HELEN S. SINGSON

• Manage the company's global immigration program, ensuring compliance with immigration laws and regulations.
• Partner with stakeholders on employment based immigration applications with particular focus in the following countries: U.S., U.K, Australia, and Switzerland.
• Serve as the primary contact for all immigration inquiries related to foreign national employees globally (U.S., U.K. Australia, Switzerland, Canada, Singapore, India, Kosovo, and Israel.
• Provide expert guidance to Talent Team and HR business partners on immigration issues.
• Develop and maintain annual immigration budget while monitoring ongoing changes in immigration policies.
• Provide I-9 and e-Verify guidance to HR Operations team.

KEY PROJECTS

• Developed and implemented Remote Work policy and process for short term remote work requests outside of country of employment in partnership with various stakeholders.
• Conducted RFP on immigration providers leading to a change in immigration counsel that reduced the number of different vendors to one central provider and negotiated costs that saved the company thousands of dollars.
• Developed global immigration policy inclusive of best practices and standards.
• Created an annual immigration budget and forecast that was not previously done for the organization.
• Vetted and brought on an I-9 and e-Verify provider (Mitratech).
• Led Form I-9 audit and subsequent updates (based on new rules) for Form I-9s completed under temporary COVID-19 I-9 rules.

• Managed immigration programs for U.S. and Canada, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations.
• Collaborated with stakeholders on U.S. visa petitions for foreign national employees.
• Served as primary contact for immigration inquiries, focusing on employee hiring and transfers.
• Oversaw administration of immigration matters including H-1B, L-1A, and PERM processes.
• Provided guidance to 13 HR business partners on immigration-related issues.
• Developed annual immigration budget, adapting to policy changes.
• Conducted internal audits of Form I-9 compliance, delivering training sessions.
• Coordinated inbound relocations to U.S. with employees, HR teams, and vendors.

• Managed the company’s U.S. and global immigration matters. Worked closely with all stakeholders to coordinate and administer various U.S. nonimmigrant and immigrant petitions and applications. Provided guidance on immigration processes for HR team members, senior leadership, and employees. Ensured the company’s compliance with immigration laws and regulations.
• Oversaw the maintenance, administration and initiation of all U.S. immigration matters (H-1B, L-1A, L-1B, TN, STEM OPT, PERM (EB-2 and EB-3), EB-1C, I-140, and AOS), working closely with the business and external counsel.
• Served as the main point of contact for all immigration/visa related inquiries for existing U.S. cases as well as new U.S. inbound matters, and Americas’ employees outbound visas to Mexico, Canada, EMEA, and APAC.
• Developed and maintained the annual immigration budget by identifying upcoming cases and projections based on prior year’s activities.
• Kept abreast of critical changes in immigration and informed the company through employee-wide communications as well as provided quarterly updates to the HR leadership team.
• Researched vendors to partner with on the development and implementation of global mobility and relocation policies and practices for the company.
• Drafted policy framework on short-term assignments for employees in the Americas.
• Trained HR team members on U.S. immigration processes and considerations.
• Ensured compliance with immigration rules and regulations including creating and maintaining H-1B Public Access Files, I-9s, and E-Verify.
• Conducted internal I-9 audits and developed an I-9 compliance program.
• Internally tracked important case actions/updates for all immigration cases by developing internal processes and reports.
• Supported off-boarding and termination processes by creating termination and/or separation documentation as well as updating the Oracle HRIS database.
• Key Projects/highlights
• Developed a training session via WebEx for U.S. hiring managers, called “U.S. Immigration Overview”, which discussed common U.S. employment based visa categories at OpenLink, common scenarios that have occurred at OpenLink regarding immigration sponsorship, as well as things to consider as a manager with respect to the immigration process (for work visas and green card sponsorship). The training was located on the company’s Learning Portal.
• Created and implemented a green card sponsorship policy and repayment agreement.
• Enrolled the company in the E-Verify program and oversaw its administration.
• Partnered with outside counsel on organizing two events at the company for administrative staff and another for nonimmigrant visa employees and their managers for what to expect during a possible government site visit.
• Developed internal Immigration Overview packet and FAQ sheet for training and educating hiring managers on U.S. nonimmigrant and immigrant visa categories and processes.
• Created U.S. and global immigration policy for the company’s employee handbook.

