Attorneys at Law
Stephen Terpak, partner
 |
Stephen M. Terpak practices personal injury law, civil litigation, federal civil appeals and traffic law. As an accident attorney, he has handled hundreds of cases and faced off against some of the most powerful corporations and governments in the world. Mr. Terpak focuses on service and results for every client. Send Stephen Terpak an email.
Accident Attorney for Fairfax VA
We handle Fairfax VA legal matters everyday. If you need an accident attorney in Fairfax VA, or if you need help with another legal matter, please call our office for a free consultation.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Arlington VA
We have been handling Arlington Virginia accidents for twelve years. Our office is just a few miles from the Arlington County courthouse. If you have an accident or injury we will explain the process so you can decide whether you need an accident attorney.
Alexandria Virginia Personal Injury Lawyer
Our office is just a few miles from the Pentagon, Old Town Alexandria, Crystal City and Reagan National Airport. If you need an accident lawyer in Alexandria VA, please call for a free consultation.
Accident Attorney in Arlington VA
We are located in Arlington VA, near the corner of George Mason Drive and Columbia Pike. We offer free consultations for personal injury and traffic cases.
Fairfax Traffic Lawyer
Fairfax traffic lawyers will tell you that police in Northern Virginia almost always show up to court, and if they don't, judges frequently continue the cases to give the police a chance to show up. If you want to fight a Fairfax County Traffic Ticket or Reckless Driving charge you must be prepared for trial. Traffic prosecutors in Fairfax traffic cases will only negotiate cases with a lawyer. Please call our office for more information or a free consultation.
Arlington Virginia Traffic Lawyer
Arlington County Police issue a many traffic tickets, especially on I-395, George Mason Drive, Lee Highway, Route 66, Wilson Boulevard, and Glebe Road. Our traffic lawyers have been fighting Arlington Virginia Traffic Tickets for over 10 years. We are located just a few miles from the Arlington VA courthouse. If you have an Arlington VA Traffic Ticket and are wondering whether you need an Arlington VA Traffic Lawyer, call Terpak & Shakil for a free case evaluation.
Alexandria Virginia Traffic Lawyer
Alexandria Virginia Traffic Court is located at 520 King Street. If you need an Traffic Lawyer in Alexandria VA, please call our office and ask for Virginia traffic attorney Steve Terpak. Mr. Terpak has been working as an Alexandria Virginia Traffic Lawyer for over 10 years. Mr. Terpak also handles traffic cases in the federal district court in Alexandria, Virginia.
Tips on Buying Auto Insurance in Virginia:
"Full Coverage" is not full coverage. To an insurance salesperson, "full coverage" means you have liablity, collision, and comprehensive coverages. However, a good auto policy also has "med pay" coverage and very high liability and uninsured motoriest (UM/UIM) limits. If you are injured by an uninsured driver, your insurance company may be responsible to pay you up to the limit of your uninsured liability (UM) limits for the negligence of the uninsured driver. Under Virginia law you UM coverage automatically mirrors your liablity coverage. We frequently work on cases where UM/UIM coverage is used. The most important thing you can do to protect your family from the consequences of an auto accident injury is to have high liablity limits, have adequate "med pay" coverage, and never agree to reduced UM coverage.
Our Northern Virginia Location:
943 S. George Mason Drive, Suite 200
Arlington, VA 22204
Office: 703.933.0266
Emergencies, after hours, or weekends:
703.898.6328
Moona Shakil Ali, partner
 |
Moona Shakil Ali is a northern Virginia immigration attorney handling immigration matters for corporations and individuals. She has extensive experience securing visas and residency for skilled professionals. Aside from her extensive experience with corporate immigration, including PERM, Ms. Shakil handles family immigration cases. She has commented on immigration issues for ABC News served as a panelist at multiple training seminars for lawyers in Virginia. For over a decade, Ms. Shakil has been an immigration attorney representing corporations and individuals from across the United States and around world. Send Moona Shakil Ali an email.
Immigration Through Employment
We handle employment visas and residency for engineers, professionals and all other eligible workers. We represent both employers and employees for corporate visa petitions, including Form I-140, Form I-485, H-1b visa, L visa, PERM and employment based green cards. We secure visas for essential employees and ensure regulatory compliance for corporate employers.
PERM
The first step to receiving permanent residency (green card) through employment is obtaining a permanent labor certification issued by the Department of Labor (DOL). PERM is the process by which an employer files for the labor certificate (Form 9089). After the labor certification application is approved, the employer may file for the employee’s immigrant visa / permanent residency (green card) with USCIS. We have been using the PERM process since the day it was introduced.
Department of Labor
The Department of Labor reviews the recruitment process of businesses who have requested a permanent labor certification through PERM. With proper preparation and legal representation before the case is filed, DOL audits of the recruitment process may be completely avoided or quickly resolved.
Family Based Immigration
We handle all types of family based immigration and visa petitions including the I-130, I-485, K3, K1 (fiancé visa) and family based green cards. Call for information about the National Visa Center, the I-864 (affidavit of support) and the DS-230 (Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration).
