posted on August 30, 2014 by

Bicontinental Love

Bicontinental LoveIt has been said that love knows no bounds. In this day and age of modern technology, it has become increasingly clear that love does not recognize geographical boundaries either. With more couples meeting online through dating websites, Facebook, Skype, and numerous other social sites, the number of people falling in love and maintaining international long-distance relationships is growing. Though miles and even oceans may physically separate you, do not let the mountain of paperwork required for a Petition for Alien Fiance(e), or Form-I129F, keep you apart.

Brownstein and Nguyen are experienced immigration lawyers in Atlanta. With over twenty years practicing immigration law, we have helped bring countless families and loved ones together. We have assisted with family immigration (green cards), visas for spouses and minor children, removal hearings, and citizenship and naturalization processes. We realize how crucial following all the necessary procedures and legal guidelines is, and we give each client the utmost attention as we know that family immigration is deeply personal.

While it is possible to complete the required paperwork to guide a Form-I129F through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services without the help of a lawyer, having legal expertise and experience on your side can be important. Often, mistakes made on the initial application or later in the process can be very difficult to overcome. We advise clients of the best legal avenue for their particular circumstances and assist in properly completing the correct application and submitting subsequent evidence, if necessary, so a petition has the best possible chance of being approved without additional delay or problems. With the specific requirements and potentially tricky legal issues that can be involved in a fiancee visa, it is important to consult with an experienced immigration attorney familiar with the procedures, timelines and legal requirements associated with this type of visa.

Contact Brownstein and Nguyen for a consultation today. We will gladly assist you in your pursuit of bringing your fiance(e) to the United States so that you can begin your life of happily ever after – sooner rather than later.

Filed Under: All Postings, Immigration
posted on August 26, 2014 by

Georgia’s Bill of Rights for Nursing Home Residents

Georgia has numerous laws designed to protect the elderly, many of which are little known. One such law is the “Bill of Rights for Residents of Long Term Care Facilities” (Patient Bill of Rights) found at Official Code of Georgia Annotated, Section 31-8-100 et seq.

The Patient Bill of Rights was designed to guarantee certain rights of elderly patients in long-term care facilities and nursing homes. This population is especially at risk, as many of them are isolated and unable to protect themselves. Specifically, the law seeks to “preserve the dignity and personal integrity of residents of long-term care facilities through the recognition and declaration of rights safeguarding against encroachments upon each resident’s need for self-determination.” Nursing home owners, administrators and operators who violate patient rights face civil penalties as well as legal action for damages suffered by patients, their heirs and legal representatives.

The law enumerates the following specific rights:

  • Right to Notification of Rights, § 31–8–104 (right to receive notice of patient rights)
  • Right to Certain Information, § 31–8–106 (right to rate information, statement of charges, administrator information, and written policies and procedures)
  • Right to Nondiscriminatory Admission, § 31–8–107 (right to admission regardless of medical history or condition, unless facility cannot provide adequate care, treatment or services)
  • Right to Care, Treatment, and Services, § 31–8–108 (right to appropriate care, treatment and services)
  • Right to Freedom from Restraints, Isolation, or Restriction, § 31–8–109 (no restraints, restrictions or isolation unless necessary for safety of patient or others)
  • Rights Relative to Pharmaceuticals, § 31–8–110 (right to choose pharmacy, pharmacist)
  • Rights of Citizenship, § 31–8–111 (ability to exercise rights of citizenship including voting and freedom of religion, association and participation)
  • Right to Personal Choice, § 31–8–112 (right to decide sleeping hours, consumption of alcohol and tobacco)
  • Right to Personal Property, § 31–8–113 (right to keep money and personal belongings in private room or secured location)
  • Right to Privacy, § 31–8–114 (right to privacy within room, during personal visits, in third party communications, and during medical care)
  • Right to Fiscal Management, § 31–8–115 (right of patient or personal representative to manage financial affairs and handling of patient funds)
  • Rights Relating to Transfer or Discharge, § 31–8–116 (no involuntary transfers except under specified conditions)
  • Requirements for Temporary Suspension of Rights, § 31–8–117 (no suspension of rights except the right to refuse medical care or consume alcohol or tobacco with doctor’s certification)
  • Right to Pursue Interest; Conflicting Rights; Right to Voice Complaints and Make Recommendations, § 31–8–118 (no reprisal for pursuit of patient rights or making complaints)
  • Coerced Contributions from Family Prohibited; Use of and Receipt for Contributions, § 31–8–119 (restrictions on soliciting financial contributions from patient families)
  • Access to Facility, § 31–8–120 (visitation rights)
  • Residents’ Councils, § 31–8–121 (right to form and participate in residents’ counsel)

