Sample Cases
In addition to handling straightforward visa applications and petitions (see our sites: www.bridgewest.com and www.e-b-5.com), we also represent individuals with unusual visa matters, problems, difficulties and complications. Below we have summarized some of the cases in which we were able to assist these individuals:
Case of A.D.
Ms. D is a wealthy businesswoman with three children, one of whom was turning 21 (or “aging out”) in less than one year. After we provided consultations on the immigration options available, she decided to participate in the EB-5 program. We assisted her in locating an appropriate Regional Center for her investment and preparing the immigration petition. We also verified that a misdemeanor of her eldest daughter would not serve as an obstacle to her immigration. As a result of these efforts, we managed to ensure the timely issuance of the visas to her and all of her children. Her children study in the US, and she goes back and forth to tend to her businesses there. Two years later, we represented the family in removing the conditions from their green cards.
Case of E.L.
The L family received a substantial gift from Mrs. L’s father. With that gift, they invested in a Marriott Hotel project in Seattle and applied to immigrate as EB-5 investors. We represented them in this process. The process went smoothly until Mr. L, for reasons beyond his control, was unable to go through the visa interview in his home country. We had to arrange for an interview at a US Embassy in a third country. After the interview, the visas were issued, and the family was able to fly to the United States and receive their green cards. After their arrival, we recommended a good realtor to them in the area in which they wanted to purchase a house. After Mrs. L gave birth in the US, we helped her obtain a US passport for her son.
Case of I.K.
Mr. K was a successful, older entrepreneur, tired of the corruption and problems of doing business in his home country. After visiting the Jay Peak project in Vermont, he decided to invest in it through the EB-5 program. Within 8 months, he and his family received green cards and purchased a house. Because his son needed to complete his studies in his home country, we helped him obtain a reentry permit to enable him to spend a prolonged period outside the United States.
Case of A.S.
Mr. S bought a house in his home country for $300,000, renovated and expanded it, and two years later, sold it for more than $900,000. With the profit from this transaction, he invested in the EB-5 Los Angeles Regional Center, which entered into a loan agreement with Time Warner. On this basis, he was able to secure for himself, his wife, and their young son green cards through the EB-5 program. Because EB-5 investors do not have to reside near the location of the project or have to worry about the everyday management of the investment, the family moved to Hawaii and are enjoying the beautiful weather. After living in a cold-weather country with little access to the sea, this was very important for them.
Case of M.D.
Mr. D. was a “stranger” in his home country: he was of a different ethnicity than the majority population and experienced substantial discrimination and harassment as a result. So when he earned millions after selling his retail business, he approached our firm in order to explore the immigration options available. Because he did not know English, did not have any friends or relatives in the US, and had no experience operating a business outside of his home country, he decided against opening or purchasing an existing business in the US, and decided to invest in a Regional Center in the EB-5 program. After nine months, he and his family were able to move to the United States and received green cards. We continue to provide ongoing consultations and legal assistance to him; for example, we helped him obtain a visa for his mother to visit him and her grandchildren. When he applied for a loan from his bank, we wrote a letter to his bank explaining his participation in the EB-5 program. We recommended a good CPA to him, one familiar with international tax treaties and tax minimization.
Case of L.M.
We successfully assisted a woman obtain a tourist visa after she had been denied a visa on eight occasions, dating back more than 15 years. She was denied in part because she had given birth in the US and the cost of the delivery was paid for by the state. After reimbursing the state for her expenses incurred, she received a visa.
Case of K.U. and R.U.
We represented two children, a brother and sister 11 and 8 years old, in helping them obtain humanitarian parole status after being denied visitor visas. This status enabled them to join their mother, who has a green card, in the United States, without having to wait four years.
Case of D.B.
Ms. B is married to an American man. She had been permanently barred from the United States by a consular officer and advised that she needed a waiver. The standard for granting a waiver – to prove that the American citizen would be subjected to extreme hardship in the event of denial – is a difficult standard to meet. Instead of submitting a waiver application, we challenged the finding that she had committed a crime of moral turpitude as erroneous. After review of our submission by the Advisory Opinion Division of the Visa Office in Washington, the finding was overturned and she was able to join her husband in the U.S.
Case of R.B.
