Atom Law Group

In our polarized world, engaging people from both sides is more important than ever.  As a company, we believe commerce is the key to bringing different groups together for common goals. By helping each other, we open lines of productive and collaborative communication.

Business immigration facilitates connecting the world through commerce. Atom Law Group practices business immigration law because it supports innovation, growth & economic development and falls in line with our mission, to foster genuine communication and connection of people of diverse backgrounds and interests.

TYPES OF BUSINESS IMMIGRATION

There are several different options for work visas depending on the business, investment opportunity, or field / expertise involved. We work to ensure our clients receive are properly guided and championed through this sometimes daunting process.

Below are 4 types of visas, among others, we handle:

EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

This is a “immigration and investment” program that allows foreign nationals to obtain U.S. permanent residency by investing in our economy. To qualify, individuals must invest at least $900,000 in a project located in a “Targeted Employment Area” and create a minimum of 10 jobs for U.S. workers.

E-1 & E-2 Trade or Investor

Temporary visas are available to individuals entering the U.S. based on treaties between the United States and their home country in order to carry out international trade (E-1 Treaty Trader) or to develop and direct an operation in which the individual has or will invest a substantial amount of capital into the U.S. (E-2 Treaty Investor). High level managers, executives, and other essential employees of treaty investor/treaty trader companies may qualify.

L-1 Intracompany Transferee

Individuals who have worked for a parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of a U.S. Company as a manager, executive, or specialized knowledge employee and are coming to work for the related U.S. company in a similar capacity may qualify for an L-1 visa.

H-1 B

An H-1B Visa may be available to qualified workers in specialized occupations. Subject to a lottery system due to the number of visas available each year, a U.S. employer may petition for a qualified candidate and this is one way for people who come to the U.S. for higher education in niche fields to stay for hands-on experience in their field.

From employment and investment based green cards to nonimmigrant visas based on investment, employment, or an exchange program such as for trainees, there are many options for business based visas and our highly diverse and experienced team will help you through the process of choosing the best option to fit your specific needs.

BENEFITS OF SUPPORTING BUSINESS IMMIGRATION

In today’s climate the word “immigration” can be highly controversial, but in terms of business immigration, we firmly believe it is a good thing for the country. Collectively, it makes us stronger and smarter by bringing in specialized talent, entrepreneurial innovation, and investments that create new jobs.

Where there is a shortage of highly specialized talent, the ability to increase the pool of qualified people is necessary for the fundamental operation, as well as the growth, of the U.S. economy. Through a variety of work visas we can attract highly trained, accomplished professionals from a wide range of fields – science to academia, engineering to mechanics, and healthcare to the arts.

For example, we are currently experiencing a shortage of specialized aircraft and avionics technicians – a critical component to the safety of our skies. While challenging, through business immigration we have helped U.S. companies fill long-vacant positions with qualified candidates that have even gone on to provide crucial aircraft services to the U.S. military.

Additionally, visas based on investment (grouped in with business immigration) are great for stimulating the U.S. economy because they infuse a significant amount additional capital while creating new jobs opportunities.

As a result, supporting an appropriate and robust business immigration system tailored to the needs of our economy means welcoming new innovation, jobs growth, and economic development.

CHALLENGES WITH BUSINESS IMMIGRATION

Over the past several years the political climate has made the challenge of immigration even trickier and the addition of a global pandemic didn’t help. Even looking towards the future, there are still many challenges that come up with business immigration.

Some visas operate in a lottery system. For example the H1-B category only allows a certain number of applicants and so that only about 62% are selected. This creates problems for workers as well as businesses who find it difficult to pause operations or to effectively plan ahead when faced with the uncertainties of the business immigration system.

For small businesses looking into the immigration process, the task can be daunting. Thus, we recommend using an attorney to champion your needs and to help navigate through the often changing immigration landscape.

