Jesica Gandhi

In April 2024, I moved to the United States on a TD visa, which is designated for dependents of TN visa holders. In the same month, I discovered I was expecting a second child, who was born in February 2025. I am currently seeking remote or hybrid employment opportunities to re-enter the workforce after an extended break. Furthermore, I am actively preparing for the bar examinations in both New York and Ontario.

During my career break, I obtained certification in the specialization of immigration law from the Washington Online Learning Institute. I am now eligible to sit for the Ontario Bar Examination after successfully completing the requisite National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) examination. Currently, I am preparing for both the New York and Ontario Bar Examinations.

- Engaged with clients, government officials, and various stakeholders to obtain relevant information and updates concerning immigration cases.
- Scheduled appointments and prepared clients for interviews with immigration authorities to ensure they were adequately informed and equipped.
- Maintained accurate and detailed records of client cases, while ensuring the confidentiality of sensitive information was strictly upheld.
- Provided comprehensive administrative support, which included managing emails, addressing phone inquiries, and organizing files in a systematic manner.
- Assisted with additional tasks as required by the organization, including marketing strategies and business development activities.
- Coordinated with foreign national candidates and hiring managers to facilitate the acquisition of visas, work permits, and residency status documentation.

In December 2019, I relocated to Canada due to complications with my visa. Earlier that year, I traveled to India for a ring ceremony and subsequently enrolled in the National Committee on Accreditation, a prerequisite for the Canadian bar exam. In January 2020, I returned to India for a wedding ceremony. During the same year, the onset of COVID-19 led me to suspend the hiring process in March.

In September and October of 2021, I learned of my first pregnancy, and in December 2021, I contracted COVID-19. I gave birth to a daughter in July 2022, following which I took a maternity leave to focus on my health and the care of my newborn.

The daily responsibilities of an immigration paralegal are predominantly centered on managing documentation and facilitating communication with clients. The following outlines specific duties associated with this role:

- Conducting initial client interviews to assess their needs and providing case status updates to attorneys.
- Acquiring the required documents and assisting clients in their comprehension.
- Translating the attorney's processes and requirements into understandable terms for clients.
- Researching eligibility criteria for asylum and refugee status.
- Assisting clients with U visa applications.
- Organizing and maintaining client files in both digital and physical formats.
- Providing clients with updates regarding their case progress and elucidating subsequent steps.
- Preparing and submitting necessary legal paperwork.

Draft petitions, pleadings, client letters, marital agreements, and all associated forms.

• Manage family law matters at any one time.
• Drafted simple and complex petitions for divorce and parenting plans.

Assisted in the drafting and negotiation of contracts resulting in the successful closure of multiple transactions.

Advised clients on property development and land use matters, resulting in successful project approvals.

Provided legal support for leasing transactions, resulting in increased client satisfaction and retention