CASE: N-400 

APPLICANT: Filipina

LOCATION: Newton Falls, OH

Our client contacted us in October 2020 to seek legal representation for her naturalization application. She came to the United States from the Philippines and obtained her green card in October 2011.  

We filed her N-400 on November 10, 2020 with all supporting documents. Prior to her citizenship interview, our office prepared her via conference calls.  On September 2, 2021, our client appeared at the Cleveland, OH USCIS office for her naturalization interview. Our client answered all questions correctly and passed her interview. On September 3, 2021, her application was approved. Her oath taking is scheduled in which she will become a naturalized U.S. Citizen.

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CASE: N-400 (Citizenship / Naturalization)

APPLICANT: Filipino

LOCATION: Middleburg Heights, OH

Our client contacted us in October 2020 to seek legal representation for his naturalization application. He came to the United States from the Philippines and obtained his green card in July 2011.

We filed  his application on October 23, 2020. On August 20, 2021, our client appeared at the Cleveland, Ohio USCIS office for his naturalization interview. Our client answered all questions correctly and passed. On August 27, 2021, his application was approved. His oath taking is scheduled in which he will become a naturalized U.S. Citizen.

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CASE: PERM EB3 Labor Certification

EMPLOYER: School

BENEFICIARY: Filipino Social Studies Teacher

LOCATION: Mt. Clemens, MI

Our client has an employer that was willing to petition him for a third-preference case (I-140).  Our client has a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, a valid Michigan Teaching license, and has worked for his employer since May 2018. Based on our client’s education and credentials, our office determined that he is eligible for EB-3 classification for his I-140 petition.  Our client retained us in October 2019.

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 only 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 assisted the Petitioner to file the job order on June 26, 2020.  On October 20, 2020, we filed PERM. 

On May 28, 2021, the Department of Labor issued a request for audit. The DOL requested documents from the 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 June 16, 2021.   

Eventually, on August 26, 2021, the PERM Labor Certification was approved – an EB3 position for the Filipino beneficiary. Our client can file the I-140 petition at any time.

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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: EB-2 I-140

EMPLOYER: Public School District

BENEFICIARY: Filipina Elementary Special Education Teacher

LOCATION: Mohave Valley, AZ

Our client has an employer who was willing to do an I-140 EB2 Petition for her.  Our client has a Bachelor’s degree in Education, a valid Arizona Teaching license, and has more than 5 years of experience as a Special Education Teacher. Based on our client’s education and work background, our office determined that she is eligible for EB-2 classification for her I-140 petition.  Our client eventually retained us in May 2020.  

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 October 15, 2020.  On January 8, 2021, we filed PERM.  Eventually, on July 6, 2021, the PERM Labor Certification was approved without any audit – an EB2 position for the Filipina 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 29, 2021, via premium processing service. However, on August 5, 2021, the USCIS issued Request for Evidence (RFE) and requested our client to submit her past experience verification letter from her former employer in the Philippines. Our office filed the Response to RFE on August 10, 2021. Eventually, on August 19, 2021, the I-140 EB2 Petition for our Filipina client was approved.

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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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CASE: PERM Labor Certification

EMPLOYER: Public School District

BENEFICIARY: Filipino High School General Science Teacher

LOCATION: Casa Grande, AZ

Our client has a current employer that as willing to file an I-140 petition for. Our client has a Bachelor’s degree in Geology, a valid Arizona Teaching license, and has worked for his current employer since August 2016. Based on our client’s education and work background, our office determined that he is eligible for EB-3 classification for his I-140 petition.  Our client eventually retained us in April 2020.

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 August 19, 2020.  On December 4, 2020, we filed PERM. 

Eventually, on August 18, 2021, the PERM Labor Certification was approved – an EB3 position for the Filipino beneficiary. Our client can file the I-140 petition at any time.

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CASE: J-2 Waiver of Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement / Over 21-year-old dependent child

NATIONALITY: Filipina

LOCATION: Durham, NC

Our client is a citizen of the Philippines who came to the U.S. on a J-2 Visa in July 2019.  She came with her mother who was on a J-1 Visa as a teacher. Both were subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement, meaning they had to go back to their home country for two-years before they can apply for permanent residency or some non-immigrant visa such as the H, L, and O visas.

She turned 21 in October 2020.  By getting a waiver, she would have the ability to be petitioned for H-1B status by her prospective employer. However, because of her two-year foreign residency requirement, our client cannot change her status in the United States without the fulfillment of requirement or the waiver. 

Although J-2 dependents cannot independently apply for a waiver, in cases where a J-2 child reaches 21, the Waiver Review Division may consider requests for waivers on behalf of the J-2 dependent.  The Department of State’s policy allows for that process in instances where the J-2 dependent obtains a divorce form the J-1 principal, the J-1 principal dies, or in cases where the J-2 dependent turns 21, which is our client’s case. In fact, our client turned 21 in October 2020.  

Our firm was retained to do her J-2 waiver, and on March 26, 2021, the J-2 Waiver application (Form DS-3035 and supporting documents) 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 reached the age of 21 and was not a dependent of a J-1 visa holder anymore.  Eventually, on June 24, 2021, the DOS recommended to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) that our client be granted a waiver.  On August 10, 2021, the USCIS issued an I-612 approval notice for our client’s waiver request.

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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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