This announcement is open continuously until 10/31/2024, or until all positions are filled. It will be used to fill immediate and future vacancies for this agency. There may be multiple cut-off dates with the first being 5 business days after the initial open date. Additional cut-off dates may be established as needed or until all vacancies have been filled. There is no guarantee of if or when your application will be reviewed or referred.

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. Adjudicating complex and highly sensitive asylum applications and other adjudication managed by the asylum programs; conducting credible/reasonable fear screenings. Reviewing applications and supporting evidence, conducting interviews, performing security checks, and researching information provided by the Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate; the Department of State; and other sources. Interpreting and applying appropriate policy, regulations, statutes, and precedent decisions to make eligibility determinations. Producing written determinations supporting adjudications, such as asylum, NACARA, credible fear and reasonable fear decisions. Establishing and maintaining liaison with external federal agencies and non-governmental organizations, and/or private sector stakeholders involved in asylum benefits. The Asylum Division within USCIS is responsible for interviewing asylum seekers to determine whether they qualify for protection in the United States due to persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. These determinations are made while protecting national security, combating fraud, and protecting the legal immigration system through careful screening, vigilant interviews, and sound adjudications. Every day, Asylum Officers change lives while ensuring the integrity of our country's immigration system. Ideal Asylum Officer candidates have strong verbal, written, interpersonal, and critical thinking and analytical skills, as well as a steadfast commitment to administer and uphold laws and regulations.

Requirements

Qualifications

In order to qualify for the Asylum Officer position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: FOR THE GS-7 LEVEL: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Analyzing information gathered through research to summarize facts or provide written recommendations; or Performing research to gather specific information from a variety of sources (for example: databases, official reports and documents). -OR- Education: You may substitute successful completion of one year of full-time graduate education for the experience required at the GS-07 level. This education must 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- Combination of Education and Experience: Applicants must have a combination of the above-described education and specialized experience such that they total 100% when combined. To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience listed above; then determine your education as a percentage of the education listed above; then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent. -OR- Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): SAA at the baccalaureate level is fully qualifying for the GS-07 grade level. To qualify for SAA, you must have completed all requirements for a bachelor's degree in a field that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work, and meet ONE of the following: A grade point average of "B" (a GPA of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. A grade point average of "B+" (a GPA of 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. *Grade point averages are to be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9. Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. Membership in a national scholastic honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. **If more than 10 percent of your courses were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim must be based on class standing or membership in an honorary society. FOR THE GS-9 LEVEL: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Assisting individuals applying for immigration benefits by examining supporting documentation for authenticity or relevance, as well as researching and analyzing appropriate information for eligibility; or Interpreting and applying immigration laws, policies, and procedures as they relate to an individual's eligibility for immigration benefits. -OR- Education: You may substitute a Master's or equivalent degree, or two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a J.D. or L.L.B degree for experience required at the GS-09 grade level. Such education must 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. -OR- Combination of Education and Experience: Applicants must have a combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience as described above that totals 100 percent when combined. To compute, first determine total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determine total graduate education as a percentage of the graduate education required for the grade level; and then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (Only graduate education in excess of one year, i.e., 18 semester hours, may be combined with experience under this provision.) FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Recommending determinations on or representing applicants in non-sensitive, routine hearing or appeal requests involving immigration matters that includes determining applicant credibility, analyzing evidence, or applying statutory requirements, regulations or judicial and administrative precedents; or Researching or preparing formal recommendations or other written memoranda according to the provisions of the Immigration Nationality Act (INA). -OR- Education: You may substitute a doctoral degree (Ph.D. 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. Such education must 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. -OR- Combination of Education and Experience: Applicants must have a combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience as described above that totals 100 percent when combined. To compute, first determine total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determine total graduate education as a percentage of the graduate education required for the grade level; and then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (Only graduate education in excess of two years, i.e., 36 semester hours, may be combined with experience under this provision.) FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Making final determinations on complex asylum, refugee, or other immigration cases such as those providing eligibility for protection, resettlement or other immigration benefits; or Preparing written legal analysis or other written memoranda that advocate for sensitive or complex asylum, refugee, or other immigration cases, administrative proceedings, benefits, or appeal cases. Applicant's resume must explicitly indicate how they meet the requirement for each grade they elect consideration under to qualify, otherwise they will be found ineligible. Applicants must submit a copy of their transcript for verification if trying to qualify under education or a combination of education and experience. NOTE: 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 critical 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 experience.

Education

Are you qualifying based on education? Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from an accredited institution. Once selected and prior to appointment, applicants must provide an official college transcript. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. Your foreign education accreditation must come from an evaluation service that is endorsed by the Association of International Credential Evaluators or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. Failure to provide foreign accreditation from one of these organizations will result in removal from consideration. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Refugee, Asylum and Intl Ops 5900 Capital Gateway Drive Suite 2S110 Camp Springs, MD 20588 US
• Name: Midwest Services Branch
• Phone: 816-426-5706
• Email: [email protected]