This is a career ladder position for a Visa Specialist with a target grade level of GS -12. This position is located in the Waiver Review Division, Office of Domestic Operations, Visa Services Directorate, Bureau of Consular Affairs (CA/VO/DO/W).  The Waiver Review Division reviews and adjudicates requests for waivers of the J -1 visa two-year home-country physical presence requirement of Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

Duties

Interprets regulations and policies in reviewing and adjudicating the full range of the Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 212(e) waiver review cases submitted by exchange visitor program applicants. Researches policy and regulatory guidance to appropriately analyze and resolve assigned cases and determine statutory requirements for case-specific situations and issues, some of which may be unprecedented in nature. Provides expert advice and guidance to consular officers at overseas posts, applicants, and officials of foreign governments on a broad range of policy and procedural matters related to unusual and highly complex waivers. Keeps current with changes in the culture, economy, and political environment in various countries with Exchange Visitor Program participants and analyzes the potential impact of such changes on the 212(e) waiver review process.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. If you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application.  NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F. Specialized Experience: GS-09:  Applicants applying for the GS-09 must meet one of the qualification requirements listed below: A. Completion of at least 1 full year of specialized experience (equivalent to at least the GS-7 level in the Federal service) which demonstrated knowledge of immigration and/or passport laws, regulations, procedures and policies. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience researching and analyzing immigration and visa law. OR B. Completion of a Master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of graduate level education, or higher degree, e .g. LL.B or J.D., LL.M or Ph.D., in law or other administrative or management fields related to the position to be filled. OR C. Combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above. If you have some but not all of the experience or education described above, you may still qualify by combining the amount of creditable experience and education that you do have. To do so, convert each to a percentage and then add the percentages the sum of which must equal at least 100%. Only graduate level education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to combine education and experience. NOTE:  If you are qualifying based on education, you must submit a copy of your college transcript with your application, and if selected, an official college transcript will be required to verify education prior to employment. GS-11:  To qualify for the GS-11, you must meet A, B or C as follows: A. At least one year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service, that demonstrates the ability to plan and coordinate program activities and the ability to make decisions; the ability to communicate orally and to meet and deal; the ability to assemble data, analyze management problems and recommend solutions; the ability to research, interpret and apply regulatory and precedent material; the ability to communicate in writing; and the ability to interpret statistical data. Qualifying specialized experience may have been gained in work such as developing, examining, investigating, adjudicating, or authorizing claims arising under the immigration and/or nationality laws of the United States. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience reviewing Exchange Visitor visa program two-year home-country physical presence requirement waiver requests. B. A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or have successfully completed three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree. Major field of study should be public administration, political science, or other field related to this position. C. A combination of specialized experience as described in A and more than two years of graduate education as described in B which totals at least one year. To compute, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond two years by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. NOTE:  If you are qualifying based on education, you must submit a copy of your college transcript with your application, and if selected, an official college transcript will be required to verify education prior to employment. GS-12:  Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.  Qualifying specialized experience may have been gained in work such as developing, examining, investigating, adjudicating, or authorizing claims arising under the immigration and/or nationality laws of the United States. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience researching and analyzing the Exchange Visitor’s visa program to detect conflicts and inconsistencies. There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-12 grade level.

Education

See the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement for education requirements.

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials, visit: www.naces.org/members.php.

Contacts

• Address U.S. Department of State Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS) 8899 East 56th Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46249 United States
• Name: Patricia A. Briggs
• Phone: 317-212-7623
• Email: [email protected]