Posted on November 15, 2016 in Immigration

The trope of marriage fraud is a common staple in movies, especially comedies. However, sham marriages do still take place today, and U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (USCIS) does not find these types of marriages funny in the least.

Since marrying a U.S. citizen is a relatively painless way to obtain permanent resident status, USCIS does its best to ensure that marriages between citizens and foreign nationals are bona fide, with stern consequences if a marriage is found to be bogus.

Marriages Are Strictly Vetted

In the mid-1980s, a survey was conducted which later discovered that as many as 30 percent of marriages between foreign nationals and U.S. citizens were false. The data collection methodology was later found to be grossly inaccurate. Yet at the same time, that survey’s legacy has lived on. USCIS officers remember the figures, wrong or not, and as such, international marriages are often subject to a degree of scrutiny that some may find unreasonable.

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 Posted on November 15, 2016 in Personal Injury

News stories about dog bite injuries are reported nearly daily. One of the most recent involves a young man who was attacked by a pit bull while collecting money for the D.A.R.E. drug program. He will need plastic surgery to repair his lip, and his face may very well be scarred for life. Tragic as his story is, it is unlikely that he was the only victim that day. In fact, statistics indicate that as many as 1,000 U.S. citizens per day are treated in an emergency room for a dog bite injury. Many will face expensive medical bills, therapies, and lost time from work. What kind of compensatory recourse do they have?

Dog Bite Injury Victim’s Right to Compensation

In the state of Illinois, victims may be owed compensation if a dog or other animal bites them, without provocation, and causes injury. Sought from the owner of the animal, this compensation may include damages for a victim’s:

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 Posted on November 15, 2016 in Family Law

For families still adjusting to life after divorce, the traditional togetherness of the holidays can be stressful and downright depressing. This can be especially true for children, who might still be struggling to understand why the divorce happened in the first place. If you went through a divorce earlier this year, help your child cope with the holiday season using the following tips.

Keep the Focus on Your Children

Despite the change in your marital status, your family is still technically a family. No, this does not mean that you need to invite your ex-spouse over for Thanksgiving dinner. It does mean that you need to remember that your child still loves both of you, and that they do not want to be put in the middle. More than that, children can be emotionally hurt if they are forced to choose sides, so do not make them. Instead, work with your ex-spouse the best that you can. Come up with a plan that everyone can live with, and make sure your child’s wants and needs are at the top of your list of priorities when making those plans. Above all else, avoid any angry words either in front of or around your child.

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 Posted on November 08, 2016 in Family Law

Divorce among most age groups might be declining, but those nearing the age of retirement are splitting up at a rate more than double what it was just two decades ago. On one hand, the willingness to start over and pursue a path to self-happiness could be considered a testament to the improved financial stability of women. On the other, divorce at this stage in life carries with it some causes for concern. If you are nearing your retirement age and considering divorce, the following information explains what you should know.

Protecting Your Financial Future is Critical

As you near retirement, your ability to make up any income or assets lost during divorce is greatly diminished. This means you will need to do some extra planning to protect your financial future. Take stock of what you have – assets, income, expenses, investments, and retirement accounts – and ask your attorney for help in determining what might be left once the divorce is over. This will tell you if you should make any adjustments to your retirement plan, divorce plan, or financial plan.

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 Posted on November 08, 2016 in Personal Injury

When it comes to road users, pedestrians are the most vulnerable in automobile crashes. Unable to move quickly and completely unprotected, pedestrians are also at higher risk for injury.

The types of injuries pedestrians experience typically depend upon the speed of the driver, age of the victim, and other factors. However, one recent study determined that pedestrians are most at risk for fracture, fatality, and head injuries. What does this mean for victims and their families? The following explains.

Serious Injuries Often Experienced by Pedestrians

The recent study examined the injury patterns of pedestrians in automobile accidents. Lower extremities (knees, legs, etc.) were injured in half of all the victims while 38 percent suffered an injury to the face, neck, or head. A total of 27 percent of victims sustained injuries to their upper extremities. It should also be noted that many victims suffered more than one of these injuries. More specifically, fractures, head injury, and fatality were the most frequently experienced diagnosis among pedestrians. Men were also more likely to suffer from serious injuries to their internal organs while women were more likely to experience injuries to the pelvis and upper extremities.

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 Posted on November 08, 2016 in Immigration

Our world is more interconnected than it ever used to be, and as such, people are forming relationships far outside their usual sphere. If you are one of these people, you may want to bring a spouse or fiancé to live with you in the United States. There is a visa process by which you are able to do so without having to spend months or years apart.

The K Visa Process

If you marry your fiancé(e) outside the United States, you do not need to file for a K-visa; you would simply complete an I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, as spouses fall under this category for processing purposes. However, if you plan to marry once in the country, you would have to apply for a K visa for your fiancé(e)—he or she does not apply, but merely contributes any relevant documents to your application on his or her behalf.

Your application is completed on the form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e), and you must be able to show four specific criteria before the petition may be granted. These include (1) proof of your U.S. citizenship; (2) proof that you and your fiancé(e) are both free to marry (not still married, in other words); (3) you intend to marry within 90 days of your fiancé(e)’s entry to the United States; and (4) you have met face-to-face at least once within two years of filing your petition. (There are waivers available for this requirement if you are part of a religion where this would be contrary to custom, or if meeting would constitute extreme hardship to you and you can prove this.)

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 Posted on November 01, 2016 in Personal Injury

Property owners have a legal responsibility to keep their premises safe and free from hazards. Many factors can contribute to a certain condition posing a threat to a pedestrian, and it is therefore up to the owner to make regular sweeps of the property to prevent injuries from occurring.

Slips and falls account for over 1 million emergency room visits. In the event that someone is injured, a property owner could face a personal injury lawsuit and be held liable for the injured party’s injuries, pain and suffering, and lost wages if the injured party is unable to work.

The Top 5 Reasons Slips and Falls Occur

There are several reasons why someone may slip and fall. However, the top five reasons are somewhat obvious. Unfortunately, safety often takes a backseat to business and profits. The top five reasons why slips and falls occur include the following:

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 Posted on November 01, 2016 in Immigration

Many people speak casually of getting a “family-based green card” or a “family visa” to the United States. However, not everyone understands what that actually entails. In order to obtain lawful permanent resident status due to family ties, you cannot simply say you are related to a U.S. citizen and receive your visa; you must also meet several other requirements designed to show that you are not a danger and you can support yourself, or you have someone to support you. The process can become complex.

Who is Eligible?

Most people are aware that spouses, parents, and unmarried children of citizens are eligible (if all the other criteria are met) to receive family-based permanent resident status. However, there are actually several categories whose members may be eligible if a petition is completed. There is no distinction between any of these; if the person is not inadmissible, and he or she is able to show the correct affidavit of support and other documents, then he or she may receive permanent resident status as long as the petition is in order.

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 Posted on October 25, 2016 in Family Law

Not every couple who separates does so in the same way. Economic situations, family situations, and personal preferences all come into play. For those that maybe cannot financially afford to separate in the traditional way, have children and do not want to be away from them, or want to try and use separation to repair their marriage, an in-house separation might serve better than an out-of-house one. What is this type of separation, exactly, and how can you make it work? The following provides some tips.

What is an In-House Separation?

At its core, in-house separation is pretty much what it sounds like: a couple “separates” while still living in the same home. Some have one living in the bedroom and the other in the attic. Others simply section off a part of the house. The point is that you each have your own space that is separate from one another. Of course, because you are still in the same home, there are many ways for this type of separation to go awry. Further, it can be a little confusing to children, if you have them. As such, it is important to have some strategies for making it work.

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