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Philip Levin & Associates

Immigration Law

800-974-2691       
  • Home
  • Practice Areas
    • Hearings & Appeals
    • Deportation, Removal & Asylum
    • Family Immigration
    • Marriage
    • Employment Visas
    • H-1B Visas
    • E-1 & E-2 Visas
    • Labor Certifications
    • I-9/Worksite Enforcement
  • Attorneys
    • Philip M. Levin, Managing Partner
    • Don L. Pangilinan, Associate
    • Saja A. Raoof, Of Counsel
    • Alec P. Wilczynski, Of Counsel
    • Scott A. Wilkinson, Associate
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

EOIR Director Holds That The Assistant Director For Policy Has The Discretion To Extend The Deadline For A Request For Reconsideration Made Per 8 C.F.R. §1292.13(e), But Not For A Request For Reconsideration Made Per 8 C.F.R. §1292.16(f) Or §1292.17(d). The 30-Day Deadline For A Request For Reconsideration In 8 C.F.R. §§121292.12(e),1292.16(f), And 1292.17(d) Is Otherwise Mandatory And Not Subject To Equitable Tolling. A Request For Reconsideration Per 8 C.F.R. §§ 1292.13(e), 1292.16(f), Or 1292.17(d) Must Demonstrate An Error Of Fact Or Law In The Previous Decision. The Standard Of Review For Administrative Reviews Conducted Under 8 C.F.R. §1292.18 Is De Novo. Unless Overruled By Subsequent Precedent Or Superceded By Statute, Regulation, Or Binding Federal Court Decision, Prior Precedent Decisions Of The BIA Remain Binding In Recognition And Accreditation Proceedings After January 18, 2017, Including Consideration Of Requests For Reconsideration Per §§1292.13(e), 1292.16(f), or 1292.17(d) And Administrative Review Conducted Under § 1292.18. In Addition To Establishing The Requirements For Partial Accreditation, An Organization Seeking Full Accreditation For An Individual Per 8 C.F.R. §1292.12(a)(6) Must Establish That The Individual Possesses “Skills Essential For Effective Litigation.” Such Skills Include, At A Minimum, “The Ability To Advocate A Client’s Position At A Hearing Before An Immigration Judge By Presenting Documentary Evidence And Questioning Witnesses, To Present Oral Arguments Before The Board, And To Prepare Motions And Briefs For Consideration By An Immigration Judge And/Or [The] Board.” Matter Of EAC, Inc., 24 I&N Dec. 556 (BIA 2008), Followed.

July 15, 2020 Philip Levin

On May 22, 2020, Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) Director James R. McHenry (Director), following up on a Policy Memorandum he published October 2, 2019 (PM 20-02), issued a… CONTINUE

Filed Under: BIA, Blog

BIA Holds That The Absence Of A Checked Alien Classification Box On A Notice To Appear (NTA) Does Not, By Itself, Render The NTA Fatally Deficient Or Otherwise Preclude An Immigration Judge From Exercising Jurisdiction Over Removal Proceedings And It Is Therefore Not A Basis To Terminate The Proceedings Of A Respondent Who Has Been Returned To Mexico Under The Migrant Protection Protocols. Matter of J.J. Rodriguez, 27 I&N Dec. 762 (BIA 2020), Followed.

June 29, 2020 Philip Levin

On May 8, 2020, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA or Board), in a case where the respondent was pro se, and supplemental briefs were received from DHS and amici… CONTINUE

Filed Under: BIA, Blog, Mexico

For Purposes Of Determining Whether A Respondent Is Subject To The Firm Resettlement Bar To Asylum, A Viable And Available Offer To Apply For Permanent Residence In A Country Of Refuge Is Not Negated By One’s Unwillingness Or Reluctance To Satisfy The Terms For Acceptance.

June 29, 2020 Philip Levin

On April 10, 2020, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA or Board) dismissed the appeal of a Haitian citizen whose applications for asylum and withholding of removal had been denied… CONTINUE

Filed Under: BIA, Blog

BIA Holds That Immigration Judge Properly Determined That Respondent Was A Flight Risk And Denied His Request For A Custody Redetermination Where, Although His Asylum Application Was Pending, He Had No Family, Employment Or Community Ties And No Probable Path To Obtain Lawful Status So As To Warrant His Release On Bond.

