Brian Lerner | Los Angeles Immigration Lawyer

1. Permission to Reenter granted after only 3 months after deportation order issued. Now, client is not barred for another 9 years and 6 months from coming back to the U.S.
2. VAWA approved for Client who was in an abusive relationship but only lived with her husband for a short period and did not have police or hospital reports.
3. AOS approved, no major issues but there were some issues with Client's true and correct name and her manner of entry. She was waived through and this would be known as a Quilantan approval.
4. Naturalization granted after application had been pending for well over a year for Client who had repeated false claims to U.S. citizenship, including voting in federal and state elections. Client did not fall under the USC false claim exceptions but his application was granted on discretionary grounds.
5. Adjustment of Status based on Marriage was approved for client who entered legally but has several juvenile crimes. No Waivers or Court needed.

I have concentrated only on Immigration and Nationality Law. I do not do it part-time and I do not do it along with other areas of law. It is 100% immigration. I have used technology to help with processing of cases. I can take any client from anywhere in the U.S. or the world. Once my firm is retained, the client gets access to a web portal 24/7 and it has questionnaires and documents needed and a communications portal for all communications with my law office.
I have become a certified specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law of which there are only around 200 in the State of California alone where there are over 200,000 licensed attorneys. I do a 'coffee talk' immigration video series on Youtube - of which there are over 570 videos with over 1,600,000 views. I have a business Facebook page with over 107,000 likes. My immigration blog goes all over the world. Most of all, I change lives when I win the immigration case.

The client should see if the attorney offers free consultations. We do not know what the problem is until there is a consultation. See if the consultation is offered on different mediums. I offer consultations via telephone, Skype, Facebook and of course in person. See if the attorney has experience doing what you actually need done.
Make sure the attorney does not guarantee or promise results as that would indicate either the attorney is lying or is inexperienced. Make sure the attorney sees the entire picture and asks sufficient questions to determine the real problem and how it can be best addressed.

Knowledge of Immigration and Nationality Law is the success of a case.

Assess the situation, determine what must be done and give an estimate of procedure, costs and time.

I have an intake sheet that actually takes care of this. However, generally, I need to know immigration status of those involved, a description of the immigration situation, whether they had been petitioned before, whether there is criminal history, deportation orders, fraud, and what hardship exists.

I somewhat answered this above by being a certified specialist in immigration and nationality law.

Keeping a family together by winning an immigration case and changing the directions of their lives for the better.

Snowboarding, reading, spending time with my family, traveling.

Giving various pro bono information on immigration law.

• American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
  Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section, 2009–present
  Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 1996–present
  Officer, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Immigration Law Section, 1995–present

• I am a Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law as certified by the Legal Board of Specialization, State of California.
  
  Why does the State Bar Certify Legal Specialists?
  
  to help the public identify attorneys who have demonstrated proficiency in specialized fields of law
  to encourage the maintenance and improving of attorney competence in specialized fields of law
  to have immigration services done by a professional who knows all the laws of immigration and nationality law
  Preparation of immigration petitions and applications is far more than just filling out forms.
  
  What Does it Mean When an Attorney is a “Certified Specialist”?
  taken and passed a written examination in Immigration and Nationality Law
  demonstrated a high level of experience in Immigration and Nationality Law
  fulfilled ongoing education requirements
  been favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with his or her work
  A certified specialist knows the overall picture and can discuss different strategies to help you choose the best one for your needs.
  
  What Can a Certified Immigration & Nationality Law Specialist Do for You?
  advise you, your family or your business so that you do not loose out to faulty immigration document preparation or failure to properly analyze your case
  identify problems and proactively avoid unnecessary expense, delays and rejection by the INS
  keep you current with changes in the law which affect legal rights or status and help with past mistakes
  protect your legal rights if contacted by the INS
  if apprehended by the BCIS , you need qualified representation in bond and deportation hearings to assure due process and appeal rights
  As an employer, representation at BCIS audits and investigations assures compliance with verification and hiring requirements and avoids fines or penalties
  protect your lawful residence status
  help you obtain U.S. citizenship
  There are numerous immigration laws that could result in the denial of this visa if not properly prepared.  If the petition is put together correctly and professionally by a qualified immigration law firm, the chances of approval is greatly increased.
  
  20 Year Licensed and Practicing Attorney, Martindale-Hubbell, 2012
  Who's Who in Executives and Professionals, National Register of Who's Who for Executives and Professionals, 2004
  Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law, California State Bar, Board of Legal Specialization, 2000

