From Immigrant to Immigration Attorney: How Mona Kesar Built Kesar Law on Empathy and Excellence
12th November 2025
Date
Interviewee
Mona Kesar
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Mona Kesar, Founder of Kesar Law, Shares Her Journey from Cross-Country Drive with Newborn to Establishing Chicago-Area Immigration Practice
The drive from Washington State to Maine takes approximately 50 hours. Mona Kesar stretched it to ten days. Her daughter was only three weeks old, and she was headed to law school with a singular purpose: to decode the immigration system that had shaped her own life and help others navigate its complexities.
"I decided one day that I wanted to go to law school and only to work in the field of immigration," Kesar recalls. That clarity of purpose, even in the midst of new motherhood and cross-country relocation, would become the foundation of her career. Having that focus from the outset enabled her to direct her education, clinical work, internships, and early career entirely toward developing the knowledge and experience needed to represent immigrants effectively.
Today, as the founder of Kesar Law in the Chicago area, she brings that same determination to every case she handles.
The Personal Journey Behind the Practice: How Mona Kesar's Immigration Experience Shaped Her Career
Kesar's path to immigration law was carved by her personal experience. As an immigrant herself, she witnessed the system from the inside, not only its layers of law, policy, and discretion, but also the emotional weight that each petition carries.
“Having experienced the U.S. immigration system both as an immigrant and as an attorney, I bring a dual perspective to my work. For my clients, immigration is a deeply personal and emotional experience; for me, it is a structured legal process that I approach with precision and compassion.”
Her husband practices in the legal field, focusing on trademarks and copyrights, but for Kesar, immigration was her first choice from the beginning. Before settling in the Chicago area, Kesar traveled to more than 40 U.S. states and lived in many of them, meeting immigrants from around the world along the way.
"Every immigrant has to share something about their immigration journey," she observes. “So I’m like, okay, let’s understand this whole immigration system. I want to learn everything so that I can help others who often find themselves lost in this intricate system."
This goal guided every decision in her legal education. She chose the University of Maine School of Law specifically because it housed an immigration clinic in the same building. No commute required, no time wasted. Just focused preparation for the career she knew she wanted.
Building Kesar Law: The Transition from Firm Attorney to Solo Practitioner
Based in the greater Chicago area, Kesar focuses on employment, education, and entrepreneurial immigration, representing individuals, startups, and small to mid-sized companies across a wide range of non-immigrant and immigrant categories. Recently, she has also begun representing clients in criminal immigration matters and asylum-related cases.
After working at another immigration law firm, Kesar launched her own practice in October 2024. The decision wasn’t driven solely by ambition; it was about accessibility, community, and the ability to serve clients on her own terms.
The timing proved both challenging and fortuitous. Launching a solo practice coincided with significant shifts in immigration policy and enforcement. “The new administration brought new challenges,” she notes. “And not once did I ever sit wondering what to do; there was always more than enough work waiting for me.”
As a solo practitioner and mother, she intentionally limits her monthly intake of new matters, focusing primarily on business immigration (E-2, H-1B, H-2A/H-2B, O-1, TN, F-1, R-1, L-1A, EB-1A/EB-1C, EB-2/EB-3), while also handling several asylum and immigration court cases. She believes that each case warrants her personal attention and care, and therefore prioritizes maintaining quality over volume. Most recently, she has successfully handled F-1 reinstatements, NOID responses, RFEs, and various criminal-immigration matters as well.
Kesar’s goal has always been to empower immigrants with clarity, helping them understand not only the process but also the strategic reasoning behind every filing and decision. Each case she handles is a unique intersection of law, human experience, and opportunity.
“I want to maintain balance in my practice because I am a solo practitioner,” she explains. The approach has proven remarkably effective, with all of her growth driven organically through word-of-mouth referrals.
“To be honest, I haven’t really spent any time actively marketing my services,” she laughs. “People reach out to me constantly, which keeps me so busy that I don’t even have time to consistently post insights or updates on LinkedIn or social media.”
Kesar Law’s Approach: What Makes Being Multilingual and Culturally Aware a Competitive Advantage
What Kesar didn’t anticipate when starting her firm was how powerfully her personal background would become her greatest professional asset.
“What I’ve realized is that being multilingual, speaking multiple languages, and being culturally aware of different ethnicities, their cultures and ways of living, has allowed me to serve clients far more effectively,” she reflects. “Bridging communication gaps and understanding the emotional dimension behind each petition, whether it’s individual or employer-based, has been one of the crucial learning in my practice.”
This ability to connect across cultural and linguistic boundaries has proven invaluable in building trust with clients who often feel vulnerable navigating an intimidating system. It’s not just about translating words. It’s about understanding context, unspoken concerns, and the full scope of what’s at stake.
