- Job Type: Officer of Administration
- Bargaining Unit:
- Regular/Temporary: Regular
- End Date if Temporary:
- Hours Per Week: 35
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Position Summary The International Student Adviser delivers immigration services to the international student community at Columbia University. Specifically, the incumbent advises on opportunities, rights, and responsibilities under the immigration laws of the United States, and confers with other University departments, legal counsel, or governmental agencies as necessary; advises international students on all immigration matters related to their presence at Columbia University; acts as Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) in issuing required US government documents to international students in order to obtain student or exchange visitor visas abroad, extend stay, apply for employment authorization, travel abroad, and re-enter the US successfully; collaborates with staff, schools, departments and outside organizations (including vendors) to plan and coordinate collaborative events as needed.
Responsibilities The International Student Adviser (ISA) acts as appropriate to issue required US government documents for international students to obtain student or exchange visitor visas, extend the students' stay, apply for employment authorization, travel abroad, reenter 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 Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) in issuing required US government documents for international students to obtain appropriate F-1 or J-1 visas; and consult with the Associate Director on current federal regulations, policies, the Code of Federal Regulations, secondary references, and more complex immigration cases. The ISA advises and provides guidance to F-1 and J1 students related to their opportunities, rights, and responsibilities on immigration regulations and university policies, including maintaining their legal status, extensions of stay, travel, transfers, and off-campus employment; evaluates immigration documents and academic records to determine students' eligibility for off-campus employment (Curricular Practical Training, Pre/Post-Completion Optional Practical Training, and STEM extension of OPT, and Academic Training); prepares and issues all the necessary immigration documents needed for off-campus employment; 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 foreign students as needed. The International Student Adviser (ISA) assists in creating applications, forms and other types of communication materials related to various immigration procedures, and helps in streamlining and improving ISSO processes and services. The ISA makes recommendations for process improvements related to non-immigrant matters such as work authorization; maintains and enhances in-depth knowledge of US immigration and school policies as they affect international students; evaluates complex regulations and applies them to individual cases; presents at various school-specific orientations and immigration workshops, on topics such as travel, maintaining status and employment authorization; refers students to the appropriate campus and community resources as needed, including immigration attorneys, tax professionals, admissions officers, Student Health Services, housing, CUIT, banking, cell phones, Student Financial Services, and Career Center; responds to general and specific questions, inquiries, and correspondence from incoming and current international students and their academic departments in-person, in group settings, and via phone and emails. Acts as a liaison to assigned schools within the University 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 on campus and in the field through local and national partnerships and associations; and participates in regional and national international education conferences and meetings.
Minimum Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts, Management, Communications, or Education and/or equivalent experience.
Minimum 2 years relevant immigration regulation, advisement, and compliance experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. Knowledge of F-1 and J-1 student immigration regulations, and SEVIS; ability to communicate effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds; excellent organizational, interpersonal, and written and oral communication skills; strong computer literacy.
Preferred Qualifications Master's degree in cross-cultural communication, counseling, area or cultural studies, foreign language, international education, or TESOL. 3 years administering and advising federal F-1 and J-1 immigration regulations and (DSO/ARO) in a higher education setting. Experience teaching/training/presenting. Degree in JD or paralegal experiences. At least 2 years of experience in interpreting laws, rulings, and regulations. Fluency in at least one foreign language; experience living abroad; familiarity with Microsoft Office and Web-based applications. Completion of NAFSA F-1 and J-1 Professional Development Programs.
Other Requirements - NB: U.S. government regulations require that Designated School Officials and Alternate Responsible Officers be U.S. citizens or legal Permanent Residents.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents. |
