Noaman Azhar

Attorney

Noaman’s legal practice is primarily devoted to immigration and nationality law where he focuses a significant portion of his time handling complex employment and family immigration matters. He was selected as a Texas Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers Magazine in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 – a designation awarded to only the top 2.5% of attorneys in a given practice aera under the age of 35. He recently served as the 2019 co-chair of the Immigration Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association.

Noaman regularly advises large and small companies on proper Department of Labor procedures and guidelines for labor certification filings. As a former athlete himself, Noaman works closely with many professional athletes in securing O-1 visas and permanent residency (EB-1A) based on their extraordinary athletic ability. ln federal immigration court, Noaman has secured asylum and withholding of removal for many of his clients, including those from Albania, Eritrea, Somalia, Pakistan and lran. He has also successfully litigated many complex legal issues in immigration court including admissibility, deportability, eligibility for immigration relief and waivers. His advocacy and superior trial skills have earned him the praises of multiple immigration judges in Dallas, TX.

Noaman often speaks at CLEs and religious and community centers regarding updates in immigration law – most recently Executive Order 13769, commonly labeled “the Muslim Ban.” In 2017, Noaman spoke on the law school’s Diversity Week Panel on Religion and the Law.

While at Texas Tech University School of Law, Noaman served as Chairman of the Board of Barristers, won the intra-school advanced moot court and mock trial competitions and was selected to six national moot court teams – winning best oralist at multiple national moot court tournaments. Upon graduating, he received the Donald M. Hunt Outstanding Barrister Award, Top Gun Advocacy Award, Fulbright & Jaworski Scholarship, Judge Meade F. Griffin Outstanding Achievement Award from the law school faculty, and was inducted into the National Order of Barristers.

Education

• Texas Tech University School of Law (J.D., 2007)
• University of Texas at Austin (B.A. in Government, 2004)

Admissions

• State of Texas, 2007
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 2009
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, 2010

Practice Areas

• Labor Certifications
• Removal Defense
• O Visas (Athletes)
• Visa Processing
• Waivers of Inadmissibility Adjustment of Status
• US Citizenship

Professional Memberships

• Co-Chair – Dallas Bar Association Immigration Law Section
• Texas State Bar
• Immigration and Nationality Law Section, Texas State Bar
• American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
• American Bar Association (ABA)

Speaking Events

09/11/2018: Noaman Azhar speaks to the Dallas Immigration Bar Association on PERM Labor Certifications.
03/18/2018: Noaman Azhar speaks to the Dallas Bar Association Immigration Law Section on “Do’s and Don’ts of Running a Successful Immigration Law Practice.” See photos here.
03/21/2017: Noaman Azhar speaks to the Dallas Bar Associations International Law Section on “The International Impact of Executive Order Litigation.” See photo here.
03/08/2017: Noaman Azhar presented during Texas Tech University School of Law’s Annual Diversity Week, where he spoke on a panel discussion regarding law and religion. The panelists discussed how religious practice and faith informed their legal practice. See photo here, here and here.
03/17/2015: Noaman Azhar speaks on panel presentation for Dallas Bar Association members entitled “International Implications of Recent Executive Actions on Immigration Policy: Congress Doing What?” See photo here.
04/26/2014: Noaman Azhar speaks at the 2014 regional AILA conference on PERM ethical issues. See photo here.
02/08/2014: Noaman Azhar and Uzma Zafarullah participated at the annual Citizenship Workshop hosted by the Plano Multicultural Outreach Roundtable (MCOR). The workshop is designed to educate the public regarding US citizenship eligiblity and the process. The workshop included presentations by the mayor of Plano as well as an FBI special agent. Noaman and Uzma participated as attorneys and answered several citizenship related questions from the general public. This was the 5th year that Azhar & Azhar Law Firm participated. See photo here.
02/23/2012: Noaman Azhar speaks as a panelist at SMU event entitled “Law Careers Come in All Shapes and Sizes.”
02/12/2011: Noaman Azhar presents at the Citizenship Information Workshop hosted by the Plano Multicultural Outreach Roundtable (MCOR).
04/23/2010: Noman Azhar and Uzma Zafarullah present at the Citizenship Information Workshop hosted by the Plano Multicultural Outreach Roundtable (MCOR). Noaman Azhar was also quoted in the Dallas Morning News. Please click here to read what he had to say and see photo here.
05/30/2009: Noaman Azhar speaks at the Plano City Multicultural Outreach Round Table Citizenship Workshop.

