Citizenship, Patience, and Rock 'n' Roll

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From Fatherless to U.S. Citizenship

Susan juggled double shifts at a Marriott in the Philippines.

The long shifts carried her through the holiday season—her third without her mother.

Little did she know, her life would change when she served a gin and tonic to a guest named Mr. Walter one afternoon.

Mr. Walter was a wealthy, traveling man. He heard Susan’s life story while lounging at a bar at a Marriott and was determined to see what he could do to help.

A few months and several attorneys later, he landed in the Office of Mrs. Tolland.

In their first meeting, she noted something extraordinary: Susan, struggling in the Philippines, could unknowingly be a US citizen.

Susan’s father, a Navy service member in the early ’80s, reported to the Navy that he had a child in the Philippines that he promised to raise.

Mrs. Tolland explained, due to specific immigration provisions for children born out of wedlock to U.S. service members, Susan might be entitled to citizenship.

Susan’s absent father’s acknowledgement of her BEFORE she turned 18 was the key.

After navigating several legal hurdles involving other legal requirements, Susan’s right to U.S. citizenship was confirmed.

This case is a powerful reminder that even in the complexities of immigration law, a single piece of evidence can be a way forward

The Art of Patience: From Rejection to Approval

I received a RFE (Request for Evidence) from the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Service) for my client’s O-1B application (a visa application for individuals with extraordinary artistic ability) (That was a mouthful).

“How can my record label confirming the release of my solo album not be enough?”

My literal rockstar client was less than pleased.

Yet, USCIS was unconvinced that a one album deal equaled three years’ worth of work.

The musician and I went back to the drawing board.

We updated the itinerary to include confirmed shows and festival appearances, clarifying the record label’s commitment, and generally strengthened the application.

I recommended they take time to respond to the question to ensure every detail was clear and well-documented. However, the artist was eager to file with the original evidence immediately, and I reluctantly went along.

As seasoned attorneys know, letting the client drive the case is risky. Sure enough, the rushed filing resulted in a denial—just as I feared.

Luckily, this time, the client recognized he should’ve listened to his attorney’s advice and was entirely on board for round two.

I refused to give up.

We prepared a new filing, this time following my strategy.

Denial is not a game over. Sometimes, it’s an invitation to refile.

It is annoying to repeat yourself, but success can be found with fresh eyes reviewing your case and a solid path to providing an impeccably detailed filing.

In the end, patience and strategy paid off, and the artist’s O-1B was approved.

The show goes on.

A second well-done shot is better than a quick fix.

That’s it for today!

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This upcoming week is sure to be turbulent. But it is your civil duty to go out and VOTE.

Until next time, stay safe and see you soon!