At Chodorow Law Offices, we put families first. Immigration may be 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.
Did you know, that unlike many immigration lawyers, we focus on visa processing at U.S embassies and consulates? We help clients at consulates worldwide. And if your relative is in China, we have unparalleled experience and resources on the ground for representing clients before the international USCIS offices, U.S. Embassy Beijing, and the U.S. Consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenyang, and Hong Kong. We make it our business to know each consulate’s policies, practices, and procedures.
Highlights
Applying for a B1/B2 (Visitor) Visa as the Spouse of a U.S. Expat
I’ve been asked several times today about how the spouse of a U.S. citizen expat can apply for a B1/B2 (visitor for business or pleasure) visa. The question typically goes something like this: I am a U.S. citizen. I have lived in China for 5 years. My wife has been denied a U.S. tourist visa…
Guide to Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence
A spouse who immigrates based on marriage to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident will be granted conditional resident (CR) status if, at the time of admission as an immigrant, the marriage is less than two years old.
Form I-864, Affidavit of Support: Help Center
Welcome to the Affidavit of Support Help Center. If you feel that you need some help with the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, you are not alone. Technical errors with the Form I-864 are among the most common reasons for denial of permanent residence applications.
K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa Guide
This article covers the requirements and procedures to apply for a K-1 visa, as well as the terms and conditions of K-1 status. Also covered are the rules for the fiancé(e)’s unmarried children under age 21 to apply for K-2 visas.
Utah Marriage Over Zoom Is Valid for U.S. Immigration Purposes Once Consummated
ContentsIs a Utah Video Conference Wedding Really a “Proxy” Marriage?The Consummation RequirementConcluding ThoughtsFurther Reading Generally speaking, a proxy marriage is a wedding in which one or both of the individuals being united are not in the physical presence of the officiant. An absent party may be represented by another person (“proxy”). Historically, some reasons for proxy marriage have…
Choosing the Best Visa Strategy for a Fiancée or Spouse: K-1, K-3, or CR1/IR1 Immigrant Visa?
A U.S. citizen planning to file a visa petition for a foreign fiancée or spouse who is outside the U.S. may have various strategies to choose from. The most common options are the K-1 fiancée visa, the K-3 visa, and the CR1/IR1 immigrant visa. This article analyzes the factors to be considered in choosing among…
Guide to Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
Contents1. Introduction1.1 Scope of This Guide1.2 Derivative BeneficiariesWhat is a Derivative Beneficiary?Should an LPR File a Separate I-130 for a Child?1.3 Conditional Resident Status1.4 Preference Categories, State Department and USCIS Classifications2. Requirements: I-130 for Spouse2.1 The Petitioner Must Be a U.S. Citizen or LPR2.2 The Petitioner Must Not Have Been Convicted of Specified Offenses against…
How to Read the State Department Visa Bulletin
Under U.S. immigration law, there is an annual quota on the number of persons who may be granted lawful permanent resident (LPR) status in any category. The monthly Visa Bulletin explains to whom an immigrant visa number is immediately available.
Quick Reference to Family Immigration
Both U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (also known as LPRs or green card holders) can petition for family members to immigrate.
Recent Articles on Family Immigration
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,…
USCIS Waives COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Adjustment of Status Applicants
USCIS announced on Jan. 22, 2025, that the agency is waiving any and all requirements that applicants for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident present documentation on their Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, that they received the COVID-19 vaccination. USCIS will not issue any Request for Evidence…
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, such as the United States, Canada, Italy, etc.
(Update) Biden’s Parole in Place Announcement: Too Little Too Late
ContentsEligibility for Parole in PlaceApplication ProcessHow Did We Get Here? From IIRIRA to NowMomentous, or Too Little Too Late? Update: President Biden’s “Keeping Families Together” parole-in-place announcement was too little, too late. On November 7, 2024, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in State of Texas v. Department of Homeland Security, Case…
Applying for a B1/B2 (Visitor) Visa as the Spouse of a U.S. Expat
I’ve been asked several times today about how the spouse of a U.S. citizen expat can apply for a B1/B2 (visitor for business or pleasure) visa. The question typically goes something like this: I am a U.S. citizen. I have lived in China for 5 years. My wife has been denied a U.S. tourist visa…