The applicant was a dual national – a citizen-resident of one country, in which the maximum visa validity was two years, and a holder of a second passport she legally acquired through the second passport program of St. Kitts (St. Christopher and Nevis), which allowed for ten-year visas. We were able to help in educating the consulate about the legitimacy of the second passport program, and she was issued a ten-year visa.
Case of A.M.
After an unsuccessful immigrant waiver application, we filed an appeal with the Administrative Appeals Office in Washington on behalf of an individual who was permanently barred from the US. He had committed fraud in obtaining a visa so that he could be his wife for the birth of their child in the US. We were able to show that his wife would experience extreme hardship and the AAO approved his application, allowing him to join his wife and two American citizen children in the United States.
Case of A.S.
Upon inquiry to the consulate, we learned that a consular officer mistakenly believed that the applicant was a mechanic and therefore denied him under Section 214(b) because his job was viewed as a weak tie to his home country. In fact, the applicant was the owner and general manager of a service station. Upon presentation of additional evidence, he was issued a visa.
Case of A.T.
A consular officer viewed the US mailing address used by a Lottery winner as suspicious and delayed the processing of the case. We called into question what appeared to be a fishing expedition, and soon thereafter, less than one month before the expiration of the Lottery program for that year, the visas were issued to the applicant and his family.
Case of P.A.
In violation of Department of State rules, a consulate required an individual legally working in the US to return to his home country before it would process the visa application of his wife. We brought this violation to the attention of the Department of State, which informed the consulate that it was not necessary for her husband to return to his home country in order to issue the visa to her.
Case of G.B.
Mr. B was an amateur golfer who spent substantial time in the US. When he applied to receive a new visa, he was denied because he was “spending too much time” in the US and it was unclear how he was supporting himself. We prepared documentation evidencing Mr. B’s finances, and reminded the consulate that the applied-for visa status permitted prolonged stays in the US for an athlete such as Mr. B. He received a new visa.
Case of T.K.
While she was abroad, her friend in the US sent the new green card of Ms. K to her by express mail. The green card was lost. We helped Ms. K apply for a new green card and receive a Transportation Letter (Boarding Authorization Letter) from the post abroad, enabling her to return to the US for fingerprinting, obtaining a new I-551 stamp in her passport, and to eventually receive her new green card.
Case of S.A.
We helped a Lottery winner whose case had been pending under Section 221(g) for four months after his interview. Three days before the expiration of the DV-2010 program he was issued his immigrant visa.
Case of I.B.
We assisted an applicant overcome a finding of 212(a)(6)(c)(i) material misrepresentation for allegedly lying about his purpose to visit the United States. An overzealous consular officer permanently barred the applicant from the US; after our request to review the finding, his supervisor overturned the finding and issued to him an H-1B visa.
Case of A.M.
Mr. M indicated in his application form that he planned to visit the US on business for two weeks. He received his visa. Upon his arrival, he ascertained that there were problems with his partner, so he had to hire a lawyer, participate in litigation, and find a new partner. As a result, he spent more than five months in the US. When he returned to his home country and applied for a visa a year later, he was denied. After we prepared a summary of the exigent circumstances that befell Mr. M and supporting documentation, his application for a new visa was approved.
Case of I.G.
We successfully represented a woman who had been rejected an immigrant visa under the Lottery program because she was deemed to be a potential public charge. The consulate would not consider her real estate in Tashkent as “liquid”; after the presentation of addition evidence and the intercession of Washington, it issued the visas to her and her family.
Case of G.S.
Mrs. S, a green card holder, was located outside the United States for more than one year because her mother was very sick. We assisted her in her application for a SB-1 Returning Resident Visa. After the visa was granted, she was able to reenter the US and join her two children.
Case of N.K.
We helped a young female applicant with few ties to her home country (not married, no children, no property) secure a visitor’s visa.
Case of S.N.
Mr. N was granted asylum in the US. In order to see his sick brother before he died, he returned to his home country before obtaining a Refugee Travel Document, a document he would need in order to return to the US. We assisted him in obtaining a RTD while he was located outside the US.
Case of I.V.
We successfully represented a businessman who had been denied a tourist visa to visit his son and the gravesite of his ex-wife in the United States.
Case of V.S.
Mr. S was denied his request for refugee status. On his behalf, we submitted a Request for Reconsideration, pointing out legal and factual errors made in the handling of his case. He was called in for another interview. After a ninety minute interview, the immigration officer granted refugee status to him.
