Posted on April 07, 2016 in Immigration

It is quite common in this day and age for foreign nationals to live in the United States for long periods of time without naturalizing their citizenship, primarily for professional and financial reasons. However, for the average person, many simply do not realize the benefits that come with becoming a U.S. citizen. If you have the choice before you regarding whether or not to naturalize, it is very important that you know the positives and negatives both before making any decisions.

Advantages

One might imagine that many advantages of becoming a U.S. citizen are self-evident, especially if one has business interests in the country. Citizenship is the only way to entirely avoid the spectre of deportation, as even lawful permanent residents (LPRs, or ‘green card’ holders) are susceptible to being deported if they are found guilty of certain crimes. Citizenship may be taken away, but there is a very specific, narrow set of circumstances that would need to occur for one’s naturalization to be revoked. Also, a citizen does not have to assiduously maintain a residency in the country; if he or she wishes to spend time abroad, he or she may do so without facing any kind of immigration penalty upon his or her return.

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 Posted on March 30, 2016 in Family Law

Even under the best of circumstances, divorce proceedings are stressful for all involved. If you plan appropriately, however, it is possible to minimize that stress. As an added bonus, proper planning can help save money and, in many cases, encourage a more amicable divorce. Reap all of these benefits using the following divorce planning tips.

Take an Asset and Expense Inventory

Child support, division of marital assets, and other financial particulars of a divorce are based upon what you and your spouse own as both individuals, and as a couple. Unfortunately, once the proceedings start, this information may be difficult to locate (this is especially true if your spouse is trying to hide any assets to keep more of the money for themselves). Avoid this hassle (and reduce your risk of losing out on money that may be owed to you) by taking a preemptive approach prior to filing.

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 Posted on March 25, 2016 in Personal Injury

On any given day, there are approximately 1,000 automobile accidents per day. In those accidents, somewhere around 3,287 people are killed, and another 55,000 or more are seriously injured. However, those numbers may be higher immediately after daylight savings time, researchers say. Because of this, some suggest we forgo the age-old time jump tradition.

History of Daylight Savings Time

America has not always sprung forward or fallen back; in fact, prior to World War I, daylight savings did not exist. By the 1960s, it became the national standard. However, experts say that the presumed and expected energy conservation benefits are either unclear or completely non-existent. To make matters worse, it seems to be affecting the health of Americans everywhere.

Sleep Disruption Pose Numerous Health Consequences

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 Posted on March 25, 2016 in Family Law

Many parents begin saving for college when their children are young, giving their children a head-start on the ever-increasing cost of tuition. Unfortunately, some may eventually go through a divorce and, even though the college savings is ultimately for the child, it can become yet another bitter point in the battle. It does not have to be this way, though. In fact, many divorcing parents manage to co-save; the key is simply knowing how to discuss some important points.

Who Will the Child Live with Most?

Senate Bill 57 made quite a few changes to Illinois divorce laws, including the voiding of terms like "custody" and "visitation." However, one parent will likely still have the child more often. Knowing (or maybe even agreeing) which parent this will be ahead of time can save you a lot of trouble in the long run, and it can provide some important insight as to what each parent’s financial responsibilities will be in the years to come. This can help couples determine if their child may qualify for financial assistance, and it can provide a launching point for determining which parent will contribute more to the college savings plan.

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 Posted on March 22, 2016 in Immigration

When a person comes to the United States for work purposes, he or she may utilize either an H1B visa or an L1 visa, depending on the nature of his or her work and the specifics of his or her time in the country. However, given the similar nature of these visas, it is not uncommon for an individual to become confused as to which one is best for his or her situation.

While most of the time, an incorrect visa application will simply be denied by the relevant authorities, in rare cases it can get an applicant into trouble if fraud is suspected. It is best to simply be well aware of which visa best fits your situation the first time around.

H1B Visas

While both types of visas must be applied for not by the worker, but by the U.S.-based employer, and both permit dual intent (that is, a holder may have or develop the intent to immigrate without jeopardizing the visa itself), the similarities end there.

An H1B is designed for a worker with no prior relationship with a U.S. company, and it must be requested in advance by the company planning to employ the worker—the worker cannot simply show up at the border. The visa must be applied for far in advance, usually, because unlike L visas, H1Bs are subject to a yearly cap of 65,000, with no room for exceptions afterward.

