BEING separated from a loved one is one of the most heartbreaking experiences that one can go through. Bernard Gumpal has been there, and he vividly remembers the pain of being thousands of miles away from his then girlfriend, Jamcy De Vera.

Bernard and Jamcy were at the peak of their relationship when he became a permanent resident of the United States in 1995, by virtue of a petition filed by his mother, Felicidad. Despite their long distance love affair, Bernard and Jamcy moved on to the next step; the couple tied the knot in December 1998.

Then again, the newlyweds had to part from each other because Bernard had to go back to the U.S. and Jamcy could not go with him just yet. For another two years, the couple endured the agony of being separated from each other; except for the two times that Bernard flew to the Philippines to visit his wife.

“It was very, very hard for us. We have just been married and naturally we wanted to enjoy each other’s company and do so much yet we had to be away from each other. It was sad and frustrating,” Bernard admits.

He could have filed a petition for his wife after they got married, but he decided to wait for his naturalization to avoid complication. In March 2000, as soon as Bernard acquired his American citizenship, he approached Atty. James Beirne for legal advice and assistance.

Atty. Beirne quickly buckled down to work on his case and filed a petition for Jamcy, on behalf of Bernard. The petition was filed with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) that very same month. The lawyer and his staff closely coordinated with Jamcy in the Philippines and taught her how to go about the whole process. “They taught my wife everything—how to handle the interview, what supporting documents to bring, etc.,” Bernard shares.

With constant follow up both with the INS office and the American Embassy in the Philippines, Jamcy was reunited with her husband in less than seven months. Now, Bernard and Jamcy are happily settled in Long Beach, raising their one-year-old daughter Erika, and awaiting the birth of their second child.

Bernard and Jamcy credit Atty. Beirne and his staff for the quick and hassle-free approval of the petition. “The wait could have been one year or more if I did the filing myself. With the Asian American Legal Center taking care of everything, the otherwise complex process became quick and easy,” said the couple.

Bernard was highly satisfied with the services that he recommended the law office to his brother, Roberto, who also wanted to bring his wife and kids to the U.S. “Given the chance, I would definitely recommend Atty. Beirne to any of my friends or relatives who have immigration problems,” declares Bernard.

The Gumpals is just one of the many individuals and families that were spared of the hassles and heartbreaks of going through the winding and bumpy road of immigration, because of the intervention of the Law Offices of James Beirne.

It is important to have an expert handle your case, said Atty. Beirne, especially now that the government is implementing new and tougher immigration laws. "It is very important to hire an attorney to deal with the INS especially now that they are stricter with everyone from tourists to students to immigrants applying for citizenship," the lawyer noted.

Simple procedures like applying for an extension may now need special approach that only a professional can do, according to Atty. Beirne. A lawyer can come up with the right words and crucial documentation to convince the authorities to act in favor of the applicant. With the latest feedback on amendments in immigration laws or changes in the interpretation of existing laws, lawyers are in a better position to deal with any type of case.

The Law Offices of James G. Beirne offers services in immigration, including family, fiancée and employment petitions, inter-company transfers, investor and student visas, veteran petitions, deportation defense, naturalization and visa extensions. With his more than ten years of experience in immigration law, clients can count on Atty. James Beirne to get you through the toughest problems in immigration.

Atty. James G. Beirne is a member of the highly respected American Immigration Lawyers Association, and a licensed and active member of the State Bar of California. Since the Law Office was established over a decade ago, Atty. Beirne has made the American dream come true for many Asians and reunited countless families.

The law offices combined have 22 professional and helpful consultants who are proficient in immigration matters. It offers free initial consultation and can be assured that each case will be treated with strict confidentiality. Honest and upfront, the law office does not give false hopes, keeping in mind that clients want to hear the truth about their cases.

The Law Offices of James G. Beirne are located in Glendale (520 E. Wilson Ave., Ste. 110 & 115, Glendale, CA 91206), Cerritos (17215 Studebaker Rd., Ste. 380, Cerritos, CA 90703) and Riverside (3890 11th Street, Suite 115, Riverside, CA 92501).