Bill of RightsPatients, their families and legal representatives may bring an action in court to enforce these rights. They may also pursue a claim for damages against the facility or administrator. Certain violations can give rise to claims of medical malpractice, such as cases involving inadequate medical care, denial of proper care or treatment, denial of nutrition, abuse and neglect. Unfortunately, such violations occur all too often in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, which are typically operated as for-profit businesses. Pressure to reduce overhead and expenses can directly lead to understaffing, inadequate training and education, and lack of proper procedures, in turn resulting in poor patient care.

If you believe a loved one’s rights have been violated, or a loved one has been injured in a long-term care facility or nursing home, contact the nursing home abuse and medical malpractice attorneys at Brownstein & Nguyen. We know the law, and fight for the rights of elder patients.

Image courtesy of the National Archives

Filed Under: All Postings, Elder Care/Malpractice, Featured
posted on August 19, 2014 by

Employment Contracts

Proactive small business owners understand that it is wise to legally protect themselves and their businesses. One way to do this is through the use of employment contracts or employment agreements with key personnel. These documents allow for clear expectations on both the employee and employer, including the term and scope of employment, expected duties, compensation, and other key terms. Increasingly, businesses are including confidentiality, non-compete or non-solicitation agreements in their employment contracts.

Business AgreementsWhat does this mean for employers?

Confidentiality and non-compete agreements are common in the business world, as they provide protection for businesses that expend considerable effort and resources in growing a customer, client or patient base and building goodwill. No business owner relishes the idea of developing a direct competitor from within. As a result, businesses desiring to protect trade secrets, maintain ownership of intellectual property, and avoid competition from within their own ranks often use confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements. The contracts must clearly and carefully define the limitations on employees both during the employment period and afterward, and must also comply with applicable law and specific statutory guidelines (in Georgia and other states). Accordingly, the agreements should be prepared and reviewed by business attorneys experienced in this area of law.

What does this mean for employees?

An employee should carefully read any confidentiality and non-compete agreement she is asked to sign, whether before or after the employment relationship has begun, and should also seek legal advice about the scope and legality of the agreement. Intellectual property can be a particularly sticky area. Take the example of the 2012 Domino’s case involving the company’s former Director of E-Commerce, James Vitek. During Vitek’s employment, he was asked to sign a non-compete agreement that, among other things, would have transferred all of his work and inventions to Dominos, including anything created on Vitek’s own time and having nothing to do with his work for Dominos. When Vitek refused to sign, he was terminated and he sued the company over stock options and other benefits. Perhaps litigation could have been avoided through careful negotiation seeking to appropriately modify the employment agreement by carving out inventions and work having nothing to do with Dominos or its business?

Whether an employee or an employer, it is helpful to know that business and employment contracts are in place to make expectations clear from the start. If you are a small business owner, and would like assistance from knowledgeable and experienced Atlanta business law attorneys, do not hesitate to contact Brownstein & Nguyen. Our experience as business litigation lawyers in Atlanta provides us with invaluable insights and unique perspectives to draw upon when advising clients regarding employment and other business agreements.

Filed Under: All Postings, General News
posted on August 15, 2014 by

Distracted Driving is Deadly

The numbers are sobering – 3,328 fatalities were link to distracted driving in 2012. That same year, over 421,000 people were injured in automobile accidents involving a distracted driver. While these numbers reflect nationwide data, take a look at Georgia. In 2006, over 130,000 injuries occurred on Georgia roadways. With these numbers, it is likely that you or someone you know has dealt with a traumatic event related to a car accident. It is important to be aware of your legal rights should you or someone you know be involved in an automotive accident. Brownstein & Nguyen’s Atlanta personal injury attorneys are experienced in handling cases involving automobile accidents and distracted driving.

Distracted Driving

Even if you are a careful driver, an automobile wreck can occur due to the negligent driving of another. Negligence can be caused by distractions that occur visually, mentally, or physically. A visual distraction can take a driver’s eyes off of the road. A mental distraction can cause a driver’s mind to be elsewhere. Physical distractions involve anything that could cause a driver to take their hands off of the steering wheel.

