At Chodorow Law Offices, we put families first. If immigration is mission critical for your family, we understand. We have the legal expertise you need. And we are sensitive to the time pressures you may face.
In General
We help families seeking lawful permanent resident status either by applying to USCIS for adjustment of status or by applying to a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad for immigrant visas.
- Forms I-130, Petitions for Alien Relatives, on behalf of spouses and children of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, parents of U.S. citizens, and other eligible relatives
- K-1 fiancé(e)s
- 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
Expat Families
We have a particular focus on meeting the family immigration needs of U.S. citizens living abroad (expats).
- Visiting the United States
- Immigrant visas for spouses and children
- Preserving permanent resident status while abroad
- Expeditious naturalization for spouses of U.S. citizens working abroad for certain U.S. companies or organizations
- Consular reports of birth abroad
- 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
U.S. Immigrant Visa Applications in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Taipei
U.S. immigration law is federal, but immigrant visa processing is not identical at every visa-issuing post. Each U.S. consulate may have its own procedures, document practices, appointment logistics, communication methods, and local expectations. By regularly working with these particular posts, our law firm can help anticipate those differences, avoid preventable delays, and prepare the case for the way that post actually handles immigrant visa applications.
Read more: Lawyer for U.S. Immigrant Visas in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Taipei
Recent Articles on Family Immigration
After NVC Documentarily Qualifies Your Case: U.S. Immigrant Visa Appointment Waits in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Taipei
After NVC confirms that your immigrant visa case is documentarily qualified, how long will you wait for an interview appointment? We compare current waits and historical trends in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Taipei, and explain how to use the State Department’s scheduling data to estimate your own wait.
USCIS Appears to Transfer Nearly Half a Million I-130 Petitions for Immediate Relatives to Local Field Offices
Recent data appears to show that the USCIS has transferred to local field offices responsibility for adjudicating standalone Forms I-130, Petitions for Alien Relatives, filed by U.S. citizens on behalf of their immediate relatives (spouses, parents, and minor children). At the same time, it is unclear whether this transfer will increase processing times for such…
Updated USCIS Processing Times for Immediate Relative I-130s and I-129Fs
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.
Lawyer for U.S. Immigrant Visas in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Taipei
U.S. immigration law is federal, but immigrant visa processing is not identical at every visa-issuing post. Each post may have its own procedures, document practices, appointment logistics, communication methods, and local expectations. Familiarity with local law can matter too. For example, whether a marriage, divorce, or adoption is valid—and whether a parent-child relationship qualifies under…
Immigrant Visa Interviews Canceled Worldwide as Officers Trained on Updated Public Charge Rules
The U.S. State Department is canceling immigrant visa interviews worldwide to allow consular officers to receive new training related to updated public charge rules. Training is to take place within a week, according to the New York Times. Nonimmigrant visa appointments have not been canceled. Pre-interview processing of an immigrant visa application, which is mostly…
Update: State Dep’t Pause on Immigrant Visas for Nationals of 75 Countries “At High Risk of Public Charge Usage”
August 2026 Update On Aug. 21, 2026, Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York vacated the State Department’s policy suspending issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries on the purported basis that such applicants were at high risk of becoming a public charge in the United States. Judge…
How to Apply for a Notarial China Birth Certificate
If you were born in Mainland China, you may need a notarial birth certificate (NBC) for purposes of applying for immigration or citizenship in another country. This article explains how to apply for an NBC.
U.S. District Court Vacates 3 USCIS Directives Related to Nationals of “Countries of Concern” and Asylum Applicants
USCIS has issued a June 12 alert, “Court Order on Hold Policies.” This alert advises that on June 5, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued an order in Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, et al. v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, et al., 26-cv-00132-JJM-PAS (D.RI.), vacating the following…
USCIS Gaslights Public with New Policy That Adjustment of Status Is “Extraordinary Relief”
The USCIS Director’s Office just released a Policy Memorandum about adjustment of status being available only in extraordinary cases. On the one hand, USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler is gaslighting the public by asserting that “From now on, an alien who is in the U.S. temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home…
Communist Party Membership or Affiliation: Ineligibility for Permanent Residence and Naturalization, Exceptions and Waivers
1. Introduction The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has maintained a political monopoly in China’s mainland since Mao Zedong founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949. The Party comprises over 100 million members, about 10% of China’s adult population. This article discusses how the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act makes certain CCP members and affiliates…
How to Prove a China Birth Certificate Is Unobtainable for U.S. Immigration Purposes
This article discusses what to do if a China notarial birth certificate (NBC) is unobtainable, in that an application for the NBC has been denied for reasons that cannot be overcome.
Why Expert Opinions Matter in Immigration Cases
Why Expert Legal Opinions Matter in Immigration Cases Immigration cases often turn on more than forms and filing deadlines. Many petitions and applications require U.S. immigration authorities to make judgments about complex legal, factual, or technical issues—sometimes involving foreign law, professional qualifications, country conditions, medical or psychological harm, or future risks. In these situations, expert…
Following National Guard Shooting, Immigration Restrictions Imposed on Afghans, Nationals of 39 “Countries of Concern”, and Asylum Applicants (Jan. 1 Update)
Under a new policy, USICS officers adjudicating benefit applications will consider as a "significant negative factor" that the applicant's country shares insufficient vetting and screening information with the United States.
Utah Virtual Marriage Can Be Valid for U.S. Immigration Purposes
Generally speaking, a proxy marriage is a wedding in which one or both of the individuals being united are not physically present. Instead, an absent party may be represented by another person (“proxy”). Historically, some reasons for proxy marriage have included separation due to military service, imprisonment, or travel restrictions; or when a couple lives in a jurisdiction…
State Dep’t Revokes Visas Over Social Media Posts about Charlie Kirk Assassination
On October 14, the State Department’s X (Twitter) account posted a number of examples of persons whose visas have been revoked due to their social media comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a right-wing political activist. The post explained, “The United States has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans.” And,…
How the Government Shutdown Is Impacting Immigration Agencies
Congress triggered a government shutdown on October 1, 2025, because it did not pass the 12 appropriations bills that fund government operations before the start of the new fiscal year, nor did it agree to a resolution to continue funding at current levels. During a shutdown, personnel funded by annual congressional appropriations are furloughed and…
State Dep’t Updates Social Media Vetting Standards
On June 18, a State Department media note stated that F (academic student), J (exchange visitor), and M (vocational student) applicants will be subject to heightened social media vetting standards. These standards, described below, are helpful guidance for understanding how all U.S. immigration agencies are reviewing all visa applicants and visa holders’ social media and…
Case Study: a Congressional Inquiry Made all the Difference for a U.S. Visa Applicant
When a visa application gets stuck at a U.S. Consulate, there are many strategies to consider to get it unstuck: Today, a Congressional inquiry with the U.S. Consulate made all the difference. The case involved a fiancée visa applicant required to submit a China police certificate. She applied for the certificate, but the local police…
Making a Congressional Inquiry for Help with Your Immigration Case
If you are having problems with your immigration case, a member of the U.S. Congress may be willing to inquire with a Federal immigration agency, such as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) on your behalf.
CDC Removes COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Immigrant Visa Applicants
The U.S. State Department has announced that effective March 11, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has removed from the technical instructions to panel physicians the requirement that immigrant visa applicants receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Panel physicians will no longer determine that an immigrant visa applicant is ineligible for travel based on their failure to receive,…