ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS OFFICE

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                    [ArticleID] => 1529627
                    [Title] => No fraud waiver needed, despite fraud
                    [Summary] => 
Ordinarily, when a person commits fraud or makes a misrepresentation in connection with applying for an immigration benefit, the person is required to file a fraud waiver (Form I – 601). However, in some cases, even when a person does make a misrepresentation, a fraud waiver may not necessarily be required.

                    [DatePublished] => 2015-12-05 09:00:00
                    [ColumnID] => 134402
                    [Focus] => 0
                    [AuthorID] => 1805111
                    [AuthorName] => Michael J. Gurfinkel
                    [SectionName] => Opinion
                    [SectionUrl] => opinion
                    [URL] => 
                )

            [1] => Array
                (
                    [ArticleID] => 1496563
                    [Title] => No fraud waiver required if you were a victim of fraud
                    [Summary] => 
There have been many tragic situations where people were duped into applying for immigration benefits to which they were not entitled. Unscrupulous immigration consultants promise work permits, green cards, and other immigration benefits to people who are eager to work in the US and send money back home. Only later do they find out they were tricked and cheated out of their hard-earned money. To make matters worse, they are charged with fraud by the USCIS and denied legitimate immigration benefits.

                    [DatePublished] => 2015-09-05 10:00:00
                    [ColumnID] => 134402
                    [Focus] => 0
                    [AuthorID] => 1805111
                    [AuthorName] => Michael J. Gurfinkel
                    [SectionName] => Opinion
                    [SectionUrl] => opinion
                    [URL] => 
                )

            [2] => Array
                (
                    [ArticleID] => 941078
                    [Title] => Gay partner’s ‘hardship’ taken into account for fraud waiver
                    [Summary] => 
In an unpublished opinion, the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) stated that the hardship suffered by an “applicant’s domestic partner of 17 years” could be taken into account when evaluating “extreme hardship” in connection with a fraud waiver.

                    [DatePublished] => 2013-05-12 00:00:00
                    [ColumnID] => 134402
                    [Focus] => 0
                    [AuthorID] => 1805111
                    [AuthorName] => Michael J. Gurfinkel
                    [SectionName] => Opinion
                    [SectionUrl] => opinion
                    [URL] => 
                )

            [3] => Array
                (
                    [ArticleID] => 562983
                    [Title] => Fiancée visa wrongly refused for not 'showing enough love'
                    [Summary] => 
In an unpublished, but very helpful case, the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) in Washington D.C. ruled that US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) was wrong in revoking a fiancée visa petition based on a consular officer’s conclusion, at the visa interview, that the relationship was not “bona fide”.
                    [DatePublished] => 2010-04-04 00:00:00
                    [ColumnID] => 134402
                    [Focus] => 0
                    [AuthorID] => 1805111
                    [AuthorName] => Michael J. Gurfinkel
                    [SectionName] => Opinion
                    [SectionUrl] => opinion
                    [URL] => 
                )

            [4] => Array
                (
                    [ArticleID] => 452786
                    [Title] => No fraud committed by victim of 'ghost bride' scam
                    [Summary] => 
Some time ago, I wrote an article about a new scam, where aliens were promised work authorization by unscrupulous immigration consultants, only to later find out that the consultant had filed papers with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to make it appear as though the aliens had married American citizens.
                    [DatePublished] => 2009-03-29 00:00:00
                    [ColumnID] => 134402
                    [Focus] => 0
                    [AuthorID] => 1805111
                    [AuthorName] => Michael J. Gurfinkel
                    [SectionName] => Opinion
                    [SectionUrl] => opinion
                    [URL] => 
                )

            [5] => Array
                (
                    [ArticleID] => 351484
                    [Title] => Planning to migrate to the US? Read this.
                    [Summary] => 



With movies few and far-between and local television crowded with talents scrambling over one another for a role, Filipino artists have been turning abroad for greener pastures – you know, for better income and for an opportunity to continue with their craft. The foreign shore is where most of the money is, in case you didn’t know, that’s why more and more local artists have been joining the "bandwagon" to the US either for a show or to stay there permanently.
                    [DatePublished] => 2006-08-08 00:00:00
                    [ColumnID] => 134227
                    [Focus] => 0
                    [AuthorID] => 1697794
                    [AuthorName] => Ricky Lo
                    [SectionName] => Entertainment
                    [SectionUrl] => entertainment
                    [URL] => 
                )

            [6] => Array
                (
                    [ArticleID] => 330632
                    [Title] => When can a person change employers without having to start over?
                    [Summary] => Q: Many people have been sponsored for green cards by employers through a process called Labor Certification.  Their cases may have been filed years ago, and during the time they were being processed, the aliens may have changed jobs or the employers may have gone out of business.  Does a person have to start over again from the beginning, or can a new employer take over the first employer’s existing labor certification case?


