Client is a student who just finished her master's degree in Southern California. We filed her asylum in later January, 2018. Client had her asylum interview in late March and she received final approval last week.
Client has no past persecution in her country. her asylum is based on her fear of future persecution based on her ethnic background.
Our client, Ms. Yang, came to the US in 2002 on a B-2 visa. She lied about a lot of things in her visa application, prepared by Chinese “Zhong Jie”.
She hired a local immigration consultant in Los Angeles to file her asylum application shortly after her arrival. Her asylum application was referred to court after interview. Before individual hearing, Ms. Yang married a US citizen and filed I-130/485. Her husband did not appear for the interview and the case was denied by the USCIS.
She had her asylum hearing in 2005. The immigration judge denied her application for lack of credibility.
Ms. Yang appealed her case to the Board of Immigration Appeals. The Board remanded the case back to immigration court as the Board pointed out that the immigration judge did not have sufficient reason to deny the case on credibility ground.
Ms. Yang moved to the bay Area and married her current husband, a US citizen, and she hired us.
This case has been continued by immigration judge many times while the judges initially on her case all retired.
After many maneuvers with the court and the USCIS, we had an individual hearing in 2016, when the government raised the visa fraud issue and asked Ms. Yang to file the waiver.
Waiver was filed and we just had the final hearing. Although the waiver claim was weak, the immigration judge granted the waiver and Ms. Yang now is a permanent resident of the United States.
To increase her chances for success, we also prepared the asylum claim and were ready to proceed, even though we had to spend lots of time to prepare the asylum case.
This is our second such lawsuit this year. Client applied for L-1 visa in the US Consulate in Shanghai last November. His application was selected for administrative processing after the interview.
We filed the lawsuit last month. Two weeks later the Consulate contacted client's Chinese company. Now the consulate has issued L-1 and L-2 visas for our client and his family.
Lawsuit definitely works!
O-1 visa is for alien with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletes. It must be sponsored by a US employer and it lasts for 3 years and it may be extended. There are no quotes for O-1 visa.
Our client is a recent graduate of a California art college majoring in music. She published some of her works and was in several documentary films as the composer.
She found a job in a music school as musical consultant.
Frankly this case is not very strong. It took her more than 10 months to collect documents and we filed her application one day before her EAD expired.
We gave honest evaluation on each case. Clients have to make their own decision if they wish to proceed. There are risks involved. Fortunately, for our clients, the outcomes are usually good.
"Administrative processing" means additional review, investigation and evaluate visa applicant's eligibility to receive the visa. It could happen in F, H, L, O or any other types of visa.
This process, according to the US embassy/consulate/State Department websites, would usually take about 1-2 months. In reality, many visa applicants experience long delay.
Recently one of our clients in Shanghai experienced 6 month long delay without any decision.
Luckily in the United States, there is a legal process to address this problem. Its call federal district court lawsuit against the USCIS, State Department and the Embassy/Consulate for the unreasonable delay in its administrative processing.
We filed the lawsuit in January and the Consulate re-interviewed our client last week and issued the L-1 visa.
This type of lawsuit is absolutely very effective in compelling the US government to act.
If you have long delayed petition or application before the USCIS or the US Consulate/Embassy, please contact us.
Our client is 17 and he applied for asylum in November, 2017.
He received interview a few weeks ago and he now received final approval.
Our client is a chef from northeast China. He published several cooking books and is a regular TV and radio commentator for food programs. He also owns several upscale restaurants in China.
The USCIS was not initially impressed by our client's credentials. RFE was issued asking us to address how exactly our client qualify for EB1A.
Response to such RFE was tedious and burdensome. We later learned the USCIS may have conducted overseas investigation to verify some of the evidence/documents submitted.
Eventually, the USCIS approved this petition last week.
EB1A petitions are a lot harder to get approved nowadays. With proper and thorough preparation and expertise it is still possible.
We maintain 100% success for all of our EB1A cases for the past many years (past success does not represent future success).
Please email us at justin@lawbw.com your resume for free evaluation if interested.
Mr. D came to the US in 2010 as a student and he graduated with a master's degree in 2014. While in college, he joined a church and baptized.
He applied for asylum in the fall of 2015 and he just received approval.
Mr. D actually did not do very well at interview, making several mistakes and contradicting himself on several points. At the end of the interview our attorney managed to rectify the case and now Mr. D is a very happy man.
Mr. D's parents are also our clients.
Our client was refused immigrant visa filed by her sister. The consulate claims that our client entered into a fraudulent marriage with her USC, ex-husband. The approved I-130 filed by her ex-husband was later revoked by the USCIS. Five years later when client went to the immigrant visa interview filed by her USC sister, the consulate refused the visa and asked her to file waiver.
Waiver is very difficult to get.
Properly document the extreme hardship and persuade the USCIS to grant the waiver are one of the most difficult types of cases.
We have not lost any fraud waiver cases this year.
