News Update!

Articles, Questions & Answers

08.31.10		1. Delayed Naturalization Due to Background Checks  - For What Reason and What To Do? 2. Can My Son File for Adjustment of Status With I-130 Receipt (Approval Was Lost) and a Copy of My Naturalization Certificate or Must I Do Something Else? 3. Petitioner Filed I-130 for Son While in Washington D.C., Was Naturalized After I-130 Approval, and Whole Family Moved to Hawaii  - Where To and How Should We File Son's Adjustment of Status?  How to Upgrade the Category Since I Became a U.S. Citizen after the Approval? 4. Here 11 Years and With 3 Children and With Failed Labor Certification Case From March 2001, What is the Best Option to Take to Immigrate? Q&A published on August 29, 2010 World Journal Weekly (English)  (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
08.24.10		Mr. Lee's Article - "Immigration Court On Line 1-800 System To Be Severely Restricted To Users - Negative Ramifications For EOIR And Aliens." as published in the Immigration Daily on August 23, 2010 (English)
08.24.10		VT, TX, CA and NE Processing Times Updated
08.14.10		Our article " Visa Bulletin Movement For August 2010 Extremely Positive For Most Countries" most read article on Immigration Daily for July 2010.
08.11.10		September 2010 Visa Chart
07.26.10		1. Reader Asks if He Must File for Extension of Green Card Since He Has Filed for U.S. Citizenship. 2. F-2B Case for Son Was Stopped Automatically by Law Because of His Marriage  - Does Parent Have to Notify the Agency? How to Add His Wife and Daughter on His F-4 Case At This Time? 3. How to Have the Children Come Back to the U.S. 10 Years From Now If They Give Up Their U.S. Citizenships Now to Reside With Parents in China? Q&A published on July 25, 2010 World Journal Weekly (English)  (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
07.22.10		Mr. Lee's Article -" Visa Bulletin Movement For August 2010 Extremely Positive For Most Countries; EB-2 Cases For China And India Continue Their Leap Forward." as published in the Immigration Daily on July 20, 2010 (English)
07.19.10		1. Reader Wishes to Bring Over 70 + Year-old Parents Under B-2 Visas; Wants to Know if He is Qualified and What is the Procedure. 2. Son Arrived As LPR in 12/09, Does not Yet Have a Green Card, and Wants to Return for a Visit to China. - What to Do for Green Card and Visit? 3. F-1 Student Grandson's High-school I-20 Expires in June and College I-20 Does Not Start Until September - Can He Stay Since He Will Have Military Service If He Goes Home? When His Mother Gets Her Green Card, Can He Adjust Status in the U.S.? Q&A published on July 18, 2010 World Journal Weekly (English)  (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
07.12.10		Mr. Lee's Article - "Stiff Charges To Owners Of Chinese Employment Agencies That Supply And Restaurants Using Their Services to Obtain Undocumented Workers Part of New Obama Enforcement Plan." as published in World Journal on July 11, 2010 (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
06.30.10		Mr. Lee's Article - " Stiff Charges To Owners Of Chinese Employment Agencies That Supply And Restaurants Using Their Services to Obtain Undocumented Workers Part of New Obama Enforcement Plan." as published in the Immigration Daily on June 29, 2010 (English)
06.28.10		1. USC Mother Has Been Living With Father In China For Past 10 Years And Her I-130 Petition Was Recently Denied - What Are The Options Now? 2. Denied LIFE Act Applicant Who Initially Sneaked Into The Country And Was Later Paroled Back In Wonders If He Can Get A Green Card Through Marriage To U.S. Citizen. 3. My USC Husband Died In 2009 And My Case Was Denied In 2008- What Can I Do Now? Q&A published on June 27, 2010 World Journal Weekly (English)  (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
06.23.10		Mr. Lee's Article - "H-1B Count Shows Slowness in Petitions; DOL Releases PERM Processing Times; New Changes In VISA Fees For DOS; Proposed Large Fee Changes By U.S.C.I.S. " as published in the Immigration Daily on June 21, 2010
06.14.10		1. Can Reader Get Credit for One Year Four Months of 6 Year Maximum Time in H-1B Status That Reader Was in China? 2. With Case on Appeal to BIA, What Can Reader Do If His Employer Closes The Restaurant? Q&A published on June 13, 2010 World Journal Weekly (English)  (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
06.07.10		1. Can Reader With Exclusion Order Adjust Status to Permanent Residence With I-122 Card Given at Entry? 2. MBA Reader Needs to Choose Between Two Possible Sponsoring Employers -- Which One? 3. How Can Reader Get Employer to Sponsor Under EB-2 Instead of the EB-3 Category? 4. What Are the Best Ways to Sponsor My Parents and My Brother? Q&A published on June 6, 2010 World Journal Weekly (English)  (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
05.18.10		Mr. Lee's Article - "Unpublished I-601 Waiver of Fraud Decision Counts China Family Planning Policy Fears and Country's Poor Healthcare as Important Factors in Approving Case." as published in World Journal on May 16, 2010 (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
05.06.10		Mr. Lee's Win at Administrative Appeals Office as Reported in Interpreter Releases, Vol.87, No. 16 (April 19, 2010), " AAO Grants Waiver of Inadmissibility Based on Extreme Hardship to Applicant's LPR Mother". Reprinted by permission of West, a Thomson business. Interpreter Release is the leading weekly immigration law periodical featuring in-depth, comprehensive analysis and authoritative coverage of legislation and regulations, cases, and agency guidance.