• Provided business immigration and legal writing services to immigration law firms, including drafting of nonimmigrant (such as O-1, E-2) and immigrant (EB-1) petition support letters, handling case preparation, and corresponding with foreign national beneficiaries/employees. Virtual clients included: The Margolis Law Firm and Cammisa Markel PLLC.

• Facilitated global mobility by providing comprehensive immigration services and solutions to clients including a leading multinational corporation and its businesses specializing in energy, technology, infrastructure, and capital finance as well as a prominent global business process management company that provides cutting-edge technology services and business process consulting. Worked closely with our clients’ Human Resources professionals and offshore and onshore management to obtain U.S. immigration benefits for foreign national employees. Ensured legal compliance and the successful transfer of our clients’ global workforce.
• Nonimmigrant Visa Administration: Successfully prepared non-immigrant visa petitions and applications in the L-1A, L-1B, TN, O-1, J-1, and H-1B categories. Compiled and analyzed supporting documentation, prepared requisite forms, and drafted customized support letters.
• Immigrant Visa Petitions: Efficiently managed high-volume preparation and filing of I-140 immigrant visa petitions in the EB-1 category for Outstanding Researchers, Multinational Managers, and those with Extraordinary Ability in the Arts. Analyzed and collected supporting exhibits and drafted comprehensive support letters. Worked closely with foreign nationals in revising reference letters for Outstanding Researcher and Extraordinary Ability in the Arts cases. Most notably, contributed to the approval and success of more than 50 Outstanding Researcher cases.
• Request for Evidence (RFE) Responses: Managed and successfully responded to a high-volume of complex RFEs for L-1A, L-1B, H-1B, and I-140 petitions with a high approval rate.
• PERM: Meticulously prepared PERM labor certifications, DOL Audit responses, and conducted in-depth research on alternate wage surveys, which were successfully used and accepted by the DOL for Prevailing Wage Determinations.
• Adjustment of Status Applications: Prepared I-485, I-765, and I-131 forms for adjustment applications and compiled required documentation by working closely with foreign nationals.
• Legal Research: Authored memorandums focused on distinct immigration issues, including the consequences of CIMT convictions on immigration status (i.e., the ability to apply for permanent residency and naturalization).
• Client Relations: Actively participated in client meetings to discuss strategies and solutions for immigration matters. Provided exceptional customer service to foreign nationals and HR personnel throughout case preparation.
• Professional Practices: Participated in firm-wide training opportunities and monthly professional practices meetings for associates. Stayed abreast of the latest trends and issues affecting corporate immigration.

• Represented non-profit organizations, small businesses, and start-up businesses with incorporation status, tax- exempt status, and contracts. Guided clients in understanding employment and governance issues in collaboration with the clinic faculty team.
• Provided legal consultations and assistance to clients regarding the creation and maintenance of their Limited Liability Companies (LaGuardia Community College – Small Business Development Center).
• Created customized educational pamphlets for community organizers and small businesses on NYC Department of Consumer Affairs rules and laws (Make the Road New York - Small Business United).

• Effectively researched and reviewed discrimination complaints through a combination of meetings, interviews, and phone conferences with the complainant, respondent, and witnesses.

• Diligently managed the preparation and filing of non-immigrant visa petitions (H-1B, J-1, and O-1), employment (processed PERM applications and I-140 immigrant visa petitions), and family-based green card cases (I-130 Petition for Alien Relative and I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence).
• Worked with families in preparing Employment Authorization documents, travel documents, FOIA requests, I- 601 Waiver applications, and Naturalization applications.
• Assisted with comprehensive legal research and ensured the office docket was updated.
• Continually networked and marketed to potential clients, contacts, and colleagues.