(Hybrid) Immigration Specialist - Global Affairs

This role is a hybrid position that will report to the Morgantown campus approximately 2-4 times per month. Residency in West Virginia or one of the five surrounding states (Kentucky, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, or Maryland) is required by the time of hire.

About The Opportunity

The Immigration Specialist will work for the Office of Global Affairs in its International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS). The Immigration Specialist reinforces the mission of the Office of Global Affairs through the provision of specialized immigration advice and assistance, which includes assisting international students, exchange visitors, faculty, and their dependents in obtaining and maintaining lawful non-immigrant status (e.g. J-1, H-1B, and others). This includes extensions, renewals, transfers, and permanent resident sponsorship. In addition, this position applies technical knowledge to identify issues relating to employment law, policies, and procedures as they relate to foreign nationals, and coordinates communication about these issues to sponsoring departments, administration, WVU partner offices, employees, and others. This position is located within the Office of Global Affairs and reports to the Associate Director of International Scholars Services.

Responsibilities

• Provides guidance and consultative support to international faculty, staff, postdoctoral students, and sponsoring departments on compliance issues, and reaches out to appropriate offices, such as Human Resources, on matters including visa adjustments, state maintenance, authorized travel, employment questions, transfers, changes of status, travel, and re-entry into the country.
• Serves as a liaison between ISSS, human resources, sponsoring departments, international faculty, staff, postdoctoral students, and external immigration attorneys on immigration-related matters.
• Advises human resources and the sponsoring department on special issues concerning the hiring of foreign nationals as it relates to both non-immigrant and immigrant status.
• Provides guidance and consultative support to sponsoring departments in the preparation, processing, and maintenance of documents in support of immigration sponsorship requests for J-1, H-1B, and permanent residence applications. Reviews and ensures that immigration sponsorship applications are submitted to ISSS in an accurate and timely manner.
• Ensures sponsoring departments maintain compliance with ISSS interpretation of federal immigration regulations and institutional policies and provides notification of any emergent immigration compliance concerns. Interacts with various government agencies to obtain information and clarification on federal rules and regulations.
• Assists in developing and updating written materials outlining federal and university policies, procedures, and processes regarding immigration laws and regulations. Designs and delivers presentations on said policies, procedures, and processes.
• Ensures proper administration and compliance with relevant rules and regulations pertaining to international faculty, staff, and postdoctoral students engaged in university-related academic and/or research activity.
• Assists in the preparation of reports including statistical data on international faculty, staff, and scholars, audits, and onsite reviews as required.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Political Sciences, International Studies, Foreign Languages, History, or a related field is required.
• A minimum of one (1) year of related experience.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.
• U.S. Citizenship and/or Permanent Residency is required to access the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which applies to the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program.

Skills

• An understanding of employment immigration as it relates to J-1 and H-1B non-immigrant visas, permanent residency sponsorship, and the hiring of foreign nationals in the U.S.
• Ability to interpret immigration, labor, and other international-oriented regulations to assess their impact on university compliance.
• Basic knowledge of applicable university infrastructure, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to communicate in a cross-cultural environment with sensitivity to the diversity and complexity of international scholar and employee issues and concerns.
• Ability to coordinate with academic and non-academic offices.
• Ability to use sound judgment and advise faculty and students on immigration regulations and process relevant forms.
• Competency in both oral and written English to communicate in a clear and concise manner.
• Detail-oriented with superior multitasking, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize numerous assignments to ensure tasks are completed in a timely fashion.
• High comfort level with working autonomously and under pressure.
• Strong computer skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office software.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a post-secondary institution or similar-sized organization.
• Experience as an Immigration Specialist, or other related position with a focus on facilitating immigration processes and procedures with in-house and outside immigration professionals, ideally in a university setting.
• Experience working with international students, faculty, and/or staff.
• Experience working with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations governing non-immigrant students and/or foreign workers.

Benefits

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year
• 18 sick days per year (for personal illness, caring for sick family, or medical appointments; family includes immediate relatives, in-laws, and household members)
• A range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks
• Wellness programs