Job Description

General Description

The Immigration Specialist reports directly to the Assistant Director of Human Resources, Personnel Services, with a dotted reporting line to the Associate Director of HR, Employment Services. This position serves as the subject matter expert on immigration-related employment matters for the Research Foundation of CUNY (RFCUNY). The incumbent acts as a liaison to internal HR units and external immigration counsel retained by RFCUNY, as well as attorneys representing employees.

The Immigration Specialist is also responsible for providing consultative support on employment-related immigration issues for a variety of visa classifications, including but not limited to H-1B, TN, E-3, O-1, F-1 (OPT/STEM), J-1, and EAD categories. The individual will also support general HR compliance initiatives, personnel services functions, and special projects as assigned.

Other Duties

Prepare, manage, and coordinate all employment-based non-immigrant petitions including H-1B, TN, E-3, O-1.
Prepare, manage and coordinate all employment-based immigrant visa petitions including EB-1, EB-2, NIW and PERM processes
Assist Principal Investigators (PIs) and Project Directors (PDs) in understanding immigration processes and applicable fees.
Evaluate whether a position qualifies under USCIS regulations (e.g., H-1B specialty occupation criteria).
Provide proactive guidance to PIs/PDs and employees for preparing new and renewal petitions, ensuring timely submission of documentation.
Respond to USCIS Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and initial screening requests in collaboration with external counsel.
Advice on all employment-based immigration inquiries including petition statuses, visa renewals, and regulatory updates.
Support first-time international hires with guidance on visa stamping procedures for employees and dependents (H-4, E-3D, TD).
Provide onboarding guidance related to work authorization, Social Security application, and temporary residence procedures.
Post and monitor Labor Condition Application (LCA) notices in compliance with DOL regulations.
Maintain required Public Access Files (PAFs) and ensure compliance with Department of Labor and USCIS audit standards.
Collaborate with external immigration counsel on all immigration related matters, to include, but not limited to appeals, revocations, and permanent residency (green card) applications.
Track visa and EAD expiration dates, proactively notify stakeholders, and facilitate next steps for continued employment authorization.
Oversee H-1B terminations and ensure revocation letters are submitted to USCIS in a timely manner.
Ensure prevailing wage tracking and LCA compliance are maintained throughout the employment lifecycle.
Advice on I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification processes and E-Verify compliance requirements.
Coordinate invoice processing for immigration legal services with Procurement and Payables, ensuring proper billing to project accounts.
Remain current on federal and state immigration regulations and best practices; apply updates as needed.
Participate in HR initiatives and ad hoc projects as required.
Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required; significant experience in employment-based immigration strongly preferred.
Minimum of three (3) years of experience working on employment-based immigration matters, preferably within HR or legal services.
Strong knowledge of U.S. employment-based immigration laws and processes.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to interact effectively with legal counsel, federal agencies, and internal stakeholders.
High attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
Capable of handling confidential matters with discretion and sound judgment.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

RFCUNY Benefits

RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals

About the Research Foundation

The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) is a nonprofit educational corporation founded in 1963 to provide post-award fiscal and administrative support for CUNY’s research and sponsored programs. RFCUNY’s services allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries, on projects and programs that serve our local and global communities, proposing concrete solutions to society’s most pressing challenges.

RFCUNY serves as a fiscal agent and works closely with all the CUNY campus Grants Offices to perform the core functions of post-award financial management for CUNY research projects and sponsored programs. These functions include legal assessment and signing of agreements where RFCUNY is named as a fiscal agent; setting up award accounts; preparing sub-awards and assisting PIs in monitoring the work of the recipients of sub-awards; supporting project directors with hiring and managing research project and sponsored program staff; supporting the purchasing and paying for goods and services with grant and program funds; managing financial aspects of projects including accounts receivable, financial reporting, invoicing, budget monitoring, and cost compliance with uniform guidance; ensuring that sponsor financial requirements are met; monitoring compliance with applicable project and financial management rules and laws; supporting the management of independent and external audits and financial reviews; and providing data, information, management expertise, and other supports to CUNY’s research and sponsored programs.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Research Foundation of The City University of New York

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Immigration Specialist