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Many Lessons from our Director Handling His own Immigration Case on this Sunday’s CITIZEN PINOY
POPULAR PINOY TV & MOVIE DIRECTOR NOW
LIVES THE AMERICAN DREAM! Direk John-D
(center) - had a promising and glamorous life of Philippine
showbiz, and his US citizen mother's petition for him was
the farthest thing on his mind, until he realized that his
mother was already 81 years old who needed him close by.
Listen to the colorful twists and turns of how Direk John-D
was able to overcome obstacles and finally come to America
to live the American Dream, when hosts leading immigration
attorney MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL (right) and
broadcast personality GEL SANTOS-RELOS
(left) bring you CITIZEN PINOY on Sunday, February
24th at 6:10 pm (PST), with a replay on Tuesday,
at 11:20 pm (PST) on TFC. CITIZEN PINOY also airs on ANC-US
every Saturday at 4:00 pm with replays on Sunday at 8 am,
all PST; and on ANC- Philippines every Sunday at 8 am with
replays at 12 midnight on Mondays.
REDWOOD CITY, CA. --- For an up and coming director, who
has steadily built a career in Philippine showbiz, life
in the homeland was fun and full of promise. John-D Lazatin
(Direk John-D) has directed for both TV (“Arriba!
Arriba!” – a weekly comedy show; “Bituin”
– the daily drama series that top billed Nora Aunor)
and the movies (“Bcuz of U,” “My First
Romance,” Forevermore”). His life revolved
around the entertainment industry that kept him busy and
happy. The proverbial American Dream was the farthest thing
from his mind. However, Direk John-D’s mother, Mommy
Pet, had that dream for her six children, including John
D (her youngest), when she came to America more than 20
years ago. In 1988, U.S. citizen Mommy Pet petitioned for
John-D, but he admits to not caring much about his mother’s
petition. John-D was so fascinated and dedicated to the
tiring but gratifying and fabulous life of TV and the movies,
that he put his green card on the back-burner. Then, in
2004 Mommy Pet, who was 81 years then, slipped and was rushed
to the emergency room in the U.S. It was a wake-up call
for Direk John-D. He realized that his mother was already
old, and he wanted to be near her on short notice if she
needed him.
Luckily in 2005, ABS-CBN offered John-D a chance to work
for the North America office (The Filipino Channel) and
he was petitioned for his H-1B visa. About that time also,
John-D was receiving paperwork from the National Visa Center
in connection with his mother’s 1988 petition. He
paid the filing fees and submitted various forms along the
way, but he felt that the paperwork was getting too complicated.
He lost his approval notice, and he got worried that he
would have to fly back to the Philippines for the embassy
interview; and so he finally sought legal advice.
Luckily again, help was close at hand. He was directing
Citizen Pinoy and he had the opportunity to ask host and
leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel about
his situation. After speaking with Atty. Gurfinkel, John-D
realized that he no longer had to stress over what appeared
to be insurmountable obstacles. Atty. Gurfinkel told him
that he was eligible for Adjustment of Status in the U.S.,
so he could be interviewed in the U.S. vs. the Embassy in
Manila. As to his missing approval notice, which was necessary
in order to file for Adjustment of Status – the Law
Offices of Michael Gurfinkel was able to solve that problem
as well in record time, instead of the standard year-long
wait for records.
Tune in to find out more immigration lessons through the
interesting and colorful twists of Direk John-D, who is
now living the American Dream, when CITIZEN PINOY hosts
– Attorney-to-the-Stars MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL and broadcast
personality GEL SANTOS-RELOS bring you a brand new episode
on Sunday, February 24th at 6:10 pm (PST) with a replay
on Tuesday, February 26th at 11:20 pm (PST) on TFC.
CITIZEN PINOY is made possible with the generous support
of sponsors who are also dedicated to giving back to the
Filipino community: Asian Journal -- with
circulation in Northern and Southern California, Nevada,
and in the East Coast; and Guiding Star Realty,
with its latest investment opportunity at the Flamingo Resort
in Miami Beach, Florida. CITIZEN PINOY is also supported
by ABS-CBN Global’s key product offerings: Star Kargo,
Starry Starry Store, and TFC Direct.
Remember that CITIZEN PINOY will be back live, in the San
Francisco Bay Area to answer your immigration questions
this Sunday, February 24 at the
ABS-CBN Global Studios, 150 Shoreline Drive, Redwood City,
CA 94065. Audience call times are at 9:00 am; 1:00 pm and
4:00 pm.
CITIZEN PINOY will also be live in Florida on April
6, at the Flamingo Resort 1500 Bay Road, Miami Beach,
FL 33139. Reserve your seats as early as now through www.citizenpinoy.com
or 1-866-GURFINKEL (1-866-487-3465). Again, admission is
FREE!
Informative. Entertaining. Inspiring. Watch CITIZEN PINOY
every Sunday at 6:10 pm (PST),
with replays on Tuesdays at 11:20 pm (PST) on TFC. CITIZEN
PINOY also airs on ANC-US every Saturday at 4:00 pm with
replays on Sunday at 8 am, all PST; and on ANC- Philippines
every Sunday at 8 am with replays at 12 midnight on Mondays.
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