Please contact your Administrator to change your authorization settings.
Job Title: Immigration Intern
Start Date: Summer 2024
Duration: 10 weeks; May-August 2024
Compensation: Paid Internship
Location: Elizabeth, NJ
Hiring decisions for IRC's Summer 2024 Paid Internship opportunities will be made by 4/30/24. If you are applying or have applied after Friday 4/19/24, we cannot guarantee that you will be considered as a candidate.
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 over 20 U.S. cities to restore safety, dignity and hope, the IRC leads the way from harm to home.
SCOPE OF INTERN WORK: The Immigration Department Intern will assist immigration staff in providing services to refugees, asylees, and other immigrants such as adjustment of status, citizenship, and family reunification. (S)he will work closely with immigration staff to draft applications and provide follow-up communication to clients. The intern will also perform a series of clerical and administrative duties to ensure client files are kept up to date.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Assist immigration staff in providing services to clients, including setting up legal consultations and drafting immigration applications under the supervision of an immigration attorney and a DOJ accredited representative.
- Perform research to connect clients to services including food pantries, mental health services, and more.
- Assist staff with sorting and filing of documents and case files.
- Adhere to IRC policies, particularly those related to confidentiality and client privacy.
- Display sensitivity to cultural and personality differences of clients. Respect their beliefs and values.
- Perform follow-up communication to clients and inform them about the status of their cases and explain processing delays. Prepare change of address forms with USCIS (The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) as needed.
- Provide translation and interpretation when necessary.
- Other related duties as assigned.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Intern will learn about U.S. immigration law
- Intern will develop problem solving and client services skills
- Intern will learn how to manage client cases within established deadlines
Eligibility Requirements: To be eligible to apply, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Current NJ undergraduate student
- Current NJ Graduate student
- Recent NJ College Graduate: must have graduated less than one year prior to start of the internship experience (May 2023-May 2024 graduates)
- A current undergraduate student who is a permanent NJ resident-these candidates will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for eligibility and there will be a limited amount of funding allotted for students meeting this criteria.
- Selected interns are required to serve for 10 weeks between May to August 2024
Qualifications:
- Undergraduate level studies in social sciences, international relations or a related field.
- Languages desired but not required: Spanish, French, Dari/Pashto
- Strong desire to help immigrants in New York
- Ability to work independently, exercise good judgement, and have high attention to detail.
- Competency in Microsoft Office, data tracking, and file management
- Effective communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.
- Patience, understanding, flexibility, and an unceasingly positive attitude.
- Willing to learn about IRC history, philosophy, global work, and local efforts.
- Willing to adhere to IRC volunteer and workplace policies
This position reports to the Immigration Supervisor and the DOJ Accredited Representative.
IRC leading the wayFrom Harm to Home.
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.