04.20.10		1.Brother's green card was taken away at the airport for not staying long enough in the U.S. What are his options now? 2. Reader wants to know the rules of naturalization after having just received permanent residence. 3. Reader is agonizing over whether to put down on naturalization application his incident of arrest by private security at a store which concluded with admonishment. 4. Procedure for Filing a Sibling I-130 Petition 5. Must Reader File For Replacement Green Card Which Is Now Expired Since She Is Ready to Apply for Naturalization? Q&A published on April 18, 2010 World Journal Weekly (English)  (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
04.17.10		Mr. Lee's Article - "Recommendations On Positive Immigration Options That The Administration Should Explore." as published in the Immigration Daily on April 16, 2010 (English)
03.29.10		1.Brother-in-law Owes $20,000 in Child Support Related to Former Marriage. Will That Affect His New Wife's Immigration? 2. Does the Child Whose Parent Has An Approved I-130 Immigrant Visa Petition Have to Mention that He Has Already Applied for Immigration When Applying for F-1 Student Visa? 3. What Options Are There for a Conditional Resident Through Marriage Who Will Have a Child With Another Man But Must Later Apply to Remove the Conditional Basis of Residence Status? 4. Political Asylum Green Card Holder Wants to Apply for 3-Year Naturalization Based on Long Marriage to U.S. Citizen Husband. Can She Do It? Q&A published on March 28, 2010 World Journal Weekly (English)  (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
03.24.10		Mr. Lee's Article - "Important Changes in Widely Used I-485 Adjustment of Status to Permanent Residence Form and Procedure." as published in the Immigration Daily on March 24, 2010 (English)
03.15.10		Mr. Lee's Article - "Important Changes in Widely Used I-485 Adjustment of Status to Permanent Residence Form and Procedure." (English)
03.01.10		1. Reader Asks Questions on Retirement Benefits for Retired USC Brother's Wife in Hong Kong. 2.Friend is Married to U.S. Citizen, and Wants to Know How Long for Her 19 Year-old Child to Come to U.S. and What Documents He Will Need to Bring to Register in College. Q&A published on February 28, 2010 World Journal Weekly (English)  (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
02.17.10		1. Reader Entered Without Inspection in 2005, Has U.S. Citizen Husband and 2 U.S. Citizen Children, and Wishes to Know How to Adjust Status to Permanent Residence Without Leaving States. 2. Reader Petitioned for Parents' Permanent Residence and Wants to Know If He Can Act As Their Interpreter at the Time of the Interview at Local U.S.C.I.S. Office. 3.Reader With Deportation Order Wonders If Obtaining Status in Canada Will Allow Him or Her to Come Back to the U.S. - and If Still Barred, For How Long. 4. With Final Order of Deportation and Sympathetic Factors, Reader Wonders if She Can Cancel Her Deportation Order by Writing to the Board of Immigration Appeals With Her Evidence. 5. Guangzhou Sending Marriage Case Back to U.S.C.I.S. and Reader Wonders What Are the Best Steps to Take at This Time. Q&A published on February 14, 2010 World Journal Weekly (English)  (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
02.08.10		1.Friend Obtained Green Card Through Mother's Petition Without Informing That Mother Passed Away.  What is the Danger? 2. Asylum Derivatives Filed I-485 Adjustment of Status Applications in June 2007 and Child Needs Green Card Now.  What to Do? 3. What is Effect on Naturalization Application for An Asylee Green Card Card Holder Whose Mother is Very Sick in China? Q&A published on February 7, 2010 World Journal Weekly (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
01.18.10		1. Can I Obtain My Green Card Without a Valid Passport? 2. How to Upgrade Daughter's Category, but We Ask to What Category? 3. Questions of What Consequences if Mom Overstays or How Long to Process Her Green Card Later If She Goes Back to China Q&A published on January 17, 2010 World Journal Weekly (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
01.05.10		Mr. Lee's Article - Legalization Is Alive but Has a January 31, 2010 Deadline in Underpublicized "Known to the Government" Settlement" - in Interpreter Releases, Vol.86, No. 47 (December 14, 2009). Reprinted by permission of West, a Thomson business. Interpreter Release is the leading weekly immigration law periodical featuring in-depth, comprehensive analysis and authoritative coverage of legislation and regulations, cases, and agency guidance.