Some common driving distractions include:

  • Adjusting music
  • Watching a video
  • Using GPS or reading maps
  • Self grooming (including applying make-up and fixing hair)
  • Eating or drinking
  • Talking to passengers
  • Texting
  • Phone use

Sometimes, distractions are avoidable but accidents still happen. No matter how cautious a driver you are, driving on the roadways involves a certain risk that other drivers are not equally as cautious. Unfortunately, distracted drivers are incapable of giving their full attention to all the necessary details of driving including traffic, road conditions, traffic signals, obstructions and unexpected events. In some cases, such as texting, all three distractions occur simultaneously as texting involves a simultaneous cognitive, manual and visual process.

Atlanta personal injury lawyers Brownstein & Nguyen offer expert legal help in situations involving vehicle or truck wrecks and distracted driving. Contact us for more information regarding the next steps to take should you be involved in a distracted driving accident.

Filed Under: All Postings, General News, Personal Injury
posted on August 8, 2014 by

Have You Suffered From Investment Fraud?

A search for synonyms for the noun fraud returns myriad results including cheating, swindling, embezzlement, deceit, deception, double-dealing and chicanery. Unfortunately, these terms are too often associated with financial investments that turn out far different than investors originally expected or hoped. So long as there is profit to be gained through unscrupulous and illegal investment activities, investment and securities fraud will always post a threat to countless individuals and institutions. Investment Fraud

By definition, investment fraud is “the illegal activity of providing false information to someone so that they will invest in something.”  But investor or securities fraud comes in many shapes and varieties. Misrepresentations may be made in writing, such as through a prospectus, offering memorandum, or other investment documents. Misrepresentations may also be made through written or verbal communications such as emails, correspondence and presentations. Typically, misrepresentations are made by an issuer or agent (such as a dealer-broker) of the target investment. However, fraud may also be committed by business partners or principals of a business.

In addition to traditional fraud and misrepresentation, there are other categories of investor fraud claims such as brokers-dealers claims for unsuitability (recommending or selling unsuitable investments to clients), churning (excessive selling-buying within a brokerage account to generate commissions), unauthorized trading, breach of fiduciary duty, and other claims. Then there are fraudulent investments such as Ponzi schemes, where investors are promised or even shown investment returns that don’t actually exist but instead are paid by new investor money. Ultimately, these houses of cards always collapse leaving investors out in the cold.

There is always a degree of risk involved in financial investments. However, when investment fraud occurs and investors are given false or misleading information before investing, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to accurately gauge the risk and make an informed investment decision. As a result, losses occur – sometimes catastrophic losses – and stunned investors are left wondering what to do. Fortunately, Atlanta attorneys Brownstein and Nguyen are experienced in investment and securities fraud litigation.

They have successfully represented and reclaimed funds for clients involved in real estate, start-up investing, and broker/dealer investment fraud. With stories in the news regarding misrepresentation in investments involving stocks, hedge funds, and precious metals, there are sure to be more individuals out there who have suffered financial loss as a result of an investment fraud.

If you believe that you or someone you know has suffered financial loss as a result of fraud or misrepresentation in an investment, contact Brownstein and Nguyen in Atlanta. However, don’t delay as the law imposes strict time deadlines on investor claims and lawsuits.

Filed Under: All Postings, Featured, General News
posted on July 31, 2014 by

Green Cards and Family Immigration

While family structures vary from one family to another, the word family is synonymous with togetherness. This is especially true when it comes to immigration and what it means to be together as a family in the United States of America. Brownstein & Nguyen, Atlanta Georgia immigration lawyers, have experience working with thousands of families over the years to help them bring them together in our great country.

Visas and Green CardsUnited States citizens and permanent legal residents can petition for a green card for various family members. A United States citizen can also able to sponsor a spouse, child, parent, or sibling, while a permanent legal resident is able to petition for a spouse or child. When petitioning for a family member to be granted a green card, the petitioner is known as the “sponsor” and the recipient family member is known as the “beneficiary.”

There are many steps involved in filling out and acquiring and providing the government with proper supporting documentation for the Petition for Alien Relative form (Form I-130). The process can be quite involved. While one could attempt to complete the form and apply for a visa or green card without a lawyer’s assistance, hiring an experienced immigration attorney may make all of the difference in the world. When filing a petition, it may be approved or denied. If approved, sponsored relatives must know and precisely follow the steps required to complete the processing of their visa. An experienced immigration lawyer will provide guidance in these next steps. Additionally, if a petition should be denied, the appeal process is familiar for experienced immigration lawyers.

