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Ian M. Seruelo

Ian M. Seruelo

Law Offices of Ian M. Seruelo
  • Immigration Law, Employment Law
  • California
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Biography

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.

Practice Areas
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
Additional Practice Area
  • Asylum Law
Fees
  • Free Consultation
  • Credit Cards Accepted
  • Contingent Fees
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
California
State Bar of California
ID Number: 303760
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Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
  • Spanish: Spoken, Written
  • Tagalog: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
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)
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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.
Education
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 Logo
Thomas Jefferson School of Law
Certificate Certificate Law and Social Justice (2014)
-
Thomas Jefferson School of Law Logo
University of the Philippines - Visayas
B.S. (1995) | Business Administration (Marketing)
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Awards
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
Jefferson Medal (Employment Discrimination Law)
Thomas Jefferson School of Law
Jefferson Medal (Global Workplace Law)
Thomas Jefferson School of Law
Professional Associations
Filipino American Lawyers of San Diego
Member
- Current
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California State Bar  # 303760
Member
- Current
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American Bar Association
Member
- Current
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American Immigration Lawyers Association
Member
- Current
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San Diego County Bar Association
Member
-
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Speaking Engagements
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
Naturalization and Immigration Relief Options, Naturalization and Immigration Relief Options, San Diego, California
Employee Rights Center
The Benefits and Process of Naturalization, IBEW - ERC Informational Citizens Workshop, El Centro, California
The Continued Relevance of Labor Unions, Guest Lecture at Employment/Labor Law Class, San Diego, California
TJSL
Diversity in Law Practice, Center for Solo Practitioners, San Diego, California
Center for Solo Practitioners
A Prensentation on DACA, Expanded DACA and DAPA, Community Feature Presentation, San Diego, California
Center for Solo Practitioners
Building Your Credibility and Likability, Center for Solo Practitioner Presentation Series, San Diego, California
TJSL Center for Solo Practitioner
Recruitment to Deployment: Experiences of Filipino Migrant Workers in Pursuit of Work in the United States, CCLC Labor Working Group Meeting, San Diego, California
Casa Cornelia Labor Working Group
Certifications
Certificate for Law and Social Justice
Thomas Jefferson School of Law
Websites & Blogs
Website
Law Offices of Ian M Seruelo
Legal Answers
3 Questions Answered
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
View More Answers
Contact & Map
Law Offices of Ian M. Seruelo
7710 Balboa Avenue
Suite 325
San Diego, CA 92111
Telephone: (858) 256-0227
Cell: (281) 455-2462
Monday: 9 AM - 6 PM
Tuesday: 9 AM - 6 PM
Wednesday: 9 AM - 6 PM
Thursday: 9 AM - 6 PM (Today)
Friday: 9 AM - 6 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed