Immigration Visa Attorney Blog

The issue of same-sex marriage is an important issue. The immigration law offices of Fong & Chun gets questions all the time at our offices in Los Angeles and Palm Springs, and throughout the nation from US citizens who wish to immigrate a same-sex spouse. The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco, California will release its decision regarding the constitutionality of Marriage Equality and Proposition 8 on Tuesday, 7 February 2012 at 10:00 a.m. (PST).

At Fong & Chun, we are counseling our clients that whether the decision is a positive one or not, couples should not submit I-130 Family Petitions and I-485 Applications for Adjustment of Status based on a same-sex marriage without first consulting with an immigration attorney experienced in working with non-traditional families. --jcf

The immigration law firm of Fong & Chun has a very long history of serving the gay and lesbian community, and communities with non-traditional family structures. At our offices in Los Angeles and in Palm Springs, we are constantly asked about whether the US citizen in a married, same-sex couple can petition the alien spouse. Alas, as of today, the answer is still NO, based on the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which is still the law of the land.

The good news is that the Judiciary Committee of the US Senate today began a debate that is a first step in an attempt to repeal DOMA. After today's hearings, many people with experience on Capitol Hill believe the votes are there on the committee to send the bill to overturn DOMA to the Senate floor. However, in the Senate, there must be 60 senators -- the so-called "supermajority" -- willing to bring the question to the floor, before the measure can actually be voted on. Finally, if it passes the Senate, most experts feel the measure would die a quiet death on a committee in the House of Representatives.

There is movement in the Congress. It is important for all those for whom this is an important issue -- for their own families, for their friends, or for a fundamental fairness principle -- to contact their US Senators and Representatives to voice their support for the repeal of DOMA! --jcf

Today the world mourns Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs was the creator and visionary at Apple, Inc. but he is remembered as one of the world's greatest business leaders, ranking up there with the likes of Ford and Rockefeller. Steve Jobs was credited for bringing technology and it's benefits to the every day lives of every day people. The attorneys at Fong & Chun, LLP want to thank Steve Jobs for changing how we think about technology, for inspiring us to think creatively in what we do as immigration attorneys.

Fong & Chun, LLP is proud to run our office on Apple technology. We love our Apple computers, iPhones and iPads. But more importantly, the immigration attorneys at Fong & Chun have also embraced the entrepreneurial spirit and determination which is best exemplified by Steve Job's own words:

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.

As immigration lawyers, we know that the law allows families to reunify, it gives foreign workers and entrepreneurs a chance to realize their dreams. What we do at Fong & Chun gives people a chance in a lifetime to make a change for the better. Many, many of our clients come to us after other immigration attorneys have turned their cases away hearing their employers were too small, too new to sponsor an H-1b or that a new company L-1 is just impossible these days. Or perhaps their family members were facing removal or in desperate need of an immigration waiver but that odds were against them so that it wasn't worth trying. At Fong & Chun, we don't provide formulaic solutions to challenges. Steve Jobs didn't do that and neither do we. Challenging cases require exacting solutions. We work on each case with the individualized attention that each case deserves and we have the years of experience to know what works and what does not. When other immigration attorneys won't make the extra effort to take on cases that are outside the norm, we do - because this is what makes our work meaningful, and this is what inspires us to create great work and to make a difference, a world of difference to the individuals who didn't settle and tried anyhow. --ecf

Congratulations to the citizens of New York for the practical and humane approach taken by their Legislature and Governor in the approval of same-sex marriage last week! As leading advocates for immigrants in the gay and lesbian community, the attorneys at Los Angeles' Fong & Chun have counseled thousands of clients from all over the nation and the world about uniting families which are not traditionally shaped.

Beware! It is still NOT possible for same-sex couples to marry and to have the US citizen spouse petition for legal permanent resident status (the so-called green card) for the foreign spouse. This prohibition applies even when the couple both marries and resides in New York.

A same-sex marriage in New York (or from any other state or country, for that matter) will not be recognized for purposes of Federal immigration benefits. This includes Family Petitions for alien spouses, and also includes spouse-as-dependent on any other residency application. The culprit here is the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) would remedy this, permitting the recognition for immigration purposes of domestic partners who are in a committed same-sex relationship. This bill is regularly introduced in Congress. It is not yet law, however.

So, New Yorkers, raise a glass to your friends, families, and loved ones. And stay patient on the repeal of DOMA or the passage of UAFA. --jcf

President Obama addressed the nation in a highly anticipated speech on immigration reform from El Paso, Texas. Many have criticized the President's speech because he offered little in detail but spoke in broad terms.

The immigration attorneys at Fong & Chun would like to note that while deportations have increased under the Obama administration, President Obama reiterated that legalization should be offered to the undocumented, but with an emphasis on accountability. The President stated clearly: "those who are here illegally have a responsibility as well ... they have to admit that they broke the law, pay their taxes, pay a fine, and learn English. And they have to undergo background checks and a lengthy process before they can get in line for legalization."

The President also weighed in on the hallmark of immigration: family reunification. President Obama said "I don't believe the United States of America should be in the business of separating families. That's not right. That's not who we are."