If you are considering sponsoring a spouse, child, parent, or sibling, contact Atlanta immigration lawyers Brownstein & Nguyen. When it comes to something as important as family immigration and togetherness, it is okay to lean on experts. Brownstein & Nguyen is  qualified and experienced in navigating the legal landscape of sponsoring a family member for a green card. Contact Brownstein & Nguyen for a free consultation. With over 20 years of experience, our track record speaks for itself.

Filed Under: All Postings, Featured, General News, Immigration, Immigration Law
posted on July 17, 2014 by

Do I Have A Case?

Personal injury cases occur in a wide variety of situations and legal categories, including automobile and truck wrecks, medical malpractice, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, premises liability, nursing home abuse and neglect, and products liability. With such a large range of cases fitting under the umbrella of personal injury, potentially implicating different laws and standards, it can be extremely difficult to determine if one has a viable case. However, this is often the question negligence victims and their families face in unfortunate, unexpected and sometimes heartbreaking situations.

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With each personal injury case and set of circumstances being uniquely different, it is important to have a competent lawyer review the matter to determine if there is a case. An experienced personal injury lawyer will gather, review and analyze the facts and relevant law to determine whether or not there is cause of action or remedy for the injured party or family. While the details are specific to each situation, there are three basic questions that generally should be considered in reviewing a potential personal injury claim.

Did negligence occur?

An experienced lawyer will look at all facts involved in a potential personal injury case to determine whether or not a mistake or what the law calls “negligence” occurred. Given the multitude of situations potentially giving rise to a legal injury claim, there are many variables and factors that must be reviewed to determine if the responsible party may be held legally liable for a negligent act. Those factors can be very different from one case to another. For example, a determination of negligence in a premises liability case involving a slip and fall depends upon superior knowledge of the landowner or proprietor of a hazardous condition that caused the injury. On the other hand, the standard of care to determine liability in a nursing home abuse or malpractice situation is generally that same care which other healthcare providers would have provided under similar circumstances, as determined by an appropriate medical professional. These tests and the resulting analyses of liability in a particular case are dramatically different.

Did the negligence directly cause a personal injury?

Assuming a mistake or negligent act occurred, the next inquiry is whether that mistake directly caused or contributed to the victim’s injury. While seemingly commonsense, this question can be quite tricky legally, and the analysis will be quite different from case to case. For example, in a situation of nursing home abuse and negligent care resulting in infected bedsores, one must prove that the bedsores and resulting infection and damages were directly caused by a lack of proper patient and skin care, and not some other source (such as a person’s pre-existing health conditions or infection resulting from a pathogen). Or in a premises liability case involving negligent security, a question to be asked and answered might be whether the landlord’s failure to provide adequate security was the legal cause of the client’s injuries, or whether a criminal act or some other event was the direct cause of injury. Again, an experienced personal injury lawyer can properly assess legal causation issues that could affect a case.

Do the injuries warrant a legal case?

While injuries can vary from incident to incident, in general the severity or permanence of the injury may dictate whether a legal claim or lawsuit can be economically pursued. Some cases, such as wrongful death, are generally presumed to have significant damages that are sufficient to warrant prosecution of an expensive, time and resource-consuming case such as a medical malpractice lawsuit against a doctor or hospital. But what about an automobile wreck where the victim had low back pain that soon resolved with conservative treatment such as physical therapy and resulted in relatively small medical bills. Does that situation warrant taking a case to trial where the jury or judge might award medical bills and perhaps only a little more for pain and suffering? On the other hand, a motor vehicle collision resulting in broken bones, brain trauma or internal injuries could have very significant damages making it economically feasible to litigate and try a case with problematic or weak liability. Properly and realistically evaluating damages (based on the lawyer’s experience and knowledge) is an important aspect of the overall assessment of any personal injury case.

No matter the situation, if a personal injury occurred, it is essential for an experienced personal injury lawyer to consider the facts and evidence involved. The trial attorneys at Brownstein and Nguyen have decades of experience consulting with injury victims and successfully handling personal injury cases in Atlanta and throughout Georgia. If you or a loved one has suffered a personal injury – no matter how severe – and would like to find out if you have a case, contact Brownstein and Nguyen. Personal injury consultations are always free.