COMMERCE IS KEY

The Atom Law Group is a highly diverse team, many members of which are immigrants themselves. We wholeheartedly believe that facilitating real commerce in the U.S. and globally is the key to engaging and bringing different groups of people together for progress. Through business immigration we collectively support innovation, growth, & economic development while fostering genuine communication and connection of people of diverse backgrounds and interests.

SohYoon Atac  is founding attorney and partner of Atom Law Group. SohYoon helps closely-held entities and entrepreneurs effectively navigate both the immigration law and business law aspects of doing business in the United States. 

The post Supporting Diversity, Innovation, and Economic Development Through Business Immigration first appeared on Atom Law Group.

What’s not as trendy or glamorous about becoming your own boss are the documentation, logistics and paperwork that ensure you are protected, supported, and operating as an informed, well-rounded business.

The road to success starts when you ask the right questions, lean on the appropriate experts, and gather the needed documentation to support expansion and growth.

CRUCIAL QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU START

There are a number of questions to ask yourself or your counsel before starting or acquiring a business. The answers will inform on how to proceed and build the portfolio of foundational documents required.

What kind of entity are you?

C-Corp, LLC or S-Corp all have different benefits and fit different purposes. . Depending on your specific type of business, you might be legally required to be a Professional Corporation (PC).Exploring the options with your general counsel will help identify the appropriate entity for the business.

Where will the entity be incorporated?

Interestingly enough, the entity can be formed in any state regardless of the physical location of operation. There may be reasons to claim the state you are in, or otherwise, based on taxes or different distinctions state-to-state. Your general counsel can help determine the best fit based on the business model.

Who else is involved?

If you are starting a business with partners, it is incredibly beneficial to lay out the operating agreement or shareholders’ agreement right away to avoid challenges down the road. Who owns how much? Is everyone putting in the same amount of time and energy? How do we divide ownership? What if someone is investing time while the other is investing money? Is there a buyout agreement? Should partners be able to freely sell their shares if they wish to divest in the future before checking with the other partners?

No matter how the partnership starts or what verbal agreements are made, it’s really important to have these determinations memorialized BEFORE any issues arise.

Do you qualify for a S-Corp elective?

An S-corp election is filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and changes the way your business is taxed. LLCs are able to elect this status and yet retain their existing entity structure. For certain businesses, this can save the company money. For others, it might not be a legal option even if it is desired.

ASSEMBLE YOUR EXTERNAL TEAM

Of course, we recommend connecting with an attorney to provide general counsel and support the process of starting or acquiring a business – but there are 4 other indispensable relationships that are key to the success of your business.

Aside from the internal team, there are 5 best friends we recommend you acquire as a new business owner. This team is just as integral to your success as the product being sold.

1.       Accountant

Needs to understand the nature of your business including everything that is being “sold.”

2.       Banker

There needs to be a personal connection here and we can’t emphasize this enough. Especially in the current commercial banking world where everything is automated or online, a relationship with an actual banker is crucial. Guidance, support and an understanding of your business will help navigate whatever comes your way. 

3.       Insurance Broker

This person will understand how to protect you and your business based on case specific needs. Whether it is health/disability insurance, product liability, professional liability, workers comp, renter’s insurance or another option specific to your business, the right coverage and the right protection is your lifeline in sticky situations. 

4.       Attorney

This person needs to understand your business and where it’s going so they can ensure you are covered legally. From start-up paperwork to the type of entity, location and operating agreements, trademarks, lease negotiations, employment agreements or services contracts your general counsel will help answer questions you don’t even know you need to ask.

5.       Outreach / Marketing Manager

Ensuring you are covered on all the above is a lot. Create the product, manage the staff, keep the place clean, worry about taxes, insurance AND market the business? An external partner who can properly promote your business on the appropriate channels is crucial for growth and expansion down the road.

These partners should be part of your core external team. Identifying people you trust in these roles is just as important as the people who run the day-to-day operations. To be covered on all fronts and run a successful business with steady growth, these 5 relationships are essential.

