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Matthew C. Thomas

also known as Matthew Charles Ursel Thomas
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Avvo Rating10
  • Phoenix, AZ
  • Licensed for 13 years
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About Matthew

Practice areas

Criminal defenseImmigration
  1. Immigration: 88%

    Practicing in the area of US immigration and naturalization, including deportation, asylum and family-based petitions. We specialize in I-601 and I-212 waivers. Additionally, we prepare VAWA and U visa petitions for victims of violent crime. I am fluent in Spanish.

    15 years, 2,500 cases

  2. Criminal defense: 12%

Languages spoken

Spanish, English

Contact

3830 N. 19th Avenue
address map

Thomas Law Firm, PLC

3830 N. 19th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ, 85015

Resume

License
StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
AZActive 200711/28/2020
We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.
Avvo Contributions
Legal answers17
Legal guides0
Awards
Award nameGrantorDate granted
Best Immigration Lawyer (El Mejor Abogado de Inmigracion)Tv y Mas Magazine2013
Best Immigration Lawyer (El Mejor Abogado de Inmigracion)TV y Mas magazine2012
Best Immigration Law Office (El Mejor Abogado de Inmigracion)TV y Mas magazine2011
Work Experience
TitleCompany nameDuration
Senior AttorneyThomas Law Firm, PLC2012 - Present
Law PartnerThomas & Jefferies, PLLC2007 - 2012
Associations
Association namePosition nameDuration
American Immigration Lawyers Association (Arizona chapter)Pro Bono Liaison2018 - Present
State Bar of Arizona, Immigration Law SectionN/A2009 - Present
American Immigration Lawyers Association (Arizona chapter)N/A2007 - Present
American Immigration Lawyers Association (Arizona chapter)Media Committee Chair2015 - 2015
American Immigration Lawyers Association (Arizona chapter)Arizona AILA Chapter Nominations Committee2014 - 2015
Phoenix Pride Board of DirectorsDirector and Community Grants Chair2011 - 2015
Publications
Publication nameTitleDate
Arizona RepublicHow would immigration scenarios play out in real life?2010
Education
School nameDegreeGraduated
Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of LawJuris Doctorate2006
Arizona State UniversityBA - Bachelor of Arts1996
Speaking Engagements
Conference nameTitleDate
American Immigration Lawyers Association (Arizona chapter) ConferenceAdvanced issues in AOS and Consular processing2017
CLEEmerging Issues and Updates on Waivers2016
CLE for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (Arizona chapter)I-601 Waivers and Consular Processing2014
Capitolbeat the Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors, annual conferencePanel on SB1070, Arizona's Controversial Immigration Law2010
35th Annual North American Victim Assistance ConferenceImmigrant Victims of Crime: Obstacles and Options2009
Legal cases
Case nameOutcome
I-601a WaiverResidency Granted
Reason to BelieveResidency Granted

Reviews

(21)
5 Star
95%
4 Star
5%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Review Matthew Thomas

Best choice ever!

Posted by

I very highly recommend Thomas Law Firm! I spoke with about 11 other attorneys before finding Thomas Law and they were by far the most knowledgeable and professional. I had questions that no other attorney knew how to answer. Not only did Thomas Law answer my questions, but they handled my complicated case and my husband now has his U.S Visa with his green card on its way :). We are forever grateful for the great work that they did for us.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

The Ultimate Immigration Attorney

Posted by

We originally saw another lawyer in 2008 before the I601A came into effect. He explained the I601 at the time and talked to us about having to prove extreme hardship but was not helpful. In 2014, when the I601A was an option, this time we researched on the internet and found Matthew Thomas. After reading many positive reviews, we thought we would give him a try. By the time we walked out of the initial consultation, I knew he was our guy. My wife and I felt like a weight had been lifted off of our shoulders after only speaking to him for 20 minutes. He was confident yet not arrogant. His team was extremely organized and kept us on task throughout the process of the I130 and the I601A. They did not stop after the I-30 and the I601A were approved.....they continued to work with us all the way through our visit to Ciudad Juarez (only one week and we were back legally in the U.S.) even up until the time my wife received her Green Card several weeks after Matt and his team respond to e-mails very quickly; a couple of times Matt himself even responded on a Sunday morning. They have changed our family's future in a way they will never fully know. I highly recommend Matthew Thomas as your immigration attorney. They even have an interest free payment plan with reasonable rates. What are you waiting for, change your future now!
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Best choice ever