Furqan’s legal practice is devoted entirely to Immigration and Nationality Law. His practice includes the representation of companies seeking visas for their employees, employees seeking back pay for wages earned and the defense of aliens in federal immigration courts across the country. He frequently speaks on legal topics, has testified in criminal court as an expert witness and has served as an Adjunct Professor of Immigration Law at DCCC. From 2012 to 2014, he was the AILA TX/OK/NM Chapter Consumer Protection/UPL Coordinator. In September of 2019, the Dallas Bar Association’s Immigration Law Section awarded Furqan the Immigration Excellence Award.

Furqan has successfully argued on appeal two published decisions, one by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and the other by the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO).

In the precedent setting case of Matter of Quilantan, 25 I&N Dec. 285 (BIA 2010), the BIA found that “an alien who physically presents herself for questioning and makes no knowing false claim to citizenship is ‘inspected,’ even though she volunteers no information and is asked no questions by the immigration authorities, and that such an alien…” has “made a lawful entry into the United States after inspection and authorization by an immigration officer.” Furqan’s victory was a powerful ruling that allows aliens to be able to adjust their status to that of lawful permanent resident even when they have not received thorough questioning at the border.

On April 18, 2017, President Trump signed the Buy American and Hire American Executive Order, which sought to create higher wages for U.S. workers. As a result, USCIS began denying H-1B applications that were filed under a “Level 1” wage rate. In the first positive decision issued by the AAO since the Executive Order, USCIS reversed the denial of an H-1B visa petition finding that Furqan’s client properly used a Level 1 wage for the job of a Geotechnical Engineer in Training (EIT), and that the H-1B visa petition adhered with the correct, five-step procedure for determining the appropriate wage level for the job. Matter of B-C-, Inc. (Jan 25, 2018). This was another powerful ruling that clarified for USCIS that a level 1 wage does not automatically disqualify an H-1B employer from establishing that the position offered is a specialty occupation.

In 2010, one of Furqan’s clients dubbed him their “E-attorney,” and he has been known to wear that moniker as a badge of honor. In fact, legend has it that Furqan often times starts responding to client E-mails before the client has even hit the “Send” button. When Furqan is not spending time with his wife and two daughters, he can usually be found overly obsessing about sports. He also mentors other attorneys and participates in pro bono legal clinics.

Education

• OCU School of Law (J.D., 2006)
• Baylor University (B.A. in   Philosophy, with Honors, 2003)

Admissions

• State of Oklahoma, 2007

Practice Areas

• Removal Defense
• EB1-EB5
• Non-Immigrant Visas
• Asylum and Refugee Law

Professional Memberships

• Oklahoma Bar Association (OBA)
• American Immigration Lawyer’s Association (AILA)
• Oklahoma Bar Foundation (OBF)