THE PROPER DOCUMENTATION

The first step to avoiding issues is to have proper legal documentation. As previously mentioned, your general counsel can help identify the entity, location and more, but this becomes especially important when a business has multiple partners.

Below are three examples of common pain points that could benefit from an operating agreement. 

Example 1: Loose, Informal Understandings

A verbal understanding that a business is split 50/50 does not have legal standing without a written agreement. One client experienced this exact situation in a partnership that fell apart due to such vagueness. The partners had neglected signing an operating agreement in the beginning when they agreed orally to 50/50 ownership. Later, when taxes were filed, the other partner who completed the tax forms indicated he had 90% ownership while our client was allocated 10%. The other partner argued he was entitled to file it this way because he claimed he had made undocumented additional capital contributions to the company.  Down the road there was a parting of ways and the only official record was that tax filing outlining a 90/10 split rather than the informal agreed upon 50/50. Without the operating agreement the tax filing was the only legal document on record.

Example 2: Ownership v. Control

In a situation where one partner has capital and the other has expertise, formal documentation is crucial to differentiate level of ownership vs level of control. Although one may have a larger monetary investment, it might make more sense to allocate control of daily operations  to the person with the  expertise  to actually run the business, rather than a passive investor. Having an operating agreement in place allows owners to disassociate the level of ownership from the level of control.

Scenario 3: The Buyout Protocol

Imagine you’ve had a wonderful working relationship with your partner and suddenly they need to sell their share. Bringing in a stranger or unapproved partial owner with equal share of the business you built isn’t an ideal situation. Outlining a buyout protocol with the proper documentation BEFORE it happens is essential for the long-term success of your business and relationships.

THE ROAD TO SUCCESS

The road to success doesn’t happen overnight, especially if you are going at it alone. Becoming a business owner is challenging and it’s almost impossible to know all the scenarios to plan for.

Asking the right questions and leaning on experts will alleviate potential issues or avoid them all together. Not all of the above are legally required when forming a business. However, to start off in the right direction and avoid undoing things later – it is as easy as setting up a consultation to begin the conversation. Remember, having a good product or a service is only a part of what your business needs to succeed. Chances are, if you took time to become the best dentist, coder, retailer, chef, you might not have had the time to become the best business operator. Leverage the expertise of other professionals to accomplish this today.  

Togai Atac  is the Managing Member of Atom Law Group. Togai works closely with both robust small US businesses and US subsidiaries of foreign businesses to maximize their business growth.

The post General Counsel Advice on Becoming A Business Owner first appeared on Atom Law Group.

But it’s not just about providing top-notch legal services (though we strive to do that every day), it is about forming positive, quality long term relationships with clients and team members while leaning into challenges to discover areas of growth, expansion and success.

BUILDING LONG TERM CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS

The key to any relationship is trust.

In our business, all our successful client relationships are built on a solid foundation of trust, honesty, and open communication.

By forging these types of relationships, we find that our clients view us not just as an outside legal service provider, but as critical members of their internal operations.  We have become trusted advisors beyond the typical legal issues that businesses face.  We are trusted advisors for issues covering everything from operational concerns to planning the future growth of their various business enterprises.

Clients know we have their best interests in mind and can bring an outsider’s perspective while fully understanding the intricacies of their business as well as understanding their goals and desires.  We also bring valuable connections and networking opportunities outside of legal services to support them from an even larger scope.

OPEN & HONEST COMMUNICATION

Our communication strategy revolves around the client, when they need us, we are available.

But in order to advise and serve to the best of  our  ability – the concept of trust and communication needs to flow in both directions. It is our duty and obligation to maintain client / counsel confidentiality (within the legal limits) and the more we know, the better we can navigate the circumstances to provide the best possible service and outcome.

TURNING CHALLENGES INTO OPPORTUNITIES

Like many industries, the pandemic created unforeseen challenges.

From the unpredictability to forced client closures, the pandemic caused a shift in business and business practices. But through this experience, we learned that expansion and diversification of our client base will help weather future storms.

