Real Life Stories

Court-Ordered Green Card

Court-Ordered Green Card

Michael (left) aged out before his green card was approved. Unfortunately, the INS did not expedite the case despite the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel repeatedly urging them to do so since they were trying to beat the clock before Michael’s 21st birthday. Atty. Gurfinkel filed a lawsuit against the INS and appealed the case to the Ninth Circuit ...
Battered-Spouse Green Card

Battered-Spouse Green Card

Lance arrived in the U.S. in 2017 and married his U.S. citizen wife. The wife petitioned Lance for his green card, but the marriage turned rocky. Soon, the American wife started abusing Lance physically and verbally and even threatened to have him deported. Upon a friend’s recommendation, Lance consulted with Atty. Gurfinkel. Atty. Gurfinkel converted Lance’s case from a spousal ...
Terminated Case Gets Reinstated

Terminated Case Gets Reinstated

After Nanay Pilar (center) petitioned her son, Joseph (left), in 2007, it took some 11 years until his F-2B petition became current in 2018. His embassy interview was scheduled for April 2019, but Joseph was in Zurich, Switzerland, for work, and he asked to have his interview rescheduled. Unfortunately, the embassy sent a termination letter based on Joseph’s supposed failure ...
Aged-Out Daughter Gets Visa Approval Through CSPA

Aged-Out Daughter Gets Visa Approval Through CSPA

The U.S. Embassy cancelled the interview for Alyssa, the daughter of U.S. citizen Marivic, after Alyssa aged-out in August 2019. Desperate to find a way to bring her daughter to the U.S., Marivic wanted to explore other options like a student visa or a work visa, but Atty. Gurfinkel was able to convince the U.S. Embassy that Alyssa was eligible ...
Do It Yourself Immigration Disasters

Do It Yourself Immigration Disasters

Upon the urging of Mommy Eva (center), Kristan (left) tried to obtain his green card by filing all paperwork on his own instead of retaining a qualified and knowledgeable attorney. After all, he thought the process was simple, and he could save all that money on attorney fees. But Kristan’s filings always resulted in denials or rejections. He filed for ...
Visitor Visa for Reporter's Family Emergency

Visitor Visa for Reporter’s Family Emergency

Don Tagala (left), ABS-CBN news correspondent for North America, needed a visitor’s visa for his mother so she could come to the U.S. to be with her critically ill daughter. Time was running out, so Don sought the help of Atty. Gurfinkel, who was able to secure an emergency interview at the US Embassy. The earliest appointment had been August ...
Nurse’s Priority Date Retained After Employer Backs Out

Nurse’s Priority Date Retained After Employer Backs Out

When Rina (left) passed her NCLEX Board Exam in 2005, a convalescent facility was willing to sponsor Rina to come to the U.S. All went well until there was a retrogression of priority dates. After the retrogression, Rina found out that the facility was under new management and was no longer interested in pushing through with the case, so they ...
Crewman Gets Visa Approval Through Provisional Waiver

Crewman Gets Visa Approval Through Provisional Waiver

When Julie completed her contract as a crew member in 2004, she planned on returning to the Philippines to her eight-year-old daughter. However, she unknowingly overstayed while visiting family and then could not leave due to the 10-year bar. She consulted with Atty. Gurfinkel on several occasions, until President Obama created the Provisional Waiver program. This was the answer to ...
Family Can Petition Family for Working Green Card

Family Can Petition Family for Working Green Card

This has three lessons and victories: Family can petition other family members for a green card through an employment-based petition. Patrick was able to get his green card in the U.S. without having to return to the U.S. Embassy in Manila. His green card was approved even without an interview ...