US Immigration Professor Wins Gold for Romanian Olympians

John and Elisabeth Iminovici came to Buffalo, New York in 1993 to compete in World University Games. At the time, John Iminovici was one of the coaches of the Romanian Olympic Track and Field Team; while Elisabeth, later to be his wife, was one of the athletes he coached. Both had already competed in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, and in 1996 Elisabeth participated in Atlanta Olympic Games. John and Elisabeth were studying at DePaul University where they earned their Master’s degree in Educational Leadership.

Flag of Romania

In Romania, John compiled an impressive record of coaching as the Romanian National Team Coach and the Olympic Coach for the Romanian Track and Field Team for 10 years (from 1987 to 1997), coaching athletes who won medals at the Balkan Games, the European Cups, European Championships, and World Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field. In light of his achievements, John Iminovici was named to the Romanian “Hall of Fame” and has his name written in the Golden Book of Coaches from Romania.

John and Elisabeth Iminovici were married in 2000 in Oak Brook, Illinois and in April 2001 John applied to immigrate to the United States on the basis of his abilities and accomplishments as a track and field coach. That petition was denied, dashing the couple’s dreams of achieving residency in the United States. In 2008, the couple’s fortunes changed when Elisabeth Iminovici won the Diversity Lottery, an annual drawing where Green Cards are allotted to immigrants from various countries. Both John and Elisabeth were afraid to finalize their status though because their Student Visas had in the meantime expired.

At this point in stepped the “Immigration Professor”, Robert A. Perkins. US Immigration Attorney Robert Perkins and his team pointed out that the earlier petition filed by John Iminovici had grandfathered the couple in under an old law which expired in April 2001. Attorney Robert Perkins re-filed the cases and argued the case twice to Immigration Officers who wouldn’t budge, again dashing John and Elisabeth Iminovici hopes to legalize their US Immigration status. Attorney Robert Perkins did not give up; however, deciding to file suit in Federal Court to compel the Immigration service to grant residency to John and Elisabeth Iminovici.

Mr. Robert Perkins’ colleague, US Immigration Attorney Petra Micu helped put together the petition and ran off to file the case in Federal Court. Before the case was filed, they sent a copy off to the government’s attorneys. Right on the steps of the Federal Court, as Attorney Micu was about to file the case, the US Government reversed its position and granted permanent residence to John and Elisabeth Iminovici – just a few hours before the 2008 lottery program ended.

John and Elisabeth Iminovici are very grateful to Attorney Robert Perkins, aka “The Immigration Professor” and his staff for helping them achieve their 16 year dream of immigrating from Romania to the United States. They currently live in Oak Park, Illinois where Elisabeth runs several day care centers and John works as a contractor.

From John and Elisabeth Iminovici…

Hello Robert,

We still cannot believe what had happened to us!

We are very grateful to you that you believed in our case and that you did not give up even when we were afraid to continue the process. God help you as much as you helped us and God give you happiness as much as to give us with this win!

Thank you again.
We are going to advertise your name as much as we could.

John & Elizabeth