Important Updates
Important Updates
January 20, 2026 | CanadaCanada: Family Reunification Permanent Residence Pathway for Ukrainian Citizens Announced
January 22, 2026 | 🌐Minimum Salary Changes Announced
January 21, 2026Fragomen Report Highlights Global Worker Shortfall of 85 Million by 2030
January 21, 2026 | United StatesNew York Law Journal: Rapid Developments Lead Immigration Attorneys to Constantly Adjust Practices
January 20, 2026Asia Pacific: Processing Delays and Closures Around Lunar New Year
January 20, 2026 | CanadaCanada: Family Reunification Permanent Residence Pathway for Ukrainian Citizens Announced
January 22, 2026 | 🌐Minimum Salary Changes Announced
January 21, 2026Fragomen Report Highlights Global Worker Shortfall of 85 Million by 2030
January 21, 2026 | United StatesNew York Law Journal: Rapid Developments Lead Immigration Attorneys to Constantly Adjust Practices
January 20, 2026Asia Pacific: Processing Delays and Closures Around Lunar New Year
January 20, 2026 | CanadaCanada: Family Reunification Permanent Residence Pathway for Ukrainian Citizens Announced
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Porthole Headshot Image of Fragomen [Matawan][Associate][SonyaCole]

Senior Associate

Sonya Berenfeld Cole

Landscape hero image of Fragomen [Matawan][Associate][SonyaCole]
Porthole Headshot Image of Fragomen [Matawan][Associate][SonyaCole]
  • People

Senior Associate

Sonya Berenfeld Cole

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  • United StatesUnited States

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  • English
  • Russian

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[email protected]

T:+1 917 628 0561

F:+1 212 480 9930

New York, NY

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1400 Broadway

New York NY 10018

United States

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Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • Russian

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Email

[email protected]

T:+1 917 628 0561

F:+1 212 480 9930

New York, NY

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1400 Broadway

New York NY 10018

United States

Connect via Linkedin

Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • Russian

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 917 628 0561

F:+1 212 480 9930

New York, NY

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1400 Broadway

New York NY 10018

United States

Connect via Linkedin
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Sonya is a Senior Associate in the firm’s Knowledge group, which provides internal and client guidance on new, changing and complex global immigration issues and maintains the firm’s extensive global immigration knowledge library. As the team's head writer, Sonya spearheads the Fragomen Client Alert writing process and the award-winning Worldwide Immigration Trends Report, and drafts client materials related to global immigration policy. Sonya also played an integral role in the firm’s communication standardization project, which helped to simplify client communications using visuals and succinct, direct language.

Prior to joining Fragomen, Sonya was a civil litigator in New Jersey and New York.

Sonya has provided pro bono immigration services for Immigration Equality. She also assisted with asylum cases in an immigration clinic at Seton Hall Law School.

Sonya speaks English and Russian

Education

  • Seton Hall University School of Law, J.D., 2010
  • New York University, B.A., cum laude , 2006

More from Sonya

Admissions

Bar Admissions: New Jersey, New York​

Practice Limited to Federal Immigration & Nationality Law

Awards

Excellence in Pro Bono Representation Award, Immigration Equality, 2016

Professional accomplishments

Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association

Member, South Carolina Women Lawyers Association

Publications and lectures

Co-author, “Digital Nomads and Hybrid Work: A Deep Dive into the Benefits, Drawbacks and Possible Ways to Improve Uptake of Digital Nomad Visa Programmes.” Global Forum for Migration Development Business Advisory Group for Migration, December 2023.

Author, “How is Immigration Policy Adapting in the Face of Growing Skills Gaps and the War for Talent?” Global Mobility Executive, 10 May 2023.

Co-author, “Data Privacy in the Post-Pandemic World – Trends and Projections in the Global Immigration Environment.” Worldwide ERC, 7 November 2022.

Author, “Digital Nomads and Remote Workers.” Worldwide ERC, 25 July 2022.

