Bankruptcy and Naturalization

/in /by

With the slow economy, many people are considering filing bankruptcy in order to save the little they have. At the same time, they are concerned that this might affect their ability to achieve one of the American dreams of becoming a naturalized United States citizen.

Let you fears subside, filing bankruptcy will not affect your ability to become a United States citizen. In order to qualify for naturalization you must have five years of good moral character. As far as finances are concerned, the only thing that is looked at for naturalization is if you file your income tax returns. As long as you file your federal and state income tax returns every year, the filing of bankruptcy will not have any negative impact on your application for naturalization.

Top 3 Mistakes on Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative

/8 Comments/in /by

Are you trying to save money by filling out your own form I-130?  I review thousands of immigration form I-130 applications, and almost every one of them has a problem that will cause it to be rejected or delayed. Avoiding these common mistakes is easy if you know what they are:

Top 3 problems on form I-130:

1. Not listing spouse and children.

2. Not listing if you will be adjusting in the US or at a consular post in your country.

3. On spousal petitions, not including the form G-325A with the form.

There are other problems of course, and it’s a good idea to have an expert review your I-130 before you submit it.
(For a very low consultation fee, we can review your form I-130 for you.)

Check back often — we will be updating this list with more helpful tips shortly!

Download form I-130
Download I-130 instructions

Top 5 Free Legal Aid Resources in Los Angeles

/1 Comment/in /by

How to get free legal aid is a question I get all the time, and there are actually plenty of ways to get free legal help in Los Angeles, but the best recommendation depends on your particular situation.

For example, if you have general questions about a legal matter you may only need to find and attend a free legal clinic, where you can get a consultation with an attorney or help from law students (I’ve volunteered at many of these).  On the other hand, if you are involved in a criminal matter or are in deportation proceedings, you might need to find an attorney to represent you in court “pro bono” (which means providing professional work as a public service without charge).

Here are the top free legal resources in Los Angeles:

1. CARECEN: An immigration clinic held every few months, where attorneys such as myself volunteer to speak about current issues and then help some of the attendees one-on-one afterwards.

2. Harriet Buhai Center: A free family law clinic for low income persons.

3. Domestic Violence Clinics: most Court houses have a free domestic violence clinic to help victims with restraining orders.

4. LACBA Community Services: this is a great resource where you can search within different areas of law to find a lawyer who may be willing to assist you. You’ll need to fall below a certain income level to qualify for Pro Bono, usually.

5. Dept. of Justice List of Free Legal Service Providers in California: If you have a pending immigration case or removal case, you are provided with a list of low-cost or pro bono attorneys that can assist you with your matter.

Also, don’t forget to tune in to the radio show for general questions and answers on immigration topics. And if your situation is urgent, please send me a note by email by clicking here or call to receive a telephone consultation.