Ian M. Seruelo
Law Offices of Ian M. Seruelo
Ian M. Seruelo is a passionate and staunch advocate for worker and immigrant rights. An activist at heart, having him on your side means you have a champion who will fight for your rights and interest with intensity and dedication.
Mr. Seruelo has a long experience of activism and community organizing in the Philippines and in the United States. He has a passion for social and economic justice, and was deeply involved in various campaigns and movements that advance the interest of the marginalized. From his years in law school up to the present, he has volunteered thousands of hours to assists low-income immigrants and workers. He assists and/or provides pro bono legal services to different non-profits and community organizations in providing services to different minority communities such as the Pilipino Workers Center, Employee Rights Center, Somali Bantu Organization of America, Alliance San Diego, San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program, and many others.
As an attorney, Mr. Seruelo continues his passion as an advocate for immigrant communities and the working sector. The Law Offices of Ian M. Seruelo handles the following types of cases:
I. Immigration:
T-Visa, U-Visa, VAWA, Affirmative and Defensive Asylum, Withholding of Removal, Relief under the Convention Against Torture, Removal or Deportation Defense, Cancellation of Removal or Deportation, Family Petition, Adjustment of Status (Green Card Application), Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Consular Processing, Naturalization, Citizenship, H1B, TN Visas, Employment-Based Visas, DACA, etc.
II. Labor & Employment:
Wage and Hour, Wrongful Termination, Discrimination in the Workplace, Retaliation, etc.
Note: Mr. Seruelo is fluent in Filipino (Tagalog) and Hiligaynon (Ilonggo). The law firm is also staffed with a bilingual Spanish speaker.
- Immigration Law
- Asylum, Citizenship, Deportation Defense, Family Visas, Green Cards, Immigration Appeals, Investment Visas, Marriage & Fiancé(e) Visas, Student Visas, Visitor Visas, Work Visas
- Employment Law
- Employee Benefits, Employment Contracts, Employment Discrimination, ERISA, Overtime & Unpaid Wages, Sexual Harassment, Whistleblower, Wrongful Termination
- Asylum Law
- Free Consultation
- Credit Cards Accepted
- Contingent Fees
- California
- State Bar of California
- ID Number: 303760
- English: Spoken, Written
- Spanish: Spoken, Written
- Tagalog: Spoken, Written
- Principal
- Law Offices of Ian M. Seruelo
- - Current
- Contract Attorney
- Somali Bantu Association of America
- - Current
- Providing pro bono or low bono service in the areas of immigration to member of the organization.
- Legal Counsel
- Pilipino Workers Center
- - Current
- Providing legal assistance in the organization's anti-trafficking and immigration program. | Providing pro bono or low bono service in the areas of immigration and employment law to its members
- Immigration Attorney
- Employee Rights Center
- - Current
- Providing pro bono or low bono service in the areas of immigration and employment law
- Attorney at Law
- Law Offices of Ian M. Seruelo
- - Current
- The Law ffices of Ian M. Seruelo handles the following types of cases: I. Immigration: T-Visa, U-Visa, VAWA, Affirmative and Defensive Asylum, Withholding of Removal, Relief under the Convention Against Torture, Removal or Deportation Defense, Cancellation of Removal or Deportation, Family Petition, Adjustment of Status (Green Card Application), Consular Processing, Naturalization, Citizenship, H1B, TN Visas, Employment-Based Visas, DACA, etc. II. Labor & Employment: Wage and Hour, Wrongful Termination, Discrimination in the Workplace, Retaliation, etc.
- Legal Intern
- Law Office of Amanda Thompson (Civil, Employment)
- -
- Researched and prepared legal memoranda on different employment law issues.
- Summer Clerk
- United Taxi Workers of San Diego (UTWSD)
- -
- Researched and wrote policy documents advocating for the rights and welfare of taxi lease drivers who are mostly made up of East African immigrants. | Assisted in organizing efforts. | Participated in administrative agency hearings and a City Council Committee hearing on issues affecting taxi drivers.