01.04.10		1.How to File for Adjustment of Status for An Asylee 2.B-2 Visas for Parents and What a Consular Officer Looks At 3.Derivative Son Should Qualify for Section 245(i) Through Aunt's Petition for His Mother Q&A published on January 3, 2010 World Journal Weekly (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
12.16.09		Correction on Q&A published on December 6, 2009 World Journal Weekly, regarding "What Is the Better Choice for Our Daughter in China to Immigrate to the U.S. -- Under Our Petition with 2007 Priority Date or Through Marriage to a U.S. Citizen?" (English) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
12.07.09		1.What Can a Wife Do Whose Husband is Abandoning Her for Someone Else and Is Planning to Sponsor That Person for Permanent Residence and Citizenship? 2.In My Adjustment of Status Application, Should I List My Political Crime and Arrest and Was my Sneaking Into the U.S. a Crime Involving Moral Turpitude? 3. What Is the Better Choice for Our Daughter in China to Immigrate to the U.S. -- Under Our Petition with 2007 Priority Date or Through Marriage to a U.S. Citizen? 4. As a U.S. Citizen, What Do I Need to Do to Apply for My Parents and My Sister's Family? Q&A published on December 6, 2009 World Journal Weekly (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
11.30.09		1.How Can I be Sure That I Will Not Be Blocked from Entry with My Green Card Since I Suspect that a Bad Person in My Home Government May Accuse Me of Some Small Faults? 2. When Can I Submit my Naturalization Application? Should I Stay in the U.S. Until I Get My Citizenship? And How Long is the Process? 3. My Priority Date Has Already Passed -- Am I Too Late to Apply for Adjustment of Status? Please Describe Filing Process If I Can Put in the I-485 Application Now. 4. I Just Got the I-130 Petition Approved for My Unmarried Daughter that I Filed in 2008 As a Green Card Holder -- Can I File the I-485 Application For Her Now? 5.My Grandmother Is In China And I Want Her to Visit Us -- What Do I Have to Do to Assist Her to Get a Visa? Q&A published on November 29, 2009 World Journal Weekly (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
11.02.09		1.Reader Asking About Leaving the Country for a Long Time; Giving Up the Green Card; Later Being Sponsored by Her Daughter; and Her Daughter Sponsoring Her Son Also. 2.Reader Does Not Wish to Swear Oath of Allegiance or Salute the Flag During Naturalization Process for Religious Reasons - Is It OK? 3. Is There Any Way for Immigration Officials to Know How Long I Left the U.S. When I Re-enter With My Green Card? 4. How Can I Move My Case From a Recommended Asylum Approval to a Final Asylum Approval Since It Has Already Been Almost Five Years? 5. On the Affidavit As Support, Will Anyone Know That the Petitioner, My Sister, Has Filed for Bankruptcy? Can I Be a Co-sponsor? 6.How Can I File for a Replacement Green Card Since Mine Eexpires in 2009? What's the Procedure? Q&A published on November 1, 2009 World Journal Weekly (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
10.26.09		1. After Student Visa Has Expired for Five Years, Can My Friend Get Another Student Visa, Apply for Work Card, Adjust Status After Marriage or What Is the Best That She Can Do? 2. What Are the Rules for 3-Year Naturalization Through Marriage to a U.S. Citizen When We Want to Divorce and How Long Will the Process Take? 3. How Can My Husband be Included in My Asylum Claim When I Am Here, He is in China, and We Never Registered the Marriage? 4. What Can I Do When I Got My Adjustment of Status Through Marriage Without Interview Last Year and My Children With K-2 Statuses Still Have Not Been Approved? Can They Travel? Q&A published on October 25, 2009 World Journal Weekly (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
10.19.09		1. Friend who Sneaked into the U.S. This Year Wants to Marry U.S. Citizen or Apply for Political Asylum and Wants to Know Smooth Way to Receive Legal Status. 2. U.S. Citizen Holding Taiwan Passport Wants to Know How to Protect his U.S. Citizenship if Going Back to Taiwan for Over Year in 2010. 3. Applicant with Two Crimes, Drunk Driving Reckless Endangerment and Falsified Document, May Still be Able to Immigrate to the States. Q&A published on October 18, 2009 World Journal Weekly (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
09.28.09		Mr. Lee's Article - "U.S.C.I.S. Liberalizes Filing and Amending Rules for I-751 Petitions to Assist in Timely Filing and Deal With Changed Circumstances After Filing." as published in World Journal on September 27, 2009 (English) (Newspaper Clipping)
