Important Updates
Important Updates
May 8, 2026 | United StatesBloomberg: Trump Wants to Make H-1B Workers More Expensive for US Employers
May 12, 2026 | Czech RepublicCzech Republic: Registration and Deregistration Process Streamlined
May 12, 2026 | MozambiqueMozambique: Proof of Job Vacancy Advertisement Now Required Before Hiring Foreign Nationals
May 12, 2026 | 🌐Worldwide/Ukraine: Temporary Protection Status - Country-Specific Updates
May 11, 2026 | 🌐Middle East - The Latest News on Mobility and Travel Considerations
May 8, 2026 | United StatesBloomberg: Trump Wants to Make H-1B Workers More Expensive for US Employers
May 12, 2026 | Czech RepublicCzech Republic: Registration and Deregistration Process Streamlined
May 12, 2026 | MozambiqueMozambique: Proof of Job Vacancy Advertisement Now Required Before Hiring Foreign Nationals
May 12, 2026 | 🌐Worldwide/Ukraine: Temporary Protection Status - Country-Specific Updates
May 11, 2026 | 🌐Middle East - The Latest News on Mobility and Travel Considerations
May 8, 2026 | United StatesBloomberg: Trump Wants to Make H-1B Workers More Expensive for US Employers
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Monica M. Bathija

Senior Associate

Monica M. Bathija

Marco Deutsch
Monica M. Bathija
  • People

Senior Associate

Monica M. Bathija

Country / Territory

  • United StatesUnited States

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  • English
  • Hindi

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[email protected]

T:+1 415 263 7604

F:+1 408 919 0615

Fragomen in Silicon Valley, CA

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

2755 Orchard Pkwy

San Jose CA 95134

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  • English
  • Hindi

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[email protected]

T:+1 415 263 7604

F:+1 408 919 0615

Fragomen in Silicon Valley, CA

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

2755 Orchard Pkwy

San Jose CA 95134

United States

Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • Hindi

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 415 263 7604

F:+1 408 919 0615

Fragomen in Silicon Valley, CA

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

2755 Orchard Pkwy

San Jose CA 95134

United States

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Monica is a Senior Associate at Fragomen’s Silicon Valley office with more than 15 years of immigration experience. Monica partners with clients on U.S.-inbound immigrant and nonimmigrant visa matters. She has experience providing clients and their employees with creative legal solutions on complex immigration matters, analyzing legislative changes to the immigration landscape and educating global mobility teams on how to make strategic improvements to their immigration policies.

Prior to joining Fragomen, Monica was an Associate at various firms in California.

Monica has provided pro bono services through her previous role as a pro bono immigration attorney at Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), where she represented unaccompanied immigrant children in immigration removal proceedings, including children eligible for asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and U and T visas. Monica was also a pro bono immigration attorney at the South Asian Bar Association, where she advised on the preparation and filing of immigrant visa petitions, as well as applications for adjustment of status, asylum, naturalization and other administrative applications.

Monica speaks English and Hindi.

Education

  • University of San Francisco School of Law, J.D., 2009
  • University of California, Los Angeles, B.S., 2003

More from Monica

Admissions

Bar Admissions: California

Practice Limited to Federal Immigration & Nationality Law

Professional accomplishments

Former Member, Nebraska Service Center Liaison Committee, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)  

Former Member, Online Resources Task Force, AILA

Experience

Provided innovative foreign national hiring, retention and compliance solutions to corporate clients.

Developed an immigration program and solutions for an S&P 500 corporate client with significant immigration needs.

Managed high-volume corporate immigration caseloads, including PERM labor certification applications, employment- and family-based immigrant visa petitions, consular processing, adjustment of status applications, reentry permits, naturalization applications and nonimmigrant visa issues.

Played a key role in advising entrepreneurs, emerging companies and well-established smaller companies on various matters, including work visas, permanent residency, corporate changes due to mergers and acquisitions and governmental compliance issues related to foreign workers.

Prepared and delivered monthly client townhalls on immigration hot topics and participated in weekly office hours with client employees.

Led complex projects, including the immigration aspects of mergers and acquisitions, and the revamping of internal immigrant and nonimmigrant visa policies and processes.

Publications and lectures

Speaker, “What Employees Need to Know about the PERM Labor Certification Process.” Fragomen and Interstride, Webinar, 20 August 2025.

