Ilona Bray

Ilona Bray

J.D. · University of Washington School of Law

Ilona Bray, J.D. is an award-winning author and legal editor at Nolo, specializing in real estate, immigration law and nonprofit fundraising. 

Educational background. Ilona received her law degree and a Master's degree in East Asian (Chinese) Studies from the University of Washington. She is a member of the Washington State Bar. Her undergraduate degree is from Bryn Mawr College, where she majored in philosophy. She actually viewed law school as an extension of her philosophy studies, with its focus on ethics, fundamental rights, and how people can get along in society—of particular concern to her as the daughter of a WWII refugee. 

Working background. Ilona has practiced law in corporate and nonprofit settings as well as in solo practice, where she represented immigrant clients seeking asylum, family-based visas, and more. She has also volunteered extensively, including a six-month fellowship at Northwest Immigrant Rights Project in Seattle and a six-month internship at Amnesty International in London. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers' Association (AILA), the National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE), and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). 

Working at Nolo. Ilona started at Nolo in 2000 as a legal editor. Since then, she has not only continued to edit other writers' books and online articles, but also has taken an active role in planning and authoring new Nolo books. Many of these have become consistent Nolo bestsellers and award-winners, among them Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits, Nolo's Essential Guide to Buying Your First Home, and Selling Your House.  Ilona particularly enjoys interviewing people and weaving their stories into her books. She also won the 2012 "Best Blog" award from the National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE). 

Spare time. (What spare time?) Ilona enjoys swimming, gardening (though she's still looking for a vegetable the squirrels won't eat every last morsel of), cooking gluten- and sugar-free meals, and writing children's books.

Articles by Ilona Bray

Can the Child of an Undocumented Immigrant Become a U.S. Citizen?
Children of undocumented (illegal) immigrants who were born in the United States become U.S. citizens automatically.
Getting Dual Citizenship in the United States and Canada
U.S. and Canadian immigration laws allow you to become a citizen of both countries, simultaneously - but you might need to qualify to immigrate from one country to the other.
How to Get a B-1 or B-2 Visitor Visa
Temporary visitors to the United States usually need to obtain an entry visa, and the B visas are most common. Here is an overview on the process to obtain one.
Process to Get a Green Card Under VAWA
If you're eligible to self-petition for permanent residency (green card) under the Violence Against Women Act, here's the process you'll need to go through.
What Happens at the Green Card Marriage Interview?
Learn about the questions the immigration interviewer may ask in order to test the validity of a marriage.
Requesting a Hearing on a Naturalization Decision
Learn how and when to request administrative review of your citizenship denial.
Speeding Up the Immigration Process in Emergency Situations: Expedited Processing
Processing of immigration applications in the U.S. is inherently time intensive. In rare emergency cases, immigrants may be able to speed up the process.
Steps to Become an American Citizen
How to get U.S. citizenship through the naturalization process, step by step.
Can Children of Undocumented Immigrants Legally Stay in the U.S.?
Children born in the United States to undocumented (illegal) immigrants are U.S. citizens. Children born outside the U.S. may also have options.
Traveling Outside of the U.S. as a Green Card Holder
Once you've become a permanent U.S. resident (green card holder) traveling abroad and returning to the U.S. becomes easy. Even so, there are rules you should be aware of, particularly if you might get stuck outside the United States.
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