Tejas Shah has the ability to take the complex and confusing nature of immigration law and simplify it for his clients. His goal is to not only help them comply with the multifaceted requirements of U.S. immigration law, but also to ensure that as clients source global talent, they thrive in environments that can be hostile to migration.
OVERVIEW
Tejas Shah
Partner
OVERVIEW
Tejas Shah
Partner
Tejas Shah has the ability to take the complex and confusing nature of immigration law and simplify it for his clients. His goal is to not only help them comply with the multifaceted requirements of U.S. immigration law, but also to ensure that as clients source global talent, they thrive in environments that can be hostile to migration.
- OVERVIEW
- EXPERIENCE
- PRESENTATIONS
- PUBLICATIONS
- INSIGHTS & EVENTS
OVERVIEW
As employers increasingly seek to hire and retain talented foreign national employees to maximize competitiveness, Tejas is empathetic to their needs and offers practical immigration law advice. He is committed to guiding employers of all sizes – across a diverse cross-section of industries, including finance, banking, education, transportation, and healthcare – in efficiently and economically sponsoring workers for permanent residency in the United States through Program Electronic Record Management (PERM) labor certifications and in multiple temporary visa categories, such as H-1B, O-1, E-2, R-1, E-3, and L-1.
He also counsels employers who seek assistance and counsel on self-audits and responding to I-9 audits by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Social Security Administration (SSA) no-match letters, and Department of Labor wage and hour audits of H-1B workers.
Tejas represents and assists higher education institutions with a wide range of immigration issues in and outside of litigation, including advising student and faculty issues involving immigration statuses, sponsoring faculty and other professional staff for visas and permanent residency, and advising institutions on legally compliant immigration sponsorship programs. Tejas is often a resource for international student services offices as he provides guidance and counsel on complying with SEVP program regulations. Further, he has frequently presented on changes to immigration policy and litigation that could impact DACA recipients, international students from countries subject to certain Presidential Proclamations, and applicants for asylum.
In addition, Tejas maintains a healthy individual immigration practice. He works with investors, scientists, researchers, and artists on immigration strategies and represents individuals in family-based immigration and naturalization matters, including clients in deportation proceedings, in the U visa application process, and litigation in the federal courts.
Tejas also maintains a pro bono practice assisting individuals and families through the National Immigrant Justice Center and Chicago Volunteer Legal Services.
Before joining Barnes & Thornburg, Tejas practiced at two immigration-focused law firms and a labor, employment and education firm, all in Chicago. During law school, he was a law clerk in the Office of the General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C.
Professional and Community Involvement
Executive board member, South Asian Bar Association of North America (SABA)
Board member, Indo-American Center of Chicago
Former chair, Illinois State Bar Association’s International and Immigration Law Section Council
Former president, Indian American Bar Association of Chicago
Former chair, New Members Division for the Chicago Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association
Former chair, Indo-American Clinic “Cyriac Kappil” Pro Bono Legal Clinic
Former member, Customs and Border Patrol Liaison Committee
Former Liaison Committee member, local office of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS)
Former co-chair, Immigration Committee of SABA
Former board of trustees member, SABA Foundation
Former associate board member, Indo-American Center of Chicago
Honors
Chambers USA, 2021-2023
The Best Lawyers in America, 2021-2024
Illinois Super Lawyers, 2019-2022
Nation's Best, Lawyers of Color, 2020
Most Notable Minority Lawyers, Crain’s Chicago Business, 2018, 2020
Most Influential Minority Lawyers, Crain’s Chicago Business, 2017
Leading Lawyer, Law Bulletin Publishing, 2017
Young Lawyer of the Year in Cook County, Illinois State Bar Association, 2015
