JOSÉ FLEMING
Charlottesville,VA
Summary
Accomplished Senior Immigration Law Manager/Attorney with a proven track record of successfully managing complex immigration cases for healthcare institutions and small businesses. Expertise in H-1B, O-1, TN visas, and green card processing. Proven ability to build and lead high-performing immigration teams, ensuring compliance with USCIS and DOL regulations. Strategic partner in HR initiatives, driving process improvement, and fostering strong employee relations. Native Spanish Speaker.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Immigration Specialist
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authorization (VCUHSA)
Richmond, VA
01.2020 - Current
- Provide legal information regarding personnel practices, company procedures and employment laws
- Developed strong relationships with business partners to promote good employee relations across the organization
- Provide guidance to managers on appropriate disciplinary action regarding policy violations
- Strengthened relationships with functional departments, making HR a strategic partner in process development, staffing, and employee relations.
Legal Contractor
Charlottesville, Richmond, VA; Washington D.C.
06.2011 - 01.2020
- Ensured compliance with Department of Homeland Security and Department of Labor regulations on employee hiring/retention, immigration visa status documentation, and contract/labor agreement preparation/review.
- Contributed to contract settlements analysis, review, and finalization for individuals and businesses affected by BP oil spill.
- Contributed to the development of guidelines for PERM applicants in contrast to EB1A, EB1B, and NIW processes.
- Lexis Nexis co-supervised editorial production and projects in English and Spanish.
- Played a key role in assisting with the resolution of national and international class action litigation for Ford Motor Company, including collaborating with counsel on settlement agreements and developing multinational settlement offers using an Excel spreadsheet.
- Worked closely with legal counsel to examine hospital and medical device records and corporate documents, aiding in the discovery process and trial preparation for a prominent surgical mesh manufacturer.
Employment & Immigration Manager
Miller Law Group, PC
Charlottesville, VA
10.2011 - 12.2012
- Assisted in investigating, preparing, and filing legal matters including bankruptcy, civil litigation, contract law, employment law, family law, healthcare, and immigration.
- Conducted thorough research on legal matters, prepared briefs, and actively contributed to legal proceedings alongside lead counsel. Collaborated on the negotiation of various business and mortgage lending contracts.
- Achieved a 35% increase in market share among the Latino client base in North Central Virginia through targeted community outreach marketing. Designed informative presentations on topics including DACA, deportation rights for undocumented individuals, and family immigration procedures.
International Compliance Manager
University of Virginia, Human Resources
Charlottesville, VA
09.2008 - 12.2010
- Consulted, completed, and managed the hiring, onboarding, and retention of international employees by filing the proper nonimmigrant B1/B2/H1B/H4/01/TN applications, green card EB1A/EB1B/NIW petitions, PERM labor certifications, and adjustment of status for international students, scholars, faculty, researchers, staff, and dependents.
- Served as liaison and subject matter expert that advised university, hospital, medical/nursing school, and graduate/law school on Management, Labor, and Human Resource issues
- Created best hiring practices, procedures, policies, and employment contracts with input from Chairs of departments, Directors and senior level hiring managers
- Planned and presented quarterly workshops, training manuals, and on-line materials for department employment policies and procedures for international employees, international tax issues, and for compliance with Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Labor regulations.
International Compliance Officer
University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX
06.2006 - 08.2008
- Consulted, completed and managed the filing of the proper non-immigrant B1/B2/H1B/H4/01/TN applications, green card EB1A/EB1B/NIW petitions, PERM labor certifications, and adjustment of status for international students, scholars, faculty, researchers, staff, and dependents
- Drafted university employment policies and procedures for hiring international employees
- Created an international employment and contracts database for 15 university departments
- Presented workshops, created handbooks and guidelines to Chairs of departments, Directors and senior level hiring managers for hiring, on-boarding, international tax matters, and employee retention of International employees
- Liaison for compliance with the Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Labor.
Gulf Coast Field Supervisor
United States Small Business (SBA) Administration
Fort Worth, TX
10.2004 - 03.2006
- Analyzed, filed, managed, and supervised the completion of consumer and small business loan contracts for 1,000 weekly cases that distributed up to 1.8 million dollars per week in disaster relief loans for Hurricane Katrina disaster relief victims
- Co-team member for hiring process that screened and interviewed applicants, and on-boarding of over 500 new employees
- Supervised a team of over 100 volunteers, ensuring adherence to contract loan disbursement guidelines and meeting daily and weekly goals.
- Created layman's handbooks and seminars for dissemination for ten (10) area disaster relief centers
- Liaised with FEMA, SBA, and multiple disaster relief agencies to streamline the procurement process for federal contract loan documents while ensuring regulatory compliance.
Education
J.D. -
St. Mary's University School of Law
M.A. - Latin American Studies
St. Mary's University Graduate School of International Relations
B.B.A. - International Business
St. Mary's University School of Business
Skills
- Legal and Immigration Expertise
- Employment-based immigration
- H-1B, O-1, TN visas
- Green Card Processing
- PERM labor certifications
- USCIS and DOL regulations
- I-9 verification and compliance
- Legal research and writing
- Case management
- Managerial and Leadership
- Team management
- Client relations
- Project management
- Process improvement
- Healthcare industry knowledge
- Human Resources
- Compliance with federal and state employment laws
Languages
Native Spanish Speaker
Written Material (Internal Protocals)
- University of Virginia Foreign National LPR Handbook, H-1B Employment Handbook, Department Guide-Employing Foreign Faculty and Staff
- University of Texas at Arlington, On-line Employment Database, Guidance for non-immigrant and immigrant employment for University Departments, Foreign Faculty, and Staff and H-1B Handbook-University Policies and Procedures and U.S. Legal Permanent Residency-University Policies and Procedures
- U.S. Small Business Administration, Disaster Relief Agency, Hurricane Katrina, Gulf Coast Field Operations, Loan Closing and Contract Manual, and Quick Reference Guide
Conference Presentations
- University of Virginia, Best Practices for Hiring/Retaining International Faculty/Staff
- NAFSA Region VIII Conference Presentation, Options in Employing Foreign Faculty & Staff
- University of Texas at Arlington, Best Practices for Hiring/Retaining International Faculty/Staff
- NAFSA Region III Conference Presentations, Various Issues Dealing with Employing Foreign Faculty & Staff
Timeline
Immigration Specialist
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authorization (VCUHSA)
01.2020 - Current
Employment & Immigration Manager
Miller Law Group, PC
10.2011 - 12.2012
Legal Contractor
Charlottesville, Richmond, VA; Washington D.C.
06.2011 - 01.2020
International Compliance Manager
University of Virginia, Human Resources
09.2008 - 12.2010
International Compliance Officer
University of Texas at Arlington
06.2006 - 08.2008
Gulf Coast Field Supervisor
United States Small Business (SBA) Administration
10.2004 - 03.2006
J.D. -
St. Mary's University School of Law
M.A. - Latin American Studies
St. Mary's University Graduate School of International Relations
B.B.A. - International Business
St. Mary's University School of Business
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