Speaking Events

12/09/2023: Furqan Sunny Azhar conducts seminar entitled “Pathways to Permanent Residency: Navigating the Journey from H-1B to Green Card and Citizenship,” hosted by NTMSA. See photo here.
11/29/2023: Furqan Sunny Azhar speaks on “Inefficiency or Discrimination: A Look at the Intersection of U.S. Immigration and National Security,” hosted by DFW/MBA and MLFA. See flyer here.
04/05/2023: Furqan Sunny Azhar speaks at the Belo Mansion on “Starting Your Own Law Firm,” hosted by the Dallas Bar Association. See photo here.
01/28/2023: Furqan Sunny Azhar conducts seminar entitled “Recent Immigration Updates,” hosted by NTMSA. See photo here.
02/12/2022: Furqan Sunny Azhar conducts seminar entitled “Demystifying the H-1B Cap Season,” hosted by the Dallas Deccan Society.
11/09/2021: Furqan Sunny Azhar moderates DFW/MBA CLE entitled “Best Practices for Criminal and Immigration Attorneys.” See photo here
12/08/2018: Furqan Sunny Azhar speaks at MLFA conference at a session entitled “Make Immigration Great Again (MIGA), US Immigration Under the Trump Administration.”
• 10/13/2018: Furqan Sunny Azhar speaks and moderates at NAML conference at a session entitled “CrImmigration: The Critical Issues.” See photo here
• 07/15/2018: Furqan Sunny Azhar serves as a guest lecturer at SMU’s master’s class on “Human Rights and Conflict Engagement” where he spoke on immigration as a human right.
• 01/22/2018: Furqan Sunny Azhar speaks as a panelist at Plano Special Citizens Town Hall meeting entitled “Immigration Policy and Economic Security.” See photos here and here.
• 11/09/2017: Furqan Sunny Azhar conducts Immigration Law presentation at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK. Hosted by the OU International Student Services Office, Furqan Sunny was invited to speak on US immigration options after graduation and the consular visa interview process.
09/2017: Furqan Sunny Azhar participates in community events at Silver Spoon (Allen, TX) and Kasbah Grill (Irving, TX) where he spoke on issues related to H-4/EAD and DACA. See photo here.
12/27/2016: Furqan Sunny Azhar presented and moderated at the 2016 MAS ICNA Conference in Chicago, IL on topics related to border rights and the US immigration landscape under a Trump administration. He also helped conduct the MLFA/CLCMA legal clinic. See photo of participating CLCMA attorneys here.
• 08/16/2014: Furqan Sunny Azhar speaks at workshop in support of Congressman Veasey’s bill: H.R. 5228, The Notario Victim Relief Act. See photo here and here.
04/26/2014: Furqan Sunny Azhar speaks at the 2014 regional AILA conference on NIW petitions. See photo here.
• 09/06/2013: Furqan Sunny Azhar speaks at the Dallas Peace Center on Syrian’s eligibility for TPS and asylum.
04/23/2013: Furqan Sunny Azhar conducts presentation for Dallas AILA members entitled “UPL Pitfalls: What Every Attorney Should Know.” See photo here.
• 06/30/2011: Furqan Sunny Azhar testifies in Dallas criminal court case as an “expert witness” in Immigration Law.
05/07/2011: Furqan Sunny Azhar speaks at rally supporting the recognition of violence perpetrated against citizens of Mexico as a result of as a result of rogue gangs.
03/07/2011: Furqan Sunny Azhar conducts Immigration Law presentations at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK. Hosted by the OU International Student Services Office, Furqan Sunny Azhar was invited to speak on US immigration options after graduation and the consular visa interview process. Attached is the flyer.
04/09/2010: Furqan Sunny Azhar speaks at a conference titled “Selling Bodies, Stealing Lives: The Global Sex Slavery Crisis in the 21st Century.” The conference was hosted by The Women’s Studies Committee of South Texas College. Furqan Sunny Azhar spoke on the availability of U Visas (victims of certain crimes) and T Visas (victims of trafficking).
• 06/23/2008: Furqan Sunny Azhar holds Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) presentation at the Genesis Women’s Shelter in Dallas, TX.
05/25/2008: Furqan Sunny Azhar holds Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) presentation at Family Place Women’s Shelter in Dallas, TX.
03/05/2008: Furqan Sunny Azhar holds presentation on “How to Get a Job in Texas” at OCU Law’s Multicultural Law Student Alliance (MLSA) meeting in Oklahoma City, OK.

