WHAT DOES AN IMMIGRATION SPECIALIST DO?

Published: Aug 14, 2025 - The Immigration Specialist ensures compliance with immigration laws by coordinating with external counsel and managing visa processes for non-immigrant and immigrant cases. This role advises employees and managers on immigration regulations, addresses related inquiries, and oversees timely visa filings and documentation. The specialist also tracks policy changes, proposes process improvements, and partners with HR to streamline immigration compliance.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Immigration Specialist

1. Immigration Specialist Duties

  • Immigration Sponsorship: Oversee full lifecycle for immigration sponsorship to include H-1B’s, L-1 Visas, F-1 (STEM OPT and CPT), and Perm/Green Card in partnership with immigration legal counsel.
  • Case Management: Manage immigration cases in partnership with outside legal counsel and others for global visa transfer requests, amendments, Requests for Evidence (RFEs), and extensions.
  • Program Execution: Deliver efficient execution of immigration programs, including providing appropriate responses to immigration questions and resolving all issues following applicable legal requirements.
  • Application Processing: Perform intake and assist with review and management of immigration applications and files, ensuring all legal documents are completed accurately and promptly.
  • Data Collection: Collect immigration data from sources (external legal counsel, employee, manager, HR Business Partner, etc.) and prepare documents for submission to the immigration vendor or government agencies.
  • Stakeholder Communication: Communicate with hiring managers, visa applicants, and other relevant parties on visa processes, updates, documentation requirements, and process timing.
  • Immigration Advisory: Educate and advise on immigration questions, concerns, and guidelines, and escalate as needed.
  • Recruitment Support: Advise and educate recruiters on potential visa options and challenges for potential new hires, while ensuring compliance.
  • Visa Tracking: Partner with outside legal counsel to update and maintain the visa tracking report and utilize the vendor case management system.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate across global functional teams (outside legal, Compensation/Benefits, Talent Acquisition, and HR Business Partners, etc.) to share information, drive decision-making, approvals, and processes, while ensuring compliance.
  • PERM Coordination: Coordinate the recruitment process for Permanent Resident applications, in conjunction with Managers, Recruiters, and external Immigration Counsel.
  • Payment Management: Manage all immigration-related payments and costs through SAP, including Purchase Order management.
  • Compliance Maintenance: Maintain H1B Public Access Files (PAF) to ensure compliance with Department of Labor and USCIS immigration regulations and guidelines.
  • Vendor Relationship: Collaborate with the Manager and internal legal counsel to effectively manage the relationship with external immigration counsel to ensure adherence to compliance, service level standards, and communication.
  • Process Improvement: Partner with leadership to drive continuous improvements in process, policy, vendor services, and reporting.
  • Process Development: Build scalable processes for internal approvals, alignment with policy, immigration compliance, and conduct an ongoing review of immigration processes to ensure resource optimization.
  • Legislation Awareness: Maintain awareness of legislation that impacts the immigration process and work with internal employment and external immigration legal partners to obtain recommended action plans.

2. Sr. Immigration Specialist Responsibilities

  • Petition Preparation: Prepares and submits immigration petitions and Department of State sponsorship documents for all visa types sponsored by UT Southwestern (excluding O-1 and HHS waivers), including F-1, J-1, J-2 work authorizations, H-1B, H-4, TN-1, and TN-2.
  • Visa Advisory: Advises faculty and staff on strategies for maximizing employment and career development opportunities for themselves and/or their staff by appropriate planning and use of various non-immigrant visa options.
  • Document Verification: Meets with international visitors to confirm accuracy of INS documents, compliance with federal visa requirements, and to assist in completion of payroll and I-9 documentation.
  • Regulation Expertise: Maintains a high level of expertise in frequently changing state and federal regulations, legal interpretations, and INS and Department of State processing protocols by reading and researching professional resources, such as the Code of Federal Regulations, Federal Register, Foreign Affairs Manual, and numerous federal websites.
  • Residency Guidance: Advises departments and individual physicians on visa issues related to clinical residencies and accredited and unaccredited clinical fellowships.
  • Application Coordination: Coordinates annual applications for all international clinical trainees and serves as Training Program Liaison to the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.
  • Problem Resolution: Works to resolve complex problems related to non-immigrant status by communicating with a wide variety of governmental personnel, including embassy and consular officials, INS port-of-entry, service center, and district office officials, Social Security Administration, and Department of Public Safety personnel.