For Kesar, every case represents more than paperwork. “For me, it is a structured legal process because I’m an attorney. But for them, it is a personal and emotional journey. The more clarity they have, the more confident, informed, and supported they feel.”
Navigating Change: How Mona Kesar Manages Shifting Immigration Policies and USCIS Adjudication Standards
The past year has presented unprecedented challenges for immigration practitioners and their clients. Kesar has found herself on the front lines of what feels like a fundamentally changed adjudication environment.
“What I’ve realized is that within USCIS, there seems to be a great deal of confusion around the fee structure.” As a result, she has seen applications rejected over minor perceived discrepancies, only to be accepted with the exact same fee when resubmitted. This inconsistency, she notes, has created additional delays, wasted resources, and greater stress for applicants who are already navigating a high-stakes process.
She shares a particularly frustrating example. She filed two H-1B extensions just a few days before a major presidential proclamation affecting immigration processing. USCIS rejected both packets, citing incorrect fees without further explanation. “And then I filed again the same thing with the same checks, nothing changed. Just like I filed the same petition again after the proclamation, and they approved the petition in three or four days without any problem."
The inconsistency extends beyond fee issues. “For small, unnecessary details, they are issuing RFEs. They are issuing NOIDs,” she explains, referring to Requests for Evidence and Notices of Intent to Deny. Even more concerning, USCIS has changed its approach to applications with errors. “Recently, we’re seeing that if there’s even a minor issue with the payment or fee, USCIS is no longer just returning the check; they are returning the entire packet.” For Kesar, the pattern suggests a troubling shift.
Despite these challenges, she continues to file successful applications and respond effectively to RFEs and NOIDs. Her strategy centers on meticulous preparation, robust supporting documentation, and proactive identification of issues before they arise. She routinely reviews immigration news, articles, AILA updates, USCIS policy changes, and other authoritative resources. She also maintains close connections with immigration attorneys nationwide, exchanging information about emerging adjudication patterns in real time. This combination of collaboration, continuous monitoring, and careful case-building has become essential in an environment where even well-prepared filings can face unexpected scrutiny.
“It’s truly fascinating how the interpretation of a single regulation or policy can shape the course of an immigrant’s life.”
Critical Advice from Kesar Law: Why Immigrants Must Consult Attorneys Before Taking Action and timely file their petitions/applications
One of the most concerning trends Kesar has observed is immigrants’ growing reliance on artificial intelligence for legal guidance without understanding its limitations.
“What I’ve seen recently, especially in the last one to two years, is that many of my clients are relying on ChatGPT and believing that it is providing completely accurate information,” she notes. “That is not true. I have had clients jeopardize and severely damage their cases because they filed applications based solely on AI-generated guidance.”
Another related concern, she adds, is that pro se applicants often overlook the significance of the information or documents they submit to USCIS simply because they may not know what is material or what the adjudicators are actually focusing on. While filing pro se is absolutely permissible, and many individuals do so, relying too heavily on Google searches or generic AI-generated explanations without proper legal context can lead to errors, omissions, or assumptions that may negatively affect the case.
She offers a recent case that illustrates how a single small mistake can trigger devastating consequences. A student needed a new I-20 from their Designated School Official (DSO) to apply for STEM OPT work authorization. The DSO mistakenly issued the old I-20 used for regular OPT instead of the STEM OPT-specific version. The student, unaware of the technical distinction, submitted the wrong form.
Six months later, USCIS issued a Notice of Intent to Deny, explaining that the student had never been properly recommended for STEM OPT. When the student returned to the DSO to request the correct I-20, they had terminated his SEVIS account three months earlier because they hadn’t seen any action and had no information indicating he had filed for STEM OPT,” Kesar recounts. “Now this student is out of status; he doesn’t have STEM OPT, and the SEVIS record is terminated.” He lost 24 months of work authorization, incurred substantial additional costs, and faces extended uncertainty, all because of one misunderstood document.
“A small oversight can lead to significant consequences for someone’s immigration status,” Kesar emphasizes. “That is why I strongly encourage immigrants to seek guidance from an attorney when they are unfamiliar with the filings, requirements, or potential implications.”
Her advice is straightforward: use AI and online resources to become informed, but always consult an immigration attorney before taking any significant action, because a person’s immigration status and livelihood can hinge on a single petition or application.
Before traveling internationally, changing employers, or making filing decisions, consultation isn’t optional; it’s essential. “They cannot afford to make critical decisions based solely on AI, or on hearsay from others,” she emphasizes.
