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BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. At work in over 40 countries and 28 U.S. cities to restore safety, dignity and hope, the IRC leads the way from harm to home. The IRC in Atlanta office was established in 1979 and has resettled over 27,000 refugees from 50 countries into the Greater Atlanta area. As the largest refugee resettlement agency in Georgia, the IRC in Atlanta resettles an average of 1,000 refugees into Georgia annually and provides additional services and assistance to another 2,500 refugees and asylees.
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SCOPE OF IMMIGRATION CASEWORK INTERN WORK: The International Rescue Committee's Resettlement office in Atlanta provides its clients with assistance in filing immigration applications, which will allow refugees and newly-approved asylees to travel, become permanent residents and then citizens of the United States. This is an unpaid internship position that requires a minimum commitment of 15 hours a week for at least two months.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Conduct comprehensive intake and needs assessment
- Assist clients to complete applications for various immigration benefits (I-131, I-485, I-765, N-400, I-134 and prepare these for review by the Community Integration Manager, and/or Senior Legal Representative
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date files and detailed case notes on Immigration services to clients, enter required data in a timely manner into databases, and meet all case reporting requirements within established deadlines and standards for final review by a legal staff
- Make service requests and refer case follow ups to caseworkers for complicated cases
- Prepare response for I-485 RFE's
- Assist clients in drafting response on missed USCIS interviews or those who need rescheduling
- Assist clients in making NVC payment
- Conduct File review monthly and address any matter with Managing Attorney
- Assist legal staff in making copies and creating new files
- Assist in Citizenship Workshops
- Complete change of address forms with CIS
- Help maintain the filing system for immigration petitions filed with IRC in Atlanta
- Submit intern hours on volunteer dashboard
- Other duties as needed and assigned by immigration legal staff
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Students will develop an enhanced professional skill set, interact with other interns, clients and supervisors remotely and contribute to projects while in the comfort of their own space
- Students will learn data collection and data management methods for program development and reporting
- Students will gain knowledge of USCIS administrative procedures by processing receipts and correspondence from USCIS
- Students will have hands own experience in filling out applications
- Student will gain knowledge of the types of immigration benefits available to refugees and asylees and the steps involved in applying for these benefits
- Apply academic learning to real-world projects and assignments
- Develop workplace skills and acquire specific experience needed to pursue professional goals
REQUIREMENTS:
- Prefer students or recent graduates with interest and experience with USCIS forms
- Must have reliable work hours and able to commit 3 days a week (9-5)
- Able to work independently and under pressure with multiple tasks and competing deadlines
- The ideal candidates are independent, detail-oriented, and highly organized
- Attention to detail and procedure
- Work or volunteer experience with foreign populations, especially African or Middle and Near Eastern
- Bilingual in client languages including Spanish, Arabic, Farsi, or French is beneficial, but not required
- Computer literacy, preferably with PC systems
- Knowledge of immigration forms beneficial, but not required
- Applicants must be open to evolving responsibilities
This is a hybrid role.
This role will report to the Immigration Legal Representative.
Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.