3. Immigration Specialist Accountabilities

  • HR Liaison: Serves as the principal Human Resources liaison and advisor to the College of Health Professions, College of Nursing, and Health Sciences Library related to the recruitment, appointment, and maintenance of faculty positions.
  • Vacancy Posting: Prepares appropriate vacancy postings and advertising notices.
  • Recruitment Coordination: Maintains recruitment files and recruitment activity data, and coordinates notification of faculty searches to the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
  • Appointment Processing: Prepares faculty appointment letters for the President's signature and facilitates notification of new faculty appointments with Payroll and Benefits offices.
  • Record Maintenance: Maintains comprehensive and accurate records of the status of all faculty appointments.
  • Adjunct Coordination: Coordinates the Adjunct Instructor appointments to include managing the leave of absences and reinstatements.
  • Immigration Resource: Serves as an immigration resource for Talent Acquisition, Foreign Nationals, and hiring departments for assigned areas.
  • Visa Information: Acts as the primary POC for visa and immigration information for internal stakeholders and candidates for assigned areas.
  • Visa Processing: Establishes and administers all processes for obtaining appropriate visas for non-immigrant aliens employed or enrolled.
  • Petition Preparation: Collects, examines, authenticates, and prepares for submission petitions for temporary workers (H1B, O1, TN, etc.) and permanent visas for foreign workers, and participates in I-9 review.
  • Counsel Management: Manages the relationship with outside immigration counsel and ensures all compliance requirements are met.
  • Notice Posting: Posts internal notices for non-immigrant visa and PERM filings (electronic and physical).
  • Questionnaire Response: Answers DOL sponsorship questionnaires for PERM labor certification filings.
  • Letter Drafting: Drafts verification of employment letters and client letters.
  • Immigration Records: Maintains records of immigration matters and filings, and coordinates the timely billing and invoice payment process.
  • Resource Development: Creates and updates immigration resources and provides training.
  • Requirement Compliance: Stays up to date on immigration requirements and communicates and implements changes to the program.

4. Immigration Specialist Functions

  • Client Support: Serves as a key resource to client populations.
  • Stakeholder Liaison: Liaises between employees, local partners, and key internal stakeholders on all immigration matters assigned.
  • Authorization Coordination: Coordinates with local partners for the timely filing of in-country work authorizations, visa applications, local registrations, and residence permits.
  • Process Management: Provides clients with a compliant, comprehensive, and efficient process to support their immigration needs.
  • Document Completion: Ensures the accurate and timely completion of all immigration paperwork, including document procurement, apostilles, application forms, letters of invitation, etc.
  • Visa Guidance: Guides employees and employers regarding documents, cost, and time requirements for visa applications.
  • Invoice Preparation: Provides the necessary information for the Admin Team to complete regional invoices.
  • Record Review: Reviews financial records (e.g., vendor invoices, purchase orders, etc.) for the Admin Team to input the information into the internal system.
  • Fact-Finding: Conducts fact-finding calls with clients to provide an overview of upcoming visa processes and address questions.
  • Documentation Follow-Up: Follows up with clients to obtain specific outstanding documentation necessary for file completion.
  • Case Management: Updates and manages the case management system to ensure the latest versions are available.
  • Document Management: Provides all the information so the Admin Team can store and manage documents in the case management system, ensuring personal and corporate documents are logged, expiration dates are tracked, and relevant immigration information is entered daily.
  • Case Monitoring: Provides routine case monitoring by VP, Immigration Services, and/or based on a specific guideline (e.g., weekly reports, expiration lists, etc.).
  • Project Assistance: Assists with special projects for the Region.

