Photo of Michelle Shepard

Counsel

Michelle Shepard

Photo of Michelle Shepard
Photo of Michelle Shepard
  • People

Counsel

Michelle Shepard

Country / Territory

  • United StatesUnited States

Get in touch

Languages

  • English

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 857 305 4434

F:+1 617 226 4561

Boston

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

100 High St, 3rd Floor

Boston MA 02110

United States

Get in touch

Languages

  • English

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 857 305 4434

F:+1 617 226 4561

Boston

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

100 High St, 3rd Floor

Boston MA 02110

United States

Get in touch

Languages

  • English

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 857 305 4434

F:+1 617 226 4561

Boston

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

100 High St, 3rd Floor

Boston MA 02110

United States

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Michelle, Counsel at Fragomen’s Boston office, has more than 12 years of immigration experience, including with nonimmigrant and immigrant visa petitions, Requests for Evidence and other nonimmigrant visa related filings (Denials, NOIR, NOID, 221(g)), H-1B and AC21 matters.

Prior to joining Fragomen, Michelle was a Partner at an immigration law firm in Boston, where she managed the immigrant visa team. She assisted clients permanent residency strategy and family-based green card processing, including marriage-based and immediate-relative based filings. Michelle also previously managed her prior firm’s nonimmigrant visa department, including all aspects of H-1B, L-1, TN, E-3 and B-1 matters, among others. She worked with corporate clients to help them grow their businesses by ensuring their employees and employees’ families had the necessary visa strategy in place.

During law school, Michelle wrote for and was published in the New England Journal of International and Comparative Law.

Education

  • New England Law - Boston, J.D., 2012
  • Johnson and Wales University, B.S., 2009

More from Michelle

Admissions

Bar Admissions: Massachusetts, Georgia

Practice Limited to Federal Immigration & Nationality Law

Awards

Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 2026

Listed in Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star,” 2020-2022

Professional accomplishments

Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)

Treasurer, AILA New England Chapter, 2023-2024

Member, AILA New England Chapter

Member, Law Student Liaison Committee, AILA New England Chapter

Member, Conference Planning Committee, AILA New England Chapter

Member, New England ProVisors

Publications and lectures

Speaker, “Life After Graduation: Immigration 101.” Fragomen and Interstride, Webinar, 12 February 2025.

Speaker, “Introductions, FDNS Site Visits, and RFE/Notice Expectations as a Result of the FY2024 CAP.” ITServe Alliance, Webinar, 10 May 2023.

Speaker, “Compliance Audits and Immigration Updates.” ITServe Alliance New England Chapter, 22 March 2023.

Michelle’s insights

December 3, 2025 | Webinar

Fragomen and Interstride Webinar Series: Family Based Immigration OverviewRead more

August 21, 2025 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more

February 12, 2025 | Webinar

Fragomen and Interstride Webinar Series: Life After Graduation: Immigration 101Read more

Michelle’s insights

December 3, 2025 | Webinar

Fragomen and Interstride Webinar Series: Family Based Immigration OverviewRead more

August 21, 2025 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more

February 12, 2025 | Webinar

Fragomen and Interstride Webinar Series: Life After Graduation: Immigration 101Read more

Michelle’s insights

December 3, 2025 | Webinar

Fragomen and Interstride Webinar Series: Family Based Immigration OverviewRead more

August 21, 2025 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more

February 12, 2025 | Webinar

Fragomen and Interstride Webinar Series: Life After Graduation: Immigration 101Read more

Country / Territory

  • United StatesUnited States

Get in touch

Languages

  • English

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 857 305 4434

F:+1 617 226 4561

Boston

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

100 High St, 3rd Floor

Boston MA 02110

United States

Michelle’s insights

December 3, 2025 | Webinar

Fragomen and Interstride Webinar Series: Family Based Immigration OverviewRead more

August 21, 2025 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more

February 12, 2025 | Webinar

Fragomen and Interstride Webinar Series: Life After Graduation: Immigration 101Read more

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Get in touch

Languages

  • English

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 857 305 4434

F:+1 617 226 4561

Boston

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

100 High St, 3rd Floor

Boston MA 02110

United States

Michelle’s insights

December 3, 2025 | Webinar

Fragomen and Interstride Webinar Series: Family Based Immigration OverviewRead more

August 21, 2025 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more

February 12, 2025 | Webinar

Fragomen and Interstride Webinar Series: Life After Graduation: Immigration 101Read more

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Get in touch

Languages

  • English

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 857 305 4434

F:+1 617 226 4561

Boston

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

100 High St, 3rd Floor

Boston MA 02110

United States

Michelle’s insights

December 3, 2025 | Webinar

Fragomen and Interstride Webinar Series: Family Based Immigration OverviewRead more

August 21, 2025 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more

February 12, 2025 | Webinar

Fragomen and Interstride Webinar Series: Life After Graduation: Immigration 101Read more

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Explore more at Fragomen

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EB5 Investors: Brazil Emerges as One of EB-5’s Fastest-Growing Markets Amid Economic Strain

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Partner Lunga Mani discusses how Africa’s growing investment ambitions are reshaping immigration policy, creating new mobility opportunities alongside increasing compliance and localisation requirements.

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Healthcare Horizons: What Healthcare Employers Should Watch in the 2026 Immigration Regulatory Agenda

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Partner Raj Naik explores how geopolitical change, increasingly data-driven compliance and evolving talent strategies are reshaping workforce mobility across Europe.