Contributor, “The Future of Remote Work: Digital Nomads and the Implications for Immigration Systems.” Migration Policy Institute, 23 June 2022.

Author, “Ukraine Situation and Its Impacts on Immigration Policy.” Global Mobility Executive, 26 May 2022.

Author, “COVID-19: Though it Exacerbated Anti-Immigrant Sentiments, it Could Accelerate Immigration’s Digital Transformation.” Worldwide ERC, 19 October 2020.

Author, “It’s A Tough Gig – Do work authorization systems meet the needs of nontraditional, or ‘gig,’ workers?.” Mobility, January 2020.

Author, “2019: Looking Back on a Year of Increased Government Rule Enforcement.” Fragomen Blog, 19 December 2019.

Author, “The Digital Transformation - Immigration Systems in 2019 and Beyond.” Worldwide ERC, 21 October 2019.

Speaker, “Peering into the Crystal Ball: Immigration Trends and Implications.” Worldwide ERC's Global Workforce Symposium, Boston, MA, October 18, 2019.

Author, “Global Immigration Trends in 2019 and Projections for 2020.” International HR Adviser, Summer 2019.

Author, “Immigration Policies for Dependent Spouses and Same-Sex Partners: What is the Road Ahead?” Worldwide ERC, 13 May 2019.

Co-author, “Chapter 22: Immigration Considerations for International Assignments” and “Appendix 22A.” International Corporate Practice: A Practitioner's Guide to Global Success, 2015, 2016, 2017.

Author, “Pro Bono Opportunities to Represent Unaccompanied Minors.” New Jersey Law Journal, 14 August 2014.

Author, “E-Verify: A Tool for Employers in the Age of ICE Audits.” New Jersey Law Journal, November 2012.

Sonya’s insights

July 8, 2025 | Blog post

2025 APAC and Europe Immigration Trends: Shared Goals, Diverging Tools Read more

July 1, 2025 | Blog post

2025 Middle East and Africa Immigration Trends: Balancing Localization Concerns with Global Talent Attraction Efforts Read more

June 26, 2025 | Blog post

2025 LAR and Canada Immigration Trends: Balancing Control and Opportunity Read more
More related insights

Related content

Worldwide Immigration Trends ReportsRead more

Sonya’s insights

July 8, 2025 | Blog post

2025 APAC and Europe Immigration Trends: Shared Goals, Diverging Tools Read more

July 1, 2025 | Blog post

2025 Middle East and Africa Immigration Trends: Balancing Localization Concerns with Global Talent Attraction Efforts Read more

June 26, 2025 | Blog post

2025 LAR and Canada Immigration Trends: Balancing Control and Opportunity Read more
More related insights

Related content

Worldwide Immigration Trends ReportsRead more

Sonya’s insights

July 8, 2025 | Blog post

2025 APAC and Europe Immigration Trends: Shared Goals, Diverging Tools Read more

July 1, 2025 | Blog post

2025 Middle East and Africa Immigration Trends: Balancing Localization Concerns with Global Talent Attraction Efforts Read more

June 26, 2025 | Blog post

2025 LAR and Canada Immigration Trends: Balancing Control and Opportunity Read more
More related insights

Related content

Worldwide Immigration Trends ReportsRead more

Country / Territory

  • United StatesUnited States

Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • Russian

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 917 628 0561

F:+1 212 480 9930

New York, NY

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1400 Broadway

New York NY 10018

United States

Connect via Linkedin

Sonya’s insights

July 8, 2025 | Blog post

2025 APAC and Europe Immigration Trends: Shared Goals, Diverging Tools Read more

July 1, 2025 | Blog post

2025 Middle East and Africa Immigration Trends: Balancing Localization Concerns with Global Talent Attraction Efforts Read more