5. Immigration Specialist Job Description

  • SEVIS Management: Maintain the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and all related certification requirements.
  • Data Processing: Organize and maintain SEVIS data processing under Department of Homeland Security (DHS) guidelines, and capture significant and appropriate information in other databases.
  • Report Generation: Run regular reports and assist with I-17 updates.
  • Student Processing: Be responsible for all international student processes such as issuing I-20s, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, student registration and re-registration, overseeing on-campus employment, curricular practical training, CPT requests, etc.
  • Visa Advising: Advise students with petitions, applications, and other standard issues related to F-1 visa status, including new F-1 visas, work permits (OPT and STEM), reinstatement, change of status, medical leaves, transfers, employment, and/or reduced course load authorization.
  • Immigration Guidance: Be responsible for advising students on all matters related to immigration status during study.
  • Program Training: Design and/or deliver orientation programs, training, and online training modules.
  • Regulation Compliance: Be responsible for staying current with regulatory and legislative rules, regulations, and updates affecting international students on F-1 visas.
  • Emergency Assistance: Assist with the department’s on-call emergency response system, as related to international students.
  • Observer Oversight: Oversee international observers and volunteers.
  • Agency Liaison: Liaise with various government agencies such as ICE, USCIS, DOL, DOS, SSA, CBP, etc.
  • Legislative Liaison: Liaise with congressional and senatorial representatives.
  • Scholar Support: Assist with J1 Research Scholar Exchange Visitor overflow and issue DS2019.

6. Immigration Specialist Overview

  • Process Design: Design and implement the immigration process map for defined countries as per regulatory requirements, manage the process as legislation and practices evolve, and implement continuous process improvement to enhance systems and processes to ensure effective operational deployment of employees.
  • Permit Utilization: Establish processes to ensure effective utilisation of work permits.
  • Cost Forecasting: Forecast cost implications of changes in immigration requirements to ensure that business leadership incorporates full employee costs into planning and estimation.
  • Audit Compliance: Implement an audit and compliance framework.
  • Regulatory Assessment: Assess the strategic and operational impact of regulatory changes and recommend solutions to ensure process alignment from an external and internal perspective.
  • Vendor Management: Identify service providers to complete outsourced work and advice, negotiate the cost and scope of services to maximise spend, and ensure efficient deployment.
  • Stakeholder Relations: Partner and build relationships with consulates, embassies, industry bodies, and governments, define/contribute to the POV, present a business case, and utilise leadership to create understanding of the business model and drive relevant change.
  • Knowledge Management: Create and update knowledge repositories and process maps with clear accountabilities and decision points.
  • Team Development: Build team knowledge to enhance efficiency and innovation.

7. Immigration Specialist Details and Accountabilities

  • Counsel Coordination: Work with outside immigration counsel to ensure full compliance with immigration laws.
  • Process Facilitation: Facilitate the immigration process, including non-immigrant (i.e., F-1, H1B, TN, L-I, O-1, and E3 visas) and immigrant petitions (permanent residence sponsorship) as it relates to extensions, amendments, transfers, and terminations.
  • Regulation Education: Educate hiring managers and employees about the Department of Homeland Security, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Labor, and Department of State regulations.
  • Guideline Advisory: Respond to all immigration questions, review issues and employee concerns, and provide counsel and education in regards to immigration guidelines, legal requirements, and procedures.
  • Document Processing: Create and process immigration processes and documents.
  • Report Compilation: Compile and write visa and immigration reports to ensure compliance with all federal and state laws and adaptation to changes in employment law.
  • Travel Advisory: Advise employees regarding restrictions for travel outside and general directions related to the visa process.
  • Credential Evaluation: Evaluate foreign national credentials and resolve immigration issues.
  • Policy Revision: Propose corporate immigration policy revisions and identify ways to streamline and standardize immigration processes.
  • Expiration Management: Manage visa expiration dates for all foreign nationals and file cases promptly.
  • Process Updates: Provide updates to HR Business Partners, management, recruiters, and employees about the visa processes and costs associated with these processes.
  • Policy Monitoring: Maintain knowledge of changes in immigration policies/regulations and communicate to stakeholders promptly.
  • Invoice Tracking: Review and track vendor invoices and payments relating to immigration.
  • Compliance Support: Assist the human resources team on other compliance projects.

