Chodorow Law Offices helps businesses, families, and others worldwide with U.S. visas, permanent residence, and citizenship.
We invite you to schedule a consultation in person, by video conference, or by phone.
Gary Chodorow, Managing Attorney
Gary has helped clients with U.S. visas, permanent residence, and citizenship for more than 30 years. Gary also has been a founding member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Asia-Pacific chapter, co-chair of the American Chamber of Commerce-China’s visa committee, and an adjunct professor at Chicago-Kent School of Law. Read more.
What We Do
- Spouses of U.S. citizens
- K-1 fiancé(e)s
- Parents, children, and other relatives of U.S. citizens and permanent residents
- Form I-864, Affidavit of Support
- Form I-751, Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence
- Overcoming visa denials
- 212(d)(3) nonimmigrant visa waivers
- 214(i) waivers for fraud or misrepresentation
- Inadmissibility and waivers for Communist Party members
- I-212 permission to reapply after removal
- Waivers of the 3- and 10-year unlawful presence bars
- 212(h) waivers of crime-related grounds of inadmissibility
- Naturalization
- Expeditious naturalization for spouses of U.S. citizens employed abroad for certain U.S. companies or organizations
- Acquisition of citizenship by birth abroad to a U.S. citizen parent
- Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate under Section 322 of the Immigration and Nationality Act
- Form N-470, Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes
- Advice for children with dual U.S. and Chinese nationality
- Multinational managers and executives
- EB-1 extraordinary ability
- Outstanding professors and researchers
- Form I-131, Application for Travel Document (Reentry Permit)
- Form I-131A, Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation)
- Form N-470, Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes
- Form DS-117, Application to Determine Returning Resident Status (SB-1 returning resident visa)
- Form I-407, Record of Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident Status
- Request copies of your alien file (A-file) from USCIS
- Request your entry-exit records from U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- Request prior visa applications and consular officer decisions from the State Department
- To be used for purposes such as immigration and employment background checks
- To be used for purposes such as U.S. immigrant visa applications and Forms I-485, Applications to Adjust Status
Recent Blog Posts
Read the LawAndBorder Blog. You’ll be in good company.
We have been quoted in:
DHS to Increase Employment Authorization Validity Periods for Adjustment of Status Applicants
The Department of Homeland Security will “increase the maximum validity period of initial and renewal EADs [employment authorization documents] to 5 years for …. applicants for … adjustment of status,” among others, according to a Sept. 20 fact sheet. This change should be effective for initial and renewal EADs issued beginning Oct. 1. The American…
USCIS Processing Times for I-130s and I-129Fs Remain Stubbornly High
Summary This article focuses on processing times for Forms I-130 (Petitions for Alien Relatives) on behalf of immediate relatives (i.e., spouses, parents, and children under age 21) and Forms I-129F (Petitions for Alien Fiancé(e)s) who will apply for their visas at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad. Table 1 below, based on our firm’s monthly check…
How a Government Shutdown Could Impact Immigration Agencies
Congress appears to be on track to trigger a government shutdown on October 1, 2023, because it is not expected to pass the 12 appropriations bills that fund government operations before the start of the new fiscal year. During a shutdown, personnel funded by annual congressional appropriations are furloughed and not permitted to work. Exceptions are made…
“Widespread” DHS Use of Fake Social Media Profiles
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regularly uses fake social media profiles to collect information on noncitizens, according to an article in Law360 (subscription required), based on internal documents obtained by the Brennan Center for Justice. The documents were released in reply to the Center’s 2020 Freedom of Information Act suit. The documents show…
Catalog of U.S. Visa Sanctions Against China (Updated)
This article summarizes the U.S. government’s visa sanctions targeting specific Chinese individuals, companies, and institutions.
Job Opening: Bilingual Paralegal (Remote)
Our firm is growing! We are looking for a paralegal to work under lawyer supervision to manage all steps of U.S. immigration cases before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the State Department, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Case types include, for example:
Our firm’s secure and confidential client portal makes your case available 24/7:
- View your case schedule
- Upload documents for our law firm to review
- Fill client questionnaires
- Review materials drafted by our law firm
- Read legal advice
- Track your complete immigration history
This portal helps our firm work seamlessly with clients anywhere in the world.
Client Reviews
Gary Chodorow and Pete Zhang were a great help to me in getting an immigrant visa at the U.S. Embassy in London. The Embassy initially denied my application because the public security bureau in China refused to issue me a police clearance on the grounds that I lacked sufficient evidence of my residence there long ago. Then I hired Chodorow Law Offices. With attention to detail and expertise, Gary and Pete prepared evidence that persuaded the Embassy to waive the China police clearance requirement and approve my visa application. Thank you!
[Gary’s] knowledge, expertise and professionalism were evident from the day we first met him…. He helped my wife overcome a US visa renewal crisis during a trip overseas. He represented her at the US embassy by calling the consular officer at what were ungodly hours in the US, and managed to succeed in presenting an oral and written argument that got her back. Having Gary on our side was the best thing that could have happened to us….
We worked with Chodorow Law Offices on my CR-1 immigrant visa application. The services provided by Gary Chodorow, Linda Tang, and Natalie Xin were very professional. They made a clear plan for my case and worked efficiently, preparing and checking each document very carefully. The staff is patient and friendly. Thank you for your hard work to help me get to the U.S. Here’s a photo at the airport in Boston after I entered with the CR-1 visa!
Pete Zhang, the paralegal who helped with my application for a Nanjing police certificate, was exemplary in every way. He introduced himself at the beginning; responded to questions and requests promptly; showed initiative to track down the right people; and was patient and reassuring, building trust and confidence in his competence and the professionalism of the firm.
Mr. Chodorow handled my fiancé’s Chinese [police certificate application] for her K1 visa. He managed to provide enough documentation regarding why it was unobtainable to satisfy the [consular officer]. He is the only lawyer who is capable of handling the more complicated [cases] that we could find. All other lawyers upon looking at our case referred us to him.
Gary Chodorow represented my wife in her application for expeditious naturalization on the basis of my employment abroad for a U.S. company. He was thorough, knowledgeable and covered all contingencies. At the interview, the officer commented that Gary had done “excellent work” and that the application package was “complete and well put-together.”