June 26, 2025 | Blog post

2025 LAR and Canada Immigration Trends: Balancing Control and Opportunity Read more
More related insights

Related content

Worldwide Immigration Trends ReportsRead more

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • Russian

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 917 628 0561

F:+1 212 480 9930

New York, NY

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1400 Broadway

New York NY 10018

United States

Connect via Linkedin

Sonya’s insights

July 8, 2025 | Blog post

2025 APAC and Europe Immigration Trends: Shared Goals, Diverging Tools Read more

July 1, 2025 | Blog post

2025 Middle East and Africa Immigration Trends: Balancing Localization Concerns with Global Talent Attraction Efforts Read more

June 26, 2025 | Blog post

2025 LAR and Canada Immigration Trends: Balancing Control and Opportunity Read more
More related insights

Related content

Worldwide Immigration Trends ReportsRead more

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • Russian

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 917 628 0561

F:+1 212 480 9930

New York, NY

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1400 Broadway

New York NY 10018

United States

Connect via Linkedin

Sonya’s insights

July 8, 2025 | Blog post

2025 APAC and Europe Immigration Trends: Shared Goals, Diverging Tools Read more

July 1, 2025 | Blog post

2025 Middle East and Africa Immigration Trends: Balancing Localization Concerns with Global Talent Attraction Efforts Read more

June 26, 2025 | Blog post

2025 LAR and Canada Immigration Trends: Balancing Control and Opportunity Read more
More related insights

Related content

Worldwide Immigration Trends ReportsRead more

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

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Practice Leader Colm Collins explains that processing delays, shifting demand in information and communication technology (ICT) and renewal cycles contributed to last year’s drop in work permit approvals.

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Fragomen Report Highlights Global Worker Shortfall of 85 Million by 2030Learn more

Media mentions

New York Law Journal: Rapid Developments Lead Immigration Attorneys to Constantly Adjust Practices

Partner Parisa Karaahmet discusses how recent US immigration policy changes, including potential impacts on the H-1B lottery, are shaping employer planning.

Learn more

Media mentions

CTV Your Morning: Canada's Immigration System

Partner Rick Lamanna discussed Canada’s immigration system, noting backlogs, impacts on students and labour gaps tied to current immigration levels.

Learn more

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Partners Isha Atassi and Rahul Soni discuss US investment-based immigration options for Middle Eastern investors.

Learn more

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Why Degree Equivalency Matters in the UAE 

Partner Ali Haider, Director Shoaib Khaleeli, Manager Ruaida Hussein and Senior Immigration Consultant Katerina Hornickova examine why degree equivalency has become mandatory in the United Arab Emirates and how the process affects employment, professional licensing and visa eligibility.

Learn more

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Senior Associate Isabel Schnitzler explains key eligibility requirements for naturalization in Germany, including residence, language proficiency and financial self-sufficiency, as well as family eligibility considerations.

Learn more

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Partner Bo Cooper explains the impact of wage‑weighted selection on H‑1B registration and compliance.

Learn more

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Partner Aaron Blumberg explains how heightened government scrutiny affecting students from countries such as Venezuela is shaping travel guidance for those studying in the US.

Learn more

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Partner K. Edward Raleigh highlights how recent H-1B changes are shaping employer compliance strategies.

Learn more

Media mentions

The Irish Times: Number of Work Permits Issued Last Year Drops by Almost a Quarter

Practice Leader Colm Collins explains that processing delays, shifting demand in information and communication technology (ICT) and renewal cycles contributed to last year’s drop in work permit approvals.

Learn more

Media mentions

Canadian Lawyer Magazine: Canada's Immigration System Is Reaching a Breaking Point: Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association

Partner Rick Lamanna examines current pressures on Canada’s immigration system, including processing delays, reduced admissions and policy uncertainty and the implications for applicants and employers.

Learn more

Blog post

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Manager Mihaela Dumitru outlines how Swiss authorities assess Employer of Record and body-leasing models, highlighting key compliance risks, licensing requirements and a regulatory update affecting EU and EFTA nationals effective 1 January 2026.

Learn more

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