Dear Family, Friends, Clients, and Colleagues,

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

Phew, what a year 2017 had been!

We started 2017 with a presidential executive order that discriminated against Muslims, or otherwise known as the “travel ban.” Californians and others around the country would not have this, and we came out in the thousands at major airports and at courthouse steps to protest against this un-American executive order. My colleagues and I volunteered at San Francisco and SanJose airports to assist those who had families and loved ones stuck at the immigration check point as the ban took effect while the travelers were in the air and en route to the United States. Frankly, attorneys all over the world were willing and ready to assist those traveling to the U.S. with legitimate visas who risked being turned away once they reached the U.S. I could not be more proud to be an immigration attorney and this gives me hope as an American.

But we still have so much to do. As, during the remainder of the year, we continued to see assault to immigration policies that had made America great – policies that encouraged American businesses to hire and retain talented foreign workers; policies that protected immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, and who grew up in the U.S. as the only home they know, from deportation; policies that gave protected status to those whose countries had been undergoing war/armed-conflict, natural and environmental disasters and other extraordinary circumstances. These new changes in immigration affect over 1.1 million of our neighbors and our friends.

We at Yew Immigration Law Group, a P.C., continue to work tirelessly to fulfill our commitment to you and your family. And to our business clients, we believe in your services and products, and the contributions you make to this country; you deserve to hire the most talented and the brightest the global market has to offer, so you can be competitive and do what you do best. Each and every one of YOU, indeed, are the what and the who that makes America great!

A quick update on what’s happened at our office this past year:

  • Principal attorney – I, Alison Yew, continue to be the principal attorney. You will always meet or speak with me on all your substantive issues including at your first/consultation meeting.
  • Paralegal – Jenni Bales has joined us as our paralegal. She has many years of legal experience. In addition, she has a Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and is working on her doctorate; her dissertation appropriately focuses on community development relating to the current immigrant population in the Bay Area. Her community services include being a chaplain at the Santa Clara County Jail.
  • Scheduler/Admin Assistant – We have been streamlining our telephone processes and we now have a designated scheduler who takes (or returns) your calls and schedules you for a meeting or a phone conference, as appropriate, with Alison. We believe this process will enable Alison to give you her undivided attention when speaking or meeting with you, because this time has been slated just for you. Michelle Kirst will join us in the new year to take on theadministrative assistant role; she comes to us with many years of receptionist experience with CPA offices especially during busy filing seasons.
  • Location – We continue to be at our new office, 1155 N. First Street #210, San Jose CA 95112, and we have now been here for 1.25 years. Time has sure flown and if you have not visited us here, please feel free to do so and say “hi.”
  • Website – If gave updated our look and feel and hopefully the navigation is easier with our new design. Come give it a whirl if you haven’t done so already, at www.yewlegal.com. If you have any suggestions to make your experience better, please let us know.

We hope to continue to keep you updated on immigration news in the upcoming year. Find us on social media for the most up-to-date news and trends. Do not hesitate to let us know what’s going on with you; we welcome your stories and how you’ve made the most of your immigration journey.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May your 2018 be the year of receiving and giving joy and blessings!

Best,
Alison Yew