Posted on June 29, 2017 in Immigration

When a person applies for a nonimmigrant visa to visit the United States, there are strict requirements he or she must fulfill before the visa will be granted. (This applies even to countries that are a part of the Visa Waiver program, if they have a specific purpose in coming into the country.) While these requirements have been reviewed and slated for modification in recent months, there are certain factors that remain unchanged. One of these is the issue of immigrant intent. If you do not understand the rule, immigration issues may result.

Presumption of Intent – By Law

Section 214(b) of the Immigration & Nationality Act states explicitly that U.S. consular officers must presume that everyone who applies for a nonimmigrant visa has immigrant intent—that is, the intent to remain in the United States despite the fact that nonimmigrant visa applicants pledge to return home after their business is concluded. This means that it is not personal—no matter how you appear or how you speak, the consular officer is required to suspect that you have lied on your application.

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 Posted on June 28, 2017 in Family Law

Hollywood often portrays divorce as simple and clear-cut, but real-life divorce is rarely straightforward. The reasons, though irrelevant in the courtroom, are often complex and multi-faceted, and couples often experience intense emotions. Also, contrary to the myth, some couples divorce but still love one another. How do you navigate such a painful process when you still have feelings for your spouse? The following explains, and it provides you with some valuable information on the Illinois divorce process.

Love and Divorce

Loving a spouse does not mean divorce is off the table. In fact, many marriages end, despite a shared love between the parties. Some begin to recognize that the relationship is toxic. Others may feel as though they are being held back by their spouse’s lack of ambition or adventure. Some have started to realize they would be happier on their own.

The reasons that couples want to divorce are not incorrect or invalid, but neither is the love that they still share. To move forward, couples typically need to separate the legal aspects of divorce from the emotional ones. Knowing you can walk away as friends or, at the very least, amicable, can be a motivating factor for learning how to do this.

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 Posted on June 27, 2017 in Personal Injury

While most traffic accidents can be attributed to driver error, there are thousands of car crashes that take place each year due to improper vehicle maintenance. These accidents are likely preventable if the driver had taken care of his or her car in a responsible way.

If you believe that improper vehicle maintenance caused a car accident that left you injured, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. You should not be forced to pay for your medical bills and may be eligible for other types of compensation.

Top Maintenance-Related Causes of Accidents

According to the National Highway Safety Administration, there are several reasons why a vehicle in poor repair could cause an accident:

1. Tires or wheels. This accounts for 35 percent of accidents where it was noted that the vehicle (as opposed to the driver) had critically contributed to an accident. Tire blowouts can cause a car to spin out of control and hit other motor vehicles on the road. Blowouts can be caused by under- or over-inflated tires as well as tires that should have been replaced due to mileage limits. Worn tires do not always lead to blowouts. They can, however, affect a car’s ability to stop or navigate in rain or snow.

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 Posted on June 22, 2017 in Immigration

If a person requires a visa to visit the United States, as opposed to being able to enter on the Visa Waiver program, the most common visa he or she will seek is the B1/B2 visa. The B1 category is for business travel, with certain restrictions, and the B2 category is for pleasure. However, many misunderstand the scope of these visas and find themselves in trouble. If you fall into that trap, it can cause you immigration problems at a later instance.

You Cannot Run Your Business Under a Business Visa

Because B1/B2s are referred to as ‘business/pleasure’ visas, many who come to the U.S. for work-related reasons assume that they are able to do anything work-related under the visa and still have it be legal. This is not specifically the case.

While someone in the U.S. on a business visa may conduct work-related endeavors, such as attending conferences or interviewing and hiring potential staff, there are actions not legally permitted on such a visa, most notably any kind of “gainful employment.”

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 Posted on June 20, 2017 in Personal Injury

Illinois has some of the strictest rules for elderly drivers. Car safety experts believe that these requirements keep the roads safer and reduce motor vehicle accidents.

Illinois is the only state that requires the elderly to have their driving skills tested more often than younger drivers. According to the Highway Loss Data Institute, the frequent evaluations weed out the elderly drivers who are unfit to be on the road.

Illinois Laws for Elderly Drivers

State law requires that those over 75 years old to renew their driver’s licenses every four years. Part of this renewal process includes a road test. Drivers over 80 years old require renewal every two years. Drivers who are at least 87 years old are to apply for a renewal every year.

