and they will get their green cards within two months of entry.

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CASE: I-360 and adjustment of status

CLIENT: Malaysian

LOCATION: Washington DC

Our clients’ father is a G-4 visa holder from Malaysia, who works for an international organization in the United States.  He has a son who came to the United States with him and sought legal assistance from our firm for his son’s permanent residency in the United States based on a special immigrant provision under the INA.

INA 101(a)(27)(I)(i) defines such an alien as “an immigrant who is the unmarried son or daughter of an officer or employee, or of a former officer or employee, of an international organization described in paragraph (15)(G)(i), and who:

1. While maintaining the status of a G4 nonimmigrant, has resided and been physical present in the United States for periods totaling at least one-half of the seven years before the date of application and for a period or periods aggregating at least seven years between the ages of five and 21 years
2. Applies for adjustment of status no later than his or her twenty-fifth birthday…

Based on this provision, we advised our client that his son will be eligible for adjustment of status application. He has been physically present in the U.S. for a period totaling at least one-half of the seven years before this date, aggregating at least seven years between the age of 5 and 21.  

Our client’s father retained our office on September 6, 2017.  Our firm prepared and filed the I-360 Petition and Adjustment of Status Application on January 31, 2018.  We included the letter from his father’s international organization for the verification purposes and their school transcript as well. Once the applications were filed, everything went smoothly and the receipt notices, fingerprint appointment, and work permits all came on time.

Eventually, on May 31, 2018, the USCIS approved both of I-360 and I-485 application for our client’s son.  He now becomes a green card holder.

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