University of North Texas 
May 5, 2009
Harry Joe Q&A
Harry Joe (’70)
Degree in geography
What I’m reading:
The Associate by John Grisham
Last movie I saw:
Gran Torino
My favorite UNT memory:
Student demonstrations in front of the Student Union Building in 1969
My favorite lawyer joke:
A physician and a lawyer were enjoying cocktails at a dinner when another guest walked
up to the physician and complained about his abdominal hernia. After a few minutes
of discussion between the physician and complaining guest, the physician turned to
the lawyer and asked him how he would handle “social consultations,” to which the
lawyer promptly responded that he would send a bill for consultation to the inquiring
guest. The next day, the physician instructed his staff to send a $50 bill to the
guest for the consultation. The lawyer instructed his secretary to send the physician
a bill for $100 for his consultation.
Music I’m listening to:
Rondò Veneziano
Rondò Veneziano
The superhero I want to be:
Dr. Alfred Blaylock, who discovered the surgical procedure to cure Tetralogy of Fallot
(a congenital heart defect)
Advice to new UNT students:
Work hard and achieve outstanding grades
My definition of success:
Successfully complete what you set out to do
What people would be surprised to find out about me:
I am a New Englander at heart!
I am a New Englander at heart!
Harry Joe's top 5 things you should do before you start the citizenship process
During the 30 years he’s spent helping people attain citizenship, Joe has compiled what he believes are the top 5 things you should do before you start the citizenship process:
- Have competent legal counsel to advise you on your eligibility for citizenship .
- Be totally truthful to your legal adviser .
- Have valid documentation in order to establish your eligibility .
- Prepare to meet all requirements -- for example, learning about American government and American history and gaining the ability to speak, read and write English fluently .
- Do not apply if you are clearly ineligible.
And Joe says there is one common mistake that permanently prevents you from earning citizenship and leads to deportation.
“People who obtained their permanent resident status unlawfully are not eligible to apply for US Citizenship,” Joe warns. “Such applicants are often caught off guard, only to find themselves in deportation / removal proceedings. The U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is now more apt to discover facts that would lead to the conclusion that the applicant's permanent resident status was not lawfully acquired.”