Sr. Intl. Scholar Advisor

Position Summary

ISSO-CUIMC is a constituent team of the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) at Columbia University, and as such is the primary office responsible for international students and scholars at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center. ISSO-CUIMC ensures federal immigration compliance and provides immigration-related services to its non-immigrant international students, scholars & faculty at CUIMC. Technology infrastructure is critical to the federal compliance functions of ISSO-CUIMC, especially as this relates to the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) which ISSO-CUIMC manages and maintains on behalf of CUIMC. ISSO-CUIMC currently serves all CUIMC international students (including students on OPT and STEM OPT) and international faculty members and research scholars; administers post-admission services to international students; and administers the ever-increasingly complex array of government regulations supporting the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s SEVIS system. ISSO-CUIMC manages the collection and entry of information into SEVIS for tracking foreign national students and scholars. ISSO-CUIMC is a resource for all non-immigrant visa holders at the CUIMC campus.

Under the supervision of the Assistant Director, the Senior International Scholar Adviser delivers immigration services to the international scholar community at CUIMC. Specifically, the incumbent advises on opportunities, rights, and responsibilities under the immigration laws of the United States, and confers with other CUIMC departments, legal counsel, or governmental agencies as necessary; advises international scholars on all immigration matters related to their presence at CUIMC; acts as Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) in issuing required US government documents to international scholars and their dependents in order to obtain exchange visitor visas abroad, extend stay, travel abroad, and re-enter the US successfully; collaborates with staff, departments and outside organizations (including vendors) to plan and coordinate collaborative events as needed; engages in programming for our international community. Additional duties as assigned by the Assistant Director or Interim Director, ISSO-CUIMC.

Responsibilities

• Works with the Assistant Director in the day-to-day operations of the ISSO-CUIMC related to the international J-1 scholar population.
• The Senior International Scholar Adviser acts as appropriate to issue required US government documents for international J-1 scholars and their J-2 dependents to obtain exchange visitor visas, extend their stay, travel abroad, re-enter the US, and other benefits as appropriate; consults with SEVIS Help Desk and US Custom & Immigration Services to resolve processing or status problems.
• The incumbent will act as Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) in issuing required US government documents for international scholars to obtain the J-1 entry visa; and consult with the Assistant Director on current federal regulations, policies, the Code of Federal Regulations, secondary references, and more complex immigration cases.
• The International Scholar Adviser advises and provides guidance to J-1 scholars related to their opportunities, rights, and responsibilities on immigration regulations and university policies, including maintaining their legal status, extensions of stay, travel, and transfers; serve as a University liaison and works directly with the State Department, US Department of Homeland Security, Consular Officers, and immigration officials on matters relating to non-immigrant scholars as needed.
• Assistance with Sunapsis related projects.
• Assists in programming for our international community.
• Assists with J-1 student matters.
• The Senior International Scholar Adviser assists in creating applications, forms and other types of communication materials related to various immigration procedures, and helps in streamlining and improving ISSO-CUIMC processes and services.
• Maintains and enhances in-depth knowledge of US immigration and departmental policies as they affect international scholars; evaluates complex regulations and applies them to individual cases; presents at various CUIMC-specific orientations and immigration workshops, on topics such as travel and maintaining status; refers scholars to the appropriate campus and community resources as needed; responds to general and specific questions, inquiries, and correspondence from incoming and current international scholars and their academic departments.
• Acts as a liaison to CUIMC departments to inform administrative staff of regulatory and office policy updates.
• The incumbent complies with federal SEVIS reporting and record keeping requirements including address updates; ensures regulatory information is up-to-date on the ISSO website; cultivates a professional presence within CUIMC and in the field through local and national partnerships and associations; and participates in regional and national international education conferences and meetings.
• Assists in the filing and advisement of H-1B petitions and other employment-based petitions. Assists with H-1B related tasks and workshops.
• The Senior International Scholar Adviser performs related duties and responsibilities as assigned/requested.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in related experience required and 3 years of related work experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of J-1 scholar immigration regulations, and SEVIS; ability to communicate effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds; excellent organizational, interpersonal, and written and oral communication skills.
• U.S. government regulations require Designated School Officials and Alternate Responsible Officers be U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent Residents.

Other Requirements

• Master's degree in cross-cultural communication, counseling, area or cultural studies, foreign language, international education, or TESOL.
• 4 years administering and advising federal F-1 and J-1 immigration regulations as (DSO/ARO) in a higher education setting.
• Experience teaching/training/presenting.
• Experience using the Sunapsis International Office database.
• Fluency in at least one foreign language; experience living abroad. Completion of NAFSA F-1 and J-1 Professional Development Programs.