IMMIGRATION SERVICES OFFICER at Boston

JOB SUMMARY:

Do you desire to protect American interests and secure our Nation while building a meaningful and rewarding career? If so, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling. DHS components work collectively to prevent terrorism, secure borders, enforce and administer immigration laws, safeguard cyberspace and ensure resilience to disasters. The vitality and magnitude of this mission is achieved by a diverse workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services secures Americas promise as a nation of immigrants by providing accurate and useful information to our customers, granting immigration and citizenship benefits, promoting an awareness and understanding of citizenship, and ensuring the integrity of our immigration system. Visit us at www.uscis.gov.

 

Every day, our Immigration Services Officers: grant or deny complex and highly sensitive applications and petitions for immigration benefits and provide assistance to other federal agencies in identifying individuals who pose a threat to national security/public safety.

This position of IMMIGRATION SERVICES OFFICER starts at a salary of $62,758.00 (GS-11 step 1), with promotion potential to $97,787.00 (GS-12 step 10).  Apply for this exciting opportunity to become a member of the Field Operations Directorate, Office of Field Operations, District 1, Boston MA Field Office, Boston, MA within DHS US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

 

For definitions of terms found in this announcement, please click here 

 

USCIS will not pay relocation expenses.
This position is in the bargaining unit.
This position is not considered "essential" for purposes of reporting to work when the facility might otherwise be closed.

Relocation expenses are authorized if you are assigned to the RAIO program and have been approved for rotation from an overseas assignment. Relocation expenses for employees assigned to an OCONUS location will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Note: USCIS may fill one or more positions using this vacancy.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• 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 drug screening
• Meet relevant experience and/or education requirements.
• Current Federal employees must meet Time-in-Grade requirements
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service

DUTIES:Back to top

The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence, and limited complexity.

As an Immigration Services Officer, you will be responsible for the support of the Adjudication process by adjudicating cases, conducting security checks, interviewing applicants and petitioners, ensuring program quality assurance, conducting training, serving as liaison, and communicating decisions. You will:

• Grant or deny complex and highly sensitive applications and petitions for immigration benefits based on electronic or paper applications/petitions;
• Independently research, interpret and analyze an extensive spectrum of sources including pertinent sections of the law and regulations, operating instructions, references and guidance contained in legislative history, precedent decisions, state and local laws, international treaties and other legal references to embrace the correct course of action;
• Use available electronic systems to process applications and petitions through verification of any number of established data points to make adjudicative decisions and/or determine appropriate level of adjudicative review, and update databases with appropriate information and decisions;
• Conduct security checks in accordance with all applicable DHS/USCIS laws and policies;
• Provide direct and continuing assistance to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel and officials of other Federal agencies in identifying individuals who pose a threat to national/public security;
• Interview applicants and petitioners to elicit statements and assess credibility, and analyze information gained to identify facts and considerations that form the basis for the determination as to the applicants eligibility for specific benefits sought.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:Back to top

GS-11: You qualify at the GS-11 level if you possess one of the following:

• You qualify at the GS-11 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the federal government, which has equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. You must have experience performing the following duties: making final determinations on non-sensitive, routine immigration benefits. Determining applicant credibility, analyzing evidence, and applying statutory requirements, regulations and judicial and administrative precedents. OR
• You may substitute a doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent degree) or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in any field, or L.L.M. if related for experience at the GS-11 grade level or such education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise three years of graduate study. If that information is not available, use 54 semester or 81 quarter hours.

 

GS-12: In addition to the requirements at the lower grade level(s), you qualify at the GS-12 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the federal government, which has equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. You must have experience performing the following duties:

• Making final determinations on complex immigration cases involving eligibility for citizenship and immigration benefits.
• Writing final determinations with legal analysis to support decision.

COMBINING QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: If you do not qualify based on experience or education alone, you may be able to qualify based on a combination of your experience and education. For more information on combining education and experience, visit the following website: http://beta.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series 

Training: If you have not already done so, you will be required to attend a residential USCIS Officer training course. This technical training must be successfully completed according to the standards of the agency. Failure to do so will be grounds for mandatory removal from the position. Such failure will result in either reassignment to a different position, demotion, or separation by appropriate procedures.

 

Probationary Period: You may be required to serve a probationary period of 1 year.

 

The qualifications for this position must be met by 11:59pm (Eastern Time) on the closing date of this announcement (Wednesday, September 04, 2013).

Current Federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the lower grade or equivalent grade band in the Federal service.  The Time-in-Grade requirement must be met by 11:59pm (Eastern Time) on the closing date of this announcement (Wednesday, September 04, 2013).

 

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 dependant of a U.S. Federal or Military employee serving overseas.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

You will be evaluated for this position based upon information reflected in your resume.  Your resume must support your responses to the job specific assessment questionnaire, level of education claimed, experience, and/or training.  To remain in consideration for this position, please ensure your resume covers this requirement and that your application has been successfully submitted as part of your on-line application. 

 

The competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are:

• Active Listening
• Behavioral Indicators
• Information Management
• Legal Indicators
• Networking and Collaboration
• Project Management
• Rapport Building
• Reasoning
• Strategic Thinking

• Training Acumen

• Technology Awareness

• Written Communication

 

Creation of this package includes completing the on-line assessment questionnaire, uploading your resume, and uploading any required supporting documents.

NOTE : Your resume and supporting documentation will be verified.  If you rated yourself higher than what is supported by your application material, you may be excluded from consideration for this job. Please follow all instructions carefully.  Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

 

If you are found best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.  To preview the job questionnaire, click here View Assessment Questions.

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles:   If you have never worked for the Federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible.   Information about ICTAP or CTAP eligibility can be found by clicking here to access OPMs Career Transition Resources website.   To be considered well qualified under CTAP/ ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 95  for this position.   In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.

Country: USA, State: Massachusetts, City: Boston, Company: Citizenship and Immigration Services.