JOSÉ LUIS FLEMING
IMMIGRATION COORDINATOR
Summary
Accomplished Senior Immigration Law Manager 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
Lead Immigration Coordinator
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System
1 2020 - Current
- Direct supervision of the recruitment, hiring and retention of 250 international Registered Nurses and Medical Technologists
- Provides counsel and compliance guidance to 100+ VCU Health System departments with foreign national team members whose work authorization visas have expired and provides resolutions.
- Oversees and coordinates with outside immigration law firm on processing of non-immigrant and immigrant petitions for foreign national employees.
- Coordinates, supervises, tracks, and provides guidance on I-9 verification and reverification for foreign national team members.
- Develop and deliver immigration process, compliance, recruitment and retention training
- Create published tutorials (handbooks, FAQs, process flow charts, etc)
- Collaborates with HR and Office of General Counsel on the development and publication of Standard Operating Procedures (SoP) regarding leave of absence without pay for Foreign National team members.
- Review employment agreements, contracts and contract extensions/revisions to meet immigration regulations/statutory employment requirements.
- Conducted costs analysis of international RN hiring in the amount of $12 million, uncovering $6 million discrepancy in the allocated attorney and government filing fees.
- Verifies hireability of foreign national prospective candidates and immigration sponsorship.
- Provides employment verification letters for foreign national employees.
- Manages J-1 waiver application process and programs for Health and Human Services, Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, and Virginia Department of Health Conrad 30 for 75 physicians; completing employer attestations for verification of employment forms to verify clinical services commitment.
- Collaborated with department heads to develop strategic plans aligning with overall VCU Health systems objectives, fostering a unified approach toward shared goals.
- Improved team productivity with regular communication and progress updates, fostering a collaborative work environment.
Legal Researcher
Self-Employed Contractor
06.2011 - 01.2020
- Contributed to the development of guidelines for PERM applicants in contrast to EB1A, EB1B, and NIW processes.
- 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.
- 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.
- Enhanced legal research efficiency by implementing advanced search strategies and utilizing various databases.
- Collaborated closely with attorneys on high-profile cases, providing timely and accurate research support for successful outcomes.
- Streamlined the document review process with meticulous organization and attention to detail, improving overall case management.
Employment and Immigration Manager
Miller Law Group, PC
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.
- Achieved departmental goals by developing and executing strategic plans and performance metrics.
- Increased market share with strategic business development efforts, expanding into untapped markets.
- Fostered partnerships with industry leaders, enhancing company's reputation and creating new business opportunities.
International Employee Compliance Manager
University of Virginia
9 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.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to establish clear compliance guidelines and expectations for all departments.
- Enhanced overall business operations by continuously improving policies, procedures, and controls related to compliance requirements.
- Formulated detailed recommendations based on audit findings to support annual planning and definition of goals.
- Developed and delivered training programs to inform new and current employees about compliance issues.
- Delivered subject matter expertise for internal and external customers on compliance best practices and quality control.
- Monitored emerging trends in regulatory requirements, anticipating potential impacts on the organization''s operations.
International Employee Compliance Officer
University of Texas at Arlington
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 Administration
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
- Field supervisor; created handbooks and seminars; trained and supervised over 100 volunteers to ensure proper contract loan disbursement guidelines were followed; supervised staff to ensure daily and weekly goals were met
- Created layman's handbooks and seminars for dissemination for ten (10) area disaster relief centers
- Liaised and facilitated the collaboration with FEMA, SBA, and multi state/county/city disaster relief agencies for procurement and regulatory compliance of federal contract loan documents.
Education
J.D. -
St. Mary's University School of Law
Master of Arts - Latin American Studies
St. Mary's University Graduate School of International Relations
05.2001 -
BBA - International Business
St. Mary's University School of Business
05.2001 -
Skills
- Legal and Immigration Expertise
- Employment-based immigration compliance
- 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
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
Written Material
- 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
Languages
Native Spanish Speaker
Timeline
Employment and Immigration Manager
Miller Law Group, PC
10.2011 - 12.2012
Legal Researcher
Self-Employed Contractor
06.2011 - 01.2020
International Employee Compliance Officer
University of Texas at Arlington
06.2006 - 08.2008
Gulf Coast Field Supervisor
United States Small Business Administration
10.2004 - 03.2006
Master of Arts - Latin American Studies
St. Mary's University Graduate School of International Relations
05.2001 -
BBA - International Business
St. Mary's University School of Business
05.2001 -
Lead Immigration Coordinator
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System
1 2020 - Current
International Employee Compliance Manager
University of Virginia
9 2008 - 12.2010
J.D. -
St. Mary's University School of Law
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