RESOURCES · FIRM UPDATES
Firm Updates & Policy Insights
Policy developments, case observations, and firm announcements in immigration and litigation, based on verifiable sources.
California Court of Appeal Ruling on Mandatory Employment Arbitration (Molina v. Triumph), October 2026: Requiring an Arbitration Agreement as a Condition of Employment Is Unlawful, and Agreements Outside the FAA Are Unenforceable
On October 22, 2026, a California Court of Appeal published its decision in Molina v. Triumph Residential Services: an employer that makes signing an arbitration agreement a condition of employment violates the California Labor Code, and where both sides agree the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) does not apply, such an agreement is unenforceable. The court did not address agreements governed by the FAA.
Read moreMy H-1B Six Years Are Almost Up and I Don't Have a Green Card Yet. Can I Extend? Two Ways to Get a Seventh Year
It depends on how far along your green card case is. A PERM or I-140 filed at least 365 days earlier generally allows one-year extensions; an approved I-140 with a priority date not yet current generally allows three-year extensions. If neither applies, you can recapture time abroad, change status, or reset the clock after a year abroad.
Read moreCan Adding Your Child to the Deed Replace a Living Trust? Three Ways California Parents Pass Down a Home
In California, adding a child to the title can generally let the house pass outside court when the parents die, but it gives away part of the ownership now. A living trust or a transfer-on-death deed lets parents keep full ownership while they are alive.
Read moreDoes a California Estate Need Probate Without a Living Trust? Process, Timeline, and Costs
Without a living trust, assets above the small-estate limit usually go through California probate. Courts estimate 9 to 18 months, and statutory fees are based on gross estate value, with no deduction for the mortgage.
Read moreEB-1A or NIW? Comparing Standards, Evidence, Wait Times and Risks
EB-1A requires meeting 3 of 10 regulatory criteria; NIW must satisfy the three Dhanasar prongs. Neither needs an employer, but their wait times and sticking points differ.
Read moreHow Long Does a California Civil Lawsuit Take? The Full Process and Timeline from Filing to Judgment (2026)
There is no fixed timeline for a California lawsuit. In fiscal year 2024–25, 65% of unlimited civil cases were resolved within 12 months, 86% within 24 months, and about 83% ended before trial.
Read moreCan USCIS Now Deny Without an RFE? Policy Alert PA-2026-05, Common RFE Triggers, and How to Respond
On August 5, 2026, USCIS issued Policy Alert PA-2026-05: when required initial evidence is missing or insufficient, officers may deny a filing outright without first sending an RFE or NOID.
Read moreLos Angeles Speed Safety Cameras Go Live in October 2026: Drivers 11+ mph Over the Limit Face $50–$500 Fines After a 60-Day Warning Period
The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) switched on its first roughly 20 automated speed cameras on October 26, 2026, with 125 planned by year-end. Drivers going 11 mph or more over the limit are photographed by license plate. Each location starts with a 60-day warning period; after that, civil fines run $50 to $500 with no points on the driver's license.
Read moreCalifornia Court of Appeal PAGA Arbitration Ruling (Castillo v. Belkorp AG), October 2026: Non-Individual-Only PAGA Cases Stay in Court as Supreme Court Hears Leeper on November 3
On October 23, 2026, California's Fifth District Court of Appeal held in Castillo v. Belkorp AG that when an employee brings only non-individual PAGA claims on behalf of other workers, the employer cannot use an arbitration agreement to send the case to arbitration. The appellate districts are split, and the California Supreme Court hears the related Leeper v. Shipt case on November 3.
Read moreLaid Off on an H-1B: How Long Can You Stay, and What Are Your Options in the 60-Day Grace Period?
After an H-1B layoff, current rules generally allow a grace period of up to 60 days (not past your I-94 end date). A new employer's petition, a change of status, or a green card filing within that window lets you stay.
Read moreHit by an Uninsured or Hit-and-Run Driver in California: Who Pays Your Medical Bills and Damages?
