James D. Prappas

• Labor & Employment
• Immigration
• Esports

Bar Admissions

• State Bar of Texas (1986)

Education

• University of Houston Law Center, J.D., 1985
• Davidson College, A.B., with honors, 1980

• Successful E-1 applications for manufacturers and service providers and E-2 applications for real estate and agricultural investors to permit the growth and expansion of their U.S. businesses.
• Extensive track record filing E-1 Treaty Trader and E-2 Treaty Investor cases for start-up and existing entities.
• Expertise concerning individual L-1 and L-1 blanket petitions for start-up and existing businesses.
• Extensive experience concerning H-1B petitions and overcoming RFEs.
• Extensive experience counseling employers concerning E-verify matters.
• Significant expertise concerning O-1 visas for athletes, artists and business persons.
• Extensive background and experience concerning family-based immigration petitions.
• Substantial experience concerning derivative citizenship and complex naturalization petitions.
• Developing the strategy and implementing an integrated solution to permit businesses to obtain nonimmigrant visas and lawful permanent residence aka “green cards” for employees through EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 options.

• Law in the Workplace, "Top Five Year-End Immigration Planning Tips," December 2021
• Energy Law Today, "U.S. Immigration Outlook for the Remainder of 2020 - Top 10 Strategic Considerations," May 2020
• Energy Law Today, "Visa Strategies in the Trump Era and How to Attract and Retain Key Employees in the Oil Patch," August 2018
• “Obtaining Ancillary Benefits, ” Texas Bar CLE’s 13th Annual Advanced Immigration Law Course, February 2015
• “Temporary Non-Immigrant Visas: Beyond the Basics,” 12th Annual Advanced Immigration Law Course, February 2013