As immigration advocates, Fong & Chun applauds the President's focus on securing our borders in a way that reunites families and that serves our national security and business interests. And as long-time advocates in the GLBT community, we hope that the President's silence regarding DOMA and its prohibition on immigration relief for same sex spouses is not an indication of the Administration's lack of commitment toward rectifying the inequities that have caused the painful separation of non-traditional families. Because as the President said, that's not who we are. --ecf

Japan: an 8.9 earthquake has rocked Japan today, marking the most powerful earthquake in Japan's recorded history. This quake is the fifth most powerful in the world since 1900, says the U.S. Geologic Survey. Tokyo reports massive aftershocks. Narita Airport, Sendai Airport remain closed, although Haneda Airport has reopened already. The immigration attorneys at Fong & Chun, LLP who practice in business immigration, family-based immigration, removal defense and appellate work extend sympathy and concern to all our Japanese clients and those with family and friends abroad who are affected by this devastating disaster.

Over the years, the immigration attorneys at Fong & Chun, LLP have worked proudly in the Japanese immigrant community, having represented multinational executives and managers for some of Japan's largest corporations, professors providing invaluable research and teaching in top U.S. universities, professional employees working in companies based in Little Tokyo and in Japanese American non-profit organizations, and of course, countless individuals and families of Japanese descent.

With early reports of the death toll, the true damage the earthquake has caused remains unknown at this moment. We do know that this earthquake may cause tsunamis powerful enough to engulf or wash over small islands in the Pacific causing more damage and posing continued danger to those in the Pacific. For clients wishing to return to Japan in the weeks to come, please call the attorneys at Fong & Chun, LLP for guidance on how to check the US Department of State for travel warnings and other restrictions. ---ecf

It's been a busy time since yesterday, when the Obama Administration announced it would no longer defend in court the section of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that would deny Federal benefits to same-sex couples who are legally married. The phones here at Fong & Chun in Los Angeles have been ringing off the hook. In my many years as an advocate for gay and lesbian immigrants, I do not think I've received as many calls in one day, from Palm Springs to Providence, from West Hollywood to Washington, all asking the $64,000 question: "Can we get married and file our Spouse Petition now?"

First, to give you fair warning, I am going to punt the answer to that question down field. I think that -- at this moment in the legal process -- it would be prudent to think of SAFETY, to look at the facts of each couple before advising whether to file the paperwork. Why? Because there are simply too many variables right now, and we have no assurance from the immigration authorities that they won't run out, arrest, and quickly deport an undocumented alien the moment they know where s/he is.

Next, the Obama administration has said that they will no longer defend DOMA in court. This is NOT the same as saying that they are freely granting equal rights to all same-sex married couples for tax, social security, or immigration purposes. I anticipate that -- as well-meaning as the administration may be -- the powers-that-be at US Citizenship and Immigration Services will fight tooth and nail until specifically ordered by the White House to recognize same-sex marriages.

Further, remember that US immigration law grants green cards for married couples, not those in civil unions, registered partnerships, pacte civile de solidarité (PACS), or some other form of union. The change in the treatment of DOMA does not change the basic language of the Immigration and Nationality Act -- an actual legal marriage will be required in order to claim a green card for the spouse of a US citizen.

Finally, although we expect a degree of consistency from Federal government rulings, it is not clear whether the American in a couple legally married in, say, Canada, now living in Arizona, would be eligible to apply for the Canadian spouse. Why? Because Arizona does not recognize same-sex marriages, and although the marriage is legal in Canada, I cannot anticipate what the US government would do about this. The analysis might be different if the couple were living in Massachusetts, where same-sex marriages are legal and recognized. In my view, these two scenaria should be treated the same; however, the law can be as slippery as an eel.

For the moment, brothers and sisters, I urge caution. Keep your partner/spouse safe and out of the hands of immigration officers. --jcf

Wednesday's announcement by the White House that the Obama Administration has said it will not defend section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act in court is something of a welcome surprise. This should mean that -- at least in states where same-sex marriage is legal -- same-sex couples can claim federal benefits on an equal footing with opposite-sex married couples. Such benefits would likely include marriage petitions for foreign spouses. The attorneys at Fong & Chun have sought and created legal immigration solutions for same-sex couples for years, here in West Hollywood and Los Angeles, throughout the United States, and even overseas. I have been an attorney for almost thirty years and have been an advocate for gay and lesbian immigrants for most of that time. I have counseled over a thousand same-sex couples in my time, and this is the best news so far in the fight to permit US citizens to petition their same-sex partners.

However, it is not clear how this will spin out. I wish I could tell couples to go out, get married where it's legal to do so, and file the Family Petitions -- but I don't think it's prudent just yet. Why not?

First, the Department of Homeland Security is no joke. They are serious about removing people from the USA wherever undocumented people can be found. If you are trying to protect your loved one, you don't volunteer him or her to be a guinea pig! By filing a petition, you are revealing the exact address of your spouse. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is famous for the "knock in the middle of the night."

Second, it is not clear what US Citizenship and Immigration Services will do when they receive such cases. I suspect they will hold ALL such cases in abeyance until they get further direction from USCIS' head office. This could be a long time.