US Citizenship, Naturalization
Our Northern Virginia Immigration Attorneys handle US citizenship and naturalization cases and is familiar with Form N-400 and related regulations and court rulings.
Self-Sponsored Immigration
We handle asylum claims, investment visas (E2 visa, EB-5 visa), and VAWA petitions (Violence against Women's Act) (Form I-360).
Work Permit (I-765)
An important immigration benefit is the work permit (I-765). We determine whether an employee is eligible for a work permit or whether he or she is authorized to work in the United States. Northern Virginia Immigration Lawyer Moona Shakil Ali has extensive experience obtaining work permits for her clients and is familiar with Form I-765 and the related regulations and court rulings.
Travel Document (I-131)
Some immigrants who have filed a valid immigration petition with USCIS are not permitted to travel outside of the United States. Other times, an immigrant may travel outside of the US with a “Travel Document” or Form I-131. Immigration Attorney Moona Shakil Ali frequently secures the necessary travel documents for her clients and determines whether a obtaining a travel document is necessary or prudent.
Conditional Greencard / Removing the Conditions on a Greencard
Some permanent residency or green cards are called “conditional green cards.” A conditional green card may be awarded by the USCIS to the spouse of a US citizen and will be valid for two years. Once this time period has passed, and if the USCIS is satisfied that the marriage was entered into in good faith, the couple may file a Petition to Remove Conditions on Permanent Residence (Form I-751). Immigration Lawyer Moona Shakil Ali has assisted many couples with removing the conditions on a conditional green card.
Results for new cases will vary, depending on the facts of each case. Past performance does not gaurantee future results. However, here are a few of our Recent Success Stories:
January 31, 2012: Arlington Reckless Driving: Misdemeanor reckless driving charge for passing a school bus reduced to traffic infraction
January 30, 2012: Car Accident: Alexandria, Virginia resident receives $25,000 settlement for personal injury from three car accident
January 5, 2012: Fairfax Personal Injury: $53,000 settlement for pedestrian struck by car in parking lot after claim denied and lawsuit filed
December 20, 2011: Fairfax Traffic: Reckless driving misdemeanor reduced to speeding infraction
December 13, 2011: Arlington Traffic: Reckless driving charge reduced to traffic infraction
December 8, 2011: Falls Church Accident: $13,750 settlement in traffic accident case
November 3, 2011:Alexandria Traffic: Misdemeanor Driving on Suspended charge dropped
October 11, 2011: Immigration: Technical Project Manager: Intracompany Transfer L-1A Visa Approved
October 7, 2011: Fairfax Personal Injury: $17,000 settlement in traffic accident case
October 6, 2011: Immigration: Senior Telecommunication Engineer: H1-b Visa Approved
October 3, 2011: Arlington Traffic: Misdemeanor traffic ticket for violating the terms of a restricted license dismissed at trial
September 25, 2011: Immigration: Computer Programmer: Category EB3 Green Card Approved
September 1, 2011: Immigration: Computer Systems Analyst: Category EB2 Green Card Approved
August 22, 2011: Immigration: Peace Educator: Category EB2 Green Card Approved
August 22, 2011: Federal Traffic: Federal Traffic ticket dismissed by Federal Magistrate Judge at trial
July 22, 2011: Fairfax Civil Litigation: Possession of apartment granted to landlord in trash hoarding case after trial in Fairfax General District Court
July 20, 2011: Fairfax Traffic: Misdemeanor Reckless Driving 92/55 reduced to traffic infraction of speeding
June 8, 2011: Corporate Immigration: Petition to sponsor a skilled immigrant is approved two days after the firm responds to a request for evidence
April 26, 2011: Fairfax Personal Injury: $20,000 favorable jury verdict in Fairfax County personal injury case that was previously denied by insurance
April 11, 2011: Corporate Immigration: Labor Certificate issued after the firm responds to a Department of Labor audit. Software engineer may now file for permanent residency
March 16, 2011: Loudoun Traffic: Third arrest in 10 years for misdemeanor Driving on a Suspended License reduced to a civil penalty of $10 Loudoun County General District Court
February 1, 2011: Corporate Immigration: Electrical engineers receive H1b approval one week after filing
January, 2011: Arlington Personal Injury: $95,000 settlment for Arlington Virginia Car Accident
November 10, 2010: Prince William Traffic: Reckless driving charged dismissed after trial in Prince William County Traffic Court
Results for new cases will vary, depending on the facts of each case. Past performance does not gaurantee future results.
News Briefs
Northern Virginia Immigration Attorney Moona Shakil Ali on ABC 7 News:
Virginia's top prosecutor says police in Virginia have the authority to ask for proof of citizenship from anyone stopped for even minor infractions, including jay walking or parking violations.
Northern Virginia attorney Moona Shakil Ali specializes in immigration law and thinks the new Virginia opinion, like the Arizona law, could also be overturned in court. But for now she worries it will have a chilling effect on any illegal immigrants working with law enforcement.