• Panelist, American Immigration Lawyers Association Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma Chapter Spring Conference (Mexico City), "Plaza de las Tres Culturas: Square of the Big Three USMCA Panel: US, Canada & Mexico," April 2024.
• Speaker, American Bar Association, International Law Section, "Immigration and the Energy Sector: Strategies to Fill the Talent Gap and Create a Diverse and Dynamic Workforce - Nonimmigrant Visa Issues and Opportunities," February 27-March 1, 2024.
• Presentation to DEÏK/TAÏK (Istanbul, Turkey) - "Initial Legal Considerations When Establishing a Business in Texas," October 5, 2023.
• Kocaeli Chamber of Commerce (Kocaeli, Turkey) - "Initial Legal Considerations When Establishing a Business in Texas," October 2, 2023.
• KRCL Labor & Employment Seminar - Employment Law Legal Developments, Trends and Challenges. "Are Your I-9s in Order? Practice Tips for I-9 and E-verify Compliance," June 13, 2023.
• KRCL Labor & Employment Seminar - Employment Law Legal Developments, Trends and Challenges. "Are Your I-9s in Order? Practice Tips for I-9 and E-verify Compliance," May 10, 2023.
• State Bar of Texas, 21st Annual Advanced Immigration Law, E-1 Treaty Trader, E-2 Treaty Investor and EB-5s Research Tools and Available Information, February 2023
• Tri-National Webinar, Asociación Nacional de Abogados de Empresa, Colegio de Abogados - ANADE," Regulation of Investors in Mexico, USA and Canada," February 2022
• State Bar of Texas, 20th Annual Advanced Immigration Law, All About Es: The Nuts and Bolts of the E-1 Treaty Trader and E-2 Treaty Investor Visas, February 2022
• UT Law CLE - 2021 Conference on Immigration and Nationality Law, "Business NIV Solutions - Practical Timing Considerations to Maintain/Extend Status and Consular Processing," October 2021.
• American Immigration Lawyers Assn Online H-1B Course, “Post-Filing Issues: RFES and Consular Processing, October 2021.
• KRCL Webinar, U.S. Immigration Law Update: Changes During the Biden Administration's First 100 Days, April 2021
• "U.S. Immigration Law Update: Changes During the Biden Administration's First 100 Days," KRCL Energy & Transportation Webinar, April 2021
• Hijas de la MX webinars, “Immigration Changes,” February 2021
• Immigration 101 - Introduction to U.S. Immigration, Houston Trusts and Estates Club, April 2021
• "Strategy and Mechanics of Your Employment-Based Case," State Bar of Texas 19th Annual Advanced Immigration Law, February 2021
• "¿Cómo se puede migrar a los Estados Unidos LEGALMENTE?", YouTube Presentation for the Hijas de la MX USA, October 2020
• "U.S. Immigration Update and Impact of the Presidential Proclamations", British-American Business Council, July 2020
• "The Impact of COVID-19 Upon Travel and Visa Options Facing Cross Border Trade and Investment", U.S. Mexico Bar Association, June 2020
• "The Nuts and Bolts of U.S. Immigration Law and the Impact of COVID-19 Upon Travel and Visa Options Facing Cross-Border, High Het Worth Individuals", Houston Estate Forum, June 2020
• "U.S. Immigration Overview and the Impact of COVID-19 on U.S. Immigration", Pinsent Masons Immigration Team, May 2020
• "COVID-19 and Impact on U.S. Immigration", British-American Business Council, April 2020
• “The Reality of Zero-Tolerance: Adjudication,” 17th Annual Course on Advanced Immigration Law, February 2019
• “Recruiting Foreign-Trained Employed Physicians, NP/PAs, and Nurses,” 1st Annual HR Maximizer Member Conference, August 2018
• The Automotive Industry: NAFTA 2.0 & Labor and Immigration Matters (Panelist), 2^nd Annual SWIICL – Mexico Workshop, March 2018
• "U.S. Immigration - Current Issues and Trends," U.S. Mexico Bar Association 2017 Conference, September 2017
• "Aspectos Fiscales en Migracion: Efecto Trump," Instituto de Contadores Públicos de Nuevo León A.C (ICPNL), August 2017
• “U.S. Immigration Compliance and Visa Issues Selective Overview,” Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law, February 2017
• Building Bridges for Business (Panelist), 22nd Annual US-Mexico Bar Conference, October 2016
• 14th Annual Course on Advanced Immigration Law (Moderator), State Bar of Texas Immigration & Nationality Law Section, February 2016
• “Overview of U.S. Immigration Law – Selected Issues and U.S. Real Estate Primer,” Keller Williams Realtors International Division, March 2015
• “Obtaining Ancillary Benefits,” Texas Bar CLE’s 13th Annual Advanced Immigration Law Course, February 2015
• “Doing Business in Houston,” NOF Energy and British-American Business Council Houston, January 2015
• “U.S. Immigration and Tax—Opportunities and Pitfalls,” International Tax Forum of Houston, March 2014
• "Immigration 101," 12th Annual Advanced Immigration Law Course, February 2014
• "International Taxation," Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, June 2013
• “Temporary Non-Immigrant Visas: Beyond the Basics,” 12th Annual Advanced Immigration Law Course, February 2013
• Seminar Immigration Law, Rice University, October 2012

• Board Certified, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Immigration and Nationality Law (1993)
• Best Lawyers in America©, U.S. News & World Report (Immigration Law, 2011 - 2023)
• Ranked in Chambers USA Guide, Immigration – Texas (2015 - 2024)
• Super Lawyers, 2023
• Top Lawyers, Houstonia Magazine (2019)

• U.S. Mexico Bar Association (January 2024 - current)
  • U.S. Chair
• U.S. Department of Commerce Houston District Export Council, Member
• British-American Business Council Houston, Board Member
• Japan America Society of Houston, Board Member
• Netherlands America Chamber of Commerce – Texas Chapter, Board Member (2011- 2018)

• The Parish School - Board Member (2009- 2017); Vice President (2013-2017)
• Consulate General of Mexico in Houston, Honorary Legal Counsel

• Greek
• Spanish