Senior Immigration Scholar Advisor

About the role

Provide senior-level advice and counsel to laboratories and administrative departments to appoint and sponsor international employees and visitors, serve as Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO), deliver expert guidance relative to filing applications/petitions for all non-immigrant and immigrant options, maintain confidential data, and conduct immigration related trainings and orientations campus-wide.

Job Responsibilities And Duties

• Collaborate and consult with Institute faculty, HR, international scholars (and their family members), and hiring departments to develop options and strategically plan for their current and future immigration needs.
• Provide information, advice, and documentation regarding international travel, I-94 status, employment authorization, visa stamp applications, visa extensions and amendments, and change of status applications demonstrating proficiency on broad immigration and US agency related issues and requirements.
• Creatively resolve complex issues and problems based on thorough understanding of relevant policies and government regulations and University policies.
• Keep up to date on complex regulations, policies, and practices of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and all its divisions, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Social Security Administration, the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles, and other government agencies as well as Institute policies, procedures, and practices relating to the sponsoring of foreign nationals.
• Stay abreast of new developments of laws and/or regulations to help faculty, international scholars and departments comply with the new regulations.
• Serve as the main contact for UF International Center office, UF Immigration Compliance office, and Fragomen attorney representation.
• Maintain the integrity of the J Exchange Visitor Program and offer the highest levels of services to Institute faculty, international scholars, and departments.
• Use, maintain, and monitor the SEVIS database for the J Exchange Program.
• Create and maintain a database for tracking international employees and visitors using Smartsheets containing data on international scholars and family members and produce reports from such data.
• Input all data into the UF International Office computer system called Terra Dotta.
• Input all data into the UF Immigration Compliance portal Fragomen Connect.
• Create and conduct all training, orientations and informational workshops for Institute faculty, international scholars, and departments.
• Create and update all instructional and informational materials, email templates, and forms.
• Plan all aspects of campus cultural events including Diwali, Chinese New Year, Holiday Party, and other offerings.
• Order office supplies and promotional items.
• Manage and project office budget including making check requests, assigning expenses to correct budget codes, and predicting budget for next fiscal year.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in an appropriate area and two years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Minimum of 5 years related experience in international scholar and student advising, including at least 3 years of international scholar advising for scientific researchers and scholars. Significant experience interpreting and applying complex student and scholar non-immigrant regulations. Experience interpreting and applying complex scientific researcher and scholar-based immigrant regulations. Prefer experience studying, living or working abroad.