Summary
Protect your homeland and defend your culture. Join USCIS, America's frontline defense against illegal foreign infiltration and fraud. As an Immigration Services Officer, you will support the adjudications process by collaborating on complex and precedent setting cases, provide oversight, liaise, perform analytical and evaluative work for adjudications and other program activities.
Duties
Performs analytical and evaluative work associated with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) program activities.
Performs work involving the analysis of the Agency-wide impact, feasibility, practicality, and effectiveness of existing and/or proposed standards, regulations, programs and policies.
Serves as an authority in the interpretation of policy for national programs, provides guidance on the adjudication of cases involving national security and egregious public safety concerns.
Functions as a subject matter expert in more complex adjudications.
Serves as an advisor to Regional Management staff by independently conducting legal research and prepare briefs/position papers recommending policies and procedures to enhance Field Office operations.
Works collaboratively with the Records, Customer Service and Performance Management Quality Assurance units to furnish administrative, technical guidance and assistance to Regional, District and Field Office Management.
Support the adjudications process by ensuring program quality assurance, serving as liaison, leading regional and national workgroups, communicating decisions and independently conducting research in support of field, HQs, and Regional programs.
Develops standard operating policies and procedures designed to detect and prevent benefit fraud, and monitor progress to determine if objectives are being met.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment: You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National to apply for this position Successfully pass a Background Investigation including financial disclosure You must pass a drug screening Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service Political appointees may require OPM approval before on-boarding USCIS applies the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 to its telework program This position IS NOT considered "essential" for purposes of reporting to work when the facility might otherwise be closed. Residency Requirement: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This residency requirement states that candidates must have, for three of the last five years immediately prior to applying for this position; (1) resided in the United States; OR (2) worked for the United States Government as an employee overseas in a Federal or Military capacity, OR (3) been a dependent of a U.S. Federal or Military employee serving overseas. Probationary Period: You may be required to serve a probationary period of 1 year.
Education
EDUCATIONAL SUBSTITUTION: There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Training: Selected candidates are required to attend and successfully complete the USCIS Immigration Service Officer Basic (ISO BASIC) Training Program located with the USCIS Academy Training Center in Charleston, SC. The ISO BASIC Training Program is approximately 5-6 weeks of academic instruction on the Immigration and Nationality Act, Code of Federal Regulations, and other immigration-related topics. Failure to meet the minimum exam average by the end of the course is grounds for removal from the position. Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP): Per 5 CFR 576.202, An employee who receives a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) and later accepts employment for compensation with the Government of the United States within 5 years of the date of the separation on which the VSIP is based, including work under a personal services contract or other direct contract, must repay the entire amount of the VSIP to the agency that paid it (proof of payment is required) before the individual's first day of reemployment. Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Personnel Management guidance and U.S. Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions. Common definitions for hiring terms found in this announcement.
How you will be evaluated
Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. THIS IS A TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT NOT TO EXCEED (1) ONE YEAR BUT MAY BE EXTENDED FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR UP TO A TOTAL OF FIVE (5) YEARS. THE SELECTEE(S) MAY BE CONVERTED WITHOUT FURTHER COMPETITION, IF THE POSITION BECOMES PERMANENT. SELECTEES WHO ARE NOT CONVERTED TO PERMANENT POSITIONS WILL RETURN TO THEIR FORMER POSITION OF RECORD OR LIKE POSITION (SAME GRADE, FULL PERFORMANCE LEVEL AND LOCATION), AFTER COMPLETION OF THE TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13042111. Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) Eligible: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP eligible. View information about CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under CTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 77 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job announcement.