Immigration Services Team / Contact Information
Immigration Services is your resource for immigration matters and the University's liaison with U.S. federal agencies that are concerned with issues related to international students and employees who are working or studying here. We provide support and advising services to UMass Chan Medical School's international student and scholar community, as well as to the academic and research departments that host them.
Melissa Scher
Director, Immigration Services
508-856-3344
melissa.scher@umassmed.edu
Melissa Scher has served as an Immigration Specialist II, in the Human Resources Office for UMass Chan since March 2014, serving as Sr. Manager of Immigration Services since May 2022. Prior to joining UMass Chan, Scher has worked at law offices, Seyfarth Shaw LLP and Fragomen and in higher education at Babson College providing immigration services and solutions. Scher’s specialties include F-1 and J-1 visa regulations, nonimmigrant and immigrant visa categories. Scher holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish for the Business Professions from Worcester State University.
Holly Burns
Immigration Specialist II
holly.burns@umassmed.edu
Holly joins UMass Chan with 20 years of experience serving clients throughout the world in the arrangement of all types of business-based temporary and permanent immigration status, including specialty occupations (H-1B, TN, E-3), individual and blanket international transferee programs (L-1), traders and investors (E-1/E-2), medical workers, religious workers, labor certification, national interest waivers and extraordinary ability aliens. In addition, Holly has extensive experience consulting on compliance matters, such as I-9, E-Verify, and Public Access Files (PAFs).
Veda Genkos
Immigration Specialist II
508-856-2663
veda.genkos@umassmed.edu
Veda Genkos has served as an Immigration Specialist II, in the Human Resources Office for UMass Chan since September 2019. Prior to joining UMass Chan, Genkos worked in higher education serving in the International Students & Scholars Office at Clark University for over 16 years. While working at Clark University, Genkos served most recently as Assistant Director acting as a Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO). Genkos specialty is the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) in which she has over 9 years’ experience.
Kaitlyn Janos
I-9 Project Assistant
774-455-4786
kaitlyn.janos@umassmed.edu
Kaitlyn Janos has served as an Immigration Services Project Assistant at UMass Chan Medical School since January 2019. Prior to joining the Immigration Service Office, Kaitlyn has been with the Human Resources department since October 2017, where she worked in the Service Center. Kaitlyn has become the super user for Tracker I-9 project and spends much of her time focused on data information for the Immigration Services Office.
Sara Rufli
Immigration Specialist II
sara.rufli@umassmed.edu
Sara rejoined the Medical School as an Immigration Specialist II. She is responsible for visa and advising cases to several large research departments, and a variety of other customer service and compliance-oriented duties. Sara worked with the ISO from 2014 to 2017, leading business practice initiatives and providing exceptional service to the Medical School’s foreign national clientele. In 2017, she moved to the Office of General Counsel in the UMass President’s Office, where she supported immigration compliance and legal efforts across the UMass system. Prior to joining the UMass system, she worked as a paralegal at several large immigration law firms and for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Please click here for Immigration Services Team Assignments to UMass Chan Departments
Office Locations
South Street (Shrewsbury) Campus
333 South Street, HR 2nd Floor
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
Main Phone Number: (508) 856-5260 [select option 3]
Fax Number: (508) 856-5922
(ALL MAIL RECEIVED AT THIS LOCATION)
Medical School Building - Worcester Campus
5th Floor, Room S5-109, in the Pathology area. Take a right then immediate left as you exit the elevators, then turn down the hallway on your right. The office will be on your left facing the courtyard.
(MAIL NOT RECEIVED AT THIS LOCATION)
Appointment Availability
Walk-in hours for quick questions, document collection, etc., are available at the Medical School Room S5-109 at the following times:
- Tuesdays from 10am - 12pm and 1pm - 4pm
Virtual or in-person advising is also offered by appointment. Please contact your department's designated immigration team member to schedule a meeting.