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A FILIPINA MOTHER'S VERY SPECIAL THANKSGIVING DAY
A HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY: Elizabeth Flores (2nd from left) with her son, Elarsen ( R ), and daughters Aeliz Zara and Arseliza, at LAX, where Elizabeth met her daughters upon arrival from the Philippines, after 11 years of separation. "Having my children with me in America after so many years, gives me a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving."
This year's Thanksgiving Day will be the most memorable one for Elizabeth Manez Flores. It will be the first Thanksgiving she will celebrate with her 3 children after 11 long years of sacrifice and separation.
Elizabeth came to the U.S. in 1993. At first, Elizabeth's sister petitioned her, but that petition would take over 20 years. So, her employer, a nursing care facility in the U.S., agreed to sponsor her for a faster greencard through labor certification. The company suggested that she consult with its attorney for her immigration case, but it was her sister, who recommended that she use Atty. Michael Gurfinkel. " Since you are getting a lawyer anyway, you should hire the best -- get Atty. Gurfinkel, so your case will have the best chance", said Elizabeth's sister. Elizabeth had read about Atty. Gurfinkel's numerous success stories, and in her heart, she believed that if ever there was one attorney who could help her fulfill her dream of getting her kids to the US, it would be him.
Elizabeth's sacrifices paid off, when she adjusted status in the U.S. in May 2003. Since an employer's petition could also include an employee's minor children, the next step was for her kids to be processed for their immigrant visas in Manila. But by then, her son Elarsen, had already turned 21 in February 2003. Ordinarily, when a child turns 21, the child is no longer included under the parent's petition.
But Atty. Gurfinkel still got Elarsen a visa by invoking a newly passed law (the Child Status Protection Act) that enabled Elarsen to still be eligible for an immigrant visa, even though he already "aged out".
However, it was still not smooth sailing. At his visa interview, the Embassy found several suspicious circumstances in Elarsen's birth records, which raised doubts about whether Elizabeth was really his mother. First, Elarsen's birth was through a midwife; secondly, his birth was late-registered; and finally, his baptismal certificate had conflicting information regarding Elarsen's given name. But Atty. Gurfinkel was not about to give up on his client's dream of being reunited with her children. Atty. Gurfinkel made a convincing presentation to the Embassy, with documents and legal arguments to prove the mother-son relationship, and clarify the circumstances of Elarsen's birth. The Embassy was convinced, and Elarsen was issued an immigrant visa, even after he turned 21.
"If not for Atty. Gurfinkel's thorough explanations and clear case presentation, Elarsen would not have been in the U.S. today", said Elizabeth.
Atty. Gurfinkel's work on Elarsen's case also paved the way for Elizabeth's other children, Aeliz Zara Marie and Arseliza, to get their visas without any hitch, and join their mother and brother in the U.S.
And so, after 11 long years of separation, Elizabeth finally feels "whole" again as a mother. All the years of sacrifice paid off, because she can now give her children all the opportunities that America has to offer. This family, mother with 3 children, will now spend their First Thanksgiving together in America, and they truly have much to be thankful for.
"I wanted to thank Attorney Gurfinkel for all that he has done in helping reunite my family in America. And I wanted to share my story with the Filipino community, as a way of giving hope to others who may be in my situation. There were so many times throughout these years that I felt like "giving up" and returning to the Philippines. But I felt deep in my heart that there has got to be a way. Now, I'm so glad I made the right decision," said Elizabeth.
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