Aloha is a Hawaiian word that can mean hello or goodbye, two words that have profound significance to the immigrant experience. Aloha can also mean kindness and compassion.
It is with a welcoming spirit, coupled with compassion and kindness, that Aloha Immigration was born.
With more than 20 years of experience in immigration law - and more than 30 years of involvement in defending immigrant rights - we offer a proven philosophy and work ethic, client dedication and a very unique perspective on US immigration. Have a look below to get to know us a bit better and feel free to contact us to see what we can offer you.
I want to say thank you for amazing service and your help. I recently got my permanent resident card. Clare and her team have great organization and professional skills. Before I met her, I already... met 2 or 3 lawyers. When I met and consulted her, I felt she wanted to help us, not only take service charge. That’s why I wanted to work with her. It was 100% correct choice. She responded to my questions as soon as possible. Always kept in touch and updated information. No worries about my case. She gave us clear guidance and advice. Clare and her team prepared documents carefully and correctly. Did not miss anything. Again, thank you.read more
Cannot say enough good things about Aloha Immigration. Clare was there for our family every step of the way. She did a fantastic job of explaining what was going on with our case every step of the... way. Although I am not an expert with immigration law and found the process a bit overwhelming at first, Clare did a great job of putting us at ease. Thanks to Aloha Immigration my family can now have peace of mind as we won our case! Thank you so much to Clare and everyone at Aloha Immigration!read more
With all the chaos that covid has affected everyone, I was stressed out with how the initial process of my husband’s immigrant petition went, but with the help of Clare, She was able to help me go... through with it. Thank you for being responsive throughout the whole ordeal. God bless youread more
My wife and I are extremely grateful and thankful for the amazing work of Clare, Mark and the Aloha Immigration team. We can’t thank them enough for their hard work, knowledge and professionalism... of getting my wife approved for her Green Card. I can honestly say without Clare, Mark and the Aloha Immigration Team my wife and I would never have been approved. We had a very difficult case which required an I-601 waiver and Clare guided us through every step. She went above and beyond what an attorney would normally do, she came to the Big Island where we live and went over our case, she is very knowledgeable, easy to talk to and makes you feel like you’re a part of her family. The case took a while at no fault of Clare but had to be rescheduled for the interview process because of COVID-19, several times during the process we felt like giving up but Clare kept giving us encouragement and telling us to have patience. My wife scared at the interview but with the help and guidance Clare gave her, my wife was able to answer almost every question the Immigration Officer asked of her. When the interview was complete the Immigration Officer approved our case and granted my wife her Green Card on the spot. I know with Covid-19 we are not suppose to be hugging or getting close,, but when my wife was walking out of the office of the Immigration Officer she began to cry tears of joy, I guess Clare couldn’t control herself either and they both embraced each other and cried together. I truly will never forget that moment! If you want an attorney that really cares about you than I highly recommend Clare, Mark and her team! Than you from the bottom of our heart.....Dwaine and Lilyread more
My family and I honestly can't thank enough Clare, Mark and their team at Aloha Immigration. They have been amazing in helping us with my mother, sister and my green card process. They are very... professional and go above and beyond in their work. We had a complicated case after we ran into a person claiming to be an "attorney" and ended up losing our U-Visa immigration status. They worked very hard on my mother,sister and my case. They got us back on track and today all 3 of us are green card holders. The process was very smooth too and they made it super easy. We are forever grateful they were able to save our case. If you need help with any immigration process, put your self in excellent hands with Clare, Mark and their team. They are very professional, trust worthy and overall a big blessing in our life and we are forever grateful for all Aloha immigration did for us.read more
Much Mahalo to “Aloha Immigration”, Clare, Mark, and their team! When we received a surprising, intimidating, and frankly scary denial letter for I-751 (Removing Conditions on Residence), they... were our guiding light and hope through the darkness that we felt at that time. Clare gave us clarity and insight into our case not to mention the comfort and support through the challenging process.
