Paloma Mello Haro is the immigration advisor for the International Faculty and Scholars office. She serves as an Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) for the J-1 visa program in compliance with the Exchange Visitor Program regulations administered by the Department of State. The J-1 exchange program allows international visiting researchers and professors to contribute to university research and academic programs.

Mello Haro is the primary contact to university offices and departments to guide and review requests to bring J-1 scholars and faculty to the U.S. She advises J-1 exchange visitors on pre-arrival immigration-related issues and complex immigration regulations. She handles the scholar’s and faculty immigration document processing, issuance, orientation, authorizations, and advising.

She joined Arizona International in 2019 and previously worked at the International Students Services office as a Designated School Official (DSO), issuing and assisting with international students’ immigration documents, before joining the IFS office in 2021.

Mello Haro is a former international student from Brazil. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences and her Master of Legal Studies from the James E. Rogers College of Law, both at the University of Arizona. She is passionate about cultural diversity and cross-cultural education.