Hannia Flores

As an experienced Immigration Specialist, I thrive on guiding international students, scholars, and professionals through the complexities of U.S. immigration processes. My journey combines a passion for supporting global talent with a strong commitment to regulatory compliance, clear communication, and continuous improvement.

From leading J-1 and F-1 visa advisory at Texas A&M University to managing high-volume H1B and PERM filings at Cognizant Technology Solutions, I’ve helped thousands successfully navigate the U.S. immigration system. My expertise spans SEVP databases, government regulations (INA, FERPA, HIPAA), and hands-on case management for diverse populations. I am especially proud of co-leading efforts at Cognizant that reduced clerical errors by 60%, directly improving approval rates and client outcomes.

I regularly collaborate with attorneys, HR, faculty, and government officials to resolve complex cases and ensure all actions meet the highest standards of quality and confidentiality. At Texas A&M, I spearheaded the rollout of new , served as one of two primary advisors for 700-800 scholars and families, and represented the office at campus-wide events–making international visitors feel welcome from day one.

Beyond my core roles, I enjoy leading outreach programs, providing holistic support (from tax advice to counseling resources), and developing training materials to empower teams. My approach is rooted in empathy, attention to detail, and proactive problem-solving–skills further honed by certifications in and Mental Health First Aid.

Fluent in Spanish, I bring cultural competence and strong interpersonal skills to every interaction. I’m passionate about continuous learning, diversity, and building bridges across borders. Currently, I’m excited to connect with professionals and organizations seeking an immigration expert dedicated to process optimization, compliance, and supporting international communities. Let’s work together to open doors and create brighter futures.

Immigration Specialist at Texas A&M University (2024-08 – 2026-06)

Texas A&M University is a premier public research institution, Tier 1 space-grant, and land-grant university. It enrolls over 70,000 students, focuses on global innovation, and drives major economic impact through academic, agricultural, and engineering programs.

• Served as an Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) and a Designated School Official (DSO) and managed hundreds of cases for students and scholars via the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) databases.
• Led efforts to create clear university policies pertaining to holders, as the was newly added for ISSS to serve alongside F-1 program stakeholders.
• Was one of two advisors specializing in visitor matters in department of 30 staff members serving approximately 700-800 scholars and their families.
• Interpreted government policies per INA regulations and incorporated guidelines into university policy effectively.
• Compiled documents manually via email; this required constant direct communication with stakeholders, their host departments, HR, and export control daily.
• Handled confidential records bound to FERPA and HIPAA regulations of students and scholars, ensuring every record met consistent government and university policy.
• Escalated complex matters to proper departments, leadership, or specialized staff as needed.
• As designated mandatory reporter, directed sensitive cases to Title XI or other ethics-related departments.
• Assisted stakeholders and their dependents obtain and maintain J-1/F-1 visa status; maintained HR and Export Control departments informed of changes pertaining to visa changes.
• Assisted stakeholders by providing resources to food pantries, counseling, tax advice, and other information by directing them to the proper sources within the university and through community resources.
• Delivered immigration advice by appointment, to walk-ins, via Zoom, and by email.
• Learn and maintain knowledge, as well as keeping informed of applicable Federal, State, University, and ISSS regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Regularly attended professional development sessions focused on immigration laws, document processing, and advising international scholars and students to enhance expertise and service quality.
• Led presentations for ISSS, managed Q&A sessions during events, acted as liaison to university units, served on committees, and represented the office at conferences, meetings, and campus visits to enhance program visibility.
• Organized outreach programs for F 1/ J1 student, scholars, and their families to make them feel welcome during their visit to the United States.
• Technology literate; possess advanced knowledge of word processing, power point, and spreadsheet applications.

Immigration Specialist at Cognizant Technology Solutions, CTS (2015-07 – 2024-04)

Cognizant Technology Solutions is a multinational professional services and IT consulting firm. They specialize in digital transformation, cloud computing, and full-stack AI solutions, helping global enterprises modernize technology, streamline operations, and drive enterprise value across industries like healthcare, finance, and retail.

• Filed H1B, L-1A, L-1B, employment based, TN, and PERMs. Submitted RFE, denial, NOID, and NOIR responses as well as I-539, I-485 Supplement J, Service Request, and other forms.
• Canadian-to-U.S. transfer support and L-1 Blanket experience.
• Responsible for ensuring quality control over large projects within the department, where my collaborative efforts lead to the reduction of 60 percent of all clerical errors that previously resulted in denials and RFEs.
• Collaborated with a 15-member volunteer team within our department to register over 12,000 H-CAP applicants for the annual lottery within a span of 4 weeks, putting maximum approved overtime, and was responsible for enforcing quality control of roughly over 6,000 selected petitions for applicants to avoid clerical errors.
• Regularly volunteered to collaborate on big projects in teams consisting between 5 to 15 members in a department composed of 200 members in the US and in India.
• Collaborated with in-house and outside counsel to interpret and apply technical immigration company policies and procedures.
• Communicated with USCIS officials to clarify issues and coordinated with other case managers, supervisors, directors and lawyers regarding special cases.
• Created SOPs for all office procedures and communicated immigration policy changes to keep local staff updated about changes to current processes and continuously learn new ways to work with their computers efficiently.
• Collaborated with upper management to cross-train local staff.

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology – University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (2002-2010)

Major in Public Health – Sam Houston State University (2018-2022)