Allan,
My name is Brian F. I am sure you remember me, I have written and talked to you several times over the past couple of years about getting my wife and I out of Russia. I am getting really worried about this situation, and wondering if we are ever going to go home. We are stuck in a terrible situation in that we are not able to pay for services because I am living in Russia, and yet because I am here, I am losing tens of thousands while I am not able to work in the US! I am seriously considering getting a loan to hire you to take our case. I was very impressed with the way you dealt with me. Of all the attorneys I talked to, you are the only one I would hire.
I want to ask you a quick question. Is it possible to change the type of visa during the process? We are members of the [ ] Church. I have been a member for 18 years, and am ordained as a deacon. My wife has been a member for 7 years and has a theology degree. We have been talking to some of our other Russian members who are going to the US right and left because they are escaping religious persecution . . . .
I don't know what falls under the term “religious persecution”, but we do seriously face dangers of being physically attacked. We have been verbally attacked and harassed by Skinheads and Russian Orthodox activists on a number of occasions. . . . I was returning from work with a group of mostly student pastors when our van was run off the road (by a drunk security officer and police officer). . . . I could go on and on. What can we do?
We have a baby coming in May, so this is getting pretty serious for us.
Thanks,
Brian F. living in Russia
Spouse in Russia
Response from Attorney:
Brian,
It would not be a conflict for you to apply for political asylum for religious persecution while at the same time having your spousal visa in process. It should not slow case processing any more than it is already going. I know you filed your spousal visa on your own last July and have not gotten the results you want. I wish you would have hired us in the beginning.
We handle only marriage based immigration in this office. If you want more information regarding possible political asylum, I suggest you contact [ ], an attorney who specializes in that area.
Regards,
Allan S. Lolly, Esq.
Holmes & Lolly, Immigration Attorneys
858-483-0300
attorneys@fianceevisas.com
