Medlin Law Firm - March 2023

Van Gogh Reincarnated? ONE-EARED RESCUE DOG BECOMES MASTER PAINTER

When a one-eared shelter dog in Connecticut struggled to find a new family last year, one of his caretakers had a wild idea: Why not teach him to paint? With help from TikTok and peanut butter, the aptly named Van Gogh became a social media star. “I’d seen TikTok videos of other dogs creating paintings, so why not Van Gogh?” Jaclyn Gartner, the founder of Happily Furever After Rescue, told The Washington Post. “He certainly had the name and the ear for it.” To leverage what she calls Van Gogh’s “fast and creative tongue,” Gartner covered small canvases in dollops of paint, wrapped them in plastic wrap, and slathered them in peanut butter. Then, she presented the treats to the boxer-pit bull mix. He quickly licked the canvases clean, creating his “art” along the way. According to the Post, Van Gogh’s first few paintings flopped — just like the work of the human artist Vincent Van Gogh, who didn’t become famous until after he died in 1890. This star rose thanks to Jo Van Gogh, the wife of his brother Theo, who advocated for his work after both Theo and Vincent passed away.

You could say that Gartner was dog Van Gogh’s Jo because, like the original painter’s, the pup’s art staged a comeback! After his first “art show” drew just two guests, Gartner started auctioning off his paintings online. His abstract work like “Peacock Swirl” and a rendition of human Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” quickly raised more than $3,000 for Happily Furever After Rescue.

As his reputation soared on social media, Van Gogh also found his forever home with shelter volunteer Jessica Starowitz. He now spends his days painting and lounging on the couch. You can follow his exploits on Instagram under the handle @officialvgdog.

My Green Card Was Denied: What Now?

Why are green card applications denied? One of the main reasons applications aren’t accepted is that applicants don’t meet the eligibility requirements. According to the USCIS, immigrants must meet the following standards.

Completing and submitting the proper forms, collecting all the necessary documents, and ensuring everything is in place on your green card application is time-consuming and challenging. So, receiving a letter informing you that your application was denied can be a frustrating experience. But not all hope is lost! When U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denies a green card application, they will outline why you were declined and allow you to resubmit your information. Here’s what you need to know.

unanswered, providing false information, or failing to pay the required application fee, your application will be denied. What should your next steps be? The first thing you should do after receiving your denial notice is to read it and understand why your application was denied. Once you know that, you can take a few different avenues. You can appeal the motion and have the Administrative Appeals Office look over your case, file a motion to have your green card application reopened or reconsidered, or refile. No matter your strategy, you have 30 days after receiving your denial letter to appeal, refile, or reopen your application. Whether applying for a green card or appealing, reopening, or refiling, it’s best to work with an immigration attorney to ensure you take the proper steps. Please contact your friends at Medlin Law Firm to assist you during this time. We can help take some of the stress off your shoulders during the application process.

You have relatives who are U.S. citizens or who have green cards.

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A U.S. employer sponsors you.

You experience certain conditions such as asylum or refugee status, abuse, crime, or trafficking.

However, other factors could affect your application. For example, if your employer doesn’t have a working relationship with you, that can skew your application. Likewise, you may have a sponsor who can petition for you. But if they fail to file a petition on your behalf, your green card application could be denied.

Additionally, if you make any mistakes on your application, such as leaving questions

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