Immigration Paralegal

Job Title: Immigration Paralegal

Location: Carolyn Lee PLLC, 114 S. Geneva St, Ste A, Ithaca, NY 14850 (100% in-person)

Employment Type: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Hours: 35 work hours per week with daily 1-hour unpaid lunch (Monday-Friday: 9am to 5pm)

Reports To: Lindsay Schoonmaker, Senior Attorney

Pay: $23.00-$26.00 per hour, commensurate with experience, plus standard fringe benefits

About Us

• We are a leading U.S. investment immigration law firm. 
• Our core values are: Honesty; Excellence; Innovation; and Connection. 
• We offer top-notch immigration legal services to our clients and employ innovative technology. 
• A positive firm culture is deeply important to us.
• Our office is located in beautiful downtown Ithaca, just off the historic Ithaca Commons. 

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Immigration Paralegal to join our dynamic legal team. The Immigration Paralegal will play a key role in supporting attorneys with matters related to investment-based immigration processes, including EB-5, E-2, and related employment-based visa categories. This position involves preparing, reviewing, and filing immigration petitions/applications and supporting documents, liaising with clients and project stakeholders, and maintaining case management systems to ensure smooth and timely progress of client matters. This position is 100% in-person at our Ithaca, NY office.

This role requires the ability to handle a high volume of cases simultaneously, demanding meticulous organization, strong motivation, and a drive to advance workflows to completion. The successful candidate will also demonstrate a commitment to improving processes, both individually and within the team, to enhance efficiency and client service.

The ideal candidate must possess excellent organizational, communication, and analytical skills, with a strong interest in immigration law and client service. A commitment to delivering outstanding client service and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment are essential for success in this role.

Key Responsibilities (not exhaustive)

• Prepare and file investment-based immigration petitions including EB-5 and E-2 visa applications.
• Assist with source of funds analysis, gathering and organizing financial documents to support client petitions.
• Draft cover letters, forms, and exhibits for submission to USCIS, NVC, and other relevant government agencies.
• Conduct client intake and case assessments, collecting necessary biographical, financial, and investment information.
• Communicate directly with clients, regional centers, developers, and other stakeholders to request information and provide case updates.
• Review offering documents, private placement memoranda, business plans, economic impact reports, and other investment-related materials for immigration compliance.
• Coordinate translations, document legalization, and certifications as needed for submission packages.
• Track case milestones and deadlines, maintaining internal case management systems and ensuring timely filings.
• Assist attorneys in preparing responses to government-issued Requests for Evidence (RFEs), Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs), and audit responses.
• Stay current on changes to investment immigration regulations and policies, assisting the team in updating procedures accordingly.
• Prepare client correspondence and instructions regarding next steps, visa interview preparation, and consular processing.
• Support consular processing cases and adjustment of status applications where applicable.
• Maintain meticulous case files, ensuring compliance with confidentiality and legal ethics standards.
• Contribute to internal knowledge management, including checklists, templates, and best practices.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (ideally in a business or finance-related field)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple active projects, prioritize tasks accordingly, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced work environment
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.) and Adobe PDF document management
• Professional discretion and ability to handle confidential client information
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with attorneys and other team members
• Comfortability and experience working with technology and learning new software

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as a paralegal in an immigration law firm
  • Prior EB-5 experience is strongly preferred, however demonstrated employment-based immigration paralegal experience is also desirable
• Experience with cloud-based client management databases
• Experience working with high-net-worth or international clients
• Experience analyzing financial and corporate documents
• Foreign language proficiency, both written and verbal (especially Mandarin, Vietnamese, Korean, or Spanish)

Benefits

• All U.S. Federal Holidays are paid time off
• Three weeks of Paid Time Off (Pro-rated)
• 401K
• Health Benefits: Comprehensive health benefits are available to full-time employees. Some benefits are covered at 100% by the firm, while others may require employee contributions. More detailed information can be provided upon request.

Options currently available for selection by employees:

• Medical 
• Dental
• Life
• Voluntary Life
• Long-Term Disability
• Hospital
• Critical Illness
• Accident