Third, it is unclear what will happen to couples who are married in, say, Massachusetts, but who now live in Texas or Nevada. What about couples who were married while marriage was legal in California, although new marriages are not being celebrated in California at this time?

Because of the uncertainties about this development, our suggestion is that people sit tight for a month or so, to see what other agencies of the US government will do in light of today's news. --jcf

On the occasion of Pride Month, the US Department of State has announced a change in policy regarding the way that sex and gender reassignment are noted on US passports. The immigration law firm of Fong & Chun, long-time advocates for gay and lesbian immigrants, receive questions regularly about how gender is reflected on official documents.

Effective today, a US citizen applying for a US passport may present a letter from a physician that the applicant has had "appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition," and the new passport will be issued reflecting that new gender. A short-term passport can also be issued be those who are still transitioning.

If you have any questions about obtaining a US passport, please contact us. --jcf

Beginning January 4, 2010, applicants for visas or greencards will no longer be considered inadmissible for being HIV positive. Early last month, the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) removed HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) from the definition of a "communicable disease of public health significance."

This marks a major success by immigration advocates like Fong & Chun, LLP and HIV/AIDS health advocates. J Craig Fong was cited in a recent Los Angeles Times article as one of the few immigration attorneys in the nation who work with HIV positive immigrants and who has been extremely successful in HIV waiver applications with the USCIS to overcome this ban.

Fong & Chun, LLP applauds the Centers for Disease Control, the HHS, and USCIS in recognizing that the ban against nonimmigrant visa and permanent residency applications by HIV positive individuals was wrong. --ecf

On 14 October 2009, Congressman Luis Gutíerrez of Illinois released a set of principles which he hopes will be incorporated into any Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) package. As advocates for immigrants, the attorneys at the Los Angeles-based immigration law firm of Fong & Chun, we watch closely any progress on CIR.

Central to his approach are:

1. a rational and humane approach to resolving or legalizing the status of the undocumented population,

2. a mechanism to protect US and legal immigrant workers,

3. allocation of sufficient visas to stop immigrants from trying to "cut in line" or "jump the queue" and get to America earlier but illegally,

4. enhancements to protect the US homeland,

5. establish a wise border enforcement policy that reflects America's needs and values,

6. keeping together and unifying American families,

7. promotion of immigrant integration,

8. inclusion of the DREAM Act and AgJobs bill, and

9. protection of fundamental rights.

Representative Gutíerrez' statement of principles is an excellent first step as the debate over CIR begins. --jcf

Because the debates about Health Care Reform are taking so much of the Congress' energy, the Obama Administration believes that Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) will not be considered by the Congress until the beginning of 2010. The immigration law firm of Fong & Chun has many clients in Los Angeles, CA and throughout the nation who would benefit from the passage of CIR. In a recent article, President Obama restated his commitment to humane immigration law reform.

Two of the most anticipated provisions of CIR would be the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) and the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA).

The DREAM Act would allow the normalization of the immigration status of certain undocument students who were brought prior to age 16 to the United States by their parents or guardians. These students have lived and been educated in the USA, and it would be fundamentally unfair to deny them immigration status, when they did not come to the USA through their own decision, and when the USA is often the only country these students have ever really known.

UAFA would correct a long-standing inequity under immigration law and would permit US Citizens and Legal Permanent Residents to petition for and bring their permanent partners to the USA on the same footing and subject to the same conditions as traditional married couples.

Although CIR will not be debated in Congress until the beginning of 2010, we are still urging Americans to be ready to write both of their Senators and their Congressional Representative in support of CIR. Further, we are also asking Americans also to write their state governors and full city councils, encouraging them to contact Washington to urge passage of CIR.

For more information about CIR, also see the Fong and Chun blogs of
29 June 2009
26 June 2009
--jcf

With the passing of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson yesterday, the news about the "launch" of the immigration reform policy discussion passed under the radar for most people. As immigration attorneys in Los Angeles, the Fong & Chun law firm advocates for a comprehensive overhaul of the immigration system in the USA.

The President, Vice President, and pivotal cabinet members met with members of Congress from both parties to discuss the timing for and shape of a Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) bill expected to be introduced before the end of 2009.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will be in charge of evaluating the proposed bill.

There has also been speculation that because of the difficulty that the administration is having passing health care reform, serious discussion of CIR will be delayed until early 2010. Whether Congress gets to CIR this year or not, it is now time to contact officials to let them know you support CIR. Most especially, people should demand change that will:

- Allow gay and lesbian Americans to petition permanent resident status for their permanent domestic partners. This provision is known as the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA).

- Allow some undocumented students who graduate from American high schools, have good moral character, came the USA as children, and have been in the country continuously for at least five years to obtain legal permanent resident status. This provision is known as the Dream Act.

- Make provisions so that American businesses can obtain visas for talented foreign workers who can make US business more vibrant, competitive, and creative.

- Reduce the waiting time of families who have petitioned to bring loved ones to the USA. From certain countries, the wait time can be as long as 20 years.

Fong & Chun supports the Obama administration's efforts to reform and streamline the immigration process. --jcf