Early 2017, we had a consultation with an anxious mom, her two children just got denied for their I-485 green card applications. This mom and her husband immigrated to the United States through their oldest child. She had applied I-130s for two young kids but the priority dates were not current at that time. In order to avoid her family apart, they decided to have two kids come to the U.S. with them under B-2 visas. After arriving, they consulted a very experienced immigration attorney who also practices in San Francisco Bay Area. The lawyer told them they could change the kids’ status to F-1 students first and wait for the priority date. In doing so, both kids could remain in the U.S. with their parents and get their green cards here.
Unfortunately, this seemingly workable plan was in trouble when the change status applications were denied in August 2015. Two children immediately lost their status as their B2 visa expired and F-1 student status were denied. The lawyer charged them money to file motion to reconsider/reopen. He assured clients that their children would be considered in legal status while the motion was pending. As of today, clients have not heard anything from the USCIS about the outcome of the motion.
In December 2015 when visa numbers became current, the lawyer helped them to submit I-485s. Several months later, two children were interviewed by the USCIS. In early 2017, USCIS denied their I-485s on the ground that, at the time of I-485 filing, they did not have valid legal status in the US. Their lawyer then suggested them to file another motion to contest USCIS decision. Finally, the mother realized that maybe her lawyer was wrong all this time. She was referred by her friend to talk to us about her case.
Being an immigration lawyer, one must be clear and understand the immigration rules thoroughly. Details determine success or failure. First, at the time the B-2 visa expires, the school has not yet started for more than 30 days. From status changed from B-2 to F, USCIS allows when the school anticipated start date is within 30 days after B visa expires. If more than 30 days gap in between, the application will be denied even the client had submitted it before B visa expires. Second, even a motion was filed; client will not have valid legal status in the US. Client cannot file I-485 during this time. Finally, if client followed her former lawyer's advice to challenge the I-485 denials, her two children would have been in much worse situation today.
We changed the strategy completely. It took less than ten months to have the case succeeded. Today, two kids have received their green card.
Do you still trust just any lawyers and follow their advice?
1. We won 3 asylum grants in the past month in immigration court. All of them are based on religious ground. Asylum office referred these cases for "lack of detail" or "inconsistencies). We all know that many times asylum office exaggerates minor issues to deny or refer applicants to immigration court. We have maintained 100% success record in immigration court this year.
2. H-1B approved after Level 1 wage RFE
Level 1 wage RFE is new and feared for this year’s H-1B. USCIS did not believe positions with level 1 wage are specialty H-1B positions as they are only entry-level with simple job duties. Our client is a small size company and the beneficiary is a MBA graduate. The case is difficult even in usual practice. Moreover, our RFE notice came in early September and no one expected this. Thankfully, our experienced attorney, after reading the notice carefully, found out the direction of how to response. We argued the position is both entry-level and professional (specialty). It’s normal some positions are entry level but professional knowledge needed. An entry level position does not necessarily mean it is not a professional position. We prepared documents to show the position is entry level with close supervision, as well as specialized and professional. Sure enough, USCIS approved our H-1B in less than two weeks after we submitted the response. Having an experienced lawyers’ help brings better result to the case.
In many cases, the success or failure of H-1B application depends not only on the qualifications of the applicant but also the petitioning company, the job and the salary. Most important of all how does your lawyer present your application to persuade the USCIS.
3. E-2 extension approval
We have got an approval for the second extension of our E-2 treaty investor visa. Our client actually did not do much business at her first extension and she did even less this time around. Clearly USCIS has placed less strict standard for E-2 visa than L-1 visa.
4. L-1 extension for 3 company managers
We got 3 approvals for managers from two companies. USCIS issued RFE (Request for Evidence) for two of the applicants. We simply wrote a letter to the USCIS addressing its questions and concerns as we did not have any new evidence to submit. In both cases the USCIS approved the petitions soon.
Case No. 1
The USCIS asylum office had denied this client's asylum application and the US government was trying to deport her. But we showed the court that this person was a member of a church that was persecuted in her country and that if she were deported, she faced at least a 10% chance of being persecuted.
We appeared in court with three witnesses from the church. We had submitted written testimony from each of them. Because we introduced the witnesses to the court the government attorney agreed that our case was very strong and told the judge that he believed our client. The judge granted asylum in about 90 minutes.
This client will now be able to file petition for her husband who was ordered deported but remained in the US for the past 10 years.
Case No. 2
This is case is based on forced abortion and insertion of IUD. Client had an abortion in 1990 and subsequently had an IUD inserted without her consent. The Asylum office denied her case for inconsistencies and lack of details.
This is a very difficult case because the abortion was 27 years ago and her country has since changed it policy on how many child its citizens may legally have. In addition, client gave inconsistent testimonies not only in asylum interview but also at her immigration court hearing. Finally the court interpreter made several important mistakes at her first day hearing (this case was continued after first day hearing and it concluded this week). We have to listen to the hearing tape to point out the interpreter mistakes; to call a doctor to testify about the effect of an IUD.