Growth is essential, but comes with its own set of obstacles. Competent and reliable team members are only half the equation, a quality infrastructure is critical to long lasting success.

It all comes back to trust.

We need to trust our team to do the right thing for our clients and they need to trust us to provide the support, organization and resources to be a consistent and highly efficient machine.

By meeting obstacles head on, proactively identifying areas of change, expansion, and growth, we are all better prepared to serve our clients and maneuver challenges down the road.

GROWTH, FLEXIBILITY AND ADAPTABILITY

One big differentiator for our group is our inclusion of technology. Law firms are known for being behind the times and the lack of technology often results in wide scale inefficiencies.

Luckily for us, we have been advocates of technology since the beginning so the impact of the pandemic didn’t slow us down like many other firms.

Ultimately, time is money. If we can save ourselves (and our clients) valuable time to keep moving forward, it’s worth the spend.

Although we were early adopters of technology, the pandemic accelerated the addition of new technologies and continues to push us to streamline and improve our services to our clients.

SUPPORTED TEAM, SATISFIED CLIENTS

As a firm, we stand behind the happiness of both our clients and team members.

The integration of technology allowed us to be nimble and efficient during early stay-at-home orders. As we move towards the close of this pandemic, our staff will continue to have control over their personal work environment to feel safe and comfortable.

We strive to honor a healthy work-life balance and believe quality, long term team members are just as valuable as quality, long term clients.

When you treat your people right, they treat your clients right. When each team member takes pride and responsibility in their work, they will serve the clients with the highest standard of service.

For us, it’s a win-win.

Joon Oh  directs all of the firm’s business operations and also spearheads the development of Atom Law Group’s strategic plan to best guide the firm’s growth without compromising individualized client service.

The post Why A Law Firm’s Approach Matters first appeared on Atom Law Group.

ISSUANCE OF RECEIPT NOTICES

Within the United States Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) administers the country’s naturalization and benefit-based immigration system.  This agency thus adjudicates our clients’ petitions and applications for a benefit.  While some filings can be submitted online, the typical requirement is to submit documents in paper form.  For those, Atom Law Group uses a shipping service that provides a confirmation of delivery and the Agency process is to issue a formal receipt notice officially acknowledging the filing.  Prior to COVID, it was customary for the receipt notice to be provided in a one-to-two-week timeframe.  During COVID, however, we have seen that timeframe jump to up to two months.

This is highly problematic. If a person’s status expires without having taken appropriate action with immigration, such as filing for an extension, change, or adjustment of status, that person becomes out of status and no longer authorized to be in the country.  However, if a good faith filing is made with USCIS prior to the expiration of status, then the client is in a period of stay authorized by the Attorney General and authorized to be in the U.S. during the adjudication of the case. Without receiving the official receipt notice, there is no certainty that the filing was accepted by USCIS for adjudication and that the person remains authorized to be in the country. Therefore, such delays in issuing receipt notices have caused additional stress and uncertainty for clients even though they followed the regulations and timely filed.

IN-PERSON SERVICES RELATED TO USCIS FILINGS

Another issue has been the inability to complete immigration interviews in-person at the District Offices or to complete required biometric screening at Application Support Centers. Initially, both were completely halted due to pandemic-related closures. Without these facilities open and able to serve clients, work authorization and other benefits were delayed. While USCIS has resumed biometric collection and in-person interviews with certain procedural changes per COVID, case processing remains delayed.

If clients apply for a green card and the process is delayed because in-person interviews cannot be completed, they are forced to rely on their current status, which may or may not be feasible as it nears expiration.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE VISAS

The Department of State operates American consulates and embassies in foreign countries, and staff has largely been recalled to the United States due to the pandemic.  This has had both personal and business impact for our clients.

