Sr Immigration Advisor

About the role

Under the direction of the Assistant Director of Advising Services, with latitude for independent judgment and decision-making, the Senior International Advisor provides guidance to student advisers on non-immigrant F and J regulations, manages cases, and advises on complex immigration issues. The position serves as both an International Student and Scholar Advisor and the Advising Team’s lead for technology solutions and process optimization.

Responsibilities

• Immigration Compliance
  • Serve as Designated School Official and Alternate Responsible Officer for the F and J programs
  • Provide mentorship and guidance to complex cases with ISO advisers and ISO constituent groups
  • Evaluate, assess, and provide sponsorship guidance for new students and academic departments
  • Analyze relevant personal, program, and travel information to ensure UR compliance with required reporting
  • Train new UR administrators and departmental contacts on ISO requirements, forms, services
• Immigration Advising and Counseling
  • Advise students on complex immigration requirements, permissions, benefits, applications, and procedures
  • Counsel students facing various personal issues (social, academic, cultural, financial, health, taxation, etc.)
  • Anticipate potential immigration consequences or opportunities and make appropriate resource referrals
  • Offer instruction on logistical needs, such as US Social Security Numbers, insurance, and tax reporting tools
  • Advise dependent spouses/partners and children on immigration permissions, responsibilities, resources, etc.
• SUNAPSIS/URcompass
  • Serve as the functional lead for the development, testing, implementation, maintenance, and optimization of SUNAPSIS/URcompass e-forms, workflows, checklists, and related functionality
  • Collaborate with the Advising Team, Systems Team, and University IT to design and implement automated business processes that improve operational efficiency while ensuring regulatory compliance
  • Serve as the primary liaison between advising staff and technical partners for system enhancements, upgrades, and issue resolution
  • Develop documentation, communicate system and process updates, and provide training and ongoing support to staff to promote effective system utilization
• Immigration Regulatory Research
  • Research legacy immigration regulations (INA) and analyze current DHS/SEVIS regulations
  • Update current USCIS practices and policies to all members of the student advising team
  • Research citations and Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) associated with relevant in situ regulations for developing SOPs
• Institutional Policy and Practice
  • Develop, articulate, and adhere to internal guidelines for regulatory interpretations, office practices, etc.
  • Determine and explain immigration options with context of specific academic and administrative policies
  • Cultivate a detailed and current knowledge of immigration regulations, government policy, and legal resources through regular review of published guidance and professional network communications
• Develop, maintain, and enhance online orientation and educational resources for incoming and continuing international students, such as Homebase
• Represent the office on university-wide and internal committees and liaise with governmental agencies
• Research and communicate changes in regulations with appropriate regulatory citations
• Assist with policy development and delivery of employment workshops and training for students, departments, and faculty
• Maintain an advising caseload, providing immigration advising and support to F-1 and J-1 students and scholars

Minimum Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree and 4 years of experience as an international scholar immigration advisor at a college or university required
• Master’s degree preferred
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience with students at the secondary/college/university level required
• Experience with cross-cultural exchange and/or studying or working overseas required

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Ability to work with people from different cultures
• Ability to comprehend legal regulations for immigration law and apply them to individual situations required
• Ability to creatively problem solve, work with multiple tasks, and work with people at all levels of the organization required
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written, and oral presentation skills) required
• Excellent research, analytical, and presentation skills required
• Strong understanding of government regulations, policies, and procedures related to managing and enrolling international students into programs at the secondary/college/university level required
• Strong understanding of international student information management and registration systems required

Licenses and Certifications

• Must be a US citizen or permanent resident of the US