8. Immigration Specialist Tasks

  • Process Implementation: Implement immigration processes within the organization.
  • Issue Resolution: Escalate immigration issues and work directly with employees, candidates, and legal advisors to resolve immigration issues effectively.
  • Timeline Management: Manage timelines for new applications and extension cases.
  • Status Communication: Act as the main point of contact for all candidate and employee questions regarding immigration status.
  • Charge Approval: Review and approve charges.
  • Document Provision: Provide the necessary immigration documents for candidates.
  • Employee Engagement: Work closely with the Head of HR to create an engaging experience for all employees.
  • Process Evaluation: Evaluate HR processes for any gaps in compliance or policy conflicts.

9. Immigration Specialist Roles

  • Petition Preparation: Prepare non-immigrant and immigrant petitions for employees and their dependents.
  • Document Collection: Gather documentation for assigned cases.
  • File Completion: Complete public access files for assigned non-immigrant petitions.
  • Form Preparation: Complete immigration forms and letters for assigned cases.
  • Case Assistance: Assist with case intake, analysis, troubleshooting, and establishing case strategy.
  • Evidence Response: Research and assist with the preparation of responses to Requests for Evidence.
  • Document Stamping: Assist employees with stamping documents.
  • Strategy Participation: Participate in case strategy meetings.
  • Case Intake: Perform intake of cases once assigned.
  • Deadline Monitoring: Monitor deadlines and progress of individual cases.
  • Data Entry: Data entry, including detailed tracking into the case management system.
  • Mail Processing: Serve as backup for the processing of mail received from USCIS.
  • I-9 Support: Serve as backup for the I-9 process for new hires and reverifications for existing employees.
  • Status Communication: Communicate regularly with employees regarding their case status.
  • Procedure Learning: Learn procedural and processing requirements for non-immigrant and immigrant visa petitions and applications, and develop knowledge of the company and its processing.
  • Compliance Understanding: Understand I-9, site visit, and related compliance issues.
  • Effective Communication: Communicate effectively in writing and verbally for the needs of the audience (clients, governmental agencies, internal and external resources).
  • Inquiry Response: Respond promptly to visa and immigration inquiries.
  • Record Maintenance: Create and accurately maintain documents and files related to PERM (Immigrant Visas) filings and other immigration matters.
  • Residence Initiation: Initiate permanent residence cases.
  • PERM Assistance: Answer PERM-related questions from employees.

10. Immigration Specialist Additional Details

  • Visa Advisory: Advise department administrators, principal investigators, students, employees, and medical residents on policies and procedures related to non-immigrant visas.
  • Case Management: Provide beginning-to-end case management for obtaining and maintaining J-1, F-1, TN, E3, or H1B visa status and work authorization for students, scholars, physicians, and their dependents.
  • Guideline Compliance: Ensure adherence to immigration guidelines for the processing of non-immigrant visas.
  • Agency Liaison: Serve as liaison with government agencies such as the Department of State, Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Department of Labor, and Embassies/Consulates to facilitate the onboarding process, status maintenance and extensions, travel, or other issues related to international students, employees, and invited visitors.
  • Regulation Translation: Translate complicated immigration regulations into day-to-day execution and communication.
  • Policy Support: Provide support to the Director in the development of internal policies and procedures related to the international population.
  • Issue Advisory: Advise the 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.
  • Data Management: Be responsible for immigration-related data management and numerous internal reports to various departments to ensure proper dissemination of immigration-related information.
  • Activity Organization: Organize and attend cultural activities for applicable international employees and visitors to satisfy the U.S. Department of State J1 Exchange Visitor requirements.
  • Tax Support: Provide backup support for international tax reports using Glacier Online Tax software.
  • Seminar Delivery: Organize and present monthly seminars to the international community concerning current immigration topics or manage the UMass Immigration Newsletter.
  • Law Monitoring: Attend meetings of the Region XI Association of International Educators (NAFSA), Worcester’s 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.

11. Immigration Specialist Essential Functions

  • Law Monitoring: Keep up to date with alterations to immigration laws.
  • Client Assessment: Meet with prospective and existing clients to gauge which services they require.
  • Document Provision: Provide clients with all pertinent documents.
  • Paperwork Assistance: Assist clients with the completion of paperwork and ensure that it is submitted on time.
  • Document Verification: Verify the authenticity of paperwork and supporting documents.
  • File Management: Perform general filing of client documents and file retrieval.
  • Documentation Support: Work with the team to identify and complete work permit, residency, visa, and immigration-related documentation.
  • System Updating: Update and maintain internal company information systems with changes in immigration actions according to immigration department guidelines, maintain visa tracking reports, and provide regular updates on the status of deliverables.
  • Progress Reporting: Keep the team informed of progress and work to identify immigration-related solutions.
  • Expert Guidance: Provide comprehensive, expert guidance to attorneys and staff on all immigration matters throughout every stage of the process, and provide consultation and guidance to pre-offer candidates.
  • Regulation Compliance: Ensure compliance with all applicable rules and regulations.