In the News

04/14/2018: Azhar & Azhar Law Firm sponsors symposium entitled “Sports and Social Justice – A National Conversation.” View flyer here, articles are here and  here.
7/2016: Furqan Sunny Azhar publishes article in the American Bar Association’s The SciTech Lawyer entitled “Matter of Simeio Solutions, LLC and its Impact on Technology Companies” in which he discusses the new H-1B amendment rules regarding changes in employee work location. See article here.
01/30/2015: Furqan Sunny Azhar publishes article in Better Mental Health Magazine entitled “Losing Lives to Stigma” in which he discusses the impact that mental disabilities can have on immigrant families. See article here.
03/22/2013: Furqan Sunny Azhar gives testimony to the Texas Supreme Court Grievance Oversight Committee regarding matters related to the filing of grievances against attorneys.
02/15/2012: Azhar & Azhar Law Firm sponsors immigration lecture series entitled “Imagining Immigration: Assimilation or Critical Creativity,” presented by Dr. Marc Ellis. View flyer and Photo1, Photo2.
07/2011: Furqan Sunny Azhar is featured in Spanish language newspaper La Estrella entitled “Fleeing Violence” in which he discusses Mexican asylum cases. View piece here.

Upon graduation from law school, Farah worked as a Staff Attorney for Legal Aid of Northwest Texas where she frequently appeared in family court while representing indigent clients in divorce as well as custody related litigation. At Azhar & Azhar Law Firm, she has been part of the employment based practice group, working primarily on H-1B’s and I-140’s.

Farah dedicates much of her free time to her service as the Legislative Committee Chair for Plano ISD Council of PTA’s as well as Plano ISD’s Diversity Advisory Committee. She also enjoys playing pickleball and traveling.

Education

• South Texas College of Law (J.D., 2005)
• University of Texas at Austin (B.A. in History, 2000)

Admissions

• State of Texas, 2006

Practice Areas

• H-1B's
• I-I40's

Professional Memberships

• Texas State Bar
• American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
• American Bar Association (AMA)
• Texas Young Lawyer’s Association (TYLA)

Uzma has been clerking with Azhar & Azhar law firm since 2010, before joining as an associate attorney in 2013. Uzma has developed experience in numerous areas including business and civil law, real property, wills and estates, probate, and immigration.

During law school, Uzma worked as a student attorney at the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic at the Center for Legal and Social Justice. As a result, Uzma developed a great interest in pro bono work, specifically with immigrant women that have been affected by abuse and domestic violence.

Uzma enjoys spending her free time reading, hiking and with her sons. Born in Karachi, Pakistan, Uzma grew up in San Antonio, Texas and is fluent in Urdu and Hindi, and has a working knowledge of Spanish.

Education

• St. Mary’s School of Law (J.D., 2009)
• UT San Antonio (B.A. in American Studies, 2005)

Admissions

• State of Texas, 2013

Practice Areas

• Business Law
• Wills and Estates
• Immigration

Professional Memberships

• Texas State Bar
• Texas Young Lawyers Association
• American Bar Association (AMA)

Speaking Events

04/23/2010:  Noman Azhar and Uzma Zafarullah present at the Citizenship Information Workshop hosted by the Plano Multicultural Outreach Roundtable (MCOR). Noaman Azhar was also quoted in the Dallas Morning News. Please click here to read what he had to say and see photo here.
02/08/2014: Noaman Azhar and Uzma Zafarullah participated at the annual Citizenship Workshop hosted by the Plano Multicultural Outreach Roundtable (MCOR). The workshop is designed to educate the public regarding US citizenship eligibility and the process. The workshop included presentations by the mayor of Plano as well as an FBI special agent. Noaman and Uzma participated as attorneys and answered several citizenship related questions from the general public. This was the 5th year that Azhar & Azhar Law Firm participated. See photo here.