Description
The International Rescue Committee's Resettlement office in Atlanta provides its clients with assistance in filing immigration applications, which will allow refugees and newly-approved asylees to travel, become permanent residents and then citizens of the United States.
Responsibilities:
- Conduct comprehensive intake and needs assessments
- Assist clients to complete applications for various immigration benefits (I-131, I-485, I-765, N-400, I-134) and prepare these for review by the Community Integration Manager, and/or Senior Legal Representative
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date files and detailed case notes on Immigration services to clients, enter required data in a timely manner into databases, and meet all case reporting requirements within established deadlines and standards for final review by a legal staff
- Make service requests and refer case follow ups to caseworkers for complicated cases
- Prepare responses for I-485 RFEs
- Assist clients in drafting responses on missed USCIS interviews or those who need rescheduling
- Assist clients in making NVC payments
- Conduct file reviews monthly and address any matters with the Managing Attorney
- Assist legal staff in making copies and creating new files
- Assist in Citizenship Workshops
- Complete change of address forms with CIS
- Help maintain the filing system for immigration petitions filed with IRC in Atlanta
- Submit intern hours on volunteer dashboard
- Other duties as needed and assigned by immigration legal staff
Learning Objectives:
- Develop an enhanced professional skill set, interact with other interns, clients and supervisors remotely and contribute to projects while in the comfort of their own space
- Learn data collection and data management methods for program development and reporting
- Gain knowledge of USCIS administrative procedures by processing receipts and correspondence from USCIS
- Have hands-on experience in filling out applications
- Gain knowledge of the types of immigration benefits available to refugees and asylees and the steps involved in applying for these benefits
- Apply academic learning to real-world projects and assignments
- Develop workplace skills and acquire specific experience needed to pursue professional goals
Qualifications:
- Prefer students or recent graduates with interest and experience with USCIS forms
- Must have reliable work hours and able to commit 3 days a week (9-5)
- Able to work independently and under pressure with multiple tasks and competing deadlines
- The ideal candidates are independent, detail-oriented, and highly organized
- Attention to detail and procedure
- Work or volunteer experience with foreign populations, especially African or Middle and Near Eastern
- Bilingual in client languages including Spanish, Arabic, Farsi, or French is beneficial, but not required
- Computer literacy, preferably with PC systems
- Knowledge of immigration forms beneficial, but not required
- Applicants must be open to evolving responsibilities
Requirements:
- Must submit intern hours on volunteer portal
- Must pass a background check
- Commitment of 15 hours per week for a minimum of 3 consecutive months
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must be authorized to work in the United States