Posted on August 11, 2022 in Immigration

International students are an integral part of higher education in America. Colleges are places where the exchange of culture and ideas is to be celebrated and encouraged. One of the best ways for students to expand their knowledge base and seek out unique perspectives is through study abroad. If you are interested in attending a college or university in the United States, you will need a student visa whether you will be here for a semester or for all four years of an undergraduate program. If it is a vocational or non-academic educational program you are interested in, you may also be eligible for a type of student visa. The whole process of obtaining a student visa can be a bit complex, and you will need to be sure that you are applying for the right type of visa. It is best to have an attorney’s help.

When Should a Student Use an F-Category Student Visa?

F-category student visas are the more common form of educational visa. You should use an F category visa if you will be attending a traditional college or university. Student visas in this category can also be used by younger exchange students who plan to attend high school or even middle or elementary school in the U.S.

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 Posted on August 02, 2022 in Family Law

Getting a finalized divorce decree should be the start of your new life as a single adult. You likely want to enjoy some freedoms you did not have while you were married. Many divorced parents want to move out of the area they lived in during the marriage, and for a variety of reasons. You may have gotten a better job offer a few states away, or you could just want to return to your hometown to be near your family. Whatever your reasons for wanting or needing to move, you may need to clear it with the court before you can take your children with you. An attorney can help you determine whether you will need to return to the court to get permission to relocate with your children.

What If I Am Just Moving Across Town?

If you are a DuPage County resident and you are not moving further than 25 miles away from your children’s current home, then you will not need the court’s permission to move with your children. This distance is considered close enough that it will not interfere with the children’s ability to have a relationship with both parents.

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 Posted on July 26, 2022 in Personal Injury

A slip and fall accident can happen very suddenly and without warning. One moment, you are walking through the dairy section of your local grocery store, and the next you are in a neck brace being loaded into an ambulance. Generally, the party in control of the premises where you got hurt is liable for your injuries. However, in some cases, the injured party bears some responsibility for the accident.

In Illinois, the amount of compensation you are awarded may be reduced if you were partially at fault for your fall. If the accident was mostly your fault, you may not be able to recover anything. It is very common for premises owners to defend themselves by arguing that the injured person was at fault. You will need an experienced lawyer to help you fight back.

What is the Modified Comparative Negligence Rule?

Illinois uses what is called “modified comparative negligence.” In short, this means that the amount of your award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found to be 25% at fault for your accident, your award will be reduced by 25%. So, if you win $100,000 but were 25% at fault, you will only receive $75,000.

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 Posted on July 21, 2022 in Family Law

You might not love or want to be in a relationship with your spouse anymore, but you still love your furry, scaly, or feathery friends and want to keep them with you. Companion animals can be an excellent source of emotional support during difficult times. Many pet owners see their animal as a family member, however, courts in Illinois still see pets as property that you own. As such, pets are subject to the equitable division of property in a divorce action. Ideally, you and your spouse will be able to reach an agreement regarding pet custody. Otherwise, the court will make the decision that it feels is fair. While a pet is property, judges do understand that there can be a special bond between a human and a pet. An attorney may be able to help you put forth strong arguments regarding why you need your companion animal.

Reaching an Agreement About Pet Custody

There are a number of strategies divorcing spouses can use by agreement so that no one gets permanently separated from an animal they are bonded to. Some spouses who will be living reasonably close to each other choose to “take turns” with the pet, passing it back and forth on alternating weeks.

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 Posted on July 21, 2022 in Immigration

Just getting a visa application approved so that you can lawfully enter the United States can take a lot of hard work. You probably had to submit quite a bit of paperwork and prove all sorts of things. The last thing you want is to put all the effort into coming here legally only to find yourself getting deported. Deportation happens to thousands of people, many of whom were hoping to become citizens.

Knowing some of the most common reasons that people get deported and how to avoid trouble can be very helpful. If you find yourself facing potential deportation, there are steps an attorney can take to help you. It is important to respond very quickly, as deportation can happen quickly.

