Ultimate Sacrifice for the American Dream
When Dad Romeo (standing, left) and Mom Connie (standing, 2nd from right) came to the U.S. to visit in 1994, they did not know that they would not be returning to the Philippines for a very long time. Friends convinced them to stay and find work in America to support their five children, whom they left behind. It was a ...
A Lesson in Fraud
Some people commit fraud. They may have entered the U.S. under a different name. Some may have submitted fake documents. It started in June 1998, when Reggie entered the U.S. under an assumed name. Since then, he obtained a fake entry stamp to the Philippines to make it appear he left the U.S. even while he remained in the United ...
Crewmen & Provisional Waivers
Tony (left) entered the U.S. as a crewman in 2003 and overstayed. As a result, he could not adjust status, even though marriage to his U.S. citizen spouse. In 2016, Provisional Waivers became available. This would “forgive” Tony for having overstayed, but he had to apply for his visa at the U.S. Embassy in Manila. However, the embassy was taking ...
Husband’s Death Results in Family’s VISAs
Dolores (center) was petitioned by her U.S. citizen mother in 2003 as a married child of a U.S. citizen (F-3). Finally, in 2021, the National Visa Center (NVC) notified the family that they could now start preparing their paperwork, even though the priority date was not yet current. However, the husband, who had a heart condition, became excited over the ...
Stuck in the Philippines
Mommy Connie (center) is a green card holder (LPR) but returned to the Philippines in 2017 for a vacation. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, she was unable to return to the U.S. in time. The COVID-19 pandemic and an expired green card made it even more difficult to return at once. She had also petitioned her daughters, and those petitions ...
Recipe for a Green Card
Jonas (left) grew up with 10 other siblings in Bacolod. Life was hard and Jonas had big dreams, so one day he left his family to pursue his dreams. He struggled and took on various odd jobs. He landed a job as a janitor at a mall in Pampanga. One day, he saw a "Now Hiring Cooks" sign outside the ...
Love Will Find a Way
Deeply in love, same-sex couple, Doc Feb and Ayie, were desperate to find a way to be together in the U.S. Since petitioner Ayie was only a green card holder, they could not avail of the K-1 fiancée visa which is only for fiancées of U.S. citizens. Same-sex marriages are not recognized in the Philippines, and Doc Feb was denied ...
Family Petitions Family for Employment Green Card
Lani (top photo, left), a hardworking nurse in Houston, found herself overwhelmed with household duties alongside her demanding job. After seeing an episode of Citizen Pinoy on TFC, Lani consulted with leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (top photo, right) about petitioning her brother, Marvin (bottom photo, right), and sister-in-law, Genalyn (bottom photo, left), from the Philippines to help ...
Cooking Up a Green Card
Bhogz's (left) culinary journey, from cooking his Nanay's dinengdeng – a Filipino vegetable dish that originated from the Ilocos region in the Philippines – to being a head cook at Gerry's Grill in Houston, Texas, showed his determination and the pursuit of opportunities. Starting as an intern, Bhogz's passion for cooking led him through various kitchens until he found his ...