When the other driver has no insurance or flees the scene, the usual route is an uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) claim with your own insurer. A hit-and-run UM claim requires a police report within 24 hours, a sworn statement within 30 days, and physical contact with the other vehicle.
Read moreCaught Shoplifting in California as an International Student: Will It Affect Your Visa?
Shoplifting under $950 in California is usually a misdemeanor, but theft is often treated as a crime involving moral turpitude and can affect visa renewal, reentry, and green card applications. Keep your court date, seek diversion before any plea, and know that a California dismissal may still need to be disclosed on immigration forms.
Read moreCan a Criminal Record Affect Your Green Card or Citizenship? What Non-Citizens Should Know Before a Plea
Whether a criminal record affects a green card or naturalization depends on the specific offense, the sentence, and your immigration stage. Immigration law has its own definition of a conviction, and California record clearing usually does not erase a conviction for immigration purposes. The most important moment is before you enter a plea.
Read moreHow to Clear a Criminal Record in California: 1203.4 Dismissals, Automatic Relief, and Arrest Record Sealing
California has no true expungement that deletes a record. What people call expungement is mainly a Penal Code 1203.4 dismissal, alongside 1203.41, automatic relief, and arrest record sealing. Record clearing helps a great deal with jobs, but for immigration it usually does not erase a conviction.
Read moreArrested for DUI in California? What to Do in the First 10 Days: The DMV Hearing, License Suspension, and Court
After a California DUI arrest, the DMV handles your license and the court handles the criminal charge, on two separate tracks. To get a DMV hearing before the suspension takes effect, you must request it within 10 days of receiving the suspension notice.
Read moreDivorce and Immigration Status: What Happens to Green Card Holders and International Marriages?
How divorce affects your immigration status depends on what status you hold and how far along you are. A 10-year green card does not end because of divorce; a 2-year conditional green card requires an I-751 waiver to remove conditions.
Read moreSmall Claims or a Full Lawsuit? How to Recover Up to $12,500 in California, and How to Choose
California small claims court caps individual claims at $12,500 and business claims at $6,250, and lawyers can't represent you at the hearing. For simple, well-documented disputes under the limit, it is usually faster and cheaper.
Read moreCan You Apply for an NIW Without Publications? A Guide for Non-Academic Applicants
Nothing in the NIW rules requires published papers. USCIS looks at EB-2 eligibility and the three Dhanasar prongs, and publications are only one kind of evidence. Engineers and founders without papers can rely on project results, patents, industry adoption, and independent expert letters.
Read moreCalifornia Statute of Limitations for Contract Disputes: Written Contracts, Oral Agreements, and Fraud
In California, you generally have 4 years to sue over a written contract, 2 years for an oral one, and 3 years for fraud or mistake, counted from discovery. Miss the deadline and the other side can raise it as a defense.
Read moreU.S. Estate Tax for Non-Resident Owners of American Homes and Stocks: What Foreign Families Need to Know
The federal estate tax has two sets of rules. In 2026, U.S. citizens and domiciliaries get a $15 million exemption per person, while nonresident aliens get only a $13,000 unified credit against U.S.-situs assets, with rates up to 40%.
Read moreHow to Prepare for a Marriage Green Card Interview: Together or Separate, How Long Results Take, and Common Questions
Almost every marriage-based green card case filed inside the U.S. goes to an interview. Most couples are interviewed together, and officers separate them only when they have doubts. You may be approved on the spot, or asked for more evidence, or wait while the case stays under review. There is no fixed timeline.
Read moreHow Long Does a Divorce Take in California, and What Does It Cost? The Full Process from Filing to Judgment
California has a mandatory waiting period that cannot be shortened: at least six months from the date the other spouse is served or formally appears before the court can end the marriage. The court filing fee is currently $435.
Read moreServed With a California Lawsuit? What to Do in the First 30 Days
If you are sued in California superior court, the summons generally gives you 30 days after service to file a written response with the court. A phone call or letter to the other side does not count, and missing the deadline can lead to a default judgment.
