Immigration Consultant

Job Description

Immigration Consultant

We are recruiting an Immigration Consultant to join the Dubai office. This is an excellent opportunity to join a global company working with immigration and global mobility professionals across the world.

About us:

Fragomen is the world’s leading exclusive provider of immigration services. We are a firm of more than 6,200 immigration-focused professionals and staff spanning more than 60 offices worldwide. Immigration has been our sole focus for 70 years, and today we offer support in more than 170 countries. We are problem-solvers, innovators and established thought leaders in immigration, providing strategic immigration advice to a diverse range of clients from individuals to the world’s leading multinational corporations.

Fragomen’s professionals are respected thought leaders in the immigration field providing expertise to governments across the world including the US Congress, the UK Parliament, the European Union and the United Nations.

A career at Fragomen will provide you with the opportunity to work in an exciting environment for a broad range of clients, where no two days will be the same. You will face interesting challenges and you will work with dedicated, friendly and ambitious people, where providing exceptional client service is at the core of what we do. We are extremely proud of our diverse workforce at Fragomen and we are fully committed to providing equal opportunities. We believe that our differences make us stronger.

About the role:

The Consultant provides compliant immigration advice, knowledge or strategy to UAE clients and coordinates end to end immigration processes as well as destination services for the firm’s corporate client base. The Consultant functionally monitors internal staff, teams, and workload requirements to meet expectations, deadlines, and financial targets.

This role includes high volume, multi-tasking, multi-priority management of client case processing. Activities include confidential and or sensitive advisement on immigration strategic analysis and options. Prepare a customized destination services itinerary and assist clients with the complexities of relocating to UAE, ensuring a smooth transition and helping them settle into their new environment.

Other key responsibilities will include:

• Execute volume UAE inbound casework including compliance and eligibility assessments, clear process and requirements guidance, and handholding assignees through the immigration process within multiple jurisdictions and emirates defined by the Clients’ entity and/or worksite locations.
• Provide personalized immigration and destination services tailored to each client’s requirements, from the initial consultation to the final settling-in phase and helping clients feel at home in their new environment.
• At all times proactively perform work activities for our Client accounts as a professional business advisor; provide exceptional professional guidance and dedicated care to their employees in the UAE.
• Communicate effectively the progress of the immigration process with relevant client contacts including document collection, filing of applications, and anticipated finalization dates, ensuring that communications are technically accurate, and written communications follow the standard layouts and templates.
• Identify key issues that may impact immigration formalities such as travel plans, dependents, and health issues, to ensure the client is updated on the status of each application and anticipated issues or timelines. Identify key issues that may impact immigration approvals or successful security clearance.
• Update the firm’s case management system and maintain client files as per agreed practice protocols and SLAs.
• Meet monthly billing target goals by strategically planning, organizing and executing workload to reach standard financial targets and annual goals.
• Respond to pre-instruction enquiries relating to countries and liaise with co-counsel as required to provide compliance assessments.
• Prepare, plan and with proactive measures seek to minimize potential issues to the client or assignee that would lead to escalations or delays in meeting our SLA requirements. Escalate potential client issues to the UAE In-bound Manager and/or Practice Leader and participate in the resolution of these issues.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with key client contacts, and contact them in a timely manner to provide and/or obtain information meeting SLA requirements.
• Research and draft country processes and procedures. Update clients on any in-country legislative or process changes.
• Assist in compiling metrics/reports as required under contractual agreement with respective clients. Review expiry date reports and/or reminders and take the appropriate action as required.
• Contribute to content and maintain veracity of proprietary material in the firm’s Knowledge Management System (KMS).
• Contribute to efficiency and expertise within the office with acceptance of a secondary role at Fragomen when appointed or recommended to a Committee or Initiative by your manager.
• Assist Finance and Administrative support with client invoicing upon case completion.
• Research on corporate clients’ markets by industry/sector. Research and benchmark the performance of external co-counsel.
• Coach and develop junior staff; including the preparation of training materials for knowledge development.
• Other activities/expectations as required.
  
  

About you:

To be successful in this role you will ideally have prior experience in Immigration, Destination Service, or Global Mobility functions at a multinational or reputable local company in the UAE and / or Middle East. You will be fluent in written and spoken English and an understanding of the Arabic language would be a bonus.

Also required:

• Competent in drafting legal advice and compliance assessments
• Knowledge of Word, Excel and Access, or similar software
• Operationally aware is essential
• Excellent organization and coordination skills
• Strong Analytical skills
• High degree of focus on Quality
• Able to work in a discreet and sensitive manner
• Able to be self-managed and proactively seek out work
• Minimum 2 years of experience in relocation, destination services and immigration services.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with an ability to work effectively across diverse cultures.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• In-depth understanding of local markets, housing regulations, and local regulations
  
  

Fragomen in Middle East:

Within the Middle East region we have offices in United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia with an overall headcount of 200 employees. Across all the offices, there is a positive and collaborative working environment, with our immigration professionals partnering with our clients to help them manage their regional or global immigration programmes. Based in Dubai, you will work closely with the Managing Partner for MEA, who is also located there.

Whether in the office or working remotely, we are proud of our team spirit and we like to reflect this in the way that we work and everything we do. Our Responsible Business Strategy (RBS) priorities Fragomen’s social responsibility through one cross-cutting theme and five focus areas. These focus areas include: Wellbeing, Diversity and Inclusion, Charity & Pro bono work, Social and Environmental & Sustainability. The RBS initiative offers great opportunities for everyone at Fragomen to get involved and help steer a variety of initiatives and activities at the Firm. These range from social events and activities, to regular wellbeing newsletters and diversity discussions.

Fragomen is committed to promoting diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity for all employees and applicants, regardless of race, ethnicity, heritage, gender, age, religion and disability.