IMMIGRATION to America has not seen a boom of such great proportions as in the last 40 years. In the past decade alone, immigrant arrivals surged to one million per year. People have come from distant shores to the country known as “The Land of Milk and Honey,” seeking greater freedom and an opportunity for better life.

Filipinos are among the largest immigrant communities in the United States. To date, there are close to two million Filipinos who have called America their home. The Morelos family is a recent addition to the growing Filipino immigrant population in the U.S. that has played a huge part in nation building.

Settling in America was the most natural thing to do for couple Jose Mari and Lilibeth. Benefiting from a family petition by his uncle, Jose Mari became a permanent resident of the United States in 1990, at the height of his romance with future wife, Lilibeth.

The pair tied the knot not long after the green card came. While waiting for the approval of his application for U.S. citizenship, Jose Mari filed an I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) on behalf of his wife and their children, ten-year old Jeffrey and seven-year old twins, Jerome and Jerard.

Jose Mari could have done the filings himself, but he is a busy man who is preoccupied with work and family so he decided to let Atty. James Beirne do the legwork. “Immigration procedures could be complicated and stressful, especially if your are doing it yourself. With the Asian American Legal Center taking care of everything for our family, the otherwise tedious process became quick and easy,” said the couple.

Atty. Beirne and his staff closely monitored and worked on the case of the Morelos family. As soon as Jose Mari became a U.S. citizen, they immediately upgraded the petition for his wife and kids, shortening the processing time from an agonizing five years to just a few months. “Our petition was converted to an Immediate Relative Petition by a naturalized citizen and we got our green card six months later,” Lilibeth attested.

The case of the Morelos family once again demonstrates the benefits of hiring a lawyer to take care of your immigration concerns. For over a decade, the Law Offices of Atty. James Beirne has spared many individuals and families of the hassles and heartbreaks of going through the winding and bumpy road of immigration.

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. "Given the post-immigration era of September 11, it is very important that you hire an attorney to deal with the INS for you especially now that they are stricter with everyone from tourists to students to immigrants applying for citizenship," the lawyer noted.

Anytime a client feels that he has a weak case, it would be wise to use the services of a lawyer who is knowledgeable of all the rules, regulations and practices governing immigration. Lawyers get the latest feedback on amendments in immigration laws or changes in the interpretation of existing laws. They would know how to deal with any type of case.

According to Atty. Beirne, after the 9/11 attacks, it has become more difficult for a foreigner to obtain working or student visas, extend their trip in the US or at least get a visa to enter the country, as each case goes through stringent review. Simple procedures like applying for an extension may now need special approach that only a professional can do. A lawyer can come up with the right words and crucial documentation to convince the authorities to act in favor of the applicant.

The Law Offices of James G. Beirne offer 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 AALC was established over a decade ago, Atty. Beirne has made the American dream come true for many Asians and reunited countless families.

The law center has 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. The law office upholds honesty and upfrontness. They do not give false hopes, keeping in mind that clients would 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).