Read moreLingtu Case Manager Karina Yu Speaks to World Journal About an F-1 Student Stopped by ICE at LAX
World Journal reported on October 11 that a Chinese student holding a valid F-1 visa was stopped by ICE while entering the U.S. at LAX. Lingtu Law case manager Karina Yu was interviewed for the story.
Read moreThe Insurer Made a Quick Settlement Offer After My California Car Accident. Is It Too Low?
An insurance company's first number is often below the full value of the claim. Before you sign, check whether treatment is finished, whether the offer covers all of your losses, and whether it accounts for non-economic damages.
Read moreAttorney Shenqi Cai and Team Attend CAALA Vegas 2026
Over Labor Day weekend, Attorney Shenqi Cai and the Lingtu Law team attended the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles convention in Las Vegas.
Read moreCalifornia Car Accident Statute of Limitations: How Long Do You Have, and What Can Extend or Shorten It?
In California, a car accident injury lawsuit generally must be filed within 2 years of the injury, and a property damage claim within 3 years. If a government agency is at fault, a written claim is due within 6 months of the accident.
Read moreOctober 2026 Lawsuits: Universities Sue ICE Over CPT Limits; Applicants Challenge USCIS I-485 Green Card Policies
On October 5, 2026, universities sued DHS in Massachusetts federal court to vacate ICE's August 2026 CPT restrictions, and a separate suit challenged two USCIS green card policies, including denials without an RFE. Both sets of policies remain in effect pending rulings.
Read moreWhat to Do in the First Week After a California Car Accident: Police, Medical Care, Insurance, and an Evidence Checklist
In the first week after a California car accident, get medical care, preserve the evidence, and notify your own insurance company. If anyone was hurt or property damage exceeds $1,000, you must file an SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days.
Read moreLiving Trust vs. Will in California: What's the Difference, and How Do You Avoid Probate?
In California, a will alone doesn't avoid probate; if the property in your name exceeds the small estate thresholds, your estate usually has to go through court after death. Assets transferred into a living trust generally don't go through probate.
Read moreOctober 2026 Visa Bulletin: China-Born EB-3 Filing Date Advances 814 Days
In the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, released September 29, 2026, the China-born EB-3 filing date jumps 814 days to April 1, 2024 and EB-2 moves to January 1, 2023. USCIS accepts employment-based I-485s under Chart B in October; final action dates barely move.
Read moreSeptember 2026 Birth Tourism Visa Restrictions: Agencies and Families May Be Refused
On September 23, 2026, the State Department announced visa restrictions under INA 212(a)(3)(C) for anyone who engages in, has engaged in, or facilitates birth tourism, including agency operators, visa agents, overseas medical providers and certain family members. Nearly 900 visas have been revoked.
Read more2026 Public Charge Rule Takes Effect Sept. 18: Medicaid and SNAP Now Count in I-485 Green Card Review
DHS's revised public charge rule took effect September 18, 2026: for I-485 green card applications filed since then, USCIS may weigh Medicaid, SNAP and housing aid the applicant personally received. Family members' benefits don't count. As of September 23, 2026, no court had blocked it.
Read moreNew Form I-485 (09/18/26 Edition) Required From Sept. 18, 2026: Old Edition Rejected, 8 New Financial Questions
Starting September 18, 2026, USCIS accepts only the 09/18/26 edition of Form I-485; the 01/20/25 edition is rejected with no grace period. Part 9 adds 8 questions on household income, assets, debts and public benefits for green card applicants.
Read moreSeptember 2026: Federal Court Blocks Rule Ending Duration of Status (D/S), F-1 and J-1 Students Avoid 4-Year Cap
A Boston federal judge issued a preliminary injunction on September 14, 2026, blocking the rule that would end duration of status (D/S) and cap F-1 and J-1 stays at 4 years. D/S stays in place until the case is decided.
Read moreLingtu Law Completes Strategic Upgrade, Officially Opens City of Industry Office
Lingtu Law APC recently completed a strategic upgrade of its brand and offices and officially opened its new office in the City of Industry.
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