09.24.09		Mr. Lee's Article - "U.S.C.I.S. Liberalizes Filing and Amending Rules for I-751 Petitions to Assist in Timely Filing and Deal With Changed Circumstances After Filing." as published in the Immigration Daily on September 24, 2009 (English)
09.21.09		1. My I-20 As a Student Has Expired in May and I Was Not Accepted for Graduate School -- What Are My Options? 2. I Am Currently an F-1 Student in a Bachelor's Program and Want to Work - What Can I Do? 3. Reader Can Adjust Status to Permanent Residence Although Illegal Under the CSPA Since I-130 Petition Took Years to be Approved. 4. My H-1B Employer Does Not Want to Sponsor Me and It Is Already the Fifth Year - What Options Do I Have to Stay Legally and Get My Green Card? Q&A published on September 20, 2009 World Journal Weekly (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
09.17.09		Mr. Lee's Article - "U.S.C.I.S. Liberalizes Filing and Amending Rules for I-751 Petitions to Assist in Timely Filing and Deal With Changed Circumstances After Filing." (English)
09.14.09		1. Having an Asylum Green Card, and Being Charged with Prostitution, Will This Affect My Entering the Country or Filing Immigration Papers for My Family Members Overseas? 2. Seven Year-old Son Has Left U.S. for Over One Year Without Reentry Permit. Can He Now Come on His Green Card? 3.With Political Asylum, Can I Safely Return to China If I Get my Green Card Based Upon Marriage to a U.S. Citizen? 4. Reader Wonders What to do Since I-824 Application to Obtain Duplicate I-130 Approval is Delayed, and Whether an Immigration Officer Will Know How Long He Has Left the Country. Q&A published on September 13, 2009 World Journal Weekly (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
08.25.09		1. I Was Arrested for Shoplifting a Few Months Ago - Am I Still Eligible for Naturalization? 2. As an Overstay, Am I Eligible for the Green Card Lottery Program, and Can I and My Family Get Legal Status If I Win? 3. Can I Transfer My I-130 Petition for My Daughter to My Husband Since He Became a U.S. Citizen, and What is the Effect of My Daughter's Marriage? Q&A published on August 23, 2009 World Journal Weekly (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
08.24.09		Mr. Lee's Article - "U.S.C.I.S. Adjudications on H-1B Petitions Beginning To Smell Like Day-Old Fish" as published in World Journal on August 23, 2009 (English) (Newspaper Clipping)
08.18.09		Mr. Lee's Article - "U.S.C.I.S. Adjudications on H-1B Petitions Beginning To Smell Like Day-Old Fish" as published in the Immigration Daily on August 18, 2009 (English)
08.17.09		1. Does Mother Who is 96 Years Old and Has Been in the U.S. for Over 10 Years Have to Take the Naturalization Test in English? 2. What is the Effect of Being Approved for a FAFSA Application for Financial Aid on My I-864 Financial Sponsor? 3. I Got the I-130 Approval Notice for My Son and His Priority Date is Coming Close. What Can I Do? Q&A published on August 16, 2009 World Journal Weekly (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
08.03.09		1. Reader is Worried About Filing Joint I-751 Application to Remove the Conditional Basis of Husband's Permanent Residence Based Upon Marriage Where He Does not Live With Her. 2. Mother Has Been Outside the U.S. for Almost Six Years and Son Worries About Problems that She Will Have Trying to Re-enter with Her Green Card. 3.Mother Has Left the U.S. Almost Two Years and Plans to Return Now. Will She Have a Problem Keeping Her Green Card? Q&A published on August 2, 2009 World Journal Weekly (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
07.20.09		1. Third Preference Employment Based Case with Approved I-140 Petition and Priority Date in October 2005 Has not Heard Since August 2007. What to do or to Worry About Concerning Time and Background Checks? 2. Reader Heard that Asylee Who Returned to China Had Green Card Taken Away at Naturalization Interview and Wants to File for Naturalization Although He Extended Passport and Traveled to China Two Times. 3. Reader Has Bad Credit and Wonders When and Whether He Can Do the Affidavit of Support for His Parents in This Consular Immigration Case. Q&A published on July 19, 2009 World Journal Weekly (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
