Immigration Specialist

RESPONSIBILITIES :

Maintain H1B petitions including annual H-1B lottery, extensions of current visas and transfer petitions for new employees.

Prepare in-house documents and petitions for other visas including but not limited to F-1, L1, and dependent visas (H4, L2 etc).

Have ability to lead immigration process from start to finish, working with non-immigrant & immigrant Visa applications and processes (H1-B, H-4, L-1, TN, and EB non-immigrant petitions, RFE, etc.), EAD renewals of employees and dependents.

Maintain Public Access Files ensuring compliance, documentation and execution of immigration policies and procedures.

Experience of handling FDNS site visits, PAF, DOL audits.

Consultation:

Assessing employee's eligibility for Intra-Company Transfers (ICT) and other work permits in Canada.

Providing initial consultations to clients regarding their options for bringing employees to Canada through ICT and other programs.

Intra-Company Transfers (ICT):

Managing the process of transferring employees from a foreign office to a Canadian office of the same company.

Advising employees on the requirements and documentation needed for ICT applications.

Assisting with the preparation and submission of ICT applications to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA):

Assisting in obtaining LMIA approval to hire foreign workers for positions where there are no qualified Canadian workers available.

Advising on the LMIA application process, including advertising requirements and application submission.

Assisting with the preparation and submission of LMIA applications to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

Work Permits:

Assisting clients in obtaining work permits for foreign workers in Canada, including open work permits and employer-specific ICT work permit.

Advising clients on the eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and application process for various types of work permits.

Document Preparation and Review:

Assisting employees in preparing and reviewing required immigration documents, including work permit applications, LMIA applications, and supporting documentation.

Ensuring that all required documents are accurately completed and submitted in a timely manner.

Case Management:

Managing multiple immigration cases simultaneously, particularly those related to ICT, LMIA, and work permits.

Keeping stakeholders informed about the progress of their applications and any changes in immigration laws or policies that may affect their case.

Legal Research:

Staying up-to-date with changes in Canadian immigration laws, policies, and procedures related to ICT, LMIA, and work permits.

Conducting legal research to support immigration cases in these specific areas.

Compliance:

Ensuring that all immigration activities comply with Canadian immigration laws and regulations, particularly those related to ICT, LMIA, and work permits.

Maintaining confidentiality and privacy of client information.

Administrative Tasks:

Maintaining accurate records of client interactions and case details, particularly those related to ICT, LMIA, and work permits.

Handling administrative tasks related to client files, such as organizing documents and correspondence.

Will perform ongoing maintenance and tracking of all visa and work permits in HRIS systems (preferably Lawlogix/SAP etc) to ensure proper renewal/amendment notifications.

Work closely with 3rd party attorneys, Company's HRBP's, recruitment teams and team managers on a regular basis to track and monitor progress of all applications, understand relevant action items, and keep parties informed of next steps and potential outcomes.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from accredited university or equivalent experience
• 1-3 years of U.S./Canada immigration experience, either within a law firm (such as a paralegal with responsibility for immigration petition preparation/filing) or in-house in an organization with a significant volume of immigration-supported employees or in a recruiting or HR role with heavy U.S. immigration involvement.
• Must demonstrate strong decision making and judgment, oral and written communication, business acumen.
• Proven expertise in MS Office package (MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint etc.)