Gihan Thomas

Gihan Thomas is the founder of the Law Offices of Gihan L. Thomas, located in Los Angeles, California. Focusing her practice exclusively on immigration law, she handles asylum cases, detention and removal defense, federal appeals and motions to reopen/reconsider, family petitions, fiancée visas, consular processing, perm applications, business and investment visas, citizenship and naturalization, and employment visas. Ms. Thomas represents clients throughout the US.  She also provides pro bono services for immigrants and their family members who otherwise would not be able to afford legal assistance. 

Ms. Thomas earned her Bachelor's degree in English and American literature from Alexandria University in Egypt in 1985. After moving to the United States, she pursued her legal education at the University of West Los Angeles School of Law and was awarded her Juris Doctor in 1998. Admitted to practice in California, She is Certified as a Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law.  Ms. Thomas is also admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of California, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 3rd, 5th, 9th and 11th Circuits. 

Throughout her distinguished career, Ms. Thomas has earned the respect of her colleagues for her stellar track record and high degree of ethics. The holder of a 10.0 "Superb" peer review rating through Avvo, she has also been named to The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100, Top Women Attorneys 2015-2017. Ms. Thomas, is an active participant in several professional organizations, including the Los Angeles County Bar Association and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She has lectured extensively on topics related to her practice area.  

As a zealous advocate for her clients and for immigration issues, she argued the case Viridiana v. Holder wherein the Ninth Circuit agreed that fraud by an immigration consultant can establish a waiver from the one year deadline in filing an asylum application; she also argued Sumolang v. Holder, where the Ninth Circuit agreed that a harm to a child can establish eligibility for asylum to a parent; and she also argued Chandra v. Holder, where the Ninth Circuit agreed that change personal circumstances, as it relates to changed country conditions in the country of removal, could warrant reopening of an alien's removal proceedings.  Ms. Thomas continues to argue cases before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.