07.06.09		1. Ordered Deported, Can I Reopen My Case Since My U.S. Citizen Sister Applied For Me, My Parents Are Green Card Holders, and I Am From China With Two Children? 2. Ordered Removed, Can I Reopen My Case Since I Came Into the Country With a Fake Passport, Married a U.S. Citizen, and We Have One Child? 3.What Can I Do Since I'm Getting Close to the End of My H-1B Maximum Period of Stay and the Company Does not Want to Sponsor Me For My Immigration at this Time? 4. I Got My Asylum Green Card from China. Do I Need the Chinese Passport for My Naturalization? 5. Can My Nephew's Family Easily Re-immigrate to the U.S. After Returning There in the 1990's After Getting Their Green Cards? If Not, Can My Nephew Get a Student Visa for His Advanced Study? Q&A published on July 5, 2009 World Journal Weekly (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
06.19.09		Mr. Lee's Article - "Motions to Reopen Based on Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Viable Again" as published in the Immigration Daily on June 11, 2009
06.15.09		1. As LPR, Filed for Unmarried Son and He Later Married. Can We Keep Old Priority Date Since I Just Became a U.S. Citizen? 2.Husband Committed a Crime and Did Not Go To Immigrant Visa Interview at AIT Over a Year Ago - Can He Go for Interview Now and What To Do About the Crime? 3. Left Out Fiancee's Daughter on My K-1 Petition and Case Is Now in Guangzhou - What's the Best Way to Solve the Situation? Q&A published on June 14, 2009 World Journal Weekly (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
06.08.09		1. Baby Will be Born in June and We Will be Returning to China - What Steps to Take to Legally Establish Her U.S. Citizenship? 2. It Took Five Years (2002-2007) for Me to Receive My Regular Green Card from Political Asylum. Can I Apply for Naturalization Now? 3. I Just Got Married to a U.S. Citizen; My H-1 Status Has Ended; and My Parents Filed I-130 for Me Before - What Do I Do Now to Transfer My Sponsorship? Q&A published on June 7, 2009 World Journal Weekly (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
06.04.09		Mr. Lee's Article - "Motions to Reopen Based on Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Viable Again" (English)
05.21.09		1. I-824 Approval is Lost - What Can I Do? 2. Can I Immigrate My Father With the Help of a DNA Test Since I am Illegitimate? 3. Holding A10 Card, Can I Adjust to Permanent Residence After Using Fraud Document for Entry If I Marry a U.S. Citizen? 4. What is My Status Since I Was Under B-1/B-2 Status When I Applied for I-485 Adjustment of Status to Permanent Residence? Q&A published on May 17, 2009 World Journal Weekly (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
05.11.09		1. Divorce was Done in Las Vegas, but a Court Judgment in China Says No Divorce. Can I Legally Marry Another in the U.S.? 2. Can I Apply for Medicare and What Are the Limits on My Reentry Permit for Trips Overseas? 3.What are My Chances of Immigrating or Status Change to Student Since I Was Arrested on Entry, Lost my Appeals, Am now Catholic, Have a U.S. Citizen Brother, and a Permanent Resident Wife? 4. As a Former Communist Party Member, Can I Become a U.S. Citizen? Q&A published on May 10, 2009 World Journal Weekly (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
05.04.09		1. Husband Had Bad Lawyer, Took Voluntary Departure, Did not Leave, Was Arrested and Deported; Had Approved Labor Certification, Was Eligible for 245(i) and I Am a U.S. Citizen. What Are the Chances If We Appeal to the Circuit Court? 2. I Am not Able to Financially Sponsor My Wife for Immigration and My Sister Has Reneged on Her Promise. What Can I Do? Q&A published on May 3, 2009 World Journal Weekly (English) (Newspaper Clipping) (Chinese Traditional) (Chinese Simplified)
Previously published articles and Q&As (2008~2010) (2005~2007) (2002~2004) Previously published Website Reader Q&A (2006-2009)

Welcome to the immigration web site of Alan Lee, Esq.!

We hope that the information provided here will prove to be interesting and helpful to you. The articles and questions and answers will change periodically and reflect the spectrum of issues which run across the field of immigration law. Visa charts will be updated monthly.

In the event that you require our services after going through our website, please contact us.

Copyright © 2003-2010 Alan Lee, Esq.
The information provided here is of a general nature and may not apply to any particular set of facts or circumstances. It should not be construed as legal advice and does not constitute an engagement of the Law Office of Alan Lee or establish an attorney-client relationship.