Practice areas: Immigration
Licensed in Texas since: 2003
Education: Oklahoma City University School of Law
Languages Spoken: Czech, English
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2023 - 2025 Chavez & Valko, LLP
10670 N Central ExpySte 300
Dallas, TX 75231 Phone: 214-251-8011 Email: Martin Valko Visit website
Details
Martin is an immigrant from Slovakia with a keen understanding of the complexities of the US immigration laws. He is the managing partner of the Chavez & Valko principal Dallas office, with his law practice focusing primarily on employment-based immigration and investments. His clients range from individual investors to small businesses and startups to US publicly traded and multinational companies and health organizations. He’s counseled and represented teams and players from the NHL, NFL, United States of America Cricket Association, collegiate and World champion athletes and Olympians, as well as doctors, scientists, artists and musicians.
Due to his experience and a desire to give back, Martin is a frequent speaker at educational and business seminars on various immigration law topics, and is a former committee member of the AILA National USCIS Field Operations Liaison Committee and the AILA National USCIS Service Centers Liaison Committee (SCOPS/Texas Service Center).
A legal advisor to the Mexican Consulate General in Dallas (2011-2027) as well as to the Slovak Embassy in the United States on U.S. immigration laws, Martin also represents the Slovak Republic as its Honorary Consul to Texas (since 2010). He is a graduate of Oklahoma City University School of Law and the Southern Methodist University School of Law. Finally, Martin co-hosts the Immigration Weekly Wrap-Up, a YouTube internet show that provides topical immigration news, tips, and alerts to thousands of viewers.
First Admitted: 2003, Texas
Bar/Professional Activity:
- District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 2005
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 2003
Representative Clients:
- Fortune 500 Companies., 2022
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Volunteered time educating immigrants about their rights., 2022
- Volunteered time educating immigrants about their rights., 2021
- Volunteered time educating immigrants about their rights., 2020
- Volunteered time educating immigrants about their rights., 2019
- Volunteered time educating immigrants about their rights., 2018
- Volunteered time educating immigrants about their rights., 2017
- Volunteered time educating immigrants about their rights., 2016
- AILA National USCIS Service Centers Liaison Committee Member (SCOPS/Texas Service Center)., 2014
- AILA National USCIS Field Operations Liaison Committee Member., 2013
Honors/Awards:
- Appointed Legal advisor on US Immigration laws to the Mexican Consulate General in Dallas in 2011 and re-appointed twice until 2027., Legal Advisor on US Immigration laws to the Mexican Consulate General in Dallas, TX (2011-2027), Mexican Foreign Ministry, 2011
- Appointed Legal advisor on US Immigration laws to the Slovak Embassy in the United States in 2010 and re-appointed., Legal Advisor on US Immigration laws to the Slovak Embassy in the United States, Slovak Foreign Ministry - Embassy of the Slovak Republic, 2010
Educational Background:
- Master of Laws - Southern Methodist University School of Law, 2004
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- This session covered basic eligibility and application requirements for 12-month OPT and STEM OPT, as well as school official, foreign student and employer responsibilities during STEM extensions., Speaker, OPT and STEM: Understanding F-1 Students and Their Employment Opportunities, University of Texas Law CLE's 46th Annual Conference on Immigration and Nationality Law, Immigration Law, 2022
- Presentation with the Slovak Ambassador to Mexico about the Mexico-US relations under President Biden and the students of the University of Matej Bel in Slovakia, 03/25/2021, Presenter, The Mexico-US relations under President Biden with Slovak Ambassador to Mexico, Slovak Embassy in Mexico; University of Matej Bel in Slovakia, Immigration Law, 2021
- International Students in the Workplace, Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business, 10/24/2019 to 10/24/2019, Speaker, International Students in the Workplace, Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business, 2019
- International Students in the Workplace, the DEC@Addison Treehouse, 03/20/2019 to 03/20/2019, Speaker, International Students in the Workplace, The DEC@Addison Treehouse, 2019
- Employer Workplace Compliance Overview, Northwest Dallas Business Association, 08/15/2019 to 08/15/2019, Speaker, Employer Workplace Compliance Overview, Northwest Dallas Business Association, 2019
- H-1B Specialty Occupation Visas & Alternatives for International Students, Southern Methodist University International Student and Scholar Services, 03/02/2017 to 03/02/2017, Speaker, H-1B Specialty Occupation Visas & Alternatives for International Students, Southern Methodist University International Student and Scholar Services, 2017
- Law Firm Management and Best Practices, National Immigration Lawyers Association (CIL), 03/22/2017 to 03/22/2017, Speaker, Law Firm Management and Best Practices, National Immigration Lawyers Association, 2017
- H-1B Specialty Occupation Visas for Foreign Students, Southern Methodist University International Student and Scholar Services, 03/09/2016 to 03/09/2016, Speaker, H-1B Specialty Occupation Visas for Foreign Students, Southern Methodist University International Student and Scholar Services, 2016
- H-1B Specialty Occupation Visas & Alternatives for International Students, Southern Methodist University International Student and Scholar Services, 11/02/2016 to 11/02/2016, Speaker, H-1B Specialty Occupation Visas & Alternatives for International Students, Southern Methodist University International Student and Scholar Services, 2016
