A Charlotte immigration lawyer helps individuals, families, and employers navigate U.S. immigration law so they can live, work, or remain in the country legally. Immigration law determines who may enter the U.S., how long they may stay, and whether they can pursue permanent residency or citizenship.
At EMP Law, we represent clients in Charlotte and throughout North Carolina who face complex immigration challenges. Our firm focuses on immigration, employment, workers’ compensation, disability and benefits, and civil rights matters. When you work with us, we take the time to understand your circumstances and build a strategy that helps you find the best path forward.
Get started by calling our Charlotte immigration lawyer at (336) 724-2828 or sending an online message today.
Key Points
- A Charlotte immigration lawyer helps you stay legally in the U.S. by guiding you through immigration benefits, visa options, and long-term pathways like green cards and citizenship.
- Immigration benefits can be temporary or permanent, including nonimmigrant visas for work or school, family- and employment-based green cards, and humanitarian protections like asylum, U visas, T visas, and VAWA relief.
- Removal (deportation) defense can protect families and futures through strategies like asylum claims, cancellation of removal, adjustment of status, and challenging the government’s evidence in immigration court.
What Does Immigration Law Include?
Immigration law primarily covers the application process for immigration benefits and the defense against removal (deportation). Federal law governs both areas, and each requires interaction with multiple government agencies. A Charlotte immigration attorney can help you determine what options might be available to you.
When someone seeks immigration benefits, they request the government’s permission to remain in the U.S., known as lawful status. Removal defense focuses on preventing the government from forcing someone to leave the country.
What Are Immigration Benefits?
Immigration benefits allow noncitizens who fall into categories defined by law to live, work, or study in the U.S. legally. Some benefits are only available for a limited time, while others may lead to permanent residency or citizenship.
Permanent Residency and Green Cards
Green cards grant lawful permanent resident status, allowing noncitizens to live and work in the U.S. on a long-term basis. Lawful permanent residents may later apply for naturalized U.S. citizenship.
Common paths to permanent residency include:
- Family-based immigration,
- Employment-based immigration, and
- Certain humanitarian statuses.
A Charlotte immigration lawyer can evaluate whether you qualify and explain what documentation the government requires to pursue one of these statuses.
Temporary and Nonimmigrant Visas
Nonimmigrant visas allow individuals to enter or remain in the U.S. for a specific purpose and a limited time. Temporary visas allow people to come to the U.S. for:
- Employment,
- Education, or
- Short-term visits.
Common nonimmigrant visa categories include:
- Work visas for professionals, seasonal workers, or individuals with specialized skills;
- Student visas for academic or vocational programs; and
- Visitor visas for tourism, business meetings, or temporary stays.
Visa holders must maintain lawful status during their stay. When someone overstays a visa or violates its terms, the government may deny future applications or initiate removal proceedings.
Humanitarian Immigration Options
Humanitarian immigration options protect individuals who face serious harm, abuse, or danger. These cases often involve sensitive facts and require strong, well-documented evidence.
Humanitarian options include:
- Asylum for individuals who reasonably fear persecution in their home country,
- U visas for victims of qualifying crimes who cooperate with law enforcement,
- T visas for survivors of human trafficking,
- Relief under the Violence Against Women Act for individuals harmed by abusive U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident family members, and
- Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) for qualifying minors who cannot safely reunite with one or both parents.
Some humanitarian benefits allow recipients to pursue permanent residency later, while others provide temporary protection that you can sometimes extend.
Deportation and Removal Defense
Removal, commonly known as deportation, refers to the legal process the government uses to order someone to leave the U.S. Immigration courts, not criminal courts, handle these cases, even though removal can permanently separate families and disrupt livelihoods.
Overview of the Removal Process
Removal proceedings usually begin when the government delivers a document called a Notice to Appear to a noncitizen. That document explains why the government believes you do not have permission to remain in the U.S. An immigration judge then oversees the case through a series of court hearings.
The government detains some individuals in immigrant detention centers during removal proceedings, while others remain free under supervision. If someone misses a scheduled hearing, the judge may issue an automatic removal order without hearing the case.
Common Defenses to Deportation
Defenses to removal depend on immigration history, family ties, and personal circumstances. Common forms of relief include:
- Applying for asylum or other humanitarian protection;
- Seeking cancellation of removal based on long-term residence and qualifying family hardship;
- Requesting adjustment of status, which allows individuals who qualify for green cards to apply for lawful permanent residency without leaving the U.S.; and
- Challenging the government’s evidence or legal arguments.
Your immigration lawyer can help you figure out what to do next if the government has started removal proceedings against you.
Speak with a Charlotte Immigration Attorney at EMP Law
If you are searching for a Charlotte immigration lawyer, EMP Law stands ready to help you understand your options and protect your rights. We serve clients throughout Charlotte and across North Carolina, guiding them through each stage of the immigration process.
To speak with a Charlotte immigration attorney at EMP Law, reach out today.
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