She also consistently advises clients not to wait until the last minute to file petitions, extensions, amendments, or change-of-status applications. Strategic timing is critical.
Artificial Intelligence in Immigration Practice: Mona Kesar's Balanced Perspective on Technology
Despite the cautionary tales about clients misusing AI, Kesar isn’t anti-technology. She recognizes that AI has opened new opportunities for legal professionals when used appropriately.
“Platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and all others can assist attorneys in researching case law, drafting, and also summarizing the documents," she notes. "Particularly, I see those helpful in removal, defense, and appellate court work."
However, she approaches AI in business immigration with greater caution. “There are a lot of moving parts in business/employment immigration. There are numerous forms, and the information provided on those forms must align precisely with the support letters you draft,” she explains. “And every assertion must be backed by compelling, credible evidence through supporting documents.”
For Kesar, the fundamental limitation of AI comes down to human judgment and storytelling. "Every petition, I feel, involves nuanced storytelling, legal reasoning, and policy interpretation that is suited particularly to that particular case. So AI cannot replace professional judgment."
She sees AI as a valuable assistant for streamlining research and document review, but never as a replacement for an attorney’s analytical or creative judgment. “It’s a great tool to help reduce workload, especially with research,” she notes. “But when it comes to professional judgment, you must review everything thoroughly, determine what needs to be done, and apply real storytelling, not just rely on AI-generated output.”
Her advice to fellow attorneys mirrors what she tells clients: use AI, but verify everything and apply human judgment to the output.
“I believe AI should serve as an assistant that enhances efficiency and insight, not a replacement for professional judgment in legal practice.”
What Kesar Law Would Change About the Current Immigration System
Asked what single change she would make to the current immigration process, Kesar doesn’t hesitate: “I would ease the overly tightened adjudication standards and ensure faster processing.”
In her view, recent delays have been extensive and, in many cases, unexplainable. Confusion surrounding filing fees and inconsistent adjudication creates unnecessary obstacles, even for properly prepared cases.
For Kesar, improvement requires clarity and collaboration between the agency and practitioners.
Her vision is straightforward: a system where well-prepared applications receive fair, consistent, and timely review. It’s not about lowering the bar; it’s about making the standards predictable.
The Philosophy Behind Kesar Law: Combining Legal Excellence with Empathy
What truly distinguishes Kesar’s practice isn’t visible in any case filing or legal brief. It’s the philosophy that guides how she approaches every client relationship.
Throughout her career, from her time at other firms to building her own practice, Kesar has observed that clarity and communication are what drive client satisfaction more than almost anything else. When clients understand not only what is happening in their case but why certain strategies are being pursued, they become true partners in the process. In her experience, that transparency builds trust, reduces anxiety, and helps clients feel a sense of control in a system that often feels intimidating and opaque.
But Kesar goes further than mere transparency. She advocates for bringing something often absent from legal practice: compassion.
She acknowledges this isn’t always the norm in the legal profession. “A lot of times in this field, I’ve seen attorneys leave compassion at the door because the belief is that it’s all about structural legal analysis, and emotion shouldn’t be part of it. But I respectfully disagree. The more compassionate you are, the better it is for your client and for your practice. You communicate more clearly, you remain more open, and you fully understand where your client is coming from when they walk through your door.”
This philosophy has become central to her practice identity. “Ensuring that every client feels guided, informed, and supported throughout their immigration journey has been my mission." She says.
The Journey Continues for Mona Kesar and Kesar Law
From that ten-day drive across the country with a newborn to establishing a thriving solo practice in one of the nation’s most diverse metropolitan areas, Mona Kesar’s journey embodies the determination and resilience she sees in her clients every day.
Her practice, built entirely on word-of-mouth referrals and powered by the same clarity of purpose that sent her to law school, represents more than professional success. It represents the realization of a goal she set years ago: to decode the immigration system and help others navigate it with dignity and understanding.
The challenges are significant. Policy changes, inconsistent adjudications, and client stress levels make immigration law particularly demanding right now. But for Kesar, the work remains deeply meaningful.
As she looks toward the future, planning modest expansion while maintaining the personal touch that defines her practice, Kesar remains guided by the same principle that motivated that cross-country drive with a three-week-old daughter: the belief that everyone deserves clear, compassionate guidance through one of life’s most challenging processes.
For immigrants who find their way to Kesar Law, whether through community connections, workshops, or referrals from satisfied clients, they find an attorney who understands their journey from the inside out. Someone who knows that immigration is never just about forms and regulations. It’s about building a life, pursuing a dream, and finding a home.
And for Mona Kesar, helping people achieve those goals isn’t just her profession. It’s her calling and her passion.
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