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Awards

Partner F. Joseph Paldino and Counsel Clark Cannon Named to Utah Business’ 2026 Legal Elite

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Learn more

Blog post

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In our latest blog, UK Government Affairs Strategy Lead @Shuyeb Muquit examines the expanded access to the Global Talent visa and what it signals about the direction of UK immigration policy

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Polish Citizenship by Descent: Do You Qualify?

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Times of India: Trump Admin Restores USCIS Power to Deny Immigration Requests Outright Without Seeking More Proof

Senior Counsel Mitch Wexler discusses USCIS’ restored authority to deny certain immigration benefit requests without first issuing a Request for Evidence and the importance of complete initial filings.

Learn more
Generic Insights

Blog post

Die Niederlassungserlaubnis nach § 9 Abs. 3a AufenthG: Ein richtiger Schritt zur schnelleren und dauerhaften Integration von Ehegatten von Fachkräften

In unserem aktuellen Blog erläutert Ruben Fiedler, wer von der Regelung profitieren kann, welche Voraussetzungen gelten und was sie für Fachkräfte und ihre Familien in Deutschland bedeutet.

Learn more

Media mentions

EB5 Investors: Brazil Emerges as One of EB-5’s Fastest-Growing Markets Amid Economic Strain

Partner Gustavo Kanashiro discusses the factors driving Brazilian families’ growing interest in the EB-5 program, including wealth planning and long-term mobility.

Learn more

Blog post

Africa’s Growing Investment Ambitions Are Reshaping Immigration Policy

Partner Lunga Mani discusses how Africa’s growing investment ambitions are reshaping immigration policy, creating new mobility opportunities alongside increasing compliance and localisation requirements.

Learn more

Blog post

Healthcare Horizons: What Healthcare Employers Should Watch in the 2026 Immigration Regulatory Agenda

Counsel Christopher Wendt looks at the 2026 immigration regulatory agenda and three developments that could have a significant impact on healthcare organizations, from hospitals to research institutions and other clinical employers. 

Learn more

Podcast

Immigration in South Africa

Partner Lunga Mani and Director Johannes Kgotso Tiba discuss South Africa’s evolving immigration landscape and key considerations for employers, foreign nationals and global mobility teams.

Learn more

Blog post

Recouping Immigration Costs: Are Supportive Employers at Risk of Non-Compliance?

In this blog, Director Shanaz Haque explores what sponsors should consider when recouping immigration costs — including prohibited costs, salary implications and repayment arrangements.

Learn more

Media mentions

Human Resources Director: Migrant Worker Exploitation: Why It Persists and How HR Can Act

Senior Counsel Dr. Anna Boucher discusses factors that can affect migrant workers and how HR teams can support ongoing immigration and employment compliance.

Learn more

Blog post

Europe’s New Mobility Equation: More Talent, More Oversight, More Complexity

Partner Raj Naik explores how geopolitical change, increasingly data-driven compliance and evolving talent strategies are reshaping workforce mobility across Europe.

Learn more

Awards

Partner F. Joseph Paldino and Counsel Clark Cannon Named to Utah Business’ 2026 Legal Elite

Partner F. Joseph Paldino and Counsel Clark Cannon are named to Utah Business’s 2026 Legal Elite for their contributions to immigration law.

Learn more

Blog post

A More Purposeful UK Immigration System: What Expanded Access to the Global Talent Visa Means for UK Immigration Policy

In our latest blog, UK Government Affairs Strategy Lead @Shuyeb Muquit examines the expanded access to the Global Talent visa and what it signals about the direction of UK immigration policy

Learn more

Video

Polish Citizenship by Descent: Do You Qualify?

Poland Immigration Strategy Director Tomasz Rogala and Senior Associate Tomasz Rdzanek discuss how Polish citizenship by descent works, who may qualify, the documentation typically required and common eligibility challenges.

Learn more

Media mentions

Times of India: Trump Admin Restores USCIS Power to Deny Immigration Requests Outright Without Seeking More Proof

Senior Counsel Mitch Wexler discusses USCIS’ restored authority to deny certain immigration benefit requests without first issuing a Request for Evidence and the importance of complete initial filings.

Learn more
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Important Updates
Important Updates
August 18, 2026 | South AfricaSouth Africa: Draft Immigration Fee Amendments Published for Public Comment
August 19, 2026 | ChileChile: Digital Work Authorization Process Introduced
August 19, 2026 | ColombiaColombia: In-Person Immigration Services Suspended at Seven Locations Following Earthquake
August 19, 2026 | BrazilEB5 Investors: Brazil Emerges as One of EB-5’s Fastest-Growing Markets Amid Economic Strain
August 19, 2026 | United StatesUnited States: New USCIS Public Charge Policy Guidance – What Foreign Nationals and Employers Need to Know
August 18, 2026 | South AfricaSouth Africa: Draft Immigration Fee Amendments Published for Public Comment
August 19, 2026 | ChileChile: Digital Work Authorization Process Introduced
August 19, 2026 | ColombiaColombia: In-Person Immigration Services Suspended at Seven Locations Following Earthquake
August 19, 2026 | BrazilEB5 Investors: Brazil Emerges as One of EB-5’s Fastest-Growing Markets Amid Economic Strain
August 19, 2026 | United StatesUnited States: New USCIS Public Charge Policy Guidance – What Foreign Nationals and Employers Need to Know
August 18, 2026 | South AfricaSouth Africa: Draft Immigration Fee Amendments Published for Public Comment
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