Case of N.D.
After a consular officer erroneously counted an applicant’s time of unlawful presence in the United States, we helped her overcome this finding and have her time of inadmissibility reduced to three years from ten years.
Case of M.G.
Our inquiry to a consulate about the reason for a material misrepresentation finding prompted a consular officer to review the decision, which had been made five years prior, and reverse that decision.
Case of T.L.
In violation of the rules of the Department of State, a consular officer attempted to require Ms. L’s husband in the United States, who was in L-1 status, to return to Russia before he would process her L-2 application. After we brought this to the attention of Washington, the consular officer issued the visa to her.
Case of T.E.
We helped a consular officer see the “forest through the trees” in a re-application after a denial of a woman whose brother is an elite businessman. Although she was unemployed, which was the basis for the 214(b) denial, she had no need to work because her brother was wealthy and supported her.
Case of R.G.
A green card holder resided abroad for many years and grew tired of maintaining a residence, including paying taxes, in the US. We assisted him in the 407 process of abandoning his permanent residency status: completing the necessary forms, counseling him on the consequences of his actions, accompanying him to the Embassy to relinquish his green card and assisting him in obtaining a visitors visa.
Case of A.R.
We assisted an American company bring to the U.S. a young single applicant with a previous denial for training.
Case of M.T.
We helped a woman obtain humanitarian parole after she was wrongfully denied a visa because the embassy lost her police certificates and her family immigrated to the US.
Case of S.P.
After a consular officer decided to return an already-approved work visa petition for revocation, we were able to intervene on behalf of the American company petitioner and have the officer’s decision reversed and the visa issued.
Case of N.V.
We assisted a woman in her claim for US citizenship for her son. She was living separately from her husband in her home country; she had an American boyfriend. After we assisted in arranging DNA testing for the child with an accredited laboratory and preparing the paperwork in support of the application for citizenship based on the father’s American citizenship, including his affidavit, the child was issued an American passport.
Case of I.B.
We helped an applicant obtain a nonimmigrant waiver to visit her daughter and grandchildren after she had been accused of alien smuggling. Two years later, we helped her renew the waiver to enable her to continue to visit her family in the US.
Case of E.S.
We successfully had a finding of fraud overturned in an application in which the applicant’s agent submitted a fake diploma to the embassy without her knowledge. We visited the archives of the university from which the applicant graduated and obtained documentation confirming her completion of the coursework twenty years ago. After reviewing the firsthand documentation we presented, the consulate rescinded its finding.
Case of M.P.
We helped a student overcome four previous denials and obtain a student visa.
Case of S.A.
After a consular officer accused an applicant of entering into a sham marriage and permanently barring him, we gathered substantial evidence proving the legitimacy of the marriage. After reviewing the evidence, the consulate reversed its decision.
Case of M.D.
We helped an applicant obtain an immigrant waiver to join her husband in the United States after she had been found to commit a material misrepresentation.
Case of G.P.
A consular officer mistakenly believed that an applicant had spent eight months in the United States, and denied the applicant under 214(b) for residing in the US. In fact, the applicant had only spent four months in the US and after we presented evidence confirming this, she was issued a visa.
Case of I.O.
A former intelligence official was subject to additional administrative processing whenever he applied for a visa. But instead of the processing taking less time as the years passed since the time he served, the processing took longer. On his behalf, we made inquiries to clarify the reason for the prolonged delay. Within one week, he was issued a new visa.
Case of L.L.
We assisted a first-time applicant receive a visa to attend the wedding of her nephew in the US, notwithstanding her lack of international travel, her lack of family ties, and the fact that she lived in a poor, rural area of her home country.
Case of V.K.
We represented Mr. K in his claim to US citizenship. Mr. K was born in the US to a Ministry of Foreign Trade official of his home country’s government. Because his father was not on the “blue list” we were able to establish his American citizenship after obtaining a certified copy of his American birth certificate.
Case of M.O.
We helped an applicant obtain an immigrant waiver after falling victim to an incompetent lawyer. She was advised that a departure from the US would not trigger the 10 year bar, but in fact it did. We represented her in her 601 application to the USCIS, and after its approval, she and her baby were able to join her husband in the US.
