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supported by a team of case managers, litigation
paralegals, legal assistants and investigators, and we have experience helping
clients obtain visa, permanent resident, citizenship status (i.e. green cards),
work permits and other non-immigrant visas on behalf of individual, business and
non-profit clients.
Our immigration division also accepts
representation of foreign national clients in need of defense once Removal
proceedings have been initiated against them by the United States government.
Services offered by our firm in the area of Removal Defense Litigation include
but are not limited to Bond Hearings, Prehearing Requests for Release, Appeals
to Federal Court, Voluntary Departure, Merit Hearings, Change of Venue,
Cancellation of Removal, and Motions to Re-open Removal Proceedings.
The road to U.S.
citizenship, or naturalization, is a long process that ultimately allows
foreign-born persons to obtain all the rights American-born persons have. For
example, the right to vote, the right to governmental jobs and the freedom to
travel with an American passport, which provides entry without a visa into many
countries. However, there are many eligibility requirements a person must
fulfill before submitting an application for naturalization. In most situations,
applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Applicant has been a lawful permanent
resident for five years (or three years for spouses of U.S. citizens).
- Applicant is 18 years old.
- Applicant is of good moral character.
- Applicant can speak, read, and write
English.
- Applicant must pass a test on U.S. history
and government.
- Applicant was physically present in the
U.S. at least half the requisite time.
- Applicant has maintained lawful permanent
residence continuously.
- Applicant swears loyalty to the U.S. by
taking an oath of allegiance.
You can apply for citizenship five years from
the date of entry as a lawful permanent resident. If you are married to and
living with a citizen-spouse for at least three years before filing the
application, the residence period is shortened to three years. Also, you have to
be a resident for three months in the state or USCIS district where you are
filing the application.
The attorneys at Hardison & Associates have a great
deal of experience in helping immigrants through this complicated and lengthy
legal process. For more than 20 years, we have been providing quality legal
services to clients throughout North Carolina. Our founders, Kenneth L. Hardison
and Benjamin T. Cochran have committed themselves to justice and personal client
attention. Please call us, “the people’s law firm,” at 1-800-434-8399.
 Click
here for Frequently Asked Questions About Immigration. |