Posted by

I came to the United States from Italy as a spouse of an international student. Willing to stay in the United States, my wife and I decided to apply for residency. After a careful research and a number of meetings with several attorneys, we consulted with Matthew Thomas and we decided to hire him for our case. Since the very beginning, Matt seemed us smart, experienced, and trustable. We felt we were in good hands. Matt worked adamantly on our case, answering emails and phone calls as fast as the speed of light - and he never, ever missed any detail. He was even able to answer us about questions that were out of his area of expertise, showing a broad knowledge of the law and a great open-mindedness. When my wife and I were working on our case with Matt, we recommended him to many of our friends who were in similar cases as ours - and I can tell from their experience that Matt is doing great with them, too. I will keep recommending Matthew Thomas to all the people I care for, because he is a great professional as well as a great person. I am so happy we chose him and I wish him and his firm tons of success.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

The perfect lawyer

Posted by

If you're looking to hire an immigration expert, Matt is the one. My story is quite rare, but I want to share it to hopefully benefit the ones with a background similar to mine. I moved to the US to do my PhD, and was on a student visa. When you are on a student visa, you are only allowed to stay in the US until your expected graduation date and, if you are married, your spouse cannot work. This wasn't too bad for us at first, as my husband worked as a journalist correspondent for a newspaper back home. However, after living in different countries, I thought I liked living in the US for the great work environment and work ethic you can get here, along with the great opportunities for professional development. For these reasons, my husband and I had been considering staying in the US with no restrictions and started interviewing lawyers to apply for residency. During our search for the perfect lawyer, we heard all kinds of things. With both of us being foreigners with no family members or employers to petition for us, we became discouraged and thought there were no options. Then, we met Matt Thomas, who wanted to learn more about our backgrounds and asked for my CV. A few days later, on a Sunday morning, we were about to give up when I got a phone call from Matt. He wanted to see us again and suggested that I self-petition in the EB-1 track. I had done my homework and gone through all the possible scenarios, so I knew what Matt was talking about. However, some lawyers had advised me against that route as being too long and complicated, and they had even said I did not qualify for it. So, when Matt and I discussed such option, I tortured him with tons of questions to make sure his advice was sound enough. Of course, I knew I had a great CV but I had been long discouraged by other lawyers and didn't want to waste my time. Matt illustrated all the details of an EB-1 track to me, and we went through the timeframe, the chances for success, etc. I decided I wanted to hire Matt when I thought: "OK, this guy knows more than me about this, and his advice sounds impartial." After that point, I gave Matt my time, my money, my hopes and, even most, my trust. I couldn't make a better decision. Matt and his team built a strong case for me, advertised my achievements and expertise in a clear an engaging way, and managed to get me an approval without even passing through the Request For Evidence step. Now both my husband and I received a Welcome notice and our residency cards are on their ways. Up to this point, the whole process took less than a year, and it was smooth. What I really liked about Matt Thomas is that he believed in me when other lawyers didn't know what to do with my case. Additionally, Matt is very knowledgeable, experienced, personable, and reliable to the point the he even replied my lots of emails on weekends. So, yes, EB-1 is a real thing and it is doable if your CV is rich with achievements. Don't believe who says that you have to be a Noble Prize laureate to fit in the EB-1 track. And, most importantly, with Matt Thomas you're in good hands.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Excellent!!

Posted by

I hired him for my husbands case last year, he needed the provisional waiver to get approved and it did. At all times I felt comfortable, worry free, and most importantly happy with the service that we were receiving. His entire staff is very nice and helpful, always answering my questions and doubts. My husband will be a year with his residency next month. Thank you Mathew Thomas, I would never hesitate to recommend his services to anyone!
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

He is the best

Posted by

If you are looking for an excellent lawyer to solve the problems that do not let you sleep in peace, don't think twice, hire the services of Matthew C. Thomas. I did that twice - 2009 and 2011 - and sincerely I was completely satisfied and happy with the result his work. Simply say he is competent is little. He is very, very competent. More than that, during the entire process he makes you feel that he really cares about your problem and he takes all legal measures to solve the problem and make you smile again. For all these reasons and in my opinion, he is the best, in Phoenix, Arizona.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Most Honest Attorney

Posted by

My wife and I worked with two other attorneys before Matthew, but our case never seemed to go anywhere. The other guys took our money and left us empty handed. We are so thankful that a neighbor recommended him to us. He is very knowledgable, kind and aboveall honest. His staff is also very organized and very attentive. My wife needed a waiver. Other offices said we didn't have a chance. But he got the waiver approved and now my wife is a resident. He changed our lives. If you want the best, he is it!

el mejor abogado de immigracion!