• Wins Permission to Reenter granted after only 3 months after deportation order issued. Now, client is not barred for another 9 years and 6 months from coming back to the U.S. VAWA approved for Client who was in an abusive relationship but only lived with her husband for a short period and did not have police or hospital reports. AOS approved, no major issues but there were some issues with Client’s true and correct name and her manner of entry. She was waived through and this would be known as a Quilantan approval. Naturalization granted after application had been pending for well over a year for Client who had repeated false claims to U.S. citizenship, including voting in federal and state elections. Client did not fall under the USC false claim exceptions but his application was granted on discretionary grounds. Adjustment of Status based on Marriage was approved for client who entered legally but has several juvenile crimes. No Waivers or Court needed. Removal proceedings terminated by Immigration Judge. Client is an LPR and has 3 convictions; 2 battery convictions and 1 assault conviction. DHS charged him with removability as an alien convicted of 2 crimes involving moral turpitude and an alien convicted of a crime of domestic violence. We were able to bond client out and then get proceedings terminated because DHS could not establish removability by clear and convincing evidence; battery is not categorically a CIMT or a COV. While the new 9th Circuit case overruling Silva-Trevino helped, proceedings would have terminated regardless because DHS tried to bypass the second step in Silva-Trevino and did not submit the required docs. IJ denied Client’s motion to reopen his 2010 in absentia order and relied on fairly new warnings on Form I-485, advising applicants to keep USCIS updated of address changes for removal purposes. Appeal to BIA was sustained, finding that the IJ’s decision was in error and that Client was not properly advised of his hearing and that he did not receive notice of his hearing. 212(c) granted for Client with a sales conviction from 1991 (20+ lbs of cocaine). Client had no other convictions, a steady work history and a lot of equities. DHS agreed to join in a motion to reopen Client’s in absentia deportation order and terminate her proceedings based on an approved I-360 widow petition. We were initially hired to file a MTR but then Client’s husband died and we were retained to file an I-360. When that was approved, we filed the joint motion request. Client was waived through so she should be eligible for AOS. In absentia Motion to Reopen granted by Immigration Judge. Client’s Notice of Hearing was sent to a wrong address and returned to the court. Now the client can actually fight her case with a chance of winning. Prosecutorial Discretion granted for a family of 3; father, mother and daughter. Parents had applied for cancellation of removal for non Lawful Permanent Residents, but they did not have a very strong case. Daughter also applied but did not have a qualifying relative, so she needed one of her parents to be granted. I-751 Divorce Waiver approved. Client retained us after he had received an RFE on a joint I-751 but he had since separated from his wife. We filed the necessary documents and then appeared at his interview. A second RFE was issued requesting Client’s final divorce decree, a statement in his own words and a request to change the case from a joint filing to a divorce waiver. Case approved 1 year after 2nd RFE. AOS approved for Client who is from Mexico, is married to a USC and they have 6 children (including quintuplets). Client left the United States 2004/2005 and they’re 10 year bar waiver was denied (they didn’t have an attorney) or children at the time. He reentered the U.S. and then left in 2010 because he had no identification and wanted to avoid any issues with Immigration. Our office was retained for a humanitarian parole in 2011 based on one of their children being very very sick. His parole was approved and his I-94 indicated “Paroled in for AOS.” His case was approved today with no issues.Adjustment of status based on approved I-360 approved. Client recently moved and Client’s manner of entry into the US was questionable (she may have entered with a false document), but still got AOS approved. Motion to Reopen granted. Client received asylum over 10 years ago, but left U.S. prior to adjusting status. Returned on Visitor Visa and removal proceedings were instituted. Client received deportation order in absentia. Afraid to go back to home country. MTR granted giving an opportunity to fight case and reinstate and/or reapply for Asylum. 1016.5 motion granted by Judge Schwarz. PC 11378 (possession for sale of meth) dismissed. In 2001, DA asked Client if he was a USC, Client said yes and therefore, no 1016.5 advisals given. Same judge that heard the case in 2001 granted the motion, she essentially blamed it on the old DA. Adjustment granted for Client with with a possession conviction (expunged) and firearm offense. Case went to the 9th Circuit and back and eventually proceedings were terminated so Client could adjust. No issues and no waiver needed. In absentia MTR granted by IJ Fong. NTA was sent to Client’s address listed on his I-589 more than 4 years after he applied for asylum but he was no longer living at that address. Motion granted based on Client’s declaration, daughter’s declaration and utility bills showing a change of address. According to IJ Order, the NTA and Notice of Hearing were also “returned to sender.” Cancellation of Removal (42A) granted by IJ . Client had 2 DUIs, a reckless driving and a discharge of a firearm in gross negligence. Firearm offense would have stopped time if it was a CIMT. Established through testimony that it was not a CIMT and Judge granted case. Client had a long work history and one minor child but not too many other equities. Proceedings terminated based on approved I-130 even though Client had a previous VD order. Joint motion to terminate, DHS could not establish removability Client was an LPR and had a theft conviction and a solicitation for sale (crack) conviction. DHS could not establish removability based on a controlled substance violation or 2 CIMTs. Proceedings terminated based on governor’s pardon despite DHS opposition. Client was an LPR and order removed based on a theft offense and then granted withholding of removal. We prepared pardon which was approved and moved to reopen based on Client’s marriage to a USC. Once reopened, we moved to terminate as the sole ground of removability no longer existed. Judge agreed, terminated case and reinstated Client’s LPR status. AOS granted for Client that was waived through. Very little proof other than declaration from father, Client was a minor at the time. AOS granted for Client with petty theft arrest, who did not disclose conviction on application nor to our office. E-2 approved at consulate in Ireland for Trucking Repair and Maintenance Company. Approximately $125,000 put in escrow for purchase of existing business. E-2 MTR granted at the consulate in The Netherlands. Visa application denied for marginality. Reopened based on a showing of annual income, other sources of income and number of employees. AOS granted for Client with over 10 convictions. U Visa granted for person with crime over 12 years old and officer that did not want to sign the certification Criminal Relief granted and crime vacated and dismissed. Now he can apply for his Green Card. Political Asylum case granted on first interview for client from Nepal 212(h) Waiver approved on Appeal at AAO and reversed the decision from USCIS previously denying it. Now client can adjust and get the green card

• Weekly articles in several newspapers;
  Blog at www.brian-d-lerner-blog.com
  

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