                    [DatePublished] => 2006-04-09 00:00:00
                    [ColumnID] => 134402
                    [Focus] => 0
                    [AuthorID] => 1805111
                    [AuthorName] => Michael J. Gurfinkel
                    [SectionName] => Opinion
                    [SectionUrl] => opinion
                    [URL] => 
                )

            [7] => Array
                (
                    [ArticleID] => 269164
                    [Title] => Department of Consumer Affairs issues advisory on immigration consultants
                    [Summary] => The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs has issued an  "infor-mation sheet" about immigration consultants in order to warn,  educate, and advise the public about the limitations of the services immigration consultants are legally allowed to perform.


                    [DatePublished] => 2005-03-06 00:00:00
                    [ColumnID] => 134402
                    [Focus] => 0
                    [AuthorID] => 1805111
                    [AuthorName] => Michael J. Gurfinkel
                    [SectionName] => Opinion
                    [SectionUrl] => opinion
                    [URL] => 
                )

            [8] => Array
                (
                    [ArticleID] => 269288
                    [Title] => Department of Consumer Affairs issues advisory on immigration consultants
                    [Summary] => The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs has issued an  "infor-mation sheet" about immigration consultants in order to warn,  educate, and advise the public about the limitations of the services immigration consultants are legally allowed to perform.


                    [DatePublished] => 2005-03-06 00:00:00
                    [ColumnID] => 134402
                    [Focus] => 0
                    [AuthorID] => 1805111
                    [AuthorName] => Michael J. Gurfinkel
                    [SectionName] => Opinion
                    [SectionUrl] => opinion
                    [URL] => 
                )

        )

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abtest

No fraud waiver needed, despite fraud

By IMMIGRATION CORNER | By Michael J. Gurfinkel | December 5, 2015 - 9:00am

Ordinarily, when a person commits fraud or makes a misrepresentation in connection with applying for an immigration benefit, the person is required to file a fraud waiver (Form I – 601). However, in some cases,...

Opinion

No fraud waiver required if you were a victim of fraud

By IMMIGRATION CORNER | By Michael J. Gurfinkel | September 5, 2015 - 10:00am

There have been many tragic situations where people were duped into applying for immigration benefits to which they were not entitled. Unscrupulous immigration consultants promise work permits, green cards, and other...

Opinion

Gay partner’s ‘hardship’ taken into account for fraud waiver

By IMMIGRATION CORNER | By Michael J. Gurfinkel | May 12, 2013 - 12:00am

In an unpublished opinion, the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) stated that the hardship suffered by an “applicant’s domestic partner of 17 years” could be taken into account when evaluating...

Opinion

Fiancée visa wrongly refused for not 'showing enough love'

By IMMIGRATION CORNER | By Michael J. Gurfinkel | April 4, 2010 - 12:00am

In an unpublished, but very helpful case, the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) in Washington D.C. ruled that US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) was wrong in revoking a fiancée visa petition...

Opinion

No fraud committed by victim of 'ghost bride' scam

By IMMIGRATION CORNER | By Michael J. Gurfinkel | March 29, 2009 - 12:00am

Some time ago, I wrote an article about a new scam, where aliens were promised work authorization by unscrupulous immigration consultants, only to later find out that the consultant had filed papers with the US Citizenship...

Opinion

Planning to migrate to the US? Read this.

By Ricky Lo | August 8, 2006 - 12:00am

With movies few and far-between and local television crowded with talents scrambling over one another for a role, Filipino artists have been turning abroad for greener pastures – you know, for better...

Entertainment

When can a person change employers without having to start over?

By IMMIGRATION CORNER | By Michael J. Gurfinkel | April 9, 2006 - 12:00am

Q: Many people have been sponsored for green cards by employers through a process called Labor Certification. Their cases may have been filed years ago, and during the time they were being processed, the aliens...

Opinion

Department of Consumer Affairs issues advisory on immigration consultants

By IMMIGRATION CORNER | By Michael J. Gurfinkel | March 6, 2005 - 12:00am

The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs has issued an "infor-mation sheet" about immigration consultants in order to warn, educate, and advise the public about the limitations of the services...

Opinion

Department of Consumer Affairs issues advisory on immigration consultants

By IMMIGRATION CORNER | By Michael J. Gurfinkel | March 6, 2005 - 12:00am

The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs has issued an "infor-mation sheet" about immigration consultants in order to warn, educate, and advise the public about the limitations of the services...

Opinion