Avoiding Problems That Can Trigger Removal Proceedings

Even if you are not purposely doing anything wrong, deportation or removal from the U.S. can be based largely on a technicality. Common reasons that immigrants and visa holders can face deportation include:

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 Posted on July 19, 2022 in Personal Injury

After an accident involving a drunk driver, it is usually fairly obvious that they have been drinking. As soon as they exit their vehicle, you can smell alcohol on them. They are slurring their words and stumbling or falling over. You have probably been around drunk people before and know generally what to look for.

Spotting a driver who is intoxicated by a substance other than alcohol can be a little more difficult. There may not be any kind of noticeable odor. Unless you have spent considerable time around drug users, you might not have a very developed sense of what to look for. In some cases, even trained police officers can fail to notice that a driver is under the influence of drugs. Knowing the signs of drug intoxication can help you catch on quickly if your car accident was caused by an impaired driver.

Signs of Drug Intoxication

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 Posted on July 14, 2022 in Immigration

A naturalization ceremony is the final step in the process of immigrating to the United States. At one of these ceremonies, people who were not born American citizens officially gain their citizenship. Once you become a citizen, you will be able to permanently reside in the United States in addition to gaining all the rights of a full-fledged citizen, like the power to vote. People who are going through this ceremony have put a lot of effort into reaching this point. It may take years from your first contact with UCSIS to receive final approval on your Application for Naturalization.

The day of the ceremony can be a very exciting and rewarding day for immigrants and their loved ones. Knowing what to expect can be helpful as well. If you are considering beginning the process of becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen, or are having some trouble along the way, Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices can help.

When Can I Participate in a Naturalization Ceremony?

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 Posted on July 13, 2022 in Family Law

All married couples have disagreements. In some cases, those disagreements lead one spouse to file for divorce. Most of the time, once someone initiates divorce proceedings, the marriage is effectively over and the divorce will go through. However, in some cases, the married couple reconciles and chooses to call off the divorce. Divorce proceedings can take over a year in some cases. While the divorce is pending, a married couple may elect to seek couples’ counseling in an effort to save their marriage. Sometimes these efforts succeed, and sometimes they do not. If you are uncertain about going through with the divorce, make sure to inform your attorney of any attempts at reconciliation. They may be able to “pause” divorce proceedings while you attempt to reconcile with your spouse.

What Happens If My Spouse and I Want to Try to Reconcile?

If one of you has already filed for divorce, but your divorce has not been finalized, there is a way to temporarily halt divorce proceedings. Illinois divorce courts keep what is called a reconciliation calendar. This is a good option if you are not sure whether you and your spouse will be able to resolve your differences and remain married, but you would like to try.

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 Posted on June 27, 2022 in Immigration

If you are a United States citizen and are engaged to marry a foreign national, you may be able to obtain a K-1 immigrant visa for your fiancé. These “fiancé visas” are designed to help Americans legally bring their fiancé to the United States to get married and live together permanently. To obtain a K-1 visa, there are a few requirements you and your fiancé must meet. These requirements are intended to make sure that the intended marriage is not a sham or forced.

Understanding these requirements can help you decide whether this is the best possible route to getting your significant other a U.S. visa or whether there may be a better path. The immigration process can take some time, and it is often not easy. One of our attorneys can help by guiding you through each step of this frequently challenging process.

What Are the Requirements for a K-1 Visa?

To be eligible for a fiancé visa, you and your spouse-to-be must meet all of the following requirements:

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 Posted on June 27, 2022 in Personal Injury

A “fender-bender” is a colloquial term for what most people would consider a very minor car accident. The name suggests that no real harm was done except for a dented bumper or wheel well. However, this is not always the case. Even a light bump can potentially cause serious harm to the people inside the vehicle.

People who have suffered an injury in a “minor” car accident often feel that they are struggling to get others to take their injuries seriously. Certainly, the driver who caused the accident and their insurance company are likely to try to downplay your injuries. You might be accused of “faking” or “exaggerating” your very real pain and bodily harm. If this is happening to you, know that a fender-bender is still a car accident, and the responsible driver is still liable for the injuries you actually suffered, not the injuries they think you should have suffered.

Why a Relatively Light Impact Can Cause Serious Harm

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