Our time working together and learning more about each other strengthened the “Aloha Spirit” and we consider Clare and Mark as family. Through their hard work which at times was very time sensitive, we were able to change inconvenient court appearances and meet short-notice deadlines. And finally, we were successful to turn around and right an unjust denial decision, into a long and highly anticipated LPR Approval!
We have no words to express our thanks to Clare, Mark, and the team for all that they have done for us. They will continue to be in our hearts and memories, especially when meeting life’s future challenges. Mahalo Nui Loa Aloha Immigration!read more
We found Aloha Immigration on Google and made an appointment to meet with Clare to help me with my citizenship. Clare and her team were very helpful from the get go. Aloha Immigration is worth... spending the attorney fees on for immigration paperwork. They have been by my side from the beginning to the end. I appreciate everything that Aloha Immigration has done for me.read more
Clare is a knowledgeable,trustworthy, honest responsible professional who does quality work! I highly recommend her if you need help she is who you are looking for also she will explain what you dont... understand as she is person with patience! My experience with her was awesome!read more
Aloha Immigration provided some incredible support to help get my wife's rejected I485 reversed and Green Card issued.
With a very limited deadline to manage and provide the necessary work Clare and... Mark worked tirelessly throughout a very stressful process in order to assure USCIS compliance.
The approach was caring and understanding and provided us with the confidence we needed that this situation could successfully be overcome.
Nothing can speed up the current USCIS processing times however once the paperwork was submitted on time we knew the overwhelming evidence that we produced would produce a positive outcome.
Mahalo Aloha Immigration. Will be looking forward to your help when the citizenship train comes around in a few years.read more
We chose Aloha Immigration through researching online and reading their reviews and we were not disappointed. From the very first contact through to completion of my green card application to actual... receipt of my green card they have been excellent and we could not recommend them more highly. Mahalo to all especially Clare and Mark H.read more
My wife received her permanent resident card. We wanna say more than thank you. Clare and her team are so reliable, responsible and professional. The... read more
Contacting Clare was the best decision I have made. I had a couple questions regarding my immigration situation and Clare answered all my questions. Gave me... read more
If you are looking for an Imigration lawyer, please look no further. Clare is great, knowledgeable, professional, attentive and dedicated. She is always... read more
I contacted Clare after I received a letter from USCIS regarding my application for citizenship. At first, I just wanted some advise, but after talking to... read more
Clare helped my family with visa issues my mother-in-law was having. Long story short, my mother-in-law was denied a non-immigrant travel visa to the US... read more
What we do
Green Cards / Permanent Residency
A lawful permanent resident (LPR) can live and work in the U.S. on a permanent basis and given a “green card” as proof of that status. Lawful permanent residents can leave and re-enter the U.S. but can lose status if they are outside of the U.S. for too long. Most lawful permanent residents are eligible the apply for naturalization (U.S. citizenship) after 3 or 5 years, depending on how LPR status was acquired.
There are a variety of paths to getting a green card, with the most common being through an immigrant relative petition filed by a close family member. Not everyone with a family member qualifies, however, which is why it is important to consult with an immigration professional before applying.
Naturalization
United States citizenship has its advantages – no more green card renewals, the ability to vote, ease in travel to many countries, and the ability to petition certain family members to immigrate to the U.S. Applying for citizenship can have some pitfalls, too, because any application submitted to USCIS gives the government the opportunity to heavily scrutinize the applicant’s background. This can sometimes lead to removal (deportation proceedings) if real or perceived issues are uncovered. For these reasons, It is best to have your options professionally evaluated, and Aloha Immigration can help with that, along with application preparation and representation during your interview.
Visa and Parole-in-Place Processing
Immigrant and nonimmigrant visas are issued by consulates abroad, and visas are required for many people seeking admission to the U.S. for business, to visit, or to reside long-term. Aloha Immigration offers assistance to help you determine the best visa option available, filing petitions and assistance with the often confusing process of visa issuance at foreign consulates.