Filed Under: All Postings, Featured, Personal Injury
posted on July 14, 2014 by

Keys to Success in Starting Your Own Business In Atlanta

You’ve worked hard pursuing your dream of owning your own business. But you may not see potential legal pitfalls that could sidetrack or completely derail your new venture. That is to be expected, since you likely do not have the legal training or experience necessary to recognize legal issues affecting a particular business. At Brownstein and Nguyen, we specialize in business law and business litigation. We have over 25 years of experience working with small business owners and have seen first-hand the benefits of anticipating and proactively addressing legal issues upfront. Unfortunately, we have also seen the consequences of failing to setup a business with appropriate legal measures in place.

Keys to SuccessThere are four key questions that every small business owner should absolutely know the answers to. This may mean a little more work up front. But expending the time and effort in the beginning is a small price to pay, compared to the headaches and pain you will avoid in the future.

Are my documents in order?

Whether running a brick and mortar or virtual business, it is critical that all necessary licenses, applications, and agreements are properly completed, in place and complied with. Depending on the business, this could include entering into a business lease agreement; applying for all necessary city, county and state licenses; compliance with zoning, labor, tax and other local or state regulations; and registration of business documents.

How should I set up my business?

It is important to clearly define whether you are going into business as an individual or with partners, and consequently what legal business model best suits your needs. There is no “one size fits all” model for starting a business, and our lawyers at Brownstein and Nguyen can help determine if your business would be best established as a sole proprietorship, corporation, limited liability company (LLC), or partnership. Regardless of the entity form, it is imperative that all necessary incorporation or other establishment documents and agreements be prepared and executed by all necessary parties.

What about employees?

If you will be employing individuals, it is important to make sure that employment policies and manuals and, if applicable, employment agreements, be properly setup or reviewed. As with any business agreement, terms and expectations of employees must be clearly defined and communicated to employees. In addition, a business must comply with all state and federal employment regulations including employee classification and compensation (wage and hour laws), payroll filings, unemployment laws, etc.

What if our business needs to end?

Many business owners choose to dissolve their business for various reasons. Whether a change in the economy, the sale of a company, or a change of direction, it is important that an agreement be worked out in advance. Consider making sure that your legal documentation covers upfront the “what ifs” of business closure or dissolution.

If you are planning to start a business in Atlanta or Georgia, or already own a small business and want to make sure that you are legally covered, contact Brownstein and Nguyen for a consultation. You will receive the benefit of our years of experience, legal knowledge and practical advice to help your business avoid common legal mistakes.

Filed Under: Featured, General News
posted on July 3, 2014 by

Personal Injury Myths

Lawyer and attorney jokes are commonplace. Contrary to popular belief, most lawyers do have a sense of humor. However, many jokes and the underlying public’s negative perceptions serve to perpetuate damaging myths about personal injury lawyers and cases that are simply not true. For our civil justice system to work for everyone, it is important that the public be well-informed. So, we would like to take a moment to address a few common myths that we hear.

Dishonest Lawyer-Not at Brownstein and Nguyen

1. Personal injury lawyers are ambulance chasers

Not all lawyers are the same. Some spend enormous amounts of money on advertising, whether on television, buses, or the internet. Unfortunately, some ads are tasteful while others are not. Although advertising is legal, paying a non-lawyer a referral fee for a case is not. Unfortunately, there are lawyers who use runners and similar unlawful schemes to obtain clients. The majority of competent, highly-skilled lawyers – the kind you would want handling your case – must rely primarily on their reputation, experience and personal referrals to maintain their practices. At Brownstein & Nguyen, we have over 25 years of experience representing plaintiffs and personal injury clients. Our clients come to us from attorney and other referrals based on our reputation and results. We pride ourselves in our ethics and professionalism, and never engage in dishonest or improper means in obtaining clients.

2. Personal injury lawyers are only interested in making money

Our founding attorneys have built our practice around just a few areas of law, including personal injury law. While a law practice is a business, our case selection decisions are not based solely on economics. We don’t take on every case. However, many of the personal injury cases we do take for well-deserving clients are risky and difficult, and have often been rejected by other lawyers. We take on these cases because our primary objective and priority is helping people whose lives have been disrupted, sometimes even shattered, as a result of an automobile accident, medical malpractice, or other injury. Our goal is to make sure that our clients will be taken care of financially in order to help piece together their lives after a tragic event.

