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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
Family Immigration
- 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
- Complex issues for children’s immigration related to artificial reproductive technology, surrogacy, and IR2 visas for adopted children not covered by the Hague Adoption Convention
Naturalization and Citizenship
- 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
Temporary Visas
- L-1 intracompany transferees
- O-1 extraordinary ability
- E-2 treaty investors
- H-1B professionals
- H-3 trainees
- F-1 students
- J-1 exchange visitors
- B1/B2 visitors for business, pleasure, or medical treatment
- Etc.
Waivers / Overcoming Visa Denials
- 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
- Overcoming visa sanctions and security-related administrative processing for Chinese nationals
Protecting Permanent Resident Status
During Stays Abroad
- 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
Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act Requests
- 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
Employment-Based Immigration
- Multinational managers and executives
- EB-1 extraordinary ability
- Outstanding professors and researchers
China Police Certificates
- Applications for China police certificates for foreigners, Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan residents, and former citizens from Mainland China, to be used for purposes such as immigration and employment background checks, including proving to foreign immigration agencies that police certificates are unobtainable, as applicable
China Birth Certificates
- Applications for China notarial birth certificates to be used for purposes such as immigration, including proving to foreign immigration agencies that birth certificates are unobtainable, as applicable
Recent Blog Posts
Read the LawAndBorder Blog. You’ll be in good company.
With over 700 articles, we have been quoted in:
Updated USCIS Processing Times for I-130s and I-129Fs
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…
Pro Forma Visas for U.S.-China Dual National Children
Introduction It’s tricky for a U.S.-China dual national child to depart China. The child must present to the immigration inspector in the China airport both (a) a travel document issued by the Chinese government and (b) a document authorizing their entry to the U.S. The most obvious strategy won’t work. The child cannot present their…
Expeditious Naturalization for Spouses of U.S. Citizens Employed Abroad under Section 319(b)
Are you the spouse of a U.S. citizen employed abroad by a U.S. company, the U.S. government, an international organization, a research institution, or a religious organization? You may be eligible for expeditious naturalization. Chodorow Law Offices can help:
New U.S. Dog Importation Rules
Starting on August 1, 2024, 12:01 AM ET, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will enforce new rules for importing dogs to the United States. All dogs entering or returning to the United States must meet new, specific requirements depending on where they have been in the six months before entering the…
How to Answer Social Media Questions on Visa Application Forms
Since May 31, 2019, the U.S. State Department has asked social media-related questions on nonimmigrant and immigrant visa application forms.
Applying for a China “Exit and Entry Permit” or “Travel Document” for a Child with Dual Nationality
This article explains how parents can apply for an Exit and Entry Permit (出入境通行证 churujing tongxingzheng) or a Travel Document (旅行证 lvxingzheng) on behalf of a dual nationality child. Our law firm can help you analyze whether this or a different travel document is best for your child. Background Certain children may automatically acquire Chinese citizenship at…
Client Reviews
Gary Chodorow and Tang Yumei were very helpful in our K-1 (fiancée) visa application and subsequent marriage green card application. They showed extensive experience and knowledge of the immigration laws relevant to our cases. Their case schedule and meetings were clear, and they always kept us updated on the progress of the case. They made the complex application process simple and easy to understand, and our expectations always matched the results. 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….
Source: LinkedIn
Gary Chodorow was the attorney for my J-1 waiver, H-1B, outstanding professor green card, and naturalization. Recently, he helped apply for certificates of citizenship (Form N-600K) for my children living in Paris. We couldn’t have achieved this without his expertise and guidance. We’re deeply grateful for the wonderful job he did. The above photo of the kids’ naturalization ceremony hangs in our living room.
I have known Gary for many years. He has an in-depth understanding of the U.S. Consulates in China. Every time I have difficult issues with one of these consulates, Gary is the first person that I go to for assistance, and he has been extremely helpful. I highly recommend Gary to anyone who would like to negotiate the U.S. visa process in China.
Source: Avvo
Thank you for your professional and timely management of my application for a China police clearance.
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!
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!
Client Portal
- View your case schedule anytime
- 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
Our secure and confidential client portal helps our firm work seamlessly with clients anywhere in the world.
The ABC’s of U.S. Immigration Law
Are you looking to become more literate in the basics of U.S. immigration law and its jargon? Read here for the fundamentals of:
- Who is a U.S. citizen?
- What types of nonimmigrant visas are there?
- How can one become an immigrant through employment or family?
- How do employers verify that a new hire is eligible for employment in the U.S.?
- Etc.