May 12, 2020 Philip Levin

On March 18, 2020, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA or Board) dismissed Respondent’s appeal of the Immigration Judge (IJ’s) denial of his request to be released on bond. Respondent,… CONTINUE

Filed Under: BIA, Blog, Removal

BIA Holds That An Interpol Red Notice May Constitute Reliable Evidence Indicating That The Serious Nonpolitical Crime Bar To Asylum And Withholding Of Removal Applies To An Applicant. Here, Respondent’s Violation Of Article 345 Of The Salvadoran Penal Code, Which Procribes Participation In An Illicit Organization Whose Purpose Is The Commission Of Crimes, Was “Serious” Within The Meaning Of The Nonpolitical Crime Bar.

May 12, 2020 Philip Levin

On March 6, 2020, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA or Board) dismissed the appeal of an applicant whose requests for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention… CONTINUE

Filed Under: BIA, Blog

Attorney General Holds That BIA Should Consider De Novo The Application Of Law To The Facts Of This Case, Including Whether The Deprivation That Respondent Would Be Likely To Encounter Upon Removal To Mexico Would Constitute “Torture” Within The Meaning Of The Department Of Justice Regulations Implementing The Convention Against Torture (CAT). To Constitute “Torture” Under These Regulations, An Act Must, Among Other Things, Be Specifically Intended To Inflict Severe Physical Or Mental Pain Or Suffering. 8 C.F.R. §1208.18(a)(5). Additionally, Torture Does Not Cover Negligent Acts Or Harm Stemming From A Lack Of Resources. To Constitute “Torture”, An Act Must Also Be Motivated By Such Purposes As Obtaining From Him Or Her Or A Third Person Information Or A Confession, Punishing Him Or Her For An Act He Or She Or A Third Person Has Committed Or Is Suspected Of Having Committed, Or Intimidating Or Coercing Him Or Her Or A Third Person, Or For Any Reason Based On Discrimination Of Any Kind.

May 12, 2020 Philip Levin

On February 26, 2020, U.S. Attorney General (AG) William Barr directed the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA or Board) to refer the instant case to him for review of its… CONTINUE

Filed Under: Appeal, Attorney General, BIA, Blog, Mexico

BIA Holds That An Asylum Applicant’s Status As A Landowner Does Not Automatically Render Him Or Her A Member Of A Particular Social Group For Purposes Of Asylum And Withholding Of Removal. To Establish A Particular Social Group Based On Landownership, One Must Demonstrate By Evidence In The Record That Members Of The Proposed Group Share An Immutable Characteristic And That The Group Is Defined With Particularity And Is Perceived To Be Socially District In The Society In Question. The Respondent’s Proposed Particular Social Groups – Comprised Of Landowners And Landowners Who Resist Drug Cartels In Guatemala – Are Not Valid Based On The Evidence Of Record.

May 12, 2020 Philip Levin

On February 10, 2020, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA or Board) dismissed the appeal of a Guatemalan native whose applications for asylum, withholding of removal and CAT relief were… CONTINUE

Filed Under: Appeal, BIA, Blog, Cancellation of Removal, Court of Appeals

BIA Holds That Where DHS Returns An Applicant To Mexico To Await An Immigration Hearing Pursuant To The Migrant Protection Protocols And Provides Him Or Her With Sufficient Notice Of The Hearing, An Immigration Judge Should Enter An In Absentia Order Of Removal If The Applicant Fails To Appear.

May 12, 2020 Philip Levin

On January 31, 2020, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA or Board) sustained a DHS appeal, reinstated removal proceedings, and remanded the record for further proceedings. Respondent had applied for… CONTINUE

Filed Under: BIA, Blog

BIA Holds That, In Assessing Whether To Grant An Applicant’s Request For A Continuance Regarding AN Application For Collateral Relief, The Applicant’s Prima Facie Eligibility For Relief And Whether It Will Materially Affect The Outcome Of Proceedings Are Not Dispositive, Especially Where Other Factors – Including The Uncertainty As To When The Relief Will Be Approved Or Become Available – Weigh Against Granting A Continuance.

March 4, 2020 Philip Levin

On January 22, 2020, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA or Board) dismissed the appeal and denied the motion to remand of Respondent, who had been convicted of attempted possession… CONTINUE

Filed Under: BIA, Blog

BIA Holds That A Notice To Appear That Does Not Include The Address Of The Immigration Court Where DHS Will File The Charging Document, Or A Certificate Of Service Indicating The Immigration Court In Which The Charging Document Is Filed, Does Not Deprive The Immigration Court Of Subject Matter Jurisdiction.

