Blogs

Five tips to prepare for your telephone disability hearing
I do many telephonic disability hearings with my clients in the San Francisco Bay Area. While it is better to appear in person, the Social

Temporary Protected Status Announced for Ukrainians
Last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the designation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. A country may be

Legal resources for Ukrainians fleeing to Romania, Poland and the United States
A child protesting the war in Ukraine

Why doesn’t the Social Security Administration answer the phone?
If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area and you have tried to call a Social Security field office, it is likely that you

If I apply for DACA, will USCIS share my information with immigration enforcement?
It is often troublesome to apply for immigration benefits if you have had contact with any law enforcement agency. It is especially worrisome when applying

The best evidence to support your Social Security Disability Claim
The Social Security Administration does not tell you what the best evidence is that you can submit to support your case. In fact, they ask

How to change your name in California, Part One
My immigration clients often end up with documents that have different names on them. They will have a passport with one name and a driver’s

Social Security field offices closed but you may still apply for disability
I drove by the Vallejo field office the other day and saw this sign that the field office is closed. It is closed just like

Giving talk in Benicia on Immigration law
On November 20, 2019 at 7:00 p.m., I will be giving a talk on Immigration Law along with Brett Snider, attorney and director of legal

When our own government tortures
More often that not, I feel like I live in a dystopian novel. Unfortunately the events of today are real. Over the past year I
End of Year Giving Safety
The year of 2015 is drawing to a close. Immigrants and citizens alike receive spam email as well as legitimate email from organizations requesting donations.
Asylum denied to North Korean due to firm resettlement in South Korea
May a citizen of North Korea be granted political asylum despite being firmly resettled in South Korea? The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals recently said,

