Charlotte Immigration Lawyer

Charlotte Immigration Attorney

North Carolina Attorneys Helping With All Aspects Of Immigration

Immigration law has been under close scrutiny in the past few years. This can make the process of changing your immigration status and its implications very nerve-wracking. A Charlotte immigration lawyer can make all the difference if you are facing an immigration law issue. At Steven T. Meier, PLLC, we understand how trying this situation can be.

Steven T. Meier, PLLC has over 15 years of experience handling immigration law cases in Charlotte and surrounding areas.

Our Immigration Practice

Our firm offers services in the following areas:

• Family petitions
• Representation with USCIS proceedings.
• Consular process
• Legal permanent residence
• Representation in immigration court
• Attorney visits (detainee)
• Travel permits
• Conditional residence – marriage
• Cancellation of removal
• Work permits
• Fiancé(e) petitions
• Temporary protected status (TPS)
• Petitions for domestic violence (VAWA)
• Victims of crimes(U visa)
• Immigration bond hearing
• Petitions for widows of U.S. citizens
• Motions for reconsideration
• Immigration records – FOIA
• Change of venue – immigration court
• Citizenship
• FBI record
• Supervision order
• Political asylum
• NACARA
• Extend/change nonimmigrant status
• Border patrol record

Whether you lack legal status, are a legal permanent resident or a legal immigrant who is facing problems with your family gaining the same status, let us help.

What an Immigration Lawyer Can Do for You?

The United States immigration system and process is anything but simple. To get anything accomplished means working your way through the bureaucratic maze and a tidal wave of paperwork. It’s a difficult thing to navigate, even for those who have dealt with it before. Of course, it’s also a process awash in delays and challenges.

At times, these things can lead to a rejection of the immigration status that someone is seeking in Charlotte, NC. Anyone wanting to leave nothing to chance and ensure that they exhaust all options is going to need a guide through the process. That’s what we do at Steven T. Meier, PLLC.

Document Preparation

An immigration lawyer can be a tremendous resource in almost every aspect of the immigration process. In most cases, immigration efforts begin with collecting forms and submitting documents. These procedures are often complex. They need to be filled out correctly and in a way that clearly identifies why you should receive the status that you’re seeking.

It can often be difficult to be sure that everything is being done correctly because, if there is one overriding characteristic of government forms, it’s that they are anything but clear. This is especially true for anyone who is a non-native English speaker.

There are also a number of documents that you may be required to gather, depending on the nature of your immigration requests. An immigration lawyer can work with you to ensure that you gather all the proper documentation.

We can even help with third parties, such as employers, who need to provide the documentation that you require. It’s critical that all the paperwork and documentation be filled out properly and distributed to the proper institutions. That’s critical because any delays or incorrectly filled out forms could be cause for delay and possibly rejection of your submission.

Guidance Through the Process

These are other things that an immigration lawyer can help with. We can help guide you through the system. We have experience knowing what the government is looking for in terms of forms and documentation. That experience can be a valuable asset that we can apply by filling out your forms.

We can also help ensure that you get the forms to the proper places. By working with a lawyer, you can’t guarantee that there won’t be any delays, but you can significantly minimize the risk of an error on your end leading to difficulties with approval.

Hearings and Interviews

Another thing an immigration lawyer may be able to help with is preparing you for any hearings or interviews where you need to describe your situation to a governmental agency. We may be able to help you prepare for the questions that you will face so that you can give the clearest answer possible and better your odds of acceptance.

Representation in Court

Finally, there are some situations where your case may need to go before an immigration court. In those cases, we can represent you before the court and present evidence on your behalf. We can also call witnesses who can offer testimony in favor of your case.

From start to finish, an immigration lawyer can help you navigate the immigration system and fight on your behalf. At Steven T. Meier, PLLC, we have experience in these kinds of proceedings and can give you a much better chance at successfully achieving the immigration outcome you seek than you otherwise might have.

Deportation

One aspect of immigration law that lawyers can help with is deportation. This process occurs through removal proceedings. Removal proceedings can be brought against non-permanent residents for a variety of reasons.