Parole in Place (PIP) is a unique program for certain undocumented family members of U.S. military personnel (active or veterans). It allows those non-citizen family members who are in the U.S. unlawfully to apply for a green card, without having to leave the country.
Support for Human Trafficking / Domestic Violence Survivors
Over the years, U.S. immigration laws have expanded to provide options for survivors of many different types of serious crimes including domestic violence from a U.S. citizen or permanent resident parent or spouse, human trafficking, and other crimes. Aloha Immigration has assisted hundreds of people subjected to such trauma to be able to remain in the U.S. where they can work on rebuilding their lives.
Conditional Permanent Residence (Form I-751)
Marriages to U.S. citizens that are less than 2 years in duration at the time of green card issuance result in a 2-year conditional permanent resident (CPR) status. Before the end of that 2-year status period, USCIS requires the filing of additional documentation. Sometimes marriages don’t survive the 2-year period, and often the immigrant spouse can file to remove the CPR status alone. We can explain the options and steps to removing CPR status and help in gaining the 10-year green card.
Getting served with a Notice to Appear (“NTA”) for Immigration Court can be a stressful and scary experience. With 20 years of experience in representing individuals in removal proceedings, Aloha Immigration can provide a comprehensive evaluation of options to fight for you to stay in the U.S. We have extensive experience in bond hearings, adjustment of status, cancellation of removal, waivers, asylum and withholding and other forms of relief from deportation.
Mark Hanusz
Business Manager / Paralegal
(not Clare’s husband)
Ethan Higa
Law Clerk
Lori Musicer
Senior Paralegal
Nathan Pope
Law Clerk
Katherine Coate
Law Clerk
About Clare
Clare Hanusz founded Aloha Immigration in June 2017, after working with the Immigration Practice Group at Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert in an Of Counsel affiliation since October 2013.
Born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, Clare has lived in Honolulu since 1995 (with an 18-month move to Melbourne, Australia from 2012-2013). After graduating from Ohio University’s Honors Tutorial College in 1991 she moved to Arizona worked for the Valley Religious Task Force on Central America, advocating for immigrants and more just U.S. foreign policies. The opportunity to meet and work with refugees and their attorneys in Arizona propelled Clare to pursue a career in immigration law, and she enrolled in the University of Hawaii’s William S. Richardson School of Law in 1996.
While a first-year student, she was awarded a fellowship from the National Lawyers Guild for a summer internship with the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project in Florence, Arizona. It was there, in the summer of 1998, that Clare litigated her first deportation case for a Spanish-speaking detainee. Upon returning to Hawaii she continued her work with immigrants, serving on the Board of Directors with Na Loio (now the Hawaii Immigrant Justice Center at Legal Aid) where she also spent a summer as a legal intern.
After graduating from law school in 1999, Clare worked at Na Loio heading up a Neighbor Island immigration project to bring legal services to immigrants in rural and isolated communities. She also worked for a two Honolulu law firms and had a solo practice under the Law Office of Clare Hanusz.
Clare has represented hundreds of individuals before the immigration court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. She has assisted clients with naturalization, adjustment of status (“Green Cards”), U visas (for immigrant victims of certain serious crimes) and T visas for victims of human trafficking, as well as consular processing, waivers of inadmissibility, asylum, special immigrant juvenile status, employment based and religious worker visas and options for immigrant survivors of domestic violence.
Clare is the recent past Chair of the Hawaii Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), and has served as local AILA liaison to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and as co-chair for the Advocacy Committee. She is also a member of the National Lawyers Guild’s National Immigration Project and a founding member of the Hawaii Coalition for Immigration Rights and the Hawaii Coalition for Civil Rights. She has partnered with the American Civil Liberties Union to litigate cutting-edge motions to suppress in immigration court and serves on the ACLU of Hawaii Litigation Committee. She has written on immigration issues for the Hawaii State Bar Association, AILA, and local publications, and has spoken locally and a nationwide. She has been featured in local, national and international news.
