Lakshmi Nayar was born in Kerala, India. At the age of 6, her family migrated to Perth, Western Australia, where she resided until moving to Dallas in 1998. Lakshmi graduated from Murdoch University, Western Australia in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Politics and Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) with Honors. In 1999, Lakshmi earned her Master of Laws (LL.M) from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Lakshmi's interest in U.S. immigration law originated from her own experiences as an immigrant to the United States. After studying U.S. immigration law at the University of Michigan, she began her career in the immigration field in 2000 by volunteering at local non-profit agencies that provide immigration assistance to low income immigrants. In 2001, she joined a small immigration firm in Dallas and helped to develop it into one of the largest full-service immigration law firms in the state of Texas. Prior to starting her own immigration law practice, Lakshmi was the managing attorney of this firm.
During the course of her 17-year career in immigration law, Lakshmi has successfully handled a wide array of U.S. immigration and nationality matters. She has extensive experience with deportation defense (including cancellation of removal, 212(c) and 212(h) waivers for crimes, adjustment, de novo TPS claims, and bond hearings), family-based immigration (including adjustment of status and consular processing, fiancee visas and I-751s), waivers (for fraud, crimes, health-related bars, unlawful presence, and prior deportations), citizenship and naturalization, nonimmigrant visas, NACARA, and humanitarian relief (including DACA, temporary protected status, non-DACA deferred action, and parole). She also has a special interest in assisting immigrant survivors of domestic violence and other crimes obtain legal status in the United States.
Lakshmi is admitted to practice in New York and the Northern District Court of Texas. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the National Immigration Project. She is fluent in Malayalam.
Practice areas
Represent individuals for a wide array of immigration cases, including family-sponsored adjustment and consular processing; naturalization and citizenship; deportation defense; bond hearings; orders of supervision; asylum; waivers for fraud, unlawful presence, prior deportation, and crime; visas for victims of crime; and humanitarian parole.
22 years, 2,500 cases
Languages spoken
Malayalam, English
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
NY | Due to Register within 30 Days of Birthday | 2000 | 02/24/2022 |
Legal answers | 4 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
Hessel E. Yntema Award | University of Michigan School of Law | 1999 |
Scholarly Writing Award | University of Michigan School of Law | 1999 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Partner | Nayar & McIntyre, LLP | 2009 - Present |
Managing Attorney | Reina & Bates | 2001 - 2008 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Attorneys Serving the Community | 2018 - Present | |
National Immigration Project | 2010 - Present | |
United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas | 2003 - Present | |
American Immigration Lawyers Association | 2002 - Present | |
American Immigration Lawyers Association (Texas chapter) | 2002 - Present |
New York State Bar Association | 2000 - Present |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
University of Michigan Law School | Contributor, University of Michigan Law School, International Refugee Law: The Michigan Guidelines on the Internal Protection Alternative | 1999 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor | LLM | 1999 |
Murdoch University, Western Australia | LLB | 1997 |
Murdoch University, Western Australia | BA | 1997 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
State Bar of Texas: 19th Annual Law Course: Advanced Immigration Law | Family-Based Petitions: Planning and Strategies Part 1 | 2021 |
University of Texas School of Law: 45th Annual Conference on Immigration and Nationality Law | Family Based Solutions in the midst of COVID-19 | 2021 |
State Bar of Texas: 18th Annual Law Course: Advanced Immigration Law | Family Based Petitions | 2020 |
State Bar of Texas - Immigration Law 101: Practical Basics for New Immigration Policies | Family Basics | 2019 |
State Bar of Texas - 17th Annual Advanced Immigration Law Course | Course Director | 2019 |
American Immigration Lawyers Association National Conference | Essential Terms and Concepts | 2019 |
State Bar of Texas - Immigration Law 101 | Family Based Immigration | 2018 |
University of Texas School of Law - 2018 Fundamentals of Immigration and Nationality Law | Strategies and Practice Pointers for Family Based and Citizenship Cases in the Age of Enforcement | 2018 |
American Immigration Lawyers Association - Interactive Workshop on Waivers Conference | Proving Hardship and Packaging the Waiver | 2017 |
State Bar of Texas - Immigration Law 101 | Family Based Immigration | 2017 |
State Bar of Texas- Immigration Law 101 (2016) | Family Based Immigration | 2016 |
State Bar of Texas - Handling Your First (or Next) Family Sponsored Immigration Case | Marriage 2: Possible Impediments to Marriage Based Immigration Case | 2016 |
University of Texas School of Law - Immigration Law Conference 2015 | Happily Never After | 2015 |
State Bar of Texas- Immigration Law 101 | Family Based Immigration | 2015 |
University of Texas School of Law - Conference on Immigration Law | Hot Topics in Marriage-Based Immigration | 2012 |
CLINIC Training | Good Moral Character in Naturalization Cases | 2005 |
University of Texas School of Law - Immigration Law Conference | Affidavits of Support under INA 213A | 2004 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
K1 for foreign national with criminal convictions | Foreign national became eligible for K1 visa without waiver. |
Posted by Hemanth
May 15, 2022
Posted by PB
October 16, 2021
Posted by Shlok
August 26, 2021
Posted by Shankar
June 25, 2021
Posted by Daniel
March 12, 2021
Posted by anonymous
January 20, 2021
Posted by Tak
January 7, 2021
Posted by Tushar
December 12, 2020
Posted by Josephine.