3. If my injuries are minor, I do not need a personal injury lawyer

Even seemingly minor injuries may necessitate hiring an attorney. Many times, an auto accident may not seem major; perhaps it looks like just a fender bender. However, if a car has sustained damage, there’s a good chance that the persons involved may have experienced an injury, as well. This is because of physics and the forces involved in collisions between steel objects weighing several thousand pounds and movable human objects inside of them. Often, muscle and other soft-tissue strains, sprains or soreness are not felt until several days after a collision. Even more serious injuries may not be discovered until days, weeks or even months later. If you or a loved one is in a truck or car wreck, you should first and foremost seek medical treatment for your injuries, without delay.

4. Personal injury lawyers are dishonest and can’t be trusted

Reputable lawyers play by the rules, not only in how they obtain clients but also in how they handle cases. Lawyers are bound by strict professional rules of ethics and are subject to harsh discipline, including suspension or even disbarment, for violating those rules. Lawyers are also considered officers of the court and owe duties of candor and honesty to clients, parties, opposing counsel, and the courts. At Brownstein & Nguyen, we cherish our professional reputation as honest and ethical attorneys , and would never do anything to damage our reputation as premier personal injury lawyers in Atlanta. We tell clients the hard truths about their cases; we are professional and respectful in our dealings with opposing parties and counsel; and we use facts and evidence to aggressively and honestly represent our clients and uphold the truth. We win cases, the right way.

If you or someone you know has experienced a personal injury due to an automobile or trucking accident, medical malpractice, elder abuse or other negligence and would like a free consultation, contact Brownstein and Nguyen personal injury attorneys in Atlanta. With our years of expertise, our reputation, and our willingness to represent the injured and needy in tough cases, we promise you will receive the attention and high caliber legal representation you deserve.

Filed Under: All Postings, General News, Personal Injury
posted on June 25, 2014 by

The Race Against the Clock for Immigrant Children

Time Waiting for ImmigrationImagine that a high school senior has put in all the time and effort to make it to graduation. Years of hard work have put the star student on track for graduation with honors and a full scholarship to the college of his choice. Everything progresses toward the exciting conclusion of this chapter in this young man’s life…until the day he is called into the principal’s office and told he could not graduate. He is at a loss for words and understanding. How could this happen? The principal explains that he cannot graduate because the final assignment for his senior English language arts class was not graded and reported. But it is not that he failed to turn in the assignment on time or that his work was not good; in fact, he turned it in early and it was outstanding. The problem is that his teacher simply did not get through the stack of essays she had to grade in time to meet the graduation deadline. As a result, the senior’s work is deemed incomplete and he is forced to start the year all over.

Fortunately, the above is just an illustrative scenario and not a real life example. It is cut and dried as to where the fault lies – the student suffered as a result of the actions of others. It seems inherently unfair and unjust. But justice and fairness are notions frequently involved in the debate over the interpretation of laws, where the decisions of the few affect the many.

Similar to the scenario above, there is a real-life situation unfolding in immigration law that potentially could affect thousands of young immigrants with their whole lives ahead of them. They have submitted the proper paperwork and waited in line for their “graduation” or in this case, the granting of their very own visa. They, too, are in a race against the clock. But instead of counting down the days until graduation, the clock ticks until until age 21 when they will “age out” of the visa line they are waiting in.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently handed down its decision in Scialabba v. Cuellar de Osorio, a case involving minor children included as dependent beneficiaries in their parent’s visa petitions for permanent resident status but who turned 21 before the petitions could be decided by the government. The law at issue, the Child Status Protection Act, was passed by Congress in 2002 to protect immigrant children from the harsh consequences of “aging out” (or no longer being considered a child) and thus being denied immigrant benefits when their parents finally obtain visas. Siding with the government, the Supreme Court’s interpretation of a specific provision of the CSPA means that minor children of immigrant petitioners who age out before their parents can obtain visas will no longer receive the “priority date” given their parents, but instead must go to the back of the line and wait all over again for visas to become available. In other words, immigrant children will get no credit for the time (often many years) their parents spent waiting for visa petitions to be processed.

The above case highlights just one example of how complex, challenging and daunting navigating immigration law can be. If you or someone you know is facing a potentially life-changing immigration issue or problem, we’re here to help. With over twenty years of experience in immigration law in the Atlanta, Georgia area, the attorneys at Brownstein Nguyen are more than equipped to guide you through the legal process – whether you are seeking a visa, appealing a denial, adjusting status, or defending a removal or deportation case brought by the government. Please contact us for an immigration law consultation today.

Also, don’t forget to follow Brownstein and Nguyen on Facebook, Twitter, and Google + for other news and information regarding immigration.

Filed Under: All Postings, Featured, Immigration, Immigration Law
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