Clare lives in Honolulu with her husband Nevi, a professor of political science at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and two children. Public school advocacy is another of Clare’s passions and she currently serves on the board of Parents for Public Schools-Hawaii. Her full resume can be found here.
Professional and Community Affiliations
Bar Admissions
Admitted 1999
Why choose Aloha Immigration?
We are experts in family-based immigration law
Over 20 years of immigration experience in Hawaii
Each Client has direct attorney contact
100% State of Hawaii General Excise Tax compliant
100% Hawaii Supreme Court Trust Account compliant
100% ControlScan PCI compliant for processing credit card payments
Encrypted and secure storage of client documents
Industry-leading case turnaround time
Best-in-class client collaboration technology
Our clients love us! See the reviews above.
Years Experience
25
Clients Served
1400
Professional Affiliations
7
Cases Litigated
205
Get in touch
Aloha Immigration’s Responsive Law Pledge
Many law firms claim to put their clients first. At Aloha Immigration, we promise to do the following and let clients decide for themselves.
Responsiveness: Aloha Immigration strives to reply to all client communications promptly – usually within one business day and oftentimes less.
Participation: Aloha Immigration will give our clients timely notice of all meetings, USCIS interviews, and court appearances in their matter.
Deference: Aloha Immigration will defer to our clients’ goals throughout representation.
Case Updates: Aloha Immigration will provide all clients with a monthly case email update with the current status of their case.
Confidentiality: Aloha Immigration will maintain all client confidences.
Information Access: Aloha Immigration will provide our clients with copies of all materials provided to us or prepared by us for their cases.
Dismissal and Discipline: Aloha Immigration acknowledges our clients’ right to dismiss us at any time and will provide our clients with information about how to file a complaint with Bar Council in our jurisdiction.
Engagement Agreement: Aloha Immigration will provide each of our clients a clear written engagement agreement, signed by us and counter-signed by our clients, outlining the scope and objectives of the representation, the fees charged, and payment terms.
Itemized Bills: Aloha Immigration will provide our clients with itemized bills on a regular basis describing the specific tasks performed, and, if billing by the hour, the hourly rate and time spent by each person on each task.
Lawyer Background: Aloha Immigration will inform our clients of the education, training, and relevant experience of each lawyer working on their case
New ICE rule not expected to impact international students in Hawaii HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) – The University of Hawaii and Hawaii Pacific University say they plan to resume in-person classes this fall. The decision helps international students in Hawaii facing deportation under a new federal rule. This week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced international students […]
Feds: Filipino mega-church founder profited from human trafficking tactics HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) – The federal investigation into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Church alleges that the church’s massive human trafficking scheme enriched, and even provided sex for the church’s flamboyant founder. Federal court documents describes young men and women working long hours, soliciting donations on […]
Fifteen Unaccompanied Migrant Children Came To Hawaii In The Past… Fifteen unaccompanied children who entered the United States without immigration documents have been moved to Hawaii over the past year as they await immigration proceedings. Nationally more than 69,000 unaccompanied minors entered the U.S. between October 2018 and August 2019 and were released to sponsors, […]
While our Thanksgiving dinner tables may look a little different this year, one thing remains the same: Thanksgiving is a time to catch up and reconnect with loved ones. Whether you are doing this by phone, Zoom, or at a social distanced gathering, many of our conversations will reveal that our families and friends hold […]
For years, the Trump administration has argued that limited capacity at ports of entry led to its policy of turning back asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border (the “turnback policy”). But a recent amicus—or “friend of the court”—brief filed in a lawsuit challenging this policy argues that the true justification is racial hostility. In the […]
The Trump administration announced on November 17 that it plans to start denying work permits to people who have been ordered deported, but who have been released from immigration custody because they cannot—or should not—be deported. A stated purpose of this new rule, published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is to encourage people […]
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