12. Immigration Specialist Role Purpose

  • Immigration Services: Maintain current knowledge of and provide immigration services to qualifying clients by the code of conduct, the organization's mission statement, and accreditation standards.
  • Law Knowledge: Maintain current knowledge of immigration law developments.
  • Client Interviews: Conduct client interviews and provide case assessments of aliens' immigration situations.
  • Client Advisory: Advise clients regarding their immigration situation and available options.
  • Form Preparation: Assist with the preparation and documentation of immigration forms.
  • Correspondence Review: Review immigration-related correspondence with clients.
  • Legal Research: Conduct legal research and prepare briefs and legal documents.
  • Status Inquiry: Inquire at the local and national immigration office about application status.
  • Attorney Referral: Assist clients in finding pro-bono or low-cost attorneys, and make appropriate referrals for other immigration matters.
  • Referral Coordination: Coordinate and receive referrals from all accredited agencies throughout the State of Michigan.

13. Immigration Specialist General Responsibilities

  • Client Communication: Extensive client contacts by phone and e-mail regarding the details of cases and responding to complex client questions.
  • Case Screening: Independently screen cases during intake calls for complications or potential future issues.
  • Case Preparation: Prepare visa cases from beginning to end, including determining required documentation and working with the client to identify, obtain, and revise documents.
  • Residency Knowledge: Understand the permanent residency process, including the PERM Labor Certification recruitment process, prevailing wage submission process, PERM Audit process, the I-140 Petition, and the I-485 AOS Application.
  • Letter Drafting: Independently draft and determine strategy for visa support letters, affidavits, and 15–20-page factual and legal argument responses to Requests for Evidence (RFEs).
  • Legal Research: Perform immigration and legal research to assist the attorney in responding to client questions.
  • Process Training: Lead trainings on immigration processes and guide junior team members.
  • Case Flow: Help manage NIV or PERM case flow to ensure timely completion of submissions.
  • Submission Review: Review immigrant and nonimmigrant visa submissions.
  • Process Improvement: Assist in creating process efficiencies, such as interfacing to streamline automated drafting of support letters.
  • Attorney Coverage: Assist Lead Immigration Specialist with covering for attorney during out-of-office time, including answering e-mails, intaking new cases, handling urgent issues, and other complex responsibilities.
  • File Management: Copy petitions/applications, scan documents, and put them on the N drive, file organization, LawLogix input.
  • Status Calls: Independently hold monthly client case status calls for immigration practice clients and communicate updates to the team.
  • Process Updating: Update client processes and internal immigration information.
  • Marketing Support: Prepare marketing materials beforehand, offer input during meetings, and follow up with clients after meetings.
  • Priority Management: Create and maintain the current list of marketing priorities, and assist with marketing strategies.
  • Issue Assistance: Assist with questions and complex issues.

14. Immigration Specialist Key Accountabilities

  • Documentation Preparation: Prepare documentation for visa applications.
  • Case Collaboration: Work with the Senior Agent on application and case requirements and management.
  • Application Drafting: Complete online application drafting of lodgements.
  • Case Support: Assist in case management and file management.
  • Client Support: Provide client service support.
  • Administrative Assistance: Provide general administrative assistance.
  • CRM Management: Manage the Teams CRM and case management system.
  • Deadline Management: Work with tight deadlines and multitasking.
  • Customer Assistance: Assist in general administration and customer enquiries.
  • Manager Support: Assist the Manager with all other tasks.

