Immigration Paralegal - Gardiner Immigration P.A. - Tampa, FL, U.S.
(2023-08)
Removal Defense & Immigration Court (EOIR) Proceedings, Employment-Based (EB) Immigrant Petitions, Family-Based Petitions & Removal of Conditions, Nonimmigrant Visas (Business, Investment & Extraordinary Ability), Inadmissibility Waivers & Humanitarian Relief, Naturalization & Citizenship, Consular Processing & National Visa Center (NVC), Legal Research, FOIA, & Case Strategy, Client Relations & Business Development
- Court Petitions & Adjustments: Prepared and filed Applications for Cancellation of Removal (EOIR-42B) and strategic Applications for Adjustment of Status (I-485) filed directly in Immigration Court.
- Drafted and Formulated Court Motions: Motions to Reopen, Motions for Continuance, Motions to Terminate, Motions for Administrative Closure, and Motions for Bond.
- Hearing Preparation & Memorandums: Prepared comprehensive MEMO, evidence indices, and documentation packages for Master Calendar Hearings (MH), Individual Hearings (IH), and Bond Hearings.
- EOIR Deadline Management: Managed strict court-mandated deadlines, ensuring the punctual and compliant submission of supporting evidence and trial briefs for Individual Hearings (IH).
- Detained Client Logistics: Coordinated and scheduled secure attorney visits for detained clients utilizing the EOIR ECAS portal and institutional email channels.
- Post-Release & ICE Supervision: Drafted specialized legal memorandums for client representation during ICE check-ins and compliance reporting under Orders of Supervision (OSUP).
- Eligibility & Document Analysis: Conducted comprehensive initial document reviews and deep eligibility assessments against regulatory criteria for EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability) and EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) cases.
- Strategic Roadmaps: Provided strategic guidance to clients on the necessity and structuring of Business Plans, Professional Plans, and Expert Opinion Letters (EOL) to support the petition's merits.
- Strategic Briefing & Formatting: Drafted complex cover letter summaries and developed highly strategic, multi-layered Tables of Contents (TOC) designed to clearly guide USCIS adjudicators through the evidentiary prongs.
- Form Preparation: Managed full workflows for Form I-140 and concurrent or standalone adjustment packets.
- Family Reunification Packets: Prepared and compiled family-based petitions, including Forms I-130, I-130A, I-485, I-765, and I-864 (Affidavit of Support).
- Bona Fide Relationship Compilation: Expertly organized and compiled high-standard Bona Fide Relationship evidence packages to withstand rigorous USCIS scrutiny.
- Removal of Conditions: Drafted and assembled Form I-751 petitions, managing both standard Joint Filings and complex Waiver requests (good faith marriage termination, hardship, or abuse).
- Business & Investor Visas: Prepared applications, evidentiary corporate packets, and forms for L-1 (Intracompany Transferee) and E-2 (Treaty Investor) nonimmigrant visas.
- Temporary Extraordinary Ability: Handled casework and form generation for O-1 visas, ensuring full adherence to the temporary status requirements and sponsor/employer frameworks.
- Inadmissibility Waivers: Formulated legal arguments and compiled documentation for Form I-601 (Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility) and Form I-601A (Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver) packages.
- Humanitarian Applications: Prepared VAWA and Self-Petitions for Widows of U.S. Citizens (Form I-360), and Asylum applications.
- U-Visa Workflows: Managed end-to-end workflows for U-Visas (I-918), including the strategic preparation and request of Form I-918 Supplement B (U Nonimmigrant Status Certification) from law enforcement agencies, paired with comprehensive Good Moral Character (GMC) evidence packets.
- Interview & Agency Representation Prep: Drafted legal memorandums for attorney representation at USCIS field office interviews (I-130, I-485, I-360).
- Citizenship Applications: Managed the processing, form completion, and evidence gathering for Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) and Form N-600 (Application for Certificate of Citizenship).
- NVC Case Management: Managed end-to-end NVC workflows, including uploading civil and financial documents through the CEAC portal, tracking case milestones, and paying consular fees.
- Consular Package Preparation: Completed Forms DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Application) and DS-160 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application), ensuring precise cross-referencing with initial USCIS approvals.
- Consular Interview Prep: Organized comprehensive physical packets for consular interviews and drafted guidance briefs to prepare clients for embassy/consulate appointments abroad.
- Public Inquiries: Formulated and submitted strategic Public Inquiries to the NVC and U.S. Embassies to resolve document discrepancies, expedite requests, or follow up on delayed visa processing.
- Advanced Legal Research: Conducted exhaustive research using BIA (Board of Immigration Appeals) jurisprudence, EOIR Practice Manuals, USCIS Policy Manuals, and the Adjudicator's Field Manual (AFM) to advance case strategies and overcome complex legal hurdles.
- Comprehensive FOIA Operations: Drafted, submitted, and tracked specialized Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests across federal agencies: USCIS FOIA, CBP FOIA, EOIR FOIA, and FBI FOIA.
- Criminal History Charts: Analyzed criminal records and rap sheets to construct detailed Criminal History Charts, evaluating the specific immigration consequences of crimes (crimmigration).
- Agency Communications: Authored and issued responses to Requests for Evidence (RFEs), Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs), and executed Public Inquiries for delayed cases.
- Client Intake & Consultations: Conducted initial client intakes and preliminary consultations, identifying core facts, evaluating relief options, and establishing trust under high-stress scenarios.
- Case Lifecycle & Follow-ups: Maintained proactive, transparent follow-ups with clients, providing strategic updates and managing expectations.
- Contractual Upgrades & Upselling: Evaluated ongoing cases for strategic changes, successfully inducing contract amendments and the hiring of additional or new legal services based on evolving client needs.
Immigration Paralegal - Law Offices of Robert Sheldon - Pompano Beach, FL, U.S.
Attorney at Law - Borges and Mattos Advocacia - Recife, Brazil
(2010-08 - 2019-05)
Represented clients in complex civil, family, business, labor, and real estate litigation before state and federal courts. Drafted high-level contracts, legal opinions, complaints, and appeals; managed legal staff and case workflows.
Law Clerk - 5th Region Federal Court (TRF5) - Recife, Brazil
(2007-04 - 2009-07)
Assisted Federal Judges with legal research, case comparison, and drafting preliminary judicial decisions.