Cornerstone Award, South Asian Bar Association of North America, 2015
Distinguished Service Award, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, 2010
EXPERIENCE
PRESENTATIONS
- No Small Matter: Identifying the Unique Legal Concerns for Smaller Businesses, Hinshaw & Culbertson, Aug. 28, 2017, Chicago, IL
- Changes in Immigration Policy and Implications for Students, Families, and Schools, Loyola University Education Law Year in Review, June 27, 2017, Chicago, IL
- Navigating Change – Immigration Issues Affecting Schools, The Large Unit District Association (LUDA) Spring Symposium, June 8, 2017, Oak Brook, IL
- Navigating Change – Immigration Issues Affecting Schools, Franczek Radelet Annual School Law Conference, Feb. 10, 2017, Chicago, IL
- How Can We? For Student Issues, Franczek Radelet Annual School Law Conference, Feb. 10, 2017, Chicago, IL
- 2016 Immigration Law Update: Changes that Affect your Practice and Clients, ISBA Intl. and Immigration Law Section, Webinar, Jan. 22, 2016
- Beyond the Business of Immigration ABC's, CBA/YLS Immigration and Nationality Law Committee, Jan. 7, 2016 (live program)
- Getting Incorporated: An Introduction to Hiring Nonimmigrants for the Newer Practitioner, AILA Chicago Chapter Fall Conference, Oct. 16, 2015, Chicago, IL
- Impact of Immigration Issues on School Districts, DuPage County Regional Office of Education, Aug. 10, 2015
- 2014 Immigration Accountability Executive Action: A Constitutional and Policy Perspective, 12th Annual South Asian Bar Association of North America Convention, June 11, 2015, Orlando, FL (panelist)
- Immigration Overview: Relevance to General Practitioners & Criminal Defense Attorneys, Peoria County Bar Association, March 11, 2015, Peoria, IL (co-presenter)
- Update on Compliance/Audit Issues, American Immigration Lawyers Association Midwest Regional Conference, March 9, 2015, Chicago, IL (moderator)
- ABCs of EB-1 & EB-2 National Interest Waivers, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Fall Business Conference, Oct. 2014, Chicago, Illinois (panelist)
- Employer Compliance Requirements under U.S. Immigration Law, Chicago Bar Association (CBA) - International and Foreign Law Committee Meeting, Sept. 2014, Chicago, Illinois (panelist)
- How Comprehensive Immigration Reform Would Affect the Tech Industry, ITech Lawyers Conference - Asia-Pacific Region, Jan. 2014, Bangalore, India (panelist)
- Immigration Law Update (webinar), Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) - International and Immigration Law Section, Nov. 2013, Chicago, Illinois (panelist)
- Tax and Immigration Rules for Global Professionals, NASABA (webinar), Oct. 2013 (moderator)
- Civil Rights Implications of Comprehensive Immigration Reform, U.S. Civil Rights Commission, Sept. 2013, Chicago, Illinois
- Employment-Based Permanent Residency Options, CBA, Nov.r 2012, Chicago, Illinois
- Immigration Options for Foreign Graduate Students and Hot Topics in Immigration, Indiana University, Oct. 2012, Bloomington, Indiana
- Immigration Options for Artists and Entertainers, Chicago South Asian Film Festival, Sept. 2012, Chicago, Illinois
- Getting Politically Correct, Network of Indian Professionals, April 2012, Chicago, Illinois
- Immigrating to India and Indian Business Etiquette, Northwestern Law School - India Law Travel Group, Feb. 2012, Evanston, Illinois
- Immigration law guest lectures, Marquette University and Chicago-Kent, 2011-2012
- EB-1 and EB-2 Self-Petition Permanent Residency Options, AILA - New Members Division (Chicago Chapter), Feb. 2011, Chicago, Illinois
- Immigration Options for International Physicians, Illinois Advocate Masonic Medical Center, Feb. 2011, Chicago, Illinois
These presentations occurred prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg.
PUBLICATIONS
- Co-author, “How Outsourced Workers Could Increase Discrimination Risks,” Law360, Jan. 2016
- "Immigration Reform and Diversifying Your Workforce," Kane County Bar Association Bar Briefs, April 2015
- "Administration Takes Step Toward More Entrepreneur-Friendly Immigration Policy,” Immigration Impact, May 17, 2012
- Co-author, “The Widow’s Penalty No More,” Illinois State Bar Association Journal, July 2011
- “USCIS Announcement Regarding Job Creation: The First Step in a Pro-Growth Immigration Policy,” The Globe, Volume 49, No. 4, Oct. 2011
These presentations occurred prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg.
INSIGHTS & EVENTS