Posted by

Fue recomendado hacia mi por mi sobrina y ahora que al fin regrese de Cuidad Juarez Mexico con mi visa aprovada lo recomiendo con mucha confianza y me hospede con una familia de mucha confianza y responsables, ellos me hospedaron , me llevaron a las citas, me asesoraron, me advirtieron sobre los peligros que existen en Cuidad Juarez Mexico y los alrededores de los edificios donde tiene uno que ir que son tres diferentes lugares, me llevaron a levantar mi paquete y despues me llevaron de regreso a la frontera , esa familia sabe lo que hace yo los recomiendo, un amigo que estuvo hospedado en la misma casa de huespedes que regreso a USA antes que yo me recomendo un taxixsta en el Paso Texas tambien muy buena persona, yo recomiendo a Matthew Thomas !

The Best!!!

Posted by

He represent my husband 2009 everything Mr.Thomas said it was going to be it wad done no hidden fees or surprises I send my blessings to him and family. I went to four or more layers and they gave me no hope until i was sitting at Mathew Thomas office.

Professional Service That is Honest with a WIN/WIN Philosophy!

Posted by

Thomas Law Firm has eased my living here in the United States. They have assisted several family members and myself with different immigration matters. I have experienced great service and at no time did I feel like I was wasting my money but most important my time. I can say with confidence that I will continue going with them. They are prompt and straightforward. Thank you for the excellent work!
See all reviews

Attorney endorsements

(18)
Are you an attorney? Endorse this lawyer

Epimenio Lopez

I endorse this lawyer.

Darius Amiri, Immigration Attorney on May 16, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

When it comes to Immigration in Phoenix, AZ area, Mr. Thomas is as good as it gets. Highly knowledgeable, compassionate, and well respected attorney. Recommend for any immigration matter, including family based petitions and consular processing.

Charles Farrell, Immigration Attorney on Apr 4, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer. Matthew provides a valuable service on Avvo. He gives excellent answers to user questions on this site. I am happy to endorse him.

John Phebus, Immigration Attorney on Mar 1, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer.

Justin Crozier

I endorse this lawyer.

Filipe Pedroso, Immigration Attorney on Feb 29, 2016
Relationship: Other

I endorse this lawyer.

Andrew Alex, Immigration Attorney on Feb 23, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer.

Celestial Roman, Immigration Attorney on Sep 10, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

Matt is an excellent and brilliant attorney. His experience and knowledge in immigration is reflected in his dedicated work ethic and admirable track record. I highly endorse this attorney.

Vianey Hurtado, Immigration Attorney on Apr 24, 2015
Relationship: Worked for lawyer

Matt is an outstanding attorney in the legal community. He is extremely knowledgeable in immigration law, which is reflected in his cases. He handles each case with a high level of professionalism and competency. Matt is truly a zealous advocate for his clients. I endorse this lawyer.

Larry Sandigo, Immigration Attorney on Mar 31, 2015
Relationship: Worked for lawyer

Matt's level of knowledge and expertise in immigration law is reflected in every case. When other attorneys have given up, Matt has been able to find a solution. He ensures that every client receives top notch representation. I endorse this lawyer.

Claudia Lopez, Immigration Attorney on Nov 8, 2014
Relationship: Worked together on matter

Matt knows the ins and outs of immigration law. He will look for solutions and help his clients solve complex cases.

Alfred French, Immigration Attorney on Jan 2, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer wholeheartedly due to the impeccable reputation he has among other lawyers and the first hand accounts of his clients.

Yasser Sanchez, Immigration Attorney on Apr 10, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I proudly endorse this lawyer. Matthew is a very good immigration attorney. I have heard nothing but positive things from his clients and former clients about him. Truly an asset to the legal community in AZ.

Simona Roberts, Immigration Attorney on Nov 1, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer.

Cynthia Perez, Immigration Attorney on Nov 1, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

Matt is very knowledgeable in immigration law. I endorse this lawyer.

Natalia Polukhtin, Immigration Attorney on Oct 19, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer. I Had an opportunity to observe Thomas in the immigration court settings and I was really impressed by his professionalism.

Delia Salvatierra, Immigration Attorney on Sep 22, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

Since law school I have known Matt to be committed to immigrant families. More important, Matt is a well respected immigration attorney because he is transparent and hard working on each of his cases. I trust Matt because he safeguards his clients future in the U.S. by working hard and diligently on their cases.

Regina Jefferies, Immigration Attorney on Nov 30, 2010
Relationship: Co-worker

I endorse this lawyer.