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 A lot of people ask how they can bring to the US their Ukrainian friends, girlfriends or extended relatives (not spouses, parents or children) at this time. The announcement by the Biden administration on March 24, 2022, that the US will accept 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing Ukraine as refugees gave...

The short answer is no. At least at this time. Refugees are people with a well-founded fear of persecution because of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. This definition comes from the Refugee Convention, which most of the world's countries ...

Small business owners often think that intellectual property law is a field only relevant to multimillion-dollar companies and high-tech firms. However, protecting intellectual property (or “IP” as it is referred to in the legal trade) is even more valuable for smaller companies. Large firms have...

The United States has the sixth-highest divorce rate globally; about 50% of all couples who marry will potentially end up getting divorced. A divorce can be a devastating event for just about anyone, but it's especially problematic for immigrants who have recently acquired a green card or are in ...

Probate is the legal process during which a court approves the terms of a deceased person's will regarding property and other assets, collectively called the “estate.” After payment of the funeral expenses, administration expenses, and any debts the deceased person owed, the remainder of the esta...

A power of attorney (POA) allows you to select someone to manage your financial affairs if you become incapable of doing so. It becomes effective immediately after being signed by you and your designated agent and its validity ends upon your death. A will ensures that your wishes for how to prov...

Special visas are available for certain noncitizens due to their work or efforts to assist the United States with military missions or operations abroad. Those who help the United States from their home countries risk harm to themselves and their families, and the special immigrant visa program i...

After graduating from college or graduate school, many international students wish to transfer their F-1 visa to an H-1B visa with sponsorship from their employer. These students have two options for applying for the H-1B visa. First, if they've already secured work and their employer is willing ...

An increased rate of trademark applications can be a sign that a country has a robust climate for innovation. Other factors may be at play, however, in the sharp rise over the last few years in applications in the U.S. by businesses based in China. American entities should take note of the effect...

In July 2021, the Ninth Circuit of Appeals issued its opinion in Social Technologies LLC v. Apple. In that case, Social Tech sued Apple for infringing upon its registered trademark for the word “Memoji.” In defense, Apple argued that Social Tech's mark should be canceled because Social Tech faile...

One of the most overlooked and misunderstood notions of planning for later in life is figuring out (or not) what will happen to your property after you die. Or, as one of my New York friends said recently - a Will? But I am not dying yet!  The truth is, we are all going to die one day. But most o...

People across the globe covet New York real estate, and many of the city's condos and homes are passed down from generation to generation. It's a common misconception that when a New Yorker dies, their real property is automatically transferred to surviving heirs, but the truth is a bit more comp...

Watching your parents age can be an emotional and stressful process. Acknowledging our own mortality­—not to mention the mortality of our loved ones—is difficult and uncomfortable to talk about. But your help could be critical in getting your elderly parent the estate planning help they need. Wh...

One way to ensure you control where your assets end up after your death is to create a trust. A trust is created when the trustor gives the trustee (a third party) the right to handle their assets on behalf of a beneficiary, ensuring the beneficiary receives exactly what you want them to get. In...

No one goes into business with a partner expecting things to fall apart. Still, statistics show that many business partnerships end up that way. Ten percent of all business partners end their relationship within the first year, and 45% split up in the first four. With statisti...

Earlier this year, we highlighted some of President Biden's executive orders on immigration. Since February 2nd, several other changes have taken place. Although CNN offers a comprehensive overview of all of Biden's executive orders through the end of April, here's a brief overview of the action...

Did you know that fried-chicken chain (and social media marketing superstar) KFC follows only 11 accounts on Twitter? Six of those are men named Herb; the other five are the former Spice Girls. It's a clever nod to the company's famous trade secret, its tightly guarded chicken-seasoning blend com...

Once you register a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), it's your responsibility to preserve the mark and ensure that it continues to represent what's unique about your business. If you don't preserve your trademarks, you risk forfeiting the exclusive rights to use them....

On January 20, 2021, President Biden issued several orders on immigration. Some orders take immediate effect while others may take more time to be implemented.Among the immediate changes are:• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) remains in place.• Deportations* were paused for 100 days...

Foreign students may be required to leave the US is their schools go completely online.

NEW PUBLIC CHARGE RULE Question 1: If I am undocumented and my child is a US Citizen and I have received public benefits through my child as a family will this affect my ability to apply for a green card? Answer:- The rule specifically states that public benefits received by your family members...

The recent suicide of Jeffrey Epstein raises many issues about his Estate. This is because he had several residences in New York, Florida and the Virgin Islands and his assets are located in Paris and New Mexico. Epstein's estate is estimated at $577 million. The biggest question raised is the va...

What is an Executor? When you prepare a will, you need to name someone whom you can trust as an Executor. They will handle the affairs of your estate once you pass away, which may include paying for a funeral and administration expenses, paying bills, and making sure that your house or apartment...

  The United States has long been a global leader in the resettlement of refugees—and the need for such leadership remains enormous. The number of refugees around the world who are fleeing violence or persecution in their home countries in search of safety abroad has grown dramatically over the ...

New York City is like a box of chocolates–you never know what you're going to get. Nothing illustrates that more than your living arrangement. With five boroughs and hundreds of apartment styles, your whole life is dictated by what your bathroom looks like and who your neighbors are. However, if ...