Neha Vyas is a partner and co-owner of Open Sky Law, PLLC. She focuses her practice on Violence Against Women Act (“VAWA”) self-petitions, U Visas, asylum, family-based immigration, citizenship, and removal defense, including appeals.
Before launching Open Sky Law, Neha was a Senior Attorney at Gibbs Houston Pauw. Neha also served as the former Legal Director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project in Seattle, Washington. Prior to joining NWIRP, Neha was in solo practice in Tucson, Arizona, focusing on immigration cases. She began practicing immigration law as a staff attorney with the Tucson Ecumenical Council for Legal Assistance (TECLA), a project that, like NWIRP, had its origins assisting Salvadorans and Guatemalan refugees fleeing their countries' wars in the 1980's. Neha has served as the secretary of the Board of the Asylum Program of Southern Arizona and formerly served on the Board of Chaya now known as API Chaya. API Chaya is a community based nonprofit organization that serves South Asian women impacted by domestic violence. In 2001, Neha received an Award for Outstanding Dedication to Battered Immigrant Women by the Southeastern Arizona Behavior Health Service. Neha was lead counsel in, Guerra et al v. USA, No. 09-CV-01027 RSM (W.D. Wash., Oct. 21, 2014). (Federal District for the Western District of WA finds CIS and State Department abused judicial process and awards fees for bad faith conduct in the handling of a J-1 waiver application).
Neha is a frequent speaker and presenter at immigration law conferences and continuing legal education seminars. She has over 15 press and media appearances including interviews on CNN, National Public Radio (“NPR”) and quotes in the Seattle Times. Neha has been involved in legislative efforts for immigrants’ rights by testifying before the State Senate and King County Council and participating in community outreach events.
Neha is trilingual (English, Hindi (conversational), Spanish (conversational)). She loves spending time with her daughter and enjoys traveling, hiking, and cooking.
- Campbell University, School of Law, Raleigh, NC, Juris Doctorate, 05/97
- Calhoun Advocacy Award, Best performance in trial and appellate advocacy, 1997
- Scholarship to Mexico to study immigration law, Campbell University, 1996
- Client Counseling Competition, 2nd Round, Campbell University, 1996
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, BA Speech Communication & Spanish, 07/93
- Award, 1st place, persuasive speech contest, Meredith College, 1990
- Award for Outstanding Dedication to Battered Immigrant Women, Southeastern Arizona Behavior Health Service, 3rd Annual Luncheon for Women’s Awareness Month, 2001
- Michael Berger Memorial Scholarship, Scholarship to American Immigration Lawyers Association Conference, 1999
- First Place Winner, Director’s Award and Dance Award: Cultural Dance Competition, 1992
Press and Television Appearances
- CNN — Article: “Attorneys: travel ban fight is a marathon with no end in sight.”, March 07, 2015
- NPR KUOW 94.9FM — Story on the “Real ID”, June 2005
- NPR KUOW 94.9FM — Story on Expedited removal, August 2004
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer — “Border agents’ powers to grow: They will get authority to deport many illegal aliens without hearings”, August 2004
- ACLU Monthly Television Program — Guest speaker on a panel to address recent “raids” being conducted by DHS officials in WA
- Spanish Radio Show “Viva Mexico” — Program sponsored by the Mexican Consulate about recent “raids” by DHS officials in local shopping centers and apartment buildings, August 2004
- Spanish Radio Show — Program sponsored by Hermanos Unidos in order to address recent raids by DHS official
- Seattle Times — “Immigration Rule divides Portland Couple”, March 2004
- NPR KUOW 94.9FM — Story on new detention center built in Tacoma, WA March 2004
- Arizona Republic — “Confusion Rampant over Bush proposal”, January 2004
- Seattle Times — “Foreign-visitor rules will be added to land crossings”, July 2004
- Seattle Times — “New Tacoma facility to house people targeted for deportation,” February 2004
- Seattle Channel 21/28 — “Declaration of Independence Road Trip”, August 2003
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer — “Immigrant’s complaint brings action on officer’s rude behavior”, June 2003
- El Mundo — “TPS”, March 2003
- Tucson Citizen “Dubious of Elian’s case, experts say it helps others”, April, 2000
- KGUN 9 Television-ABC Segment on special immigrant juvenile visa and plight of children that flee to the United States, 2000
- Tucson Citizen “Seminar aids Mitch refugees”, March 1999