March 3, 2020 Philip Levin

On January 9, 2020, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA or Board) sustained the DHS appeal of an order by an Immigration Judge (IJ) terminating removal proceedings based on defective… CONTINUE

Filed Under: BIA, Blog

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Recent Blog Posts

  • BIA HOLDS THAT, WHERE THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL AND PROBATIVE EVIDENCE THAT A BENEFICIARY’S PRIOR MARRIAGE WAS FRAUDULENT AND ENTERED INTO FOR THE PURPOSE OF EVADING IMMIGRATION LAWS, A SUBSEQUENT VISA PETITION FILED ON THE BENEFICIARY’S BEHALF IS PROPERLY DENIED UNDER INA §204(c), EVEN IF THE FIRST VISA PETITION WAS DENIED MERELY BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OF A BONA FIDE MARITAL RELATIONSHIP.
  • BIA HOLDS THAT, WHERE A CRIMINAL CONVICTION IS CHARGED AS A GROUND OF REMOVABILITY OR WAS KNOWN TO THE IMMIGRATION JUDGE AT THE TIME CANCELLATION OF REMOVAL WAS GRANTED UNDER INA §240A(a), THAT CONVICTION CANNOT SERVE AS THE SOLE FACTUAL PREDICATE FOR A CHARGE OF REMOVABILITY IN SUBSEQUENT REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS.
  • BIA Holds That, In Assessing Whether To Admit The Testimony Of A Witness As An Expert, An Immigration Judge Should Consider Whether It Is Sufficiently Relevant And Reliable For The Expert To Offer An Informed Opinion, And If It Is Admitted, The Immigration Judge Should Then Consider How Much Weight The Testimony Should Receive. In Considering How Much Weight To Give An Expert’s Testimony, The Immigration Judge Should Assess How Probative And Persuasive The Testimony Is Regarding Key Issues In Dispute For Which The Testimony Is Being Offered.
  • Attorney General Holds That, In Conducting Its Review Of An Asylum Claim, The BIA Must Examine De Novo Whether The Facts Found By The Immigration Judge Satisfy All Of The Statutory Elements Of Asylum As A Matter Of Law. When Reviewing A Grant Of Asylum, The BIA Should Not Accept The Parties’ Stipulations To, Or Failures To Address, Any Of The Particular Elements Of Asylum Including, Where Necessary, The Elements Of A Particular Social Group. Instead, Unless It Affirms Without Opinion Under 8 C.F.R.§1003.1(e)(4)(i), The Board Should Meaningfully Review Each Element Of An Asylum Claim Before Affirming Such A Grant, Or Before Independently Ordering A Grant Of Asylum. Even If An Applicant Is A Member Of A Cognizable Particular Social Group And Has Suffered Persecution, An Asylum Claim Should Be Denied If The Harm Inflicted Or Threatened By The Persecutor Is Not “On Account Of” The Respondent’s Membership In That Group. That Requirement Is Especially Important To Scrutinize Where The Asserted Particular Social Group Encompasses Many Millions Of Persons In A Particular Society. One’s Membership In A Particular Social Group Cannot Be “Incidental, Tangential, Or Subordinate To The Prosecutor’s Mention…[F]or Why The Persecutor [ ] Sought To Inflict Harm.” Accordingly, Persecution That Results From Personal Animus Or Retribution Generally Does Not Support Eligibility For Asylum.
  • BIA Holds That, After An Immigration Judge Has Set A Firm Deadline For Filing An Application For Relief, A Respondent’s Opportunity To File The Application May Be Deemed Waived Prior To A Scheduled Hearing, If The Deadline Passes Without Submission Of The Application And No Good Cause For Noncompliance Has Been Shown. Respondent Failed To Meet His Burden Of Establishing That He Was Deprived Of A Full And Fair Hearing Where He Has Not Shown That Conducting The Hearing By Video Conference Interfered With His Communication With The Immigration Judge Or Otherwise Prejudiced Him As A Result Of Technical Problems With The Video Equipment.