- Employer Strategies in H-1B and Immigrant Visa Processes for DFW Metroplex Accounting Firms, SMU Cox School of Business Accounting Department Advisory Board, 04/22/2016 to 04/22/2016, Speaker, Employer Strategies in H-1B and Immigrant Visa Processes for DFW Metroplex Accounting Firms, Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business Accounting Department Advisory Board, 2016
- Speaker, Immigration law and Classroom issues for Educators at the Teacher's Law School, American Board of Trial Advocates at the UNT Law School in Dallas, 09/26/2015 to 09/26/2015, Speaker, Immigration law and Classroom issues for Educators at the Teacher's Law School, American Board of Trial Advocates at the UNT Law School in Dallas, TX, 2015
- H-1B Specialty Occupation Visas for Foreign Students, Southern Methodist University International Student and Scholar Services, 10/13/2015 to 10/13/2015, Speaker, H-1B Specialty Occupation Visas for Foreign Students, Southern Methodist University International Student and Scholar Services, 2015
- H-1B Specialty Occupation Visas for Foreign Students, Southern Methodist University International Student and Scholar Services, 03/13/2015 to 03/13/2015, Speaker, H-1B Specialty Occupation Visas for Foreign Students, Southern Methodist University International Student and Scholar Services, 2015
- Alternatives to H-1B Classification for Graduating Students, DFW-LINC Leading International Networking Clinic, 03/10/2014 to 03/10/2014, Speaker, Alternatives to H-1B Classification for Graduating Students, DFW-LINC Leading International Networking Clinic, 2014
- Speaker, Presidential Executive Action (DACA II, DAPA), Mexican Consulate General in Dallas, TX, 12/02/2014 to 12/02/2014, Speaker, Presidential Executive Action (DACA II, DAPA), Mexican Consulate General in Dallas, TX, 2014
- H-1B Specialty Occupation Visas for Foreign Students, Southern Methodist University International Student and Scholar Services, 10/23/2014 to 10/23/2014, Speaker, H-1B Specialty Occupation Visas for Foreign Students, Southern Methodist University International Student and Scholar Services, 2014
- H-1B Specialty Occupation Visas for Foreign Students, Southern Methodist University International Student and Scholar Services, 03/20/2014 to 03/20/2014, Speaker, H-1B Specialty Occupation Visas for Foreign Students, Southern Methodist University International Student and Scholar Services, 2014
- H-1B Information Session at SMU, Southern Methodist University International Student and Scholar Services, 10/11/2013 to 10/11/2013, Speaker, H-1B Information Session at SMU, Southern Methodist University International Student and Scholar Services, 2013
- Speaker, Nonimmigrant Derivative Beneficiaries and Household Members, 2012 AILA National Conference, 06/13/2012 to 06/16/2012, Speaker, Nonimmigrant Derivative Beneficiaries and Household Members, 2012 AILA National Conference, 2012
- Speaker, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Mexican Consulate in Dallas, 09/08/2012 to 09/08/2012, Speaker, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Mexican Consulate General in Dallas, 2012
- Speaker, Waivers of Inadmissibility (I-601; I-212), University of Texas CLE, 10/20/2011 to 10/20/2011, Speaker, Waivers of Inadmissibility (I-601; I-212), University of Texas CLE, 2011
- Presenter, The I-9 Form: Employer's Compliance Responsibility, Dallas Federal Reserve Bank, 01/18/2011 to 01/18/2011, Presenter, The I-9 Form: Employer's Compliance Responsibility, Dallas Federal Reserve Bank, 2011
- Presenter, Temporary and Permanent Work Visas, Dallas Federal Reserve Bank, 01/18/2011 to 01/18/2011, Presenter, Temporary and Permanent Work Visas, Dallas Federal Reserve Bank, 2011
- Speaker, "Overview of the Immigration Laws", Oklahoma City University School of Law, 09/21/2010 to 09/21/2010, Speaker, Overview of the Immigration Laws, Oklahoma City University School of Law, 2010
- Speaker, "Overview of the Immigration Laws", The Fort Worth Breakfast Club, 11/25/2009 to 11/25/2009, Speaker, Overview of the Immigration Laws, The Fort Worth Breakfast Club, 2009
- Speaker, AILA Fall 2009 TX/NM/OK Chapter CLE Conference (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico), American Immigration Lawyers Association, 11/06/2009 to 11/07/2009, Speaker, Removal of Conditions, AILA Fall 2009 TX/NM/OK Chapter CLE Conference (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico), American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2009
- Speaker, "Federal, State, and Immigration Consequences of Family Violence Convictions", CLE panel presenter for Tarrant County Mexican-American Bar Association, 11/14/2008 to 11/14/2008, Speaker, Federal, State, and Immigration Consequences of Family Violence Convictions, Tarrant County Mexican-American Bar Association, 2008
- "Know Your Rights" Videoseminar for respondents, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 10/01/2008 to 10/01/2008, Presenter, "Know Your Rights" Videoseminar for respondents, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2008
- "Employers' Ethical Obligations - Immigration Law & Employer Compliance", Sterling Institute CLE Seminar, 02/15/2008 to 02/15/2008, Speaker, Employers' Ethical Obligations - Immigration Law & Employer Compliance, Sterling Institute CLE Seminar, 2008
- "No-Match" Regulations: Employers on "Constructive" Notice that Employee May be Working Illegally and How To Avoid Penalties, Hispanic Contractors Association of DFW, 09/06/2007 to 09/06/2007, Speaker, "No-Match" Regulations: Employers on "Constructive" Notice that Employee May be Working Illegally and How To Avoid Penalties, Hispanic Contractors Association of DFW, 2007
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- Appointed Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic to the State of Texas (2010-present)., 2010
Industry Groups:
- Commerce
- Health Care
- Professional Athletes
- Scientists
- Trade
Office location for Martin Valko
10670 N Central Expy
Ste 300
Dallas, TX 75231
Selections
3 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2023 - 2025