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Vishal Chander, Principal and Founder of The Chander Law Firm, professional headshot.

Admissions: Texas (2002), New York (2004), U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Education: J.D., Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law (2002).
B.A., The University of Texas at Austin (1998).

Vishal Chander - Principal & Founder

Vishal Chander has dedicated his career to immigration and civil rights law, guiding businesses, families, and individuals through the U.S. immigration system for over 20 years. He is trusted for his ability to resolve complex immigration matters and is recognized as a leader in national and local bar associations. With a practice spanning employment visas, family immigration, humanitarian protection, and federal litigation, Vishal brings both skill and compassion to every case.

Areas of Practice

Vishal advises multinational corporations, investors, entrepreneurs, and individuals on a full range of immigration matters, including:

  • Employment-based immigration (H-1B, TN, L-1, O-1, PERM, EB-1, EB-2, EB-3).
  • Investor and entrepreneur visas (EB-5, E-1, E-2, International Entrepreneur Rule).
  • Family-sponsored immigration (marriage-based green cards, K visas, waivers).
  • Deportation and removal defense, including appeals before the BIA and federal courts.
  • Humanitarian protection, including asylum, CAT, TPS, and relief for trafficking survivors.
  • Corporate compliance, including I-9 audits, E-Verify, and ICE investigations.
  • Global Migration and Placement.

Representative Experience

Vishal has represented a wide range of clients — from Fortune 500 companies and technology startups to asylum seekers and families facing deportation. His representative matters include:

  • Securing EB-1A and O-1 status for researchers, inventors, professional athletes, and entertainers.
  • Advising global executives and investors on E-2, EB-5, and L-1 strategies to expand business operations into the U.S.
  • Guiding health care institutions and universities on immigration for physicians, nurses, and professors.
  • Successfully defending clients in complex removal proceedings and humanitarian cases.

Leadership & Professional Involvement

Vishal is deeply engaged in advancing immigrant rights and mentoring fellow attorneys. He serves in leadership roles with the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY), the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), and the New York City Bar Association (NYCBar). He is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences, addressing topics such as employment-based immigration, humanitarian relief, and global migration.

Honors & Recognition

  • American Bar Association Foundation Fellow (2025).
  • Texas Bar Foundation Fellow (2020).
  • Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star (2008–2011).
  • College of the State Bar of Texas.
Speaking Engagements

Speaker, The Path to Citizenship in a Global Environment, American Immigration Lawyers Association Global Migration Section Annual Conference (Jun 23, 2025).

Chair/Moderator, Organizing to be Heard: The Importance of Redistricting and Coalition Building in the NYC Asian American Community, Asian American Bar Association of New York Fall Conference (Oct. 12, 2024).

Moderator, Why Is Everything So Slow: Global Consular Processing, American Immigration Lawyers Association Global Migration Section  Annual Conference (Jun. 20, 2023).

Speaker, Framework and Procedure for “U Visa” Relief, American Immigration Lawyers Association of New York, Public Interest Committee CLE (Apr. 3, 2023).

Moderator, Consular Liaison Panel with Officials of UK, India, Brazil, and Mexico, American Immigration Lawyers Association Global Migration Section (Jan. 25, 2023).

Chair/Speaker, Immigration in Times of Crisis: Navigation Tips for HR and Corporate Counsel, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Annual Conference 2022 (Nov. 5, 2022).

Speaker, Updates and Trends in Employment Based Immigration, Dallas Bar Association Immigration Law Section (Mar. 8, 2022).

Speaker, Case Law Update, PSG & Social Nexus in the 2nd and 3rd Circuits, Asylum Committee CLE, NYC American Immigration Lawyers Association Chapter (Feb. 7, 2021).

Speaker, Immigration Fundamentals for ESL Professionals, Texas Community College Teachers Association (Feb. 12, 2021).

Chair/Speaker, The Impact of COVID-19 on the Border Crisis and Immigration Law Practice, Texas State Bar Association, Annual Meeting, Asian Pacific Interest Section (Jun. 25, 2020).

Chair, Crisis at the Border: Accounts from the Frontline, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Annual Conference 2019 (Nov. 9, 2019).

Invited Speaker, ILW H-1B to EB-5 Dallas, Texas (Nov. 2, 2019).

Speaker, Immigration Panel, Thai American Bar Association and Thai Consul General, Chicago (Nov. 11, 2018).

Speaker, 2018 Immigration Update, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (Sep. 26, 2018).

Moderator, US-India-Israel: a Trilateral Trade Conversation, US India Chamber of Commerce, American Jewish Committee, University of Texas at Dallas (Sep. 20, 2018).

Chair/Moderator, Data Privacy and Cybersecurity, US India Chamber of Commerce Annual Technology Conference (May 11, 2018).

Speaker, Immigration Fundamentals for ESL Professionals, Texas Community College Teachers Association Annual Convention (Mar. 3, 2018).

Speaker, ILW EB-5 Seminars, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, New Delhi (Jan. 15, 2018 – Jan. 19, 2018).

Speaker, Immigration Policy Changes and the Tech Economy, U.S. – India Chamber of Commerce Webinar (May 8, 2017).

Speaker, Immigration Issues for Investors, Family Office Trends Forum SxSW, Ivy Family Office Network (Mar. 10, 2017).

Speaker, Immigration in Transition; Being Prepared for Changes and Uncertainties, Pearson Partners DFW HR Roundtable, (Feb. 21, 2017).

Speaker, U.S. – India Chamber of Commerce Annual Technology Conference, Immigration Trends & Prospects in Impacting U.S.-India Business (Apr. 21, 2016).

Speaker, Business Immigration Issues, Executive Action on Immigration Webinar, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (Jan. 7, 2015).

Speaker, So You’ve Decided to Go Out on Your Own or Start at a Small Law Firm, Dallas Asian American Bar Association (Aug. 26, 2014).

Speaker, Asian American Legal History: Echoes of the Past in Today’s Immigration Debate, Dallas Asian American Bar Association (May 23, 2014).

Speaker, Intersection of Immigration Practice with Other Areas of Law, Dallas Bar Association, Minority Attorney Program (Apr. 12, 2013).

Chair, Sacrificing Civil Liberties for Secure Communities: Litigating Racial Profiling in Immigration Enforcement, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Annual Conference 2011 (Nov. 19, 2011).

Chair, The Politics and Policy of Immigration Reform, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Annual Conference 2010 (Nov. 21, 2010).

Speaker, Employer Obligations: Immigration Status Compliance and Workforce Enforcement, Regional Hispanic Contactors Association (Aug. 4, 2010).

Speaker, Hiring Foreign Professional Workers, Regional Hispanic Contactors Association (Jun. 9, 2010).

Speaker, Immigration Issues When Transitioning Employment, Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce Multi-ethnic Education and Economic Development Center (May 20, 2010).

Speaker, Immigration Options for Business Owners, Regional Hispanic Contactors Association (May 12, 2010).

Speaker, Fixing Family Immigration Problems, Regional Hispanic Contactors Association (Apr. 22, 2010).

Chair, State Efforts to Regulate Immigration and the Impact on American Business, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Annual Conference 2009 (Nov. 20, 2009).

Speaker, Advanced Family Law Immigration Issues, ILW.com (Oct. 22, 2009).

Chair, Ensuring Human Rights and Civil Rights in the American Foreign Labor System, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Annual Conference 2008 (Nov. 21, 2008).