For the past two decades, Chris Chaney has devoted his legal practice to immigration law, providing comprehensive legal representation to nonimmigrants, permanent residents, and individuals facing removal proceedings. His firm advises on temporary work and business visas, employment-based permanent residence, family-based immigration, inadmissibility waivers, and humanitarian relief such as asylum, parole, and other forms of humanitarian protection. Chris also represents clients in immigration court removal defense matters, including bond hearings and deportation defense, and provides guidance to employers in worksite enforcement matters, including I-9 compliance and defense against DHS/ICE enforcement actions.
Chris previously worked for two national refugee resettlement agencies, supervising the provision of immigration legal services to refugees, asylees, SIVs and parolees. He has presented at the US Capitol to congressional staff on various topics of immigration law, including the legality of re-parole.
In recent years, Chris was contracted by the government to supervise legal services for Afghan arrivals during Operation Allies Welcome (OAW). He managed a team of legal providers at multiple US military bases ("Safehavens"), providing legal consultations and representation in applications for immigration benefits. Through the use of group processing clinics, the team served more than 10,000 Afghans. In 2022, the Department of the Army awarded Chris the Public Service Commendation Medal.
Chris actively participates in the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) as a member of the Carolinas Chapter and leader of the Afghan Evacuation Interest Group. He is a proud recipient of the AILA Michael Maggio Pro Bono Award: in recognition of outstanding efforts in providing pro bono representation in the immigration field.
Chris frequently travels to China to visit family and friends — and to rekindle his love affair with Sichuan hot pot, one spicy bite at a time.
