USCIS Clarifies the L-1 One-Year Foreign Employment Requirement USCIS has published a policy memorandum (PDF, 121 KB) (PM) clarifying the requirement that a qualifying organization employ a principal L-1 beneficiary abroad for one continuous year out of the three years before the time of petition filing (“one-year foreign employment requirement”). This clarification is intended to ensure consistent adjudication of L-1 petitions by providing a standard basis for calculating [...]

Learn About Social Security's Online Tools With the aging population becoming increasingly tech savvy, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has moved a lot of services online. From applying for Social Security benefits to replacing a card, the SSA has online tools to help. To access most of the online services, you need to create a my Social Security account. This account allows you to receive personalized estimates of future benefits based on your real earnings, see your latest statement, [...]

Don't Make the Mistake of Not Signing up for Medicare Supplemental Coverage You are turning 65 and enrolling in Medicare, but as a healthy senior do you really need to also sign up for Medicare's supplemental coverage? Not signing up initially can be very costly down the road. Medicare pays for only about half of all medical costs. To augment Medicare's coverage, you can purchase a supplemental or "Medigap" insurance policy from a private insurer. There are 10 Medigap plans that each offers a [...]

The Pitfalls and Perils of Pro Se Representation By Jared R. Mack “He who represents himself has a fool for a client” is a quote often attributed to Abraham Lincoln. However, the true origins of the proverb are unknown.  Although the author of the quote may be uncertain, the sentiment has never been more relevant.  The modern judicial system is a chaotic commingling of statutes, regulations, case law and procedures, all of which can prove fatal to the unwary party’s [...]

What Happens If You Die Without a Will? We all know we are supposed to do estate planning, but not all of us get around to it. So what happens if you don't have a Will when you die? Your estate will be distributed according to state laws, which may or may not be the way you want it to be distributed. Dying without a Will is called dying "intestate." Each state has laws that determine what will happen to your estate if you don't have a Will. If you are married, most states award one-third to [...]