Position Title:Senior Immigration Specialist
Job Group:Professional & Scientific
Required Minimum Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of related experience
Preferred Qualifications:Master’s degree.
Experience as a Principal/Designated School Official (P/DSO) or Alternate/Responsible Officer (A/RO).
Experience using SEVIS, Sunapsis, Workday, or similar case-management/HR software.
Experience filing Labor Certifications, H-1B petitions, and employment-based immigrant petitions, and managing related caseloads.
Experience interpreting and implementing federal regulations and institutional policies, such as those in human resources and/or related to sponsoring and hosting international employees and scholars.
Experience providing guidance or advising to international populations (students, scholars, or employees) in a university or similar organizational setting.
Job Description:
Are you looking for a position where your work helps international scholars and employees contribute to a world-class academic community? Are you also seeking a role that offers strong work-life balance and a supportive team environment?
If so, the Scholar and Employment Unit within the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) is seeking applicants for a Senior Immigration Specialist! This position will be classified as an International Students and Scholars Advisor III.
What You’ll Do:
+ Manage and coordinate employment-based immigration strategy for international faculty, staff, postdocs, and visiting scholars, ensuring compliance with U.S. immigration regulations and university policy.
+ Serve as a senior-level immigration subject matter expert, advising departments and leadership on complex employment scenarios (hiring, compensation, leave, remote work, job changes, and separations).
+ Independently prepare and file complex nonimmigrant and immigrant petitions (e.g., H-1B, TN, E-3, Labor Certifications, and permanent residence cases).
+ Analyze and respond to government inquiries, requests for evidence, and compliance challenges from DHS, DOL, and DOS.
+ Partner with hiring departments, Talent Acquisition, and HR teams to develop customized, time-sensitive immigration solutions.
+ Serve as an Alternate Responsible Officer of Iowa State University’s Department of State Exchange Visitor Program for nonstudent J-1 Exchange Visitors in the SEVIS system. Report health, safety, and welfare issues directly to the Department of State as required for J-1 scholars.
+ Advise international employees and scholars on immigration, employment, and cross-cultural matters, coordinating with campus and external resources as needed.
+ Develop and deliver training for campus stakeholders on immigration regulations, timelines, and systems (e.g., Sunapsis/Cystart).
+ Contribute to regulatory interpretation, policy development and continuous improvement of immigration practices, serving as a mentor and resource to junior staff.
+ Support onboarding and compliance processes, including check-ins, scholar orientations, and employment eligibility verification, as needed.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position. U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status required for access to the SEVIS system.
About ISSO at Iowa State University:
The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) employs staff with many years of experience in the U.S. and abroad. Staff members provide courteous and timely service, apply a broad range of immigration expertise, and deliver informative programming for international students, faculty, staff, postdocs, visiting scholars, and their families. To learn more, please visit ISSO (https://isso.dso.iastate.edu/) .
Leveling Guidelines
– Senior-level position possessing high-level professional and/or technical skills working independently under minimal supervision to support ISU’s mission and department or work unit goals
– Applies senior-level professional knowledge and expertise to work requiring greater latitude
– Solves moderately complex problems and regularly exercises judgment to determine appropriate action
– Regularly exercises judgment to resolve problems and determine appropriate action on a broad set of issue and problems. May provide recommendations regarding problems/issues outside the bounds of defined procedures and practices
– Responds to complicated inquiries, provides training, and provides direction to lower-level staff
– May provide supervision for one to two other staff (i.e., leads a small work team)
– May lead projects for which well-defined practices and procedures may not exist
– Provides guidance to scholars
Appointment Type:Regular
Number of Months Employed Per Year:12 Month Work Period
Time Type:Full time
Pay Grade:PS808
Application Instructions:
To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae (Required)2) Letter of Application/Cover Letter (Required)If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.Why Choose ISU?Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:- Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans- Generous vacation, holiday and sick time and leave plans- Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)- Life insurance and long-term disability- Flexible Spending Accounts- Various voluntary benefits and discounts- Employee Assistance Program- Wellbeing program
Original Posting Date: January 30, 2026
Posting Close Date:February 12, 2026
Job Requisition Number:R18515
By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State University (http://www.iastate.edu/) attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive?land-grant?mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State, we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities.
Iowa State University is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university’s Principles of Community (https://www.iastate.edu/principles-community) . Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.
All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu.
If you have questions about the application process please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free at 1-877-477-7485. Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email employment@iastate.edu or call (515) 294-4800 or Toll-Free: (877) 477-7485. TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2942.
General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources (https://www.hr.iastate.edu/careers/compensation) website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.