For instance, we submitted a petition on behalf of a client whose wife is abroad and became pregnant, with the intention that she would be able to deliver here in the United States.  For their family, the suspension of visa services at the consulate resulted in prolonged family separation.  The baby was born abroad, and although the baby is a U.S. citizen and could enter the country, the family remains separated as the wife cannot emigrate to the U.S. until she can get a consular interview and be granted an immigrant visa.

In another example, we have a corporate client whose employee was granted an extension of their status in the United States.  The government agencies have already agreed that the position and role are absolutely crucial to the American employer and cannot be filled otherwise.  In normal circumstances, the employee who needed to return to their home country would be able follow the very routine practice of getting the visa from the consulate.  But due to the suspension of services, they cannot get the visa appointment and hence the needed visa to come back to their employer in the United States.  The company is very negatively impacted, and we see a ripple effect as the company provides services that are integral to the medical field and the economy.

DISRUPTION AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

The pandemic impact on consumer-facing and retail businesses have been easy to observe in our everyday personal lives, but the policies and process disruptions in immigration also have impacts that are widely felt as businesses and families try to navigate tremendous uncertainty.

So how do we advise clients to proceed?

• Enter – or continue – the process now.   Applications and petitions are processed in the order they are submitted so proceed but have an understanding of the changing circumstances.
• Stay informed.   We provide regular updates to our clients to ensure they are updated on policy, process and procedures for each governmental entity relevant to their specific case.  For instance, the Department of State announced a phased resumption of consular and visa services late last fall, but those services are specific to each individual post.  We continually monitor developments for our clients.
• Evaluate international travel carefully.   It is extremely important to understand the implications of timing and the potential consequences for any travel.    We offer our clients professional guidance to help develop a plan and a plan B.

The team at Atom Law Group has helped over 1,000 clients successfully navigate the United States immigration process.  Please contact us today if you would like a consultation.

The post COVID-19’S Impact on Immigration Process first appeared on Atom Law Group.

The program was extended to small businesses in Illinois in anticipation of the Shelter In Place Order that  went into effect at 5 PM on Saturday, March 21. While local restaurants, bars, and retail businesses were already experiencing a plummet in usual revenue from social distancing, the statewide Shelter In Place Order cemented a temporary but signficant loss of revenue for the foreseeable future. 

The SBA Disaster Loans program offers up to $2 million in working capital at a 3.75% interest rate, and a repayment schedule of up to 30 years, though loan terms will differ on a case-by-case basis. Small businesses that have access to any capital or have credit available anywhere else are not eligible.  

Many small businesses have been rushing to the SBA’s website to apply for a disaster loan online, and this may be problematic. First, likely due to an overwhelming increase in site traffic which its servers aren’t capable of supporting, the SBA’s website has been crashing. Second, while the application process may appear simple, it takes a long time and an understanding of more than just business finances for an SBA disaster loan to be a  good business move . Even the finest businesspeople amongst the small businesses of Illinois may overlook or ignore, while in a hurry to receive the funds they need to keep their businesses alive, basic principles and formalities in the application process that would make a massive difference in the amount of capital they receive, and the terms in which they must pay back the loan.

Luckily, we are here to help and understand the hoops and ladders of dealing with federal agencies better than most. Questions? Call us. We will ensure that you get the information and help that you need, but on terms that ultimately benefit you and your small business the most!

The post SBA Disaster Loans Are Here For Illinois Small Businesses first appeared on Atom Law Group.

Entire industries revolve around the ebb and flow of society, starting with the service and hospitality industries. Our government has urged “social distancing” with many major metropolitan areas now enforcing closures and curfews. This means the economic impossible for restaurants, bars, movie theaters, airlines, hotels, and more. While there are talks about an economic stimulus package and financial relief from the federal government, today’s ideas on alleviating the impact of COVID-19 likely won’t make much of a difference in a month or two. When faced with uncertainty, it may be wise to consider (but not dwell on) worst-case scenarios.

Many small and medium-sized businesses are facing permanent closure, and that doesn’t just mean a loss of income for owners and investors. It could mean personal liability. The economic impact of COVID-19 will inevitably mean an unprecedented spike in the closure of businesses across the nation and rise in unemployment levels, but it shouldn’t mean that anyone has to lose their home.