December 6, 2020
Posted by anonymous
November 16, 2020
Irene Mugambi, Immigration Attorney on Oct 24, 2018
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Lakshmi is an exceptional attorney. She is very dedicated to her cases and is highly respected by her colleagues!
William Kennedy, Immigration Attorney on Aug 17, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. She is our firm's "go to" referral for immigration issues. She know the law and has the experience.
Irene Mugambi, Immigration Attorney on Oct 24, 2018
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Lakshmi is an exceptional attorney. She is very dedicated to her cases and is highly respected by her colleagues!
William Kennedy, Immigration Attorney on Aug 17, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. She is our firm's "go to" referral for immigration issues. She know the law and has the experience.
James Stewart, Immigration Attorney on May 8, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. With Lakshmi your case is in good hands. She is an expert in all facets of immigration law.
Paul Parsons, Immigration Attorney on May 4, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Lakshmi Nayar is a wonderful advocate for her clients. Anyone who retains her will be represented by a zealous, bright, cheerful, and caring advocate. Lakshmi is highly regarded by other immigration lawyers in Dallas, Texas and nationwide.
Shawn Meade, Immigration Attorney on Oct 30, 2014
Relationship: Other
Lakshmi is a well known immigration attorney who works diligently and vigorously on each one of his case. She is honest, smart, hardworking. I strongly recommend her.
Beatriz Hernandez, Immigration Attorney on May 16, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Lakshmi is a wonderful immigration attorney-one of the best in our field. She gives each case her personal attention. Lakshmi is an expert in the immigration field. I strongly endorse Lakshmi!
Isaul Verdin, Immigration Attorney on Apr 22, 2014
Relationship: Co-worker
I endorse this lawyer. I have known Mrs. Nayar for several years now and I can sincerely state that she is a brilliant immigration lawyer. She is honest, intelligent, and highly regarded as a true professional by her peers.
Eugenia Ponce, Immigration Attorney on Oct 28, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I have known Lakshmi for five years. She is a zealous advocate for her clients. She is an experienced immigration attorney with an established successful law firm. She is professional, dedicated, and compassionate - I have referred cases to her in the past and she has done an exceptional job. I will continue to highly recommend her and her law firm if you have any immigration deportation, or removal cases.
Renee Leveridge, Immigration Attorney on Jul 31, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Michelle Schulz, Immigration Attorney on Feb 13, 2013
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I am pleased to endorse this lawyer. I have worked closely with Lakshmi on immigration matters in the past and was always impressed with her meticulous attention to detail, professionalism, and great passion for her work. I highly recommend her!
Liset Lefebvre Martinez, Immigration Attorney on Jan 30, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse Ms. Nayar. Ms. Nayar is extremely knowledgeable in all areas of immigration and nationality law. She is intelligent, ethical and a well-respect attorney in the community. I know first-hand she has had many victories while representing clients in immigration court and with USCIS.
Jose Lovo, Immigration Attorney on Jan 21, 2013
Relationship: Friend
I endorse this lawyer.
Furqan Azhar, Immigration Attorney on Jun 16, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Lakshmi is an outstanding lawyer. She is extremely well respected in the legal community, and deservedly so. Once I get served with an NTA, I'm gonna hire her.
Susan Bond, Immigration Attorney on Jul 28, 2011
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I have known Lakshmi Nayar for several years, and have had the good fortune to work with her in the past, so I have first hand knowledge of the caliber of her work, as well as the manner in which she treats her clients. Lakshmi is one of the best immigration lawyers in the field. Her years of experience and success with highly complicated cases has earned her the respect of her peers and her clients. She cares about each one of her clients--they are not a number to her--they are people, and she treats them with the utmost respect. Being a great lawyer takes more than just knowing the law--which she does. It also means taking care of the needs and concerns of each and every client you represent. Lakshmi is an awesome attorney--I highly recommend her.
Maria Mcintyre, Immigration Attorney on Jul 27, 2011
Relationship: Co-worker
I endorse this lawyer 100%. She is by far the most knowledgeable immigration attorney I know. She has served as an excellent mentor to me and SEVERAL others over the past 10 years. She is widely respected within the immigration community and is known for her ethical and compassionate representation. Lakshmi is passionate about immigration law and providing the best representation to her clients. Lakshmi is the most zealous advocate I know. She is not intimidated by complex facts or issues and in fact thrives on such challenges. It is my honor to call her my law partner.
Cash, Check, Credit Card