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

CLIENT: Korean

LOCATION: Akron, OH

Our client retained us to petition for his mother for her green card. Our client was born and raised in South Korea, but was naturalized in the United States in 2015. He contacted our office in late April of 2017 and discussed with us the green card process. After consultation, he retained our office on April 26, 2017.

Once retained, our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and Adjustment of Status Applications on May 17, 2017 for his mother.  Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices, fingerprint appointment, and a work permit all came on time. Eventually, on January 5, 2018, our client’s mother’s adjustment of status applications was approved. Now, she is a green card holder.

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CASE: J-2 Waiver of Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement Post-Divorce
NATIONALITY: Chinese
LOCATION: China

Our client is a citizen of China who came to the U.S. on a J-2 Visa in April 2016.  She came with her husband who held a J-1 Visa as an exchange visitor.  Both were subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement.

Unfortunately, while they are residing in the United States, her marriage did not work out well. Eventually, she got divorced from her ex-husband in July 2017 in China. Our client has a U.S. citizen fiancé who would like to file I-129F fiancé visa for her, but could not be approved unless she fulfills two year foreign residency requirement or obtains a waiver.

Our client contacted our office and retained our firm to do her J-2 waiver on July 31, 2017. On August 2, 2017, 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 August 21, 2017, the DOS recommended to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) that our client be granted a waiver. Finally, the USCIS issued I-612 waiver approval notice on January 4, 2018.

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CASE: I-751

APPLICANT: Burkina Faso

LOCATION: Cleveland, OH

Our client contacted our office in July of 2016 regarding his I-751 application.

He is from Burkina Faso and he married a U.S. citizen. Through his marriage, he obtained a 2-year conditional green card in September 2014. Thus, his conditional residency terminated in September 2016.

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 July 21, 2016, and our office prepared an I-751 application for our client with other supplemental exhibits.

On August 15, 2016, our office filed an I-751 application to the USCIS with multiple affidavits from his friends and family members, joint bank statements, utility bills, joint leasing documents, joint tax documents, and photos of our client and his wife to demonstrate the bona fideness of their marriage.

Once the application was filed, the fingerprint notice was issued two weeks later. Eventually, on December 19, 2017, the USCIS approved our client’s I-751 application without any Request for Evidence (RFE).

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CASE: Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

NATIONALITY: Indian                                                                                                      

LOCATION: Cleveland, OH

Our client is from India who came to the U.S. on a B-2 visitor’s visa. In April 2016, our client married his current U.S. citizen wife.  He retained our office in February 2017 for his green card application.  Our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on February 8, 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 at our office. On June 23, 2017, our client was interviewed at the Cleveland Ohio USCIS office.  Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu also accompanied our clients. In July 2017, the USCIS issued a Request for Evidence and requested our client to submit certified court records for his dismissed criminal case. Our client submitted the certified court disposition to the USCIS Cleveland Field Office on September 28, 2017. Eventually, on December 22, 2017, his green card application was approved.

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CASE: N-400 (Citizenship / Naturalization)

APPLICANT: German

LOCATION: Cleveland, OH

Our client contacted us in June 2017 to seek legal representation for her naturalization and citizenship N-400 application. She came to the United States from Germany and obtained her green card in July 1982.

After retention, her N-400 application was filed on October 10, 2017 with all supporting documents. Prior to her citizenship interview, our office prepared her via conference calls.  On December 19, 2017, 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 December 27, 2017. Her oath taking is scheduled in which she will become a naturalized U.S. Citizen.

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CASE: PERM Labor Certification    
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 H-1B status. Her current employer was willing to do an immigration petition for her, second-preference. Our client has a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree in the United States. After talking to our client, our firm concluded that her employer can petition her as an associate dentist. Based on our client’s educational, professional and working backgrounds, our office determined that she 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 February 10, 2017, the prevailing wage request was filed.  After we obtained the Prevailing Wage determination, our office filed the job order on May 16, 2017.  On August 4, 2017, we promptly filed PERM.  Eventually, on December 21, 2017, the PERM Labor Certification was approved – an EB2 position for the Korean beneficiary. Now our client can file the I-140 petition.

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CASE: Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

NATIONALITY: Russian                                                                                                        

LOCATION: Cleveland, OH

Our client is from Russia who came to the U.S. on a J-1 exchange visitor’s visa in June 2010. She had a complex immigration case, having filed a VAWA I-360 before that got denied, before retaining us. In September 2015, our client married her current U.S. citizen husband.  She retained our office in October 2015 for her green card application.  Our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on February 29, 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. On January 13, 2017, our client was interviewed at the Cleveland Ohio USCIS office.  Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu also accompanied our clients. In November 2017, the USCIS issued a Request for Evidence and requested our client to do updated medical / vaccination check-up with the USCIS approved civil surgeon. Our client did it and submitted the sealed result to the USCIS Cleveland Field Office. Eventually, on December 11, 2017, her green card application was approved.

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CASE: Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

NATIONALITY: Korean                                                                                                        

LOCATION: Dayton, Ohio

Our client is from South Korea who came to the U.S. on a B-2 visitor’s visa in May 2017. In July 2017, our client married her current U.S. citizen husband.  After she 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 August 22, 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 at via conference calls as well. On December 11, 2017, our client was interviewed at Cincinnati Ohio USCIS office. Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu from our office also accompanied our clients as well. Eventually, on the same day of her interview, her green card application was approved.

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CASE: N-400 (Citizenship / Naturalization)

APPLICANT: Lithuanian

LOCATION: Ohio

Our client contacted us in September 2017 to seek legal representation for her naturalization and citizenship N-400 application. She came to the United States from Lithuania and obtained her green card in September 2014 through marriage to her U.S. Citizen husband. She retained our office on September 6, 2017.

The N-400 application was filed on September 11, 2017 with all supporting documents. Prior to her citizenship interview, our office prepared her through conference calls. On December 1 2017, our client appeared at the Cincinnati, 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 December 4, 2017. Her oath taking is scheduled in which she will become a naturalized U.S. Citizen.

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CASE: PERM Labor Certification

EMPLOYER: Food / Restaurant Company

BENEFICIARY: Korean In-House Graphic / Web Design Specialist

LOCATION: Cleveland, OH

Our client has 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, professional and work background, our office determined that she was clearly 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. Since her priority date is current, our client can file the I-140, I-485 green card application, and I-765 simultaneously.

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