Ginter Immigration Law Clinic

International House's Ginter Immigration Law Clinic focuses on uniting families, serving the disadvantaged, and preventing exploitation of vulnerable immigrants.  It is the only attorney-staffed provider of general consultation, family immigration, and naturalization services for low-income immigrants in Charlotte. 
 
Created in 2002, the Clinic regularly serves around 600 people annually. The Clinic is open to all ethnic groups, targeting the most disadvantaged cases.  We help protect vulnerable immigrants from unscrupulous non-attorney providers. 
 
International House is grateful for the many local and national foundations for their generous support of the legal clinic. Funders include the Ginter Foundation, American Dream Fund, the Mecklenburg Bar Foundation and Sisters of Mercy.

Getting Help from the Immigration Law Clinic

If you or someone you know could benefit from our legal Clinic, here are the answers to some commonly asked questions:

Who is eligible?
International House’s Immigration Law Clinic provides legal assistance in immigration matters to individuals and families of all nationalities who qualify for services based on their income, place of residence, eligibility for immigration benefits, and type of case. In other words, low-income residents (those earning less than 200% of federal poverty guidelines) living in the greater Charlotte area who qualify for some CIS benefit may be eligible for our services. Clients will be required to submit some proof of income, residence, and eligibility for CIS benefit.

What does it cost?
We charge nominal flat fees for our services, and these fees are around 10% of what you would pay for services from a private legal firm. Please note that we are committed to serving all eligible clients regardless of their ability to pay.

What types of cases do you accept?
We accept eligible family and naturalization cases. We also provide general consultation in appropriate cases.

How can I get immigration help?
The best way to begin the process is by calling International House at 704.405.0962, Tuesdays between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Immigration in Charlotte

The need for the Immigration Law Clinic is great. In the past decade, Charlotte has experienced explosive growth of immigrants and migrant workers. During the 1990s, North Carolina’s immigrant population grew by 274%, the fastest rate of growth in the U.S. [Source: U.S. Census]. Charlotte has led the way with a more than 6 point increase in the percentages of foreign-born and Hispanic residents [Source: U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Dev’t; State of the Cities Data Systems].