The National Council of La Raza told ABC 7 that they believe it is simply politics as usual. They said that the Virginia ruling will only lead to racial profiling and not a workable solution to the immigration problem.
(Full Story)US Relaxes Waiver Rules:
January 6, 2012: Illegal immigrants who are married to or are children of US citizens are generally allowed to become legal residents, but those who did not initially enter the US with a visa to must return home first. Once those immigrants leave the US, they are automatically barred from returning for at least 3 years, and often for 10. Now, the administration proposes a rule change to allow such immigrants to obtain a provisional waiver in the US before they leave, meaning they would almost certainly be able to return to the US.
Source: nytimes.com
Deportation Efforts to Focus on Those with Criminal Records:
November 18, 2011: US immigration authorities are implementing a controversial new policy intended to unclog crowded Immigration Courts by focusing only on cases involving illegal immigrants with criminal records. Federal lawyers are reviewing all new immigration cases to find ones that could be tossed out because they involve illegal immigrants with no criminal history. Supporters say it will allow judges to more quickly process and deport dangerous illegal immigrants or ones who pose a national-security threat. Opponents call the program a "backdoor amnesty."
Source: AZcentral.com
Valid Work Permit Not Enough for Driver's License In Virginia
April 15, 2011. The Virginia DMV will no longer accept a federal work permit as proof of legal status in the United States for the purpose of renewing a drivers license. Work Permits are frequently issued to immigrants whose immigration cases are pending, or are deportable, but have been granted temporary permission to remain in the country for various reasons.
Source: Shankar Vedantam; Washington Post
Fallout Continues from Fairfax Immigration Corruption:
More people have been charged with conspiring to get fake immigration documents for themselves and others from a corrupt Department of Homeland Security supervisor. Federal prosecutors say Sherry He, of Fairfax, worked as a broker for Robert Schofield, a DHS supervisor in the Citizenship and Immigration Services division who is serving a 15-year prison sentence for accepting bribes to falsify immigration documents that let illegal aliens become U.S. citizens. An indictment filed in federal court in Alexandria says she helped about 30 immigrants, including her parents and sister, get illegal immigration benefits from 1995 to 2006. Court papers say brokers like He introduced Schofield to immigrants who were willing to pay for immigration documents they knew were fraudulently made.
Source: Washington Examiner
Other Recent Developments:
November 18, 2011: Alabama immigration law hits citizens hard. The law mandates proof of legal residence for every transaction with the state and local government, miring citizens in bureaucratic red tape. US Citizens who break the law, for example by helping undocumented immigrants out of compassion or charity, risk being arrested for a felony.
Source: WashingtonInformer.com
June 28, 2011: Famous journalist admits big immigration problem. Jose Antonio Vargas won the prestigious Pulitzer journalism award for his contribution to the Washington Post's coverage of the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings. He penned an extensive confession that appeared in the New York Times, admitting his Filipino parents used fake documents to send him from the island nation to live with his grandparents in the San Francisco Bay area when he was 12.
Source: WTOP.com
March 29, 2011: The federal government says applications for immigration benefits for same-sex couples will no longer be automatically denied but instead will be put on hold pending legal advice following the Obama administration's decision to stop defending the law that prohibits federal recognition of a gay marriages that is legal in a state.
Source: Associated Press, A. Caldwell
February 28, 2011: New Traffic Law in Virginia: Emergency vehicles are now required to stop or sound a siren before driving past signals at intersections. Virginia traffic law never allowed emergency vehicles to break traffic laws unless they were using lights and sirens, and this new law seems to strengthen the mandate for safety at intersections.
States May Penalize Businesses for Immigration Violations:
May 26, 2011: The US Supreme Court says states may require employers to verify the eligibility of workers through a federal database and may penalize businesses caught violating immigration laws.
Source: AP
June 9, 2011: A fresh review of census numbers is pointing to a dramatic shift in the skill level of America's immigrant workforce. It shows that among both temporary and permanent immigrants, highly skilled workers now outnumber lower-skilled ones.
Source: marketplace.publicradio.org
February 23, 2011: The US Supreme Court has made two important personal injury rulings this year describing whether federal law can stop or “preempt” personal injury lawsuits brought under state law. In the first case, the Court unanimously held that compliance with federal seatbelt regulations doesent shield an auto manufacturer from state court personal injury lawsuits claiming the manufacturer should have installed a safer belt. In the second case, the Court ruled that federal law shields vaccine makers from state court personal injury lawsuits seeking damages for injuries caused by a vaccine in the face of a process congress set up to specifically compensate victims of vaccine related injuries.
February 7, 2011: A Loudoun County General District Court Judge has reopened another criminal case for an immigrant seeking a small reduction in a 1 year suspended jail sentence even though Virginia's highest court said that such cases could not be reopened in Virginia. A recent US Supreme Court case says that an immigrant must be told of immigration consequences of a guilty plea by his criminal lawyer. There is clearly a dispute brewing in Virginia courts over the proper remedy for an immigrant who had ineffective counsel in a criminal case.