International Student And Scholar Adviser

• Job Type: Officer of Administration

• Regular/Temporary: Regular

• Hours Per Week: 35

• Salary Range: $70,000 - $75,000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

Under the supervision of the Senior Associate Director, the International Student and Scholar Adviser delivers immigration services to the international student 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 students on all immigration matters related to their presence at CUIMC; 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; engages in programming for our international community. Works with the ISSO Communications Team to ensure that the web presence of the ISSO website is kept up-to-date. Additional assignments as needed by the Senior Associate Director and/or the Director.

Responsibilities

• Works with the Senior Associate Director in the day-to-day operations of the ISSO-CUIMC related to the international student and scholar population. The International Student and Scholar Adviser 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, 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 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 Senior Associate Director on current federal regulations, policies, the Code of Federal Regulations, secondary references, and more complex immigration cases.

• Advises and provides guidance to F-1 and J-1 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. Assistance with Sunapsis related projects. Engages in programming for our international community.

• 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. 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 CUIMC-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, Health on Haven, 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.

• 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.

• Performs related duties and responsibilities as assigned/requested: Duties to include assistance to the Senior Associate Director and Director with H-1B petitions and J-1 student intern and scholar related tasks as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts, Management, Communications, or Education 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; experience as an international student adviser and Designated School Official and/or Alternate Responsible Officer in an international student/scholar office in college or university required; 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 as DSO/ARO in a higher education setting; experience with H-1B petitions, experience teaching/training/presenting; experience with Sunapsis and ServiceNow.

• Fluency in at least one foreign language; experience living abroad; familiarity with Microsoft Office. Completion of NAFSA F-1 and J-1 Professional Development Programs.

Other Requirements

• 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.