However, lawful permanent residents (such as green card holders) can also have removal proceedings brought against them if they are convicted of a crime. It is possible, though, for both permanent and non-permanent residents to have their removal canceled. For non-permanent residents, you must meet the following requirements to be eligible for a 42B, cancellation of removal:

• Have no disqualifying criminal convictions
• Have lived for ten years in the United States
• Have, for those ten years, been of good moral character
• Have a parent, spouse, or child who is a United States citizen or permanent resident who would suffer extremely unusual and exceptional hardship because of your removal

For lawful permanent residents to qualify for the possibility of 42A, cancellation of removal, they must:

• Not have a conviction of an aggravated felony
• Reside for seven years in the United States prior to conviction
• Have, for at least five years, been a lawful permanent resident

It is also possible that you may be able to avoid removal on the basis of something like Asylum, Waivers, Adjustment of Status, or Prosecutorial Discretion. If you are facing the potential of deportation, then the sooner you contact us at Steven T. Meier, PLLC, the sooner we can work to try to prevent deportation.

Asylum

The United States has long been a place where those facing true oppression may come to escape. This principle stretches from the Pilgrims to today. As such, the United States has no limit for the number of asylum-seekers who may be approved each year.

However, to be granted asylum, applicants must be able to show that they fit the criteria. These include:

• Not posing a danger or threat to United States society, including not having committed any aggravated felonies or war crimes.
• Fearing persecution from their home country’s government
• Have suffered harm at the hands of their home country’s government or it was not prevented by that government
• Fear harm or have been harmed by right-wing groups, left-wing groups, or other political zealots
• Suffered persecution as a result of one of:
• Religion
• Race
• Nationality
• Political opinion
• Social group

Green Cards or Citizenship

The green card process allows people the chance to become permanent lawful residents of the United States and even offers a pathway to citizenship through naturalization. However, the process for both green cards and citizenship can be complex and requires plenty of forms. An immigration lawyer, though, can help you guide you through these processes.

Appeals

Sometimes, it is possible to appeal an immigration ruling.

In immigration court, the judge may say their decision out loud and follow their statement by asking if the individual waives the appeal offer or accepts the decision as final. An immigration judge’s decision is final if one of two things happen after the hearing and decision:

• The individual whom the proceedings involve or their attorney says they will not seek an appeal or
• The appeal period expires.

If you or your Charlotte immigration lawyer refuse to accept an immigration judge’s decision or refuse to waive an appeal, your case will be sent to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). You can “reserve” your appeal, which means you can file it within 30 days.

If you appeal, the B.I.A. will review your case, which can take additional time and money. If you have been detained and attempted an appeal, know that this will likely continue your detainment. Speak with your attorney to understand all your options.

Charlotte Immigration Law FAQs

Q: Can a Lawyer Speed Up My Immigration Case?

A: Whether or not a lawyer can speed up your immigration case depends on the specifics of your case. The individuals dealing with your case may lack knowledge in immigration law or have a delay in their department. In this case, an immigration attorney may be able to speed up your immigration case by using their knowledge about the legal system and immigration process.

Q: Can an Immigration Lawyer Help You Get a Green Card?

A: If you are eligible to apply, an immigration lawyer can help you get a green card by filing your forms and guiding you through the interview process. Cases are considered on a case-by-case basis and may require additional documentation to support your request. An immigration lawyer can also help with additional requests, but they cannot guarantee that you will receive a green card.

Q: How Can I Speed Up My Green Card Processing?

A: Speeding up your green card processing is usually only possible if extenuating circumstances exist.

If you are a health care or childcare worker or have other acceptable terms, you can make an expedited request to speed up your processing. Still, your case must be approved.

If you want your green card process to be expedited or examined, contact an experienced immigration attorney. They will be able to inform you of your options and ensure that if someone can speed up your processing, your attorney will attempt to get this done.

Q: Can an Immigration Case Be Dismissed?

A: An immigration case can be dismissed. For many asylum seekers, a dismissed case may mean that the government will not deport them and will end their immigration court case.

When an individual seeks citizenship, a case dismissal means future immigration trouble can be less likely, but having a police record could eliminate the individual’s chance for citizenship. If you were arrested and had your case dismissed, it is wise to speak to an immigration attorney to understand your case dismissal, why it happened, and what that means for you.

Contact Us Today

If you would like to discuss your case with an experienced law firm, call us at 704-333-3456 to schedule an appointment with a lawyer. Or, reach out to us through our online contact form.