And it doesn’t, should you only know how to protect yourself from it. There is no easy way to begin a conversation about bankruptcy. The connotation of the word is unpleasant. Outside of times like these, bankruptcy is publicized as the incompetency of an individual or group of people in business. It reflects very poorly on those involved on the  debtor  side. The only thing worse than being seen as a failure is feeling like a failure.

But this isn’t a normal time. COVID-19 is a pandemic. When a deadly virus reaches every part of the world as quickly as this one has, causing entire populations to recede from the kind of routine social behavior that global economies rely on, bankruptcy is not a sign of incompetency.

It’s a sign of business savvy. Pride and ego will not help in recreating your financial future. Learning about the different kinds of bankruptcy and seeking legal counsel  will  help. We’re not saying that calling a bankruptcy lawyer is the next thing you should do, but it shouldn’t be on the list of things you won’t do, or don’t want to do.

Do we have your attention? Good. Knowledge can only help you here. Stay tuned! Over the next few weeks, we will be picking our attorneys’ brains and organizing bankruptcy law so that those who need to know can learn and get comfortable with life’s next chapter.

The post THE B-WORD: Will Bankruptcies Spike In The Wake Of COVID-19? first appeared on Atom Law Group.

John Lettieri, the President & CEO of the Economic Innovation Group, a bipartisan research and public policy organization, shed light on this issue in an essay published in November of 2019. In it, Lettieri discusses the implications of our declining population growth. While the U.S. population grows each year, it grows by a smaller margin – about 900,000 fewer people each year. Lettieri explained that this has a serious effect on our economy on a national and state level, but especially at the municipal level, where population loss, “depresses home values and weakens municipal finances,” and stunts entrepreneurship due to fewer workers and potential customers.

A potential solution? “Place-based” visas. Such a visa would aim immigrants – especially skilled immigrants – to the regions in our country that are struggling due to these demographic and economic declines. In the same way that employment-based visas require sponsorship by employers for skilled immigrants to be considered and granted a visa for entry, a place-based visa may involve the implementation of such a program for qualified regions and municipalities all across the U.S., and a commitment on the part of immigrants that is similar to those that are here on employment-based visas.

The best part? Whereas certain political figures and media outlets use immigrants as a scapegoat for certain economic issues, a place-based visa would do the exact opposite. Immigrants on place-based visas would contribute directly to and have an entirely positive impact on the U.S. economy.

Why  not  try? It’s a win-win for everyone.

The post PLACE-BASED VISAS: What They Are & Why We Should Try Them first appeared on Atom Law Group.

The federal government’s final rule on the public charge ground of inadmissability adds an additional and very significant element to the adjudication of an immigrant’s residency and citizenship applications. It targets the economic background of those who are non-citizens and aren’t permanent residents. How? Applicants will now be asked to report information and documentation of their credit score and report, financial liabilities including mortgage, credit card payments, student loan debt, tax liens, and any public benefits used such as Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps), and subsidized housing benefits.

Why? In the USCIS’ own words, “self-sufficiency has long been a basic principle of U.S. immigration law.” Requiring citizenship and green card applicants to report such information, the USCIS explains, “clarifies the factors considered when determining whether someone is likely at any time in the future to become a public charge.” If the determination is made that an applicant is likely to be a financial burden to the U.S. and its tax-paying citizens, then the applicant may be ineligible for admission or adjustment of status.

What this means for immigration attorneys is more work for, presumably, fewer clients. In addition to the current USCIS forms used to apply for and acquire, first, a green card, and then citizenship, immigration attorneys will now have to prepare the USCIS’ Form I-944 – and 18-page form which will require the preparation and submission of proportionately more exhibits, or evidences of the requested information. 

