The Corporate Immigration Specialist is responsible for managing and coordinating employment-based immigration programs and processes to support the organization’s global workforce. Serving as the primary internal resource for immigration matters, this role partners with employees, managers, outside legal counsel, government agencies, and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure compliance with applicable immigration laws and regulations. The Corporate Immigration Specialist oversees visa sponsorships, work authorization programs, immigration case management, and related compliance activities while providing guidance and support throughout the employee immigration lifecycle.
The ideal candidate possesses a minimum of five (5) years of experience as an immigration paralegal supporting employment-based immigration matters, with demonstrated expertise in U.S. immigration laws, visa classifications, permanent residency processes, and work authorization requirements. This position requires exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple complex immigration cases while maintaining strict confidentiality and delivering high-quality employee service. The Corporate Immigration Specialist plays a critical role in mitigating compliance risks, supporting talent mobility initiatives, and ensuring the company's immigration programs align with business objectives and legal requirements.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Minimum five (5) years of experience as an immigration paralegal supporting employment-based immigration matters
- Extensive knowledge of U.S. immigration processes, including nonimmigrant visas, permanent residency sponsorship, labor certifications, I-9 compliance, and employment authorization requirements
- Experience working directly with immigration counsel, government agencies, and corporate stakeholders
- Strong analytical, organizational, and case management skills
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and manage sensitive employee information
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a customer-service orientation
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary point of contact for all employment-based immigration matters, providing guidance and support to employees, managers, and business leaders regarding visa, work authorization, and permanent residency processes
- Manage the full lifecycle of immigration cases, including nonimmigrant visa petitions, work authorization applications, extensions, amendments, renewals, and employment-based permanent residence sponsorships
- Coordinate with external immigration counsel to prepare, review, file, and track immigration petitions and applications while ensuring timely submission of all required documentation
- Monitor employee visa statuses, work authorizations, expiration dates, travel requirements, and filing deadlines to maintain uninterrupted employment eligibility and regulatory compliance
- Maintain accurate and confidential immigration records, case files, and supporting documentation in accordance with company policies, legal requirements, and record retention standards
- Ensure organizational compliance with federal immigration laws, employment eligibility verification requirements, I-9 regulations, E-Verify obligations, and internal policies
- Conduct periodic audits of immigration and employment eligibility records to identify risks, ensure data accuracy, and support compliance initiatives.
- Partner with Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, Payroll, Tax, Global Mobility, and business leaders to support workforce planning, international assignments, and employee mobility programs
- Evaluate immigration options and provide recommendations to support recruitment, retention, and long-term workforce needs while balancing business and legal requirements
- Develop and maintain immigration tracking systems, dashboards, and reports to provide visibility into case status, upcoming expirations, sponsorship activity, and compliance metrics
- Research and monitor changes in immigration laws, regulations, and government policies, assessing potential impacts to the organization and recommending appropriate actions
- Prepare communications, training materials, and educational resources to inform employees, managers, and stakeholders about immigration requirements, procedures, and compliance obligations
- Support onboarding and international employee transitions by ensuring all immigration-related documentation and employment authorization requirements are completed accurately and timely
- Identify opportunities to streamline immigration processes, enhance employee experience, reduce risk, and improve operational efficiency through process improvements and technology solutions
- Serve as a trusted advisor on immigration matters while maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality, professionalism, and employee service
What we do
SMS group is the leading partner in the world of metals. We are an original equipment supplier offering comprehensive maintenance and spare part services for metals production, continuous casting and rolling (flat and long products), tubes, welded pipes, forging, non-ferrous technology, and heat treatment plants - all from a single source.
SMS group Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, gender identity or other categories protected by law. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a drug screen and physical capacity profile test.
Skills Required
- Minimum five (5) years of experience as an immigration paralegal supporting employment-based immigration matters
- Demonstrated expertise in U.S. immigration laws, visa classifications, permanent residency processes, and work authorization requirements
- Knowledge of I-9 compliance, E-Verify obligations, and labor certification processes
- Experience working directly with immigration counsel, government agencies, and corporate stakeholders
- Strong analytical, organizational, and immigration case management skills
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and manage sensitive employee information
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a customer-service orientation
What We Do
SMS group Inc. is responsible for new equipment sales, upgrades and modernizations for North American metals producers, and is a world leader in outsourced maintenance services for the steel and non-ferrous metals industry. SMS group Inc., a member of the SMS group family, is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At SMS group Inc., we are an original equipment supplier offering comprehensive maintenance and spare part services for metals production, continuous casting and rolling (flat and long products), tubes, welded pipes, forging, non-ferrous technology, and heat treatment plants - all from a single source. Apart from traditional refurbishment services for all major OEM equipment, you can also take advantage of our comprehensive field services and modernization projects. Steel production is our largest market, where we supply world class new equipment and actively support operations and maintenance devising solutions throughout the process from melting and casting to rolling and finishing. In addition to new equipment supply, our Forging division has experienced maintenance specialists who focus on closed and open-die forging, powder metal presses, extrusion presses, and ring rolling. New equipment supply, maintenance services, and spare parts inside the aluminum industry crosses a wide variety of products including flat rolling mill equipment, plate stretchers and extrusion presses. For tubes and pipes, our unique broad know-how covers the complete line of processes from ERW to spiral welded pipe as well as seamless producing operations utilizing equipment from cold drawing and pilger mills to piercing mills. It is our commitment to be the Leading Partner for our customers guiding and assisting our customers to make equipment and process decisions that allow them to remain competitive in an ever evolving global market, and serve as a single source for new equipment, maintenance and spare parts that our customers can trust and value.
