SUMMARY

This position is located in the Service Centers Operations Directorate.
As an Immigration Services Officer, you may conduct in-person interviews to adjudicate applications for immigration benefits and assist other federal agencies in identifying those who pose a threat to national security and public safety.

QUALIFICATIONS

The qualifications for this position must be met by 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on 09/16/2025.

EDUCATION

Please read the following important information to ensure you submit everything we need to consider your application: It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit your responses and appropriate documentation prior to 09/16/2025.Your resume will be used to determine your qualifications for the position advertised in this announcement. Therefore, your resume must highlight your most relevant, significant experience related to the requirements found in the qualification section of this announcement, as well as any applicable education. USCIS will only review the first 2 pages of your resume to determine your initial eligibility/qualifications for a position. As such, please be sure to include content to support your eligibility/qualifications for this position within the first 2 pages. Please note that your full resume will be made available to the hiring manager if you are referred. Be clear and specific when describing your work history since human resources cannot make assumptions regarding your experience. Your application will be rated and ranked based on your responses to the online questions.Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information:

• Job Title (include series and grade if Federal Job)
• Duties (be specific in describing your duties)
• Employer’s name and address
• Supervisor name and phone number
• Start and end dates including month, day and year (e.g. June 18 2007 to April 05 2008)
• Start and end dates for each grade/pay level if you’ve held a federal position.
• Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
• Salary

DETERMINING LENGTH OF GENERAL OR SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE IS DEPENDENT ON THE ABOVE INFORMATION AND FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE ABOVE INFORMATION MAY RESULT IN A FINDING OF INELIGIBLE.

Note: Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.
Federal Experience: If you are using current or prior federal experience as a basis for qualifying for this position, the grade levels and length of employment (mm/dd/year) at each grade level must be listed in your work history. This information will be further validated if selected for this position.
National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build criteria competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer service.
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: General Schedule Qualification Standards. Transcript required: If you don’t submit a transcript, we will not use your education when deciding if you’re qualified for the job. For verification purposes, the transcript submitted must include your name and educational institution.
Training: If you have not already done so, you will be required to attend and complete a USCIS Officer training course. This is typically provided through a blended approach of virtual instruction followed by in-residence instruction at a training venue. 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.

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

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.
• Screening and vetting to grant or deny complex applications and petitions for immigration benefits based on electronic or paper applications, petitions, and in-person interviews.
• Research and interpret sources including immigration laws and regulations,operating instructions, legislative history, precedent decisions, state and local laws, and international treaties to determine adjudicative decision.
• Process electronic or paper applications and petitions for immigration benefits using available electronic systems to verify numerous established data points.
• Provide direct assistance to personnel/officials of other Federal agencies in identifying individuals whopose a threat to national/public security.
• Conduct security checks in accordance with all applicable DHS/USCIS laws and policies.
• Plans and conducts independent research concerning the eligibility and entitlement of persons seeking benefits, employment, and/or legal status under the Immigration and Nationality Act as amended.
• Adjudicate applications and petitions for benefits under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
• Conducts preliminary fact-finding and initiates further action where information indicates fraud has been detected.
• Independently researches, interprets, and analyzes an extensive spectrum of sources including pertinent sections of the law and regulations.
• Screening and vetting to grant or deny complex applications and petitions for immigration benefits based on electronic or paper applications/petitions.

GS-05: You qualify at the GS-05 level if you possess three (3) years of general experience, one (1) year of which was equivalent to at least the GS-04 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. You must have experience performing the following duties:

• Analyzing problems, gathering pertinent data and recognizing solutions;
• Planning and organizing work to ensure timely completion;
• Communicating clearly, both orally and in writing. OR
• You may substitute successful completion of a Bachelor’s degree or a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a Bachelor’s degree for the experience required at the GS-05 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-07: You qualify at the GS-07 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. You must have experience performing the following duties:

• Performing preliminary examinations of applications and petitions for immigration benefits, evaluating evidence and draftingappropriate correspondence;
• Ensuring required supporting documentation is included in application package(s) and applying necessary immigration laws,policies and procedures;
• Reviewing immigration benefit applications to determine adjudicative decision. OR
• You may substitute successful completion of one year of fulltime graduate education for the experience required at the GS-07 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-07 level. You must have completed the requirements for a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with either: (1) class standing in the upper third of a graduating class or major subdivision; or, (2) a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale based on four (4) years of education or the final two (2) years; or, (3) a grade point average of 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final two (2) years of the curriculum; or, (4) membership in a national scholastic honor society

GS-09: You qualify at the GS-09 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. You must have experience performing the following duties:

• Examining, evaluating evidence, and analyzing immigration benefits documents received for authenticity;
• Researching, analyzing and applying appropriate immigration laws, policies and procedures;
• Interpreting and applying immigration laws, policies and procedures;
• Adjudicating immigration benefits based on reviews of applications in coordination with policies;
• Assisting individuals applying for immigration benefits that included analyzing documents for authenticity;
• Making final adjudication determinations on complex applications and petitions for immigration benefits; and
• Researches government system to conduct security checks and applicant file searches in accordance with the laws and policies. OR
• You may substitute a Master’s degree or two (2) full years of graduate education leading to such a degree in any field, or a J.D. or L.L.B. degree for experience required at the GS-09 grade level. 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 two years of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 36 semester or 54 quarter hours

GS-11: You qualify at the GS-11 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the federal government, that 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 matters related to the Immigration and Nationality Act, or representing applicants on non-sensitive, routine hearing or appear requests involving immigration matter, that included determining applicant credibility, analyzing evidence, and applying statutory requirements, regulations, judicial and administrative precedents;
• Researching and writing well-organized, complex legal decisions consistent with adjudicative standards and legislation;
• Making final adjudication determinations on complex applications and petitions for immigration benefits;
• Deciding on motions to reopen or reconsider cases; and
• Conducting quality assurance reviews of work completed during the adjudication process to ensure productivity, efficiency, andintregrity. OR
• You may substitute a doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent degree) or three (3) 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: You qualify at the GS-12 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. You must have experience performing the following duties:

• Independently analyzing immigration laws, policies, and precedent decisions;
• Analyzing information and documents to determine credibility and eligibility for immigration benefits;
• Raising new or novel issues for further clarification;
• Making final determinations on sensitive, complex immigration cases involving eligibility for citizenship and immigration benefits, orpreparing legal briefs or other written memoranda that advocate for a determination in complex hearing or appeal cases;
• Writing final determinations with legal analysis to support decisions;
• Researching and analyzing laws and regulations independently to determine the eligibility and entitlement of immigration benefits;
• Reviewing the adjudication process to ensure it is performed correctly and actively analyze process improvement to enhance the efficiency; and
• Resolving technical, complex and sensitive adjudicative issues of a problem or highly visible nature