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GENERAL SUMMARY OF POSITION: 

Under the general direction of the Director of Immigration Services, the Immigration Specialist works within Human Resources to provide advice and support to international students, scholars, physicians, Academic Departments and Administration. Responsible for employment-based and student visa document processing and monitoring (i.e., J-1, F-1, H-1B, etc.) in an academic and clinical setting.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Immigration Specialist I:

• Advise departments, students, employees & medical residents on policies and procedures related to non-immigrant visas, including advanced travel advice, visa status of family members, bars to repeat participation, program transfers, extensions, and terminations.
• Process appropriate documentation for obtaining, maintaining and extending J-1, F-1, TN or H-1B visa status for students and scholars.  Ensures adherence to immigration guidelines for the processing of non-immigrant visas.
• Liaison with the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Labor (DOL), State (DOS), other federal and state agencies, and private organizations.  The Immigration Specialist is registered with DOS as an Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) in the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program and with DHS as a Designated School Official (DSO) and will issue Certificates of Eligibility to prospective and current students and scholars through the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
• Provide support to Director in the development of internal policies and procedures related to the international population.
• Work with HR colleagues and Departments to facilitate on-boarding process, including employment I-9 and tax processing
• Organize and attend outreach programs to the international and university community, including immigration orientation sessions, cultural programming and informational brown bag presentations on current immigration topics.
• Update databases, generate reports and/or create updates to forms, handouts and website as appropriate
• Attend relevant immigration meetings and conferences to remain current with trends and changes in laws impacting international students and scholars.
• Perform other duties as required.

Immigration Specialist II:

Duties noted above plus:

• Advises department administrators, principle investigators, students, employees & medical residents on policies and procedures related to non-immigrant visas.
• Beginning-to-end case management needed for obtaining and maintaining J-1, F-1, TN, E3, or H1B visa status and work authorization for students, scholars, physicians, and their dependents, as needed. Ensures adherence to immigration guidelines for the processing of non-immigrant visas.
• Serves as liaison with government agencies such as U.S. Department of State, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Department of Labor, and U.S. Embassies/Consulates to facilitate on-boarding process, status maintenance & extensions, travel or other issues related to international students, employees and invited visitors.
• Translates complicated immigration regulations into day-to-day execution and communication.
• Advises international community on complex immigration issues including advanced travel advice, visa status of family members, bars to repeat participation, program transfers and extensions, and terminations.
• Work with HR colleagues and Departments to facilitate on-boarding process, including employment I-9 and tax processing. Provides backup support for international tax reports using Glacier Online Tax software.
• Responsible for immigration related data management and numerous internal reports to various Departments to insure proper dissemination of immigration-related information.
• Provides support to the Director in the development of internal policies and procedures related to the international population.
• Organizes and attends cultural activities for applicable international employees and visitors to satisfy the U.S. Department of State J1 Exchange Visitor requirements. May also present monthly seminars to international community, publish UMass Immigration Newsletter, or develop new cultural events.
• Attends meetings of the Region XI Association of International Educators (NAFSA), Worcesters International Students Consortium, ECFMG Webinars, and Council for Global Immigration (CFGI) conferences to remain current in changes in the law impacting international students, scholars, and physicians.

Performs other duties and/or projects as assigned        

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Immigration Specialist I

• Bachelors Degree in a related field, or equivalent experience
• 3 years of experience in immigration advising to international students, and/or scholars or employees
• Experience working with U.S. immigration regulations, particularly J-1, H-1B and F1 regulations
• Demonstrated ability to make decisions independently.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret, explain, and apply complex rules and regulations such as new immigration regulations and understand how they apply to the needs of our students, scholars, medical residents and employees.
• Excellent organizational and customer service skills, and the ability to pay close attention to detail.
• Ability to work with a diverse international clientele
• High level of counseling, written and oral communication and organizational skills
• Excellent judgment and ability to deal with difficult situations
• Strong Microsoft Office, Excel and general technical skills.
• Must be U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident.

Immigration Specialist II

• Requirements noted for Immigration Specialist I plus:
• 5 years of experience in higher education, including experience as a Designated School Official and/or Alternate Responsible Officer or related immigration advising experience working with international students and/or scholars.
• Strong organizational, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to provide high-level immigration counseling, written and oral communications.
• Must be U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident to meet federal SEVIS requirements

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Masters Degree in a relevant field.
• Strong knowledge of PeopleSoft, Excel, and Microsoft Office.
• Sunapsis experience preferred.

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