Speaker, “Business Litigation.” AILA 2017 Annual Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, June 2017.

Credited in U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) memorandum for setting binding USCIS policy on the use of provisional degree certificates for post-graduate experience cases. Decision in an appeal brought on behalf of a computer software business was used as the basis for a policy memorandum issues by the USCIS. The memorandum is now binding on all USCIS personnel.

Monica’s insights

August 20, 2025 | Webinar

Fragomen and Interstride Webinar Series: What Employees Need to Know about the PERM Labor Certification ProcessRead more

Monica’s insights

August 20, 2025 | Webinar

Fragomen and Interstride Webinar Series: What Employees Need to Know about the PERM Labor Certification ProcessRead more

Monica’s insights

August 20, 2025 | Webinar

Fragomen and Interstride Webinar Series: What Employees Need to Know about the PERM Labor Certification ProcessRead more

Country / Territory

  • United StatesUnited States

Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • Hindi

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 415 263 7604

F:+1 408 919 0615

Fragomen in Silicon Valley, CA

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

2755 Orchard Pkwy

San Jose CA 95134

United States

Monica’s insights

August 20, 2025 | Webinar

Fragomen and Interstride Webinar Series: What Employees Need to Know about the PERM Labor Certification ProcessRead more

Share

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Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • Hindi

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 415 263 7604

F:+1 408 919 0615

Fragomen in Silicon Valley, CA

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

2755 Orchard Pkwy

San Jose CA 95134

United States

Monica’s insights

August 20, 2025 | Webinar

Fragomen and Interstride Webinar Series: What Employees Need to Know about the PERM Labor Certification ProcessRead more

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • Hindi

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 415 263 7604

F:+1 408 919 0615

Fragomen in Silicon Valley, CA

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

2755 Orchard Pkwy

San Jose CA 95134

United States

Monica’s insights

August 20, 2025 | Webinar

Fragomen and Interstride Webinar Series: What Employees Need to Know about the PERM Labor Certification ProcessRead more

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Explore more at Fragomen

Video

Understanding Immigration in Latin America: Residency Options and Citizenship Pathways

Latin America & the Caribbean Managing Partner Leonor Echeverria explores how Latin America’s evolving immigration landscape offers accessible and flexible residence pathways for foreign nationals, highlighting key visa options, regional trends and the growing role of digital modernization across the region.

Learn more

Podcast

Reality Check Pt. 2: Immigration Law in Pop Culture

Senior Associate Stephanie Weaver and Associate Julia Manacher continue their discussion on immigration law in popular culture, examining how television and media portray immigration processes and the realities behind common immigration storylines.

Learn more

Media mentions

Bloomberg: Trump Wants to Make H-1B Workers More Expensive for US Employers

Partner Kevin Miner discusses how proposed H-1B salary threshold increases may raise employer costs and influence hiring strategies for specialized talent across industries.

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Portugal Extends Citizenship Timeline | #MobilityMinute

In this Mobility Minute, Manager Pierangelo D’Errico discusses Portugal’s newly approved nationality law changes and the potential impact on Golden Visa applicants and other foreign residents.

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Global Mobility Lawyer: AI Use in UK Immigration Tribunals Prompts Scrutiny Over Decision-Making Process

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Europe’s Entry and Exit System (EES): What Travelers Need to Know

Senior Associate Tuğba Özyakup outlines how Europe’s Entry and Exit System (EES) introduces digital tracking of non-EU short-stay travel across the Schengen Area, requiring more proactive planning, accurate record-keeping and awareness of increased border processing times to avoid delays and overstay risks.

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2026年4月 アメリカ移民法ダイジェストLearn more

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Silicon Valley Business Journal: Trump’s H-1B Overhaul Favors Deep-Pocketed Bay Area Firms Over Indian Staffing Agencies

Partner Chad Ellsworth discusses recent H-1B lottery changes, including salary-weighted selection and filing restrictions, and how they are influencing employer selection outcomes and hiring approaches for foreign talent.

Learn more

Work authorization

EB-5 I-526E Request For Evidence Trends: Loans and Property Sales

Senior Associate Tracey Kimberly explores the recent increase in RFEs for EB‑5 I‑526E petitions, highlighting heightened USCIS scrutiny of source-of-funds documentation—particularly in cases involving loan-based investments and property sale proceeds.

