Immigration Officer

Summary

Protect your homeland and defend your culture. Join USCIS, America’s frontline defense against illegal foreign infiltration and fraud. As an Immigration Officer, you will provide guidance, conduct research for the purpose of enhancing current policies and procedures, and identify, articulate, and pursue suspected immigration benefit fraud.

Duties

• The responsibilities 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.
• Identify, articulate, and pursue suspected immigration benefit fraud, egregious public safety cases, and national security concerns
• Serve as a liaison and collaborate with a variety of internal and external Department of Homeland Security entities regarding national policies and procedures.
• Prepare concept and position papers designed to enhance a variety of policies, procedures, and projects.
• Coordinate, plan, and organize briefings and information exchange-related programs and projects.
• Serve as an expert in the development and dissemination of regulatory information to include, standard operating procedures, operational manuals, and other background and security check information.

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 and remote work programs This position IS NOT considered “essential” for purposes of reporting to work when the facility might otherwise be closed.
• THIS IS NOT A LAW ENFORCEMENT (COVERED) POSITION.
• 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.
• Shift Work: Shift work may be required.
• Motor Vehicle Operation: This position requires operation of a motor vehicle.
• You must possess a current valid driver’s license.

Education

EDUCATIONAL SUBSTITUTION: There is no educational substitution at these grade levels.

The Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS) was established within USCIS to strengthen national security and the integrity of the country’s legal immigration system by closely aligning the adjudication of immigration benefits and services with the identification of potential threats to national security and/or public safety, the detection and deterrence of fraud, and the use of law enforcement and intelligence information to ensure optimal security for U.S. communities.

FDNS systematically identifies updates, and records indicators of fraudulent activities; manages fraud cases; identifies vulnerabilities and other weaknesses that compromise the integrity of the legal immigration system; and coordinates and provides logistical support in law enforcement and national security matters.

FDNS is the primary conduit for information sharing and collaboration with law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Training: If you have not already done so, you will be required to attend the residential, paid FDNS Officer Basic Training course.

Additionally, if you have not already done so, you will be required to attend the residential, paid USCIS BASIC Officer training program, lasting six weeks, at a USCIS training facility. Both trainings 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. Training: New recruits will attend a 6-week BASIC training program (if not previously attended). 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. FOBTP: Selectees will be required to attend FOBTP (FDNS Officer Basic Training Program). A pre-requisite to this course is attendance at USCIS BASIC (if not previously attended).

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Under the provisions of the Direct Hire Authority, veterans’ preference and category rating do not apply. Your resume must support the 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 resume has been successfully submitted as part of your application package.

NOTE: Your resume and supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your consideration for employment. You may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be contacted for an interview.

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligible: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP or ICTAP eligibility on 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 job announcement.

Note: Applicants who are referred to the hiring office for selection consideration may be required to complete a writing sample and/or other writing exercise as part of the interview/selection process.

If the hiring office decides to request a writing sample and/or other writing exercise as part of its selection process, a designated contractor or Agency representative will contact you to: (1) inform you of this requirement; and (2) provide further instructions.

Required Documents

• Resume: You must submit a resume that clearly demonstrates you have experience that meets the requirements of this position as outlined in the “Qualifications” section.
• Limit your resume to no more than two pages.
• The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.
• To help ensure your resume remains clear and easy to read, we recommend using margins of at least 0.8 inches and a font size of at least 11 point.
• The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707.
• Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission.
• If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs.
• To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
• Are you a current or former Federal employee?
• Submit a copy of your official SF-50* (no text version) or other official “Notification of Personnel Action” document that shows the following information: your appointment in the competitive service tenure grade and step full performance level Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP)?
• Submit: a copy of your agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and a copy of your most recent SF-50*, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
• Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee?
• Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50*, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position Title Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee) Agency Beginning and ending dates of appointment * A General Adjustment, Detail, Any Award (Cash, Time Off, Performance, etc.) or Realignment SF-50 may NOT have the information needed.
• 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.