Many other states simply require in-person renewal and a satisfactory eye test. Illinois is unique in that it requires a driving test.

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 Posted on June 19, 2017 in Family Law

Divorce after the age of 50 is a growing trend – so much so that it has been named the “gray divorce.” In many ways, this is a positive thing. It means that people are living longer and can focus on their happiness and self-fulfillment. It also suggests that women are better able to support themselves, even during their retirement years. Unfortunately, there are some potential drawbacks to divorcing later in life. One of the biggest is the risk of financial loss. In some cases, the loss may be so severe that it results in divorce-induced poverty. Learn how to mitigate against this risk, as well as many others, with help from the following information.

Protecting Your Financial Well-Being

Most couples nearing retirement had originally planned to raise their children together and then enjoy their retirement years together. When retirement approaches and couples realize that they would be better on their own, they often find they are unprepared for the financial implications of divorce. Their retirement funds, which was meant to support just one lifestyle, must now cover two sets of expenses. Financial loss after divorce can impact more than just the ability to cover month-to-month expenses. It could also mean losing health insurance, which may be critical to preserving an individual’s long-term health.

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 Posted on June 14, 2017 in Immigration

Since the new administration took office in January 2017, the number of immigrants detained while their cases are pending has more than doubled, from 27 percent to 61 percent of the total. However, border crossings have dropped significantly, which means that more people from the interior of the United States—that is, people who have been living here for some time—are being arrested and detained. In some cases, even those who have legal status have been mistakenly detained by Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE). If it has happened to your family member or loved one, regardless of his or her legal status, there may be steps you can take to have him or her released.

Location is Critical

It is becoming increasingly more common for immigrants, especially the undocumented, to be moved to locations distant from where they have been living, so as to prevent flight. However, this can frustrate attempts by family members to assist or comfort them. As such, knowing your loved one’s alien number or A-number is the first imperative. ICE maintains a locator tool that is updated reasonably frequently, and inputting the A-number will usually give you a location unless an arrest was very recent (within hours). There is no way to tell how often your loved one may be moved, but it at least gives families a place to begin.

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 Posted on June 13, 2017 in Personal Injury

Despite advances in car technology and features, almost nothing can keep up with the drivers who get behind the wheel of a car in an impaired state. Drunk drivers continue to be a menace on the roads, putting the lives of innocent people at risk.

The carelessness and recklessness associated with a drunk driver can rip families apart and deprive victims of their quality of life—or even their life if an accident is fatal. In 2014, 38,822 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence in Illinois.

If your loved one was killed by a drunk driver, then that driver should be held accountable for getting behind the wheel drunk, and should provide compensation for your loss. Seek the services of a compassionate drunk driving accident attorney to help recover for your losses.

Blood Alcohol Levels

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 Posted on June 12, 2017 in Family Law

After a slew of changes to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA) in 2016, families had to adjust to the new divorce laws. Now there are some new changes on the horizon – this time to the way child support is calculated in the state of Illinois. What will this mean for your case, and how can you effectively prepare? The following information explains further.

Old Child Support Calculations

Under the old child support calculation model, supporting parents paid a percentage of their net income to the receiving parent. That percentage was based on the number of shared children. For example, the paying parent would be obligated to pay 20 percent of their net income for one child, 28 percent of their net income for two children, 32 percent for three children, 45 percent for four children, and 50 percent for five or more children. Other factors, such as special needs, extra expenses, and healthcare costs might be added into the equation, but the formula was generally adhered to by the courts, except, perhaps, in high net worth divorces.

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 Posted on June 08, 2017 in Immigration

On April 21, 2017, a Nicaraguan man applying for asylum in Florida was deported back to his native country, despite a history of threats made against him, and the fact that his application was in process. There has been considerable outrage over this matter, but also some confusion.

Immigration laws are not being enforced in the manner to which most people are accustomed, and this can lead to paralysis. Understanding your rights can help protect you.

Refugees vs. Asylees

Many people who are uninformed are prone to confuse refugees and asylees, while arguing that the former should be permitted to enter the United States and the latter should not. In reality, the only real difference between the two classes is that refugees must apply for status while still outside the country, and asylees must do so after entry, regardless of whether that entry was with or without inspection. Either way, the person applying is doing so out of a well-founded, credible fear of persecution if he or she is returned to his or her home country.

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