Learn more

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The Nordic Immigration Paradox: Why Digital Efficiency Still Creates Compliance Risk

Director Audrey Morew examines how Nordic immigration systems, while increasingly digital and efficient, can embed compliance risk earlier in the process—placing greater responsibility on employers to ensure data accuracy, internal controls and long‑term compliance from the outset.

Learn more

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Canada FIFA World Cup 2026 Visa & Entry Requirements

Partner Rick Lamanna outlines Canada’s entry requirements for the FIFA World Cup 2026, highlighting visa and eTA processes, border expectations and special measures for participants to help travelers prepare for seamless entry during the tournament.

Learn more

Media mentions

The PIE: Relief for Some OPT Applicants in “Immigration Limbo”

Partners Aaron Blumberg and Daniel Pierce discuss how a US pause on processing certain work permit applications including OPT creates uncertainty for international students and employers while early court rulings offer limited case-specific relief.

Learn more

Video

Understanding Immigration in Latin America: Residency Options and Citizenship Pathways

Latin America & the Caribbean Managing Partner Leonor Echeverria explores how Latin America’s evolving immigration landscape offers accessible and flexible residence pathways for foreign nationals, highlighting key visa options, regional trends and the growing role of digital modernization across the region.

Learn more

Podcast

Reality Check Pt. 2: Immigration Law in Pop Culture

Senior Associate Stephanie Weaver and Associate Julia Manacher continue their discussion on immigration law in popular culture, examining how television and media portray immigration processes and the realities behind common immigration storylines.

Learn more

Media mentions

Bloomberg: Trump Wants to Make H-1B Workers More Expensive for US Employers

Partner Kevin Miner discusses how proposed H-1B salary threshold increases may raise employer costs and influence hiring strategies for specialized talent across industries.

Learn more

Video

Portugal Extends Citizenship Timeline | #MobilityMinute

In this Mobility Minute, Manager Pierangelo D’Errico discusses Portugal’s newly approved nationality law changes and the potential impact on Golden Visa applicants and other foreign residents.

Learn more

Media mentions

Global Mobility Lawyer: AI Use in UK Immigration Tribunals Prompts Scrutiny Over Decision-Making Process

Partner Rajiv Naik highlights the importance of transparency, clear guidance and human oversight as AI use expands in UK immigration tribunals.

Learn more

Video

Europe’s Entry and Exit System (EES): What Travelers Need to Know

Senior Associate Tuğba Özyakup outlines how Europe’s Entry and Exit System (EES) introduces digital tracking of non-EU short-stay travel across the Schengen Area, requiring more proactive planning, accurate record-keeping and awareness of increased border processing times to avoid delays and overstay risks.

Learn more

Fragomen news

2026年4月 アメリカ移民法ダイジェストLearn more

Media mentions

Silicon Valley Business Journal: Trump’s H-1B Overhaul Favors Deep-Pocketed Bay Area Firms Over Indian Staffing Agencies

Partner Chad Ellsworth discusses recent H-1B lottery changes, including salary-weighted selection and filing restrictions, and how they are influencing employer selection outcomes and hiring approaches for foreign talent.

Learn more

Work authorization

EB-5 I-526E Request For Evidence Trends: Loans and Property Sales

Senior Associate Tracey Kimberly explores the recent increase in RFEs for EB‑5 I‑526E petitions, highlighting heightened USCIS scrutiny of source-of-funds documentation—particularly in cases involving loan-based investments and property sale proceeds.

Learn more

Work authorization

The Nordic Immigration Paradox: Why Digital Efficiency Still Creates Compliance Risk

Director Audrey Morew examines how Nordic immigration systems, while increasingly digital and efficient, can embed compliance risk earlier in the process—placing greater responsibility on employers to ensure data accuracy, internal controls and long‑term compliance from the outset.

Learn more

Work authorization

Canada FIFA World Cup 2026 Visa & Entry Requirements

Partner Rick Lamanna outlines Canada’s entry requirements for the FIFA World Cup 2026, highlighting visa and eTA processes, border expectations and special measures for participants to help travelers prepare for seamless entry during the tournament.

Learn more

Media mentions

The PIE: Relief for Some OPT Applicants in “Immigration Limbo”

Partners Aaron Blumberg and Daniel Pierce discuss how a US pause on processing certain work permit applications including OPT creates uncertainty for international students and employers while early court rulings offer limited case-specific relief.

Learn more

Stay in touch

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