IMMIGRATION SERVICES OFFICER at Saint Albans

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 http://www.uscis.gov/.

Every day, our Immigration Services Officers 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. This position of IMMIGRATION SERVICES OFFICER with a salary range of $31,315.00(GS-05 step 1) to $50,431.00 (GS-07 step 10), with a Full Performance Level of GS-9.  Apply for this exciting opportunity to become a member of the Vermont Service Center, St. Albans, VT OR Essex, VT within DHS US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The vacancy announcement shows the location to be St. Albans; however, the Vermont Service Center has two sites, St. Albans and Essex Junction, Vermont.  The determination as to what location the position is assigned to has not been made at this time.

 

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

 

Shift work may be required.  Shift differential will apply.

Note: The purpose of this notice is to recruit candidates for full-time permanent and term positions. Competition is open to all individuals who feel they can meet the qualification requirements identified in this vacancy announcement. Candidates who accept term positions may be converted to permanent positions without further competition. Term appointment is not-to-exceed thirteen months; however, it may be extended up to a total of four years without further competition. Selectee(s) for the term position, if currently holding a career or career-conditional appointment, is NOT guaranteed return rights to their former position at the expiration date of the appointment. Please note that if you are offered a term appointment and decline, your name will be removed from further consideration under this announcement. Term employees are eligible to earn leave and generally have the same benefits as permanent employees including health and life insurance, within-grade increases and Federal Employees Retirement System and Thrift Savings Plan coverage.

 

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.

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 a drug screening
• Meet relevant experience and/or education requirements
• You must submit resume and supporting documentation
• 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 support the adjudication process by adjudicating cases, conducting security checks, managing correspondence, providing internal and external customer support, and ensuring program quality assurance. You will:

• 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.
• Grant or deny applications and petitions for immigration benefits based on electronic or paper applications/petitions.
• Process applications and petitions using available electronic systems 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.

 

As an Immigration Services Officer, you may serve as the Congressional Liaison Officer:

• Draft, review, revise and issue written and oral responses to congressional inquiries within prescribed timeframes.
• Develop and maintain liaison with Congressional staff on a variety of immigration-related issues.
• Interpret and apply technical guidelines and provide advisory and informational services to Congressional staff on specific cases or operational or policy matters.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:Back to top

GS-5: You qualify at the GS-5 level if you possess one of the following:

• Three years of progressively responsible experience, one year of which was experience equivalent to the GS-4 grade level that demonstrates the ability to analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions; plan and organize work; communicate effectively orally and in writing; and deal effectively with others in person-to-person situations. Such experience may have been gained in administrative, professional, technical, investigative, or other responsible work. Experience in substantive and relevant secretarial, clerical, or other responsible work is qualifying if it provided evidence of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of this position. Experience of a general clerical nature (typing, filing, routine procedural processing, maintaining records, or other non-specialized tasks) is not creditable. OR
• You may substitute successful completion of a Bachelors degree or a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a Bachelors degree for the experience required at the GS-5 grade level. This education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university. One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester or 45 quarter hours.

 

GS-7: You qualify at the GS-7 level if you possess one of the following:

• One year of specialized experience at the GS-5 grade level that demonstrates the ability to perform preliminary examinations of applications/petitions for immigration benefits. Ensure required supporting documentation is included and apply immigration laws, policies and procedures. OR
• You may substitute successful completion of one year of fulltime graduate education for the experience required at the GS-7 level. This education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university and demonstrate the skills necessary to do the work of the position. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise a year of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 18 semester or 27 quarter hours. OR
• You may also substitute superior academic achievement for the experience required at the GS-7 level. You must have completed the requirements for a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, class standing in the upper third of a graduating class or major subdivision, or membership in a national scholastic honor society.

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://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/IORs/gs1800/1801a.htm

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 (Monday, July 15, 2013).

Training: New recruits will attend a minimum 5-week BASIC training program generally held in Dallas, Texas, with possible visits to other locations. 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.

Residency Requirement: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services. This residency requirement states that candidates must have, for three of the last five years immediately prior to applying for this position(s); (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.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

We will review your résumé and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, we will place you in one of three categories based on your responses to the on-line questionnaire regarding experience, education and training.

• Best Qualified: Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a superior level of all evaluation criteria.
• Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a satisfactory level of the evaluation criteria.
• Qualified: Applicants possessing the basic qualifications, with general knowledge, skills, and abilities.

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

• Customer Service
• Problem-Solving
• Oral and Written Communication
• Manages and Organizes Information

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 best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. 

 

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 OPM’s Career Transition Resources website.  To be considered well qualified under CTAP/ ICTAP, you must be placed in the Well-Qualified category for this position, as described above.  In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.

 

Veterans:  Veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify.  Veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific, professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher.  This position is not considered scientific/professional.  For information on veterans’ preference, please click here. 

 

On November 21, 2011, The President signed the VOW (Veterans Opportunity to Work) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-56).  The VOW Act amended chapter 21 of title 5, United States Code (U.S.C.) by adding section 2108a, “Treatment of certain individuals as veterans, and preference eligible.”

 

This job opportunity announcement (JOA) includes Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-56).  Active duty service members who have begun their civilian job search prior to discharge or release from active duty will know how their application will be considered.

 

·   Applicants who are active duty service members and apply for federal employment shall be considered for competitive service positions and granted tentative veteran’s preference status when they submit a certification, in lieu of a DD214, when applying to a federal job.

·  A certification is any written document from the armed forces that certifies that the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions no later than 120 days from the date of the certification is signed.

·  Based on the immediate need to fill this position, the service member must be within the 120 day timeline and an actual expected date of discharge or separation must be clearly defined, or they will not be considered at this time.

 

Country: USA, State: Vermont, City: Saint Albans, Company: Citizenship and Immigration Services.