About

Prakash Khatri, is the Chief Executive Officer of Khatri Law Firm, LLC. Recognized as one of the “50 Most Influential Indian-Americans” by India Abroad in 2007, Mr. Khatri is a renowned specialist and public speaker on immigration law and related matters. Mr. Khatri has provided expert commentary on immigration issues for television and radio programs and has shared his insights at countless immigration conferences, seminars and debates. From July 2003 until March 2008, Mr. Khatri served as the nation’s first Ombudsman for Citizenship and Immigration Services in the newly formed United States Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Khatri managed the growth of this independent office from a one-person entity to a professional team of more than two dozen professionals and administrative staff. As CIS Ombudsman and a recognized expert on immigration matters, Mr. Khatri provided senior executive leadership, vision, and direction to policy makers in several cabinet-level agencies. An immigrant himself, Mr. Khatri was regularly consulted for advice by policymakers in the Departments of Homeland Security, State, Labor and Justice, the Office of Management and Budget, and the White House on immigration-related matters. During his nearly five years with the Department of Homeland Security, Mr. Khatri developed and delivered numerous recommendations to the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for changes to the immigration benefits process. Mr. Khatri based his proposals on input collected from USCIS workers throughout the world, visits to U.S. border posts and airports, meetings with Homeland Security immigration officials, and consultations with thousands of individuals, Fortune 500 corporation and other employer representatives, lawyers, professional organizations and community-based organizations across the country. In his work on departmental immigration reform initiatives, Mr. Khatri devoted himself to identifying solutions that would improve the delivery of services to immigrants, eliminate wasteful processes, and enhance the security of the homeland. Before being appointed Ombudsman by President George W. Bush’s Administration, Mr. Khatri managed the Immigration Compliance Department for Walt Disney World Co. in Lake Buena Vista, Florida from 1998 to 2003. At Disney, Mr. Khatri managed a team of professionals that provided technical immigration advice to the Walt Disney World Resort as well as numerous other Walt Disney Company subsidiaries and affiliates. During his years with Walt Disney World Co., Mr. Khatri implemented several new automated technology systems that enhanced the corporation’s efficiency in processing large volumes of visas for the hundreds of foreign workers it hired each year. Mr. Khatri’s innovative solutions also ensured that international employees worked only in areas authorized by their specific visa. Mr. Khatri provided Disney with both reactive and pro-active strategic planning for major events involving large numbers of international employees and guests. During the Millennium celebrations, Mr. Khatri coordinated the preparation of hundreds of entertainment-related visas for Walt Disney Entertainment employees and third-party groups. Before arriving at Disney, Mr. Khatri practiced law for 14 years, specializing in immigration issues. In 1984, at the age of 22, Mr. Khatri became the youngest attorney admitted to the Florida Bar. He began his legal career working for personal injury attorneys. In the aftermath of the Union Carbide gas explosion, he subsequently was sent to Bhopal, India where he developed and coordinated case files of more than 500 injured clients for the firm. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, Florida and Maryland.

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