Practice Areas

  • Family Immigration
  • Marriage
  • Employment Visas
  • H-1B Visas
  • PERM Labor Certification
  • E-1 & E-2 Visas
  • Hearing & Appeals
  • Deportation, Removal, Asylum
  • I-9/Worksite Enforcement

San Francisco Main Office
930 Montgomery Street
Suite 502
San Francisco, CA 94133

Silicon Valley Office
5201 Great America Parkway
Suite 320
Santa Clara, CA 95054

North Bay Office
4040 Civic Center Drive
Suite 200
San Rafael, CA 94903

Santa Barbara Office
3463 State Street
Suite 516
Santa Barbara, CA 93105

Los Angeles Office
445 S. Figueroa Street
Suites 2600 & 2700
Los Angeles, CA 90071

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R-1
TN

The TN nonimmigrant classification allows qualified Canadian and Mexican citizens to enter the U.S. and engage in professional business activities. PL&A will help you navigate through the TN application process by evaluating your eligibility, preparing supporting documentation for your application, and ultimately filing your application. 

B-1

PL&A will guide you through the consular process to receive a B-1 visa for specific short-term business purposes ranging from contract negotiations to seminars and conferences.

O-1

O-1 visas are for persons of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or sports. 

J-1

Administered by the Department of State, the J-1 visa is for students, trainees, academics, researchers, professionals or experts participating in an approved Exchange Visitor program. PL&A will assist you and your sponsor with preparing the necessary paperwork and the consular process so you can begin your program at ease. 

E-1 & E-2

E-1 visas and E-2 visas are for nationals of countries with which the United States has a treaty of friendship, commerce and navigation (FCN) or bilateral investment treaty (BIT). If you are a nonimmigrant trader or investor seeking to conduct business operations or develop a new enterprise in the U.S., we will help you file for the appropriate visa. As a recognized expert in this area, Mr. Levin will provide experienced and dependable assistance with E-1 or E-2 visa applications. 

  • E-1: If you are a national of a country that conducts a significant volume of trade with the U.S. (or if you intend to develop trade between the U.S. and your home country) you might be eligible for entry under an E-1 visa. 
  • E-2: The E-2 visa allows investors from treaty countries to enter the U.S. for purposes of directing and developing a business, with all the commitments and risks implicit in entrepreneurial activity. 
L-1

The L-1 visa category is for executives, managers or professionals employed by foreign affiliates of U.S companies. The L-1 visa is divided into two classifications:

  • L-1A Intracompany Transferee Executive or Manager
  • L-1B Intracompany Transferee Specialized Knowledge
H-1B

Many companies in the United States find themselves increasingly dependent on the talent, experience and energy of foreign national workers in professional, technical or specialized occupational fields. These employees typically enter the U.S. on nonimmigrant H-1B visas for “specialty occupations.” 

With extensive experience in business immigration, you can count on PL&A to guide your company or Human Resources department in preparing and filing an H-1B visa petition.

Green Card

Family preservation and reunification is a priority for our firm. Our attorneys have advised and assisted families from all over the world with entry visas, adjustment of status, and other immigration problems. 

  • Immediate Relatives: If you are the spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. citizen, we can help you obtain a green card through an Immediate Relative petition. 
  • Family-Based Preference: If your relative is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, we can assist you with your green card application through one of the family based preference categories.
Fiances

If you are a U.S. citizen and your fiancé/fiancée or spouse is overseas, our office will assist you to navigate the CIS requirements and regulations to have the case approved and then prepare you and your spouse for the interview at the U.S. Embassy. PL&A will also help you find the best ways to resolve any problems you encounter if a waiver is required in your case.

Marriage

Immigration through marriage is a common means of obtaining permanent residence in the U.S.  Since 1991, Philip Levin & Associates has helped hundreds of couples immigrate to the U.S. and build their lives together. 

  • I-130 Petition and Adjustment of Status: If you are married to a U.S. citizen, present in the U.S. and eligible to do so, our attorneys will assist you in preparing and filing the necessary I-130 petition and I-485 adjustment of status application in the U.S.
  • Immigrant Visa Consular Processing: If you are married to a U.S. citizen and reside abroad, we will assist you in preparing and filing the IV petition with an Embassy or Consulate-General in your native country. 
  • I-751, Remove Conditions on Residence: If you have been married less than two years at the time your green card was initially approved, our office will help you in the joint petition process to become a permanent resident.