Maneesha Rai

• Demonstrated strong leadership in managing end-to-end U.S. and Canada Immigration and Global Mobility operations.
• Led a team responsible for managing complete assignment life cycles including pre-assignment, on-assignment, repatriation, max-out, GC-EAD, and post-assignment phases.
• Monitored visa and work permit status across all authorized employees using the company’s shared mobility platform, ensuring compliance and timely renewals.
• Acted as Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for one or more service lines within the region, managing escalations, conducting negotiations, and guiding associates through interview processes.
• Collaborated with Talent Shared Services and Finance teams to ensure timely and accurate assignment documentation.
• Provided expert consultancy on global mobility planning, strategy, budgeting, and delivered innovative solutions aligned with business objectives.
• Administered and consulted on internal Mobility Frameworks, ensuring operational excellence and compliance.
• Partnered closely with Account and Delivery Management teams for proactive issue resolution and escalation handling.
• Built and maintained strong relationships with HR Business Partners, Resourcing, Service Line Operations, and People Partners to ensure successful mobility program delivery.
• Delivered timely assignment briefings to assignees, helping them adopt the right mindset and understand legislative and logistical milestones.
• Ensured an exceptional assignee experience by managing critical on-site events, including Letters of Placement, salary reviews, payroll cycles, and annual allowances.
• Actively participated in learning initiatives such as Open House sessions, Design Thinking workshops, and professional development training in time management and email etiquette.
• Engaged consistently in global, regional, and service line team calls to align with strategic objectives.
• Supported the growth and development of subordinates by offering constructive feedback, recognition, and mentorship
• Interpreted and mapped individual client requirements, applying relevant assignment policies and expatriate cost principles to deliver tailored mobility solutions aligned with business objectives.

Previous Experience

• Led a team of 5+ in the preparation, execution, and filing of immigrant and non-immigrant visa applications with USCIS and the U.S. Department of Labor.
• Demonstrated in-depth expertise in legal research and case analysis to support the drafting of immigration-related legal documents and compilation of evidentiary materials.
• Managed the end-to-end process for PERM labor certifications and I-140 petitions, while liaising with USCIS to address inquiries, resolve case-related issues, and ensure compliance.

Project: L1A/L1B Individual and Blanket / Analysis:

• Handled Requests for Evidence (RFE) and visa amendments as a critical function within the L1A/L1B visa processing lifecycle.
• Ensured timely and efficient follow-ups to expedite case resolution, maintaining compliance with USCIS response deadlines.
• Conducted meticulous reviews of assignments to assess eligibility, set realistic expectations, and facilitate mock interviews to prepare employees for consular and USCIS interactions.
• Provided expert guidance to employees on immigration procedures, documentation requirements, and compliance protocols.
• Prepared and submitted comprehensive immigration and non-immigration visa petitions for in-house L1A/L1B individual and blanket filings with USCIS.
• Played a key role in drafting and filing USCIS forms including I-129, I-539/A, and I-140, ensuring accuracy and adherence to SLA timelines.

Project: Audit and Team Management

• Defined key performance indicators (KPIs) and team goals, inspiring and motivating team members to consistently achieve high performance.
• Designed and implemented an effective performance evaluation program to foster accountability and continuous improvement.
• Conducted rigorous audits of RFE cases, ensuring timely and error-free filings with a strong focus on maximizing approval outcomes.
• Significantly improved approval rates by 80% through detailed case reviews and proactive risk mitigation, while successfully reducing the denial rate by 20%.

Project: H-1B Visa Management

• Managed end-to-end processing of H-1B petitions for FY 2020, 2021, and 2022, including initial filings, extensions, and work permit applications.
• Handled a broad range of U.S. visa categories such as B1/B2, H-1B, L-1, TN, EAD, and various conversion cases including F1 OPT, CPT, STEM OPT, H4, TN to H-1B, U.S. Master's, and in-country transitions.
• Played a critical role in setting up exceptions during the H-1B initiation process, ensuring eligibility alignment with evolving USCIS policies and internal assignment strategies

Project: RFE Management & Immigration Compliance

• Played a pivotal role in analyzing RFEs issued by USCIS, effectively communicating case-specific requirements to the delivery team for timely and accurate responses.
• Led end-to-end functions related to immigration compliance, including maintaining public access files in accordance with U.S. regulations, and supporting immigration attorneys to ensure RFE responses were submitted within stipulated SLAs.
• Conducted comprehensive factual and legal research, reviewed contracts, agreements, and government documentation (e.g., Form I-9), ensuring alignment with federal requirements.
• Managed sensitive immigration data, maintaining case management files mandated by the Department of Homeland Security and ensuring information security protocols were upheld.
• Drafted and reviewed immigration-related legal documents including LCAs, affidavits, letters of support, contracts, and visa consulate packets.
• Oversaw a high-volume caseload during a surge in RFEs prompted by government policy changes and fee increases under a new USCIS administration.
• Acted as the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for business-related international travel, offering outbound immigration support tailored to client and project needs.
• Led research and analysis initiatives on salary benchmarking, compensation trends, and compliance strategies for foreign national employees.
• Designed and implemented global immigration policies and procedures, ensuring adherence to legal and procedural standards across multiple visa categories.

• Acted as a Trusted Advisor to senior executives across operational divisions, providing support through specialized HR and immigration services.
• Developed and implemented HR policies and procedures using HR Management Systems to streamline internal operations.
• Led the immigration function, including the creation and maintenance of a global employee database for H-1B visa holders and U.S. Green Card employees.
• Managed H-1B visa processes end-to-end, including new filings, amendments, and extensions; oversaw expense tracking and reporting.
• Conducted thorough verification and validation of immigration documentation during both initial and final review stages to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Drafted and maintained Master Service Agreements (MSA) and Statements of Work (SOW) for contractors under various employment structures (W2, Green Card, C2C, EAD).
• Successfully initiated and conducted employment eligibility verifications for U.S. hires using the E-Verify system, ensuring compliance with federal onboarding requirements.

• Managed end-to-end processing of U.S. work permit applications, including H-1B Cap filings, amendments, and extensions, in line with company and USCIS requirements.
• Coordinated with internal stakeholders and external counsel to ensure timely and compliant petition submissions.
• Supported immigration lifecycle processes, contributing to operational efficiency within IBM’s global mobility and HR functions.

• Delivered end-to-end HR operational support including immigration processing, recruitment coordination, and preparation of job descriptions, KPIs, and KRAs.
• Supported reporting activities across sales and HR verticals, aligning workforce data with business goals.

• Oversaw office operations, including U.S. visa processing (L-1 Blanket, B1/B2, H-1B), calendar coordination, and cubicle management.
• Provided administrative support for event planning and day-to-day executive tasks, contributing to smooth organizational workflows.
• Increased stakeholder satisfaction levels through timely follow-up on action items resulting from meetings or discussions with the Managing Director.
• Coordinated events and worked on ad hoc projects.
• Used QuickBooks to produce monthly invoices, reports, and other deliverables.
• Organized logistics and materials for each meeting and took detailed notes for later dissemination to key stakeholders.
• Screened personal and business calls and directed to appropriate party.
• Streamlined operations and prioritized tasks, allowing senior staff to increase productivity.

• Managed cross-functional teams for successful project completion within budgetary constraints and deadlines.
• Identified trends and assessed opportunities to improve processes and execution.
• Managed non-immigration-related operational functions including logistics, documentation, and coordination activities to ensure timely and accurate service delivery.