VIA Times – April 2016 Issue Vital News, Vibrant Views for Asian Americans in Chicago & Midwest

By: Robert Gard   USCIS Issues New Memo on “Porting” (Changing Employment) While Waiting for Adjudication of Pending Employment-Based I-485 Application for Permanent Resident Status On March 18, 2016 USCIS issued new guidance regarding when a foreign national “green card” ...

Watts of Love just delivered over 1,000 lights to the people of the Philippines– Without your support, we could not have been abl to impact thousands of life. Many thanks and blessings Nancy Economou Founder/President of Watts of Love Editor’s ...

By: Veronica Leighton   For beginning ofApril, many have the tendency to become kind of loony for April Fool’s Day on April 1st, but after that as Spring comes forward and everything starts to smell fresh, fresh flowers, fresh grass, ...

By: Ryan Tejero   Formed in 1984, the Filipino American Association of South Du Page (FAASD) is composed of Fil-Am families residing in the cities and villages of Darien, Downers Grove, Westmont, Willow Brook, Woodridge, Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale, Oak Brook, ...

By: Jan Paul C. Ferrer   Parenthood is a life-changing event, and for the LGBT community it requires thoughtful planning. After you’ve decided to explore adoption or surrogacy, there are an array of financial and legal considerations to take into account. ...

By: Victoria Smith   Oh calm sublime, oh sacred time: How elusive you are to this mortal scribe! Might you appoint your charms to bless, this creator-soul’s restlessness? Poet’s Notes: Once again, it’s April—National Poetry Month. As a poet and ...

Vicki’s publishers and editors in Brain Mill Press, Ms. Ruthie Knox and Ms. Mary Ann Hudson and Vicki at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) Conference Book signing on April 1. Vicki’s GMA-7 TV interview with reporter, Mr. ...

By: Joe Mauricio   Election time is a season of promises, in the U.S., Philippines, anywhere in the world. Politicians running for public offices make promises to entice voters to vote for them to win the election. These promises are ...

By: Melody Dizon   When belief becomes a value….When value becomes a passion…. When passion becomes a voice……When voice becomes action……. When action becomes advocacy…… To be an advocate is to be an intercessor, a supporter, a person who pleads ...

By: Jovie Calma   What makes ordinary people do terrible things? What makes us good? What makes us evil? Some people argue that humans are born good or born bad; I think that’s nonsense. We are all born with this ...