15. Immigration Specialist Roles and Details

  • Administrative Duties: Perform administrative duties such as answering phones, replying to emails, handling mail, and performing other jobs critical to office operations.
  • Document Management: Maintain paperwork/contracts and organize clients' documents.
  • Contract Preparation: Create and share contracts/agreements, paying very close attention to detail.
  • Appointment Scheduling: Schedule and confirm appointments and meetings of senior management.
  • Client Response: Respond to prospective clients and follow up with them.
  • Lead Generation: Generate prospective clients and turn them into opportunities for sales.
  • Client Greeting: Meet and greet with clients/prospective clients.
  • Price Negotiation: Negotiate prices with potential clients and close sales.
  • Relationship Building: Build long-term relationships with new and existing clients.
  • Paperwork Preparation: Prepare client paperwork/complete draft forms for review by the Immigration team.
  • Calendar Management: Manage the calendar of senior management.
  • Payment Assistance: Send out invoices/receipts and assist clients in making payments.
  • Sales Administration: Ensure all administration relating to sales is completed effectively.
  • File Organization: Maintain and organize files, work areas, and office equipment.
  • Information Flow: Professionally direct the flow of information and traffic in the office, including phone calls, appointments, and inquiries.
  • Supply Management: Regularly check and order all supplies to maintain office efficiency (some items to be ordered only with the supervisor’s consent).
  • Report Coordination: Coordinate/create special reports and projects as assigned by the Senior Management.
  • SOP Compliance: Adhere to the SOPs as provided by Senior Management.
  • Report Creation: Make reports on Microsoft Excel and/or other CRM software.
  • Daily Reporting: Report daily to the supervisor.

16. Immigration Specialist Responsibilities and Key Tasks

  • Process Management: Run the legalization of work and stay processes for foreigners employed by the company and their family members.
  • Statement Acquisition: Obtain statements on entrusting work to foreigners.
  • Document Submission: Collect all required documents and submit applications for a temporary residence permit, permanent residence permit, EU long-term residence permit, and Polish citizenship.
  • Legal Representation: Act as the applicant’s attorney during these procedures.
  • Administrative Support: Support foreigners in administrative duties related to their stay in Poland.
  • Number Acquisition: Obtain a PESEL number.
  • Insurance Arrangement: Sign a voluntary health insurance contract.
  • Document Replacement: Replace residency-related documents.
  • EU Legalization: Collect documents and submit applications for legalization of stay of EU citizens (registration of stay, permanent residence) and their family members (residence card, permanent residence card).
  • Database Updating: Update employment and payroll databases to ensure that the company’s employees stay in Poland legally and perform work without interruptions.
  • Group Processing: Run the legalization of stay and work processes for other companies in the CD PROJEKT Group.

17. Immigration Specialist Duties and Roles

  • Query Management: Manage queries from transferring employees (responding to employees directly, forwarding to vendors, or escalating queries).
  • Partner Liaison: Interface with Business Partners and others within HCM on moves, immigration questions, etc.
  • Cost Estimation: Request, review, and issue relocation cost estimates to the business under supervision.
  • Exception Handling: Handle exception requests under supervision.
  • Vendor Coordination: Interface with vendors providing a range of services.
  • Documentation Management: Be responsible for issuing and tracking expatriate documentation on a regional basis, including assignment memos, repatriation documentation, localization memos, transfer and departure documentation.
  • Verification Preparation: Prepare employment verification documentation for transferring employees on a regional basis.
  • Data Integrity: Be responsible for data integrity for assignee records.
  • Record Uploading: Upload relevant documentation to records, e.g., managing lease information, uploading transfer letters, and expatriate documentation.
  • Assignment Coordination: Work with assignment managers on the initiation and communication of certain relocation policy types.
  • Reporting Support: Provide support with both regular and ad-hoc reporting requirements.
  • Expiry Coordination: Be responsible for the coordination of immigration expiry report updates and coordination with vendors.
  • Data Validation: Perform data validation on immigration support documentation, and be responsible for obtaining signatures, issuing, and, in some circumstances, drafting documentation.
  • Calculation Entry: Interface with assignment managers on data entry for various assignment calculations.
  • Project Involvement: Be involved in ad hoc regional projects.