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 Posted on March 18, 2016 in Personal Injury

Car accidents occur daily on our nation’s streets. Several factors contribute to how they occur, and fault can be directed at drivers and the circumstances in which drivers find themselves. What is most disheartening, however, are the accidents that could have been prevented and the accidents which end in death or devastating injuries.

Side impact crashes, also known as “angle” crashes or T-Bone crashes, occur when a car is impacted on its side, with both cars forming a “T” formation. Even at low speeds, the injuries can be fatal. Traumatic brain injury, severe whiplash, internal injuries, and broken bone just touch the surface of the consequences victims sustain.

Side Impacts/Angle Crashes

The increase of SUVs on the roads are now putting drivers in sedans at greater risk of mortality. In fact, the National Institute of Health estimates that “a passenger car driver in a side impact collision is ten times more likely to be killed than the driver of the SUV, regardless of the vehicle’s role.”

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 Posted on March 11, 2016 in Family Law

Of all the provisions under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution Act (IMDMA), child custody laws are probably the most significantly altered under Senate Bill 57. Brought into effect on January 1, 2016, these changes are meant to dispel ugly feuds between divorcing parents and, instead, place more emphasis on what is truly best for the child. If you are planning on filing for divorce or have already started the process, it is important to understand these new changes and how they may affect the life of you and your children.

Child "Custody" No Longer Used

Under Senate Bill 57, the term "custody" is no longer applicable. Other terms, such as "visitation," "joint custody," and "sole custody" have also been removed. Instead, parents are provided with legal decision-making rights and allotted parenting time (the amount of time a parent spends with their child). All of these determinations are based upon what is considered to be the child’s best interest.

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 Posted on March 11, 2016 in Personal Injury

On average, nearly 4,000 people die in a semi-truck accident every year and more than 100,000 are injured—nearly 11 truck accidents each and every day. The American Trucking Association, an advocacy group for the United States trucking industry, says that about 75 percent of those accidents are inadvertently and unintentionally caused by the other driver. To improve safety and build awareness, one truck driver recently shared some safety tips with The Arizona Republic.

Understand That Semi Trucks are Different

Unlike cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, and semis are running loads that weigh hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of pounds. That weight drastically increases their stopping time—more than 360 feet (about the size of a football field) in perfect conditions, and more when the roads are wet or slick. Their sheer size only further complicates matters, making some roads extremely difficult to navigate, turns wide, and the changing of lanes or parking tricky, at best. They need more room, more time, and a lot of patience from other drivers.

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 Posted on March 08, 2016 in Immigration

Sometimes, the situation in a specific country or countries can simply be too difficult or dangerous to allow immigrants to return. However, not every immigrant has or can get into the appropriate immigration status in time. To prevent potential violence to innocents, the United States has a variety of humanitarian immigration benefits that can be applied for if a temporary safe harbor is needed while life becomes less dangerous.

Temporary Protected Status

Temporary Protected Status (TPS), while it does not provide any permanent immigration benefit, is an immigration status granted by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to the citizens of countries undergoing significant (but temporary) upheaval, such as a natural disaster or ongoing war. Recent examples of nations whose citizens have been granted TPS in the United States include Nepal and South Sudan.

People who have been granted TPS cannot use it as a stepping stone to any kind of permanent benefit, but it will grant both relief from deportation and, usually, an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Also, there is no law barring those under TPS from using the time to apply for a more permanent status or adjusting their lawful status; they simply cannot use their TPS status to do so.

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 Posted on March 04, 2016 in Family Law

Senate Bill 57, which went into effect on January 1, 2016, made several significant changes to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA). Focused on simplifying matters like grounds for divorce, custody, parental relocation, and waiting times for a divorce, these changes affect everyone pursuing a divorce or dissolution of marriage in the state of Illinois. But, with same-sex marriage so new, many couples are uncertain as to whether or not those same changes will apply to same-sex divorce, or to what extent.

Same-Sex Marriages in Illinois

On June 1, 2014, same-sex marriage became legal throughout the state of Illinois, but same-sex couples throughout the United States still struggled with obtaining a marriage license. In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that all marriages were legal, regardless of gender or sexual orientation and states were no longer permitted to prevent same-sex couples from obtaining their licenses. Unfortunately, there have been some lags in the justice system regarding divorce and child custody for same-sex couples.

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