- Legal Intern
- Law Office of Paula Gonzalez (Immigration)
- -
- Researched and prepared legal memoranda on different immigration law issues. | Researched and drafted clients’ application for waiver of unlawful presence. | Coordinate with clients.
- Peggy Browning Fellow
- Industrial Division of the Communication Workers of America (IUE-CWA)
- -
- Researched and prepared legal memoranda on issues of different locals of the labor union. Topics included different areas of labor and employment law. | Participated in advocacy events on immigration reform. | Participated in protest activities and community coalition building efforts of the union.
- Legal Intern
- Unitarian Universalist Refugee & Immigrant Services & Education (UURISE)
- -
- Participated in the conduct of citizenship/naturalization and DACA application assistance programs in connection with UURISE’s involvement in the Dreamers Action Network and San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium.
- Thomas Jefferson School of Law
- J.D. (2014) | Law
- -
- Honors: Cum Laude
- Activities: Thomas Jefferson Law Review, Labor and Employment Law Association, Immigration Law Society, Asia Pacific American Law Students Association
- Thomas Jefferson School of Law
- Certificate Certificate Law and Social Justice (2014)
- -
- University of the Philippines - Visayas
- B.S. (1995) | Business Administration (Marketing)
- -
- Rising Stars
- Super Lawyers Magazine
- Rising Stars
- Super Lawyers Magazine
- FEFL Bayani Award
- Filipino Educators Federation of Louisiana (FEFL)
- TJSL Pro Bono Honors
- Thomas Jefferson School of Law
- Cum Laude Academic Honors
- Thomas Jefferson School of Law
- Filipino American Lawyers of San Diego
- Member
- - Current
- California State Bar  # 303760
- Member
- - Current
- American Bar Association
- Member
- - Current
- American Immigration Lawyers Association
- Member
- - Current
- San Diego County Bar Association
- Member
- -
- Battles Over Masks Grow Desperate
- Capital & Main
- Nanay Fedelina Reunites With Her Family
- Tribune.net.ph
- Virus Spreads in CA Detention Center as ICE Covers Up Pepper Spraying, Neglect
- www.SouthernBorder.org
- Relief for Victims of Human Trafficking, Albuquerque Filipino Teachers Assembly, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Pilipino Workers Center
- Comprehensive Strategies to Fight Human Trafficking, Towards Freedom: Filipino American Anti-Human Trafficking Summit 2019, Los Angeles, California
- Pilipino Workers Center
- Understanding the Changing Immigration Policies, Towards Freedom: Filipino American Anti-Human Trafficking Summit 2019, Los Angeles, California
- Pilipino Workers Center
- Finding Solutions in the Midst of Hostility, Towards Freedom: Filipino American Anti-Human Trafficking Summit 2019, Los Angeles, California
- Pilipino Workers Center
- Organizing Outside of the NLRA's Protections: The UTWSD Example, TJSL Labor Law Class Spring 2016, San Diego, California
- TJSL
- Certificate for Law and Social Justice
- Thomas Jefferson School of Law
- Website
- Law Offices of Ian M Seruelo
- Q. Can a U.S. Citizen Abroad be deported for having a criminal record?
- A: If he is able to prove that he is a US Citizen, then he could not be deported. Though there may not be enough time to apply for the Certificate of Citizenship for him if he transferred to ICE custody in June. But its good to have that process started right way. Please consult an immigration attorney right away.
- Q. Pls help with e- 9 verification details. My job gonna terminate me
- A: An employee can present a List A document OR a combination of List B and C documents. Your EAD card is a List A document. Without it you can present a combination of List B and C documents. So you can present you Drivers License (List B document) and your Social Security Card (List C document). That should be sufficient. Print this and show your employer: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/acceptable-documents.
- Q. Question about I 864 affidavit of support
- A: If any of the following is true, then you do not need to include him:
If he...
a. Became a US citizen, or
b. Has worked, or can be credited with, 40 qualifying quarters of Social security earnings, or
c. No longer has lawful permanent resident status and has departed the U.S., or
d. Was placed in removal proceedings, but was granted cancellation of removal or a new adjustment of status, or
e. Dies