18. Immigration Specialist Roles and Responsibilities

  • Process Development: Build durable, sustainable, and flexible processes that produce positive and reliable results for a high-volume US immigration program all year long.
  • Process Optimization: Continually identify areas of redundancy or no-value add to ensure process, procedure, and staffing optimization.
  • Health Tracking: Create tracking mechanisms and other dashboards that measure the overall health of the program, such as cycle times, user experience, high-risk candidate tracking, and trends.
  • Communication Strategy: Create a communication strategy to provide regular updates to employees and stakeholders both verbally and in writing throughout the process.
  • Problem Management: Work with other team members and immigration service providers to manage complex problems and make programmatic decisions in the process, with a focus on seamless immigration support delivery to ensure optimal employee and stakeholder experience.
  • Resource Oversight: Oversee the creation of self-help resources to inform Amazonians and candidates about the process.
  • Procedure Review: Review immigration procedures on the legal status of foreign employees.
  • Change Implementation: Support the team members in implementing the immigration changes to the process.
  • Team Collaboration: Collaborate with the immigration legal team.
  • Regulation Communication: Regularly communicate with in-house counsel/attorney to understand the immigration requirement changes in acts/regulatory requirements, update the SOP document accordingly, and communicate the requirements to the business on a need basis.
  • Visa Tracking: Update and track visa status for all the assignees whose cases are allocated for work.
  • Case Updating: Update the case status in the immigration tool as per the process.
  • Status Reporting: Provide status updates to employees and business managers at frequent intervals.

19. Immigration Specialist Accountabilities

  • Visa Coordination: Prepare and coordinate the nonimmigrant visa process from initiation to adjudication.
  • Document Review: Gather and review immigration eligibility documents for potential and current immigration cases, including green card cases in the EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 preference categories, and H-1B, L-1A, L-1B, TN, etc., and provide guidance.
  • Green Card: Work closely with external immigration counsel to prepare employment-based green cards and ensure timely processing.
  • Case Monitoring: Proactively monitor the progress of immigration and relocation cases and regularly communicate status updates with the appropriate stakeholders.
  • Lottery Coordination: Coordinate and monitor the H-1B lottery each year.
  • Project Support: Provide backup support in other miscellaneous projects and tasks related to immigration and relocation programs.
  • Relocation Support: Provide immigration coordination and support services for relocating employees and families of clients.
  • Compliance Oversight: Ensure compliance and remain proactive in the management and oversight of the international assignment or domestic transfer of each employee until the assignment or case is complete.
  • Timeline Management: Proactively manage case timelines to meet intended start dates.
  • Partner Oversight: Provide oversight and management of immigration partners.
  • Case Management: Manage daily cases, including regular and timely follow-ups on outstanding matters and logging of case milestones.
  • Query Execution: Execute on immigration queries, which include candidate and existing team member queries.
  • Data Management: Input data into various internal systems and assist with audits to verify the accuracy of data and resolve data discrepancies.
  • Process Consultation: Consult with internal legal counsel on the development and maintenance of process documentation.

20. Immigration Specialist Essential Functions

  • Strategy Development: Develop the employee immigration strategy with support from Level 4.
  • Regulation Knowledge: Maintain understanding of Polish immigration regulations.
  • Government Engagement: Engage with government officials and external organisations on behalf of the Firm.
  • Manager Support: Support the Immigration Manager to oversee the team’s workload and provide technical immigration support.
  • Expertise Development: Develop professional expertise through on-the-job and formal training, and develop networking and contacts within immigration.
  • Case Escalation: Ensure all queries and complaints are dealt with promptly, and be the point of contact for any escalated cases.
  • Process Review: Continuously review systems, procedures, and practices to identify shortcomings and recommend best practice solutions to increase efficiency and performance.
  • Case Filing: File and execute immigration cases, coordinating between recruitment, onboarding, and other HR stakeholders, and government authorities.
  • Employee Strategy: Formulate and execute the best possible immigration strategy for each employee.
  • Caseload Management: Manage a high caseload of applications, typically 45 of mixed application types from new, renewal, cancellation, and amendment of work permit and residency visas, each filing including sub-applications related to work permit, entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID, and residency visa stamping for each applicant.
  • Team Coordination: Coordinate with other specialized members of the team for drafting and submission, payment of government fees, and collection of documents/approval notices.
  • Communication Management: Manage a high volume of communications with the employee and several internal groups while meeting the team's response SLA within a single business day or sooner, depending on the case timeline.