In the end, the judge believed our client and concluded that even client's country may have changed it family planning policy, our client suffered past persecution and her IUD continues to cause pain.
Experience, competence and care for client are no substitute in any immigration cases, especially in immigration court.
Our client entered the US from Mexico without inspection in 2016. He was detained and released later after he passed credible fear interview.
We represented him in the immigration court for asylum. The case has been continued several times but when he finally got his day in court, it only took about one hour for the judge to grant his asylum application.
Needless to say our attorney has prepared the case extremely well and government counsel waived appeal. The judge made the decision to grant in just one hour.
Not all immigration lawyers are created equal. Many immigration lawyers cannot handle court cases.
Be sure to have an immigration lawyer with extensive experience in litigating cases and knows the country conditions and practices to represent you in immigration court.
A Chinese woman hired an immigration lawyer and filed her asylum application about 2 years ago. She was informed by asylum office that her case was under investigation. Frustrated for lack of progress, she hired us to sue the USCIS San Francisco Asylum Office for not interviewing her.
We filed the lawsuit in mid August and now the asylum interview has been set for Mid-October.
Lawsuit continues to be the most effective method to resolve delayed USCIS actions.
Our client entered the US in 2010. he later married twice with US citizens and applied for green card based on the marriages. The USCIS twice denied the I-130 visa petitions claiming insufficient evidence to support the petitions.
Client was placed in removal proceedings in 2011.
Based on changed circumstances client applied for asylum in 2014.
After a very short hearing, without the need to even call any witnesses, the immigration judge granted our client's asylum application.
We represent clients in immigration proceedings nationwide. Please contact us if you wish to consult or retain us in your immigration proceedings.
Ms. Yun and her child came to the US in 2015 under B2 visa. She filed asylum shortly after she arrived and she received asylum approval recently.
Ms. Yun had some trouble attending her church in her home country. Nothing too serious. In the US, she continued her religious activities and at the interview, the asylum officer spent asked her many detailed questions about her religion. Ms. Yun was well prepared and she did not give the asylum officer any reason to doubt her credibility.
You do not need to have suffered past persecution in your home country to receive asylum approval. As long as you have reasonable fear of future persecution, you may still receive asylum approval.
Hongke ZHANG, Petitioner, v. John ASHCROFT, Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 03-70930. Decided: November 09, 2004
Client married his US citizen wife about 2 years ago. His wife is 16 years older than him. They filed the application themselves and had their first interview in 2016. 6 months after the first interview, the USCIS scheduled them for the second interview(marriage fraud interview).
They were nervous so they hired us.
you know the rest: we discussed their case extensively and prepared them for the interview.
They were separated in the interview. Although there were some minor discrepancies and some other small issues, overall they did well and the USCIS approved the husband's green card application 3 weeks after the interview.
In another case, client was ordered deported by the immigration court and her petition for review was dismissed by the 9th Circuit of Appeals. Client married her husband while her case was pending at the 9th Circuit.
We took over the case 2 years after the 9th Circuit dismissed her petition for review.
you know the rest: we got her waivers approved and she went back to China and last week she received her immigrant visa in Guangzhou, China.
We are extremely good at difficult cases. There are many cases that are seemingly impossible in other places that were resolved by us.
If you have any difficult cases(we can handle not so difficult cases, too), please contact us.
An asylum seeker filed asylum in the summer of 2014 in Los Angeles. She hired a lawyer. But her lawyer filed a very simple application, without any supporting evidence and declaration. Last summer She hired another "lawyer" who claimed he could get her interview fast. After she paid $3000 that "lawyer" disappeared.
In early February of 2017, she moved to the Bay Area and hired us.
We requested her case from LA asylum office and 2 weeks later we got interview notice.
Upon reviewing her file, we found many problems. We had to redraft her declaration, submit missing evidence and prepare her for the interview.
Hard work paid off. Client's application was approved two weeks after the interview.
If her case were still in LA, she may have to wait for another 3 years for the interview. And with the condition of her file, she would certainly get a denial of her application.
1. Two I-526(investors' visa petition) were approved yesterday by the USCIS without Request for Evidence. These two petitions were filed around November of 2015.
2. Mr. Hui received asylum approval after interview. Hui came from Guangxi, China. He filed his asylum application in early 2015 in San Francisco. Mr. Hui has 3 children, one from his first marriage, one from his current wife's previous marriage and the third one from his current wife. His wife experienced two abortions after she married Mr. Hui and finally gave birth to their first child in 2014.
3. We have a waiver case approved last week. The case is an I-601 waiver for overstaying after deportation.
4. We also have a permission to apply after deportation approved last week. Client has outstanding deportation order and she lost her 9th Circuit Appeals review. She changed lawyer after she lost the federal court review.
5. Ms. Yang is from Shandong. She filed her asylum on January, 2015. She participated religious activities before she came to the US as a student and she has continued her religious activities in the US. She received her asylum approval in February of 2017.