As a law firm that practices immigration law and an advocate for immigrants of all ethnic, cultural, religious, and economic backgrounds, it’s not the extra work that concerns us. It’s that the new rule furthers the discrimination of those who want to come to this country for economic opportunity. They leave their home countries for precisely the opposite reason, and rendering them inadmissable through this lens is un-American.

Ironically, experts estimate that the U.S. economy will suffer from the Public Charge rule. Either way, all we can do within the scope of immigration law is our best, and we will continue to do so.

The post What to Know About the Public Charge Rule first appeared on Atom Law Group.

Many of these applications are put together and submitted without the help of an immigration attorney. Why not? Well, legal fees may be one reason. The cost of many basic immigration applications can be a few thousand dollars. The USCIS filing fees, alone, aren’t cheap, and not all immigrants are financially stable enough to afford an immigration lawyer.

We aren’t saying that all of the 12 thousand plus Adjustment of Status applications that were submitted without the help of an immigration attorney were denied, but they certainly weren’t all accepted. In those cases, many applicants who’ve been rejected, or received an RFE (Request for Evidence), rush to hire an immigration lawyer to see their application through successfully. This is because a denial can have severe implications on an immigrant’s future status.

At that point, applicants begin to understand that they should have hired an immigration lawyer from the start. Here’s why:

1. You have limited time. Trying to put together a complex immigration application from scratch will take up a lot of your time, and without the necessary knowledge and experience, a rushed application will have a much smaller chance of success.
2. You may not know your rights. A seasoned immigration lawyer will know when and where to be a buffer between you, the USCIS, and the adjudicating officer. Sometimes, it’s better to say less.
3. Your intentions are good, but you may create legal issues for yourself or your family in applying. Nothing in the immigration process is as straight-forward as you may think. What you understand as information you need to provide, as suggested by the USCIS and all other interpretations of their policies you can find online, may actually get you in trouble.
4. Without an immigration lawyer, there’s a good chance your application will take longer to process. Especially over the last few years, new policies and bureaucracy have slowed the family-based Adjustment of Status process. Immigration lawyers know when and how to navigate through such delays.

At the end of the day, if you’re considering whether or not to hire an immigration lawyer for your application, whether you’re on the petitioner or beneficiary side, it’s always a good choice to play it safe and hire one. As a law firm that specializes in immigration, we’re not sharing this advice because new clients generate income – we don’t do it for money. We help our clients legally secure their places in this country they call home. We care. Give us a call if you or someone you know has any immigration needs. Even if you choose not to hire us, we will still point you in the right direction, because we care about you.

The post ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS: Why You Should Hire An Immigration Lawyer first appeared on Atom Law Group.

That common interest may be music. If it is, you’re in the same community as Atom Law Group. Some of the very same reasons that make us the successful, grounded firm that we are, we owe to the creativity that is developed and exerted through music and its makings. But this isn’t unique to just us. Millions of people belong to this community.

Unfortunately, not all children and teens have access to the instruments they want and love to play. Similarly, a majority of these youngsters lack access to music education. Especially in Chicago.

Enter One City, a jazz-based instrumental music program that started, in-part thanks to our Founder, SohYoon Atac, who is a member of the Board, to engage and uplift the lives of the children of our city, and their communities. 

A part of the VanderCook College of Music, One City offers free music lessons, rehearsals, and instruments to elementary and middle school-aged children in Bronzeville, and the surrounding Chicago south side communities. Students who complete the program through the 8th grade get to keep their instrument forever, but it’s not just a free instrument that they’re getting. We believe in the positive impact that music can have on our youth should they only have an opportunity to create it.

Giving back isn’t, and shouldn’t, be limited to music. How do you give back? How does your company, or the team you’re in within it, give back? If you come up short of an answer, and you need ideas, then look no further than VanderCook’s OneCity program. We’ll share details about this year’s  Sounds of Bronzeville  fundraiser soon, and would love to clap, dance, and give back to Chicago’s youth together with you!

The post Giving Back Through Music first appeared on Atom Law Group.