This position is located in the Administrative Appeals Office, Humanitarian Benefits Division and Employment Benefits Division. As an Appeals Officer, you will conduct a thorough review of the record of proceedings and write detailed decisions for employment-based or humanitarian-based immigration case types within the jurisdiction of the USCIS administrative appellate authority.

Duties

Conducts legal research to write detailed decisions on appeals and motions after denial of a benefit under Federal immigration and nationality laws. Researches and writes decisions on cases certified to the Administrative Appeals Office involving unusually complex or novel issues of law or fact. Conducts de novo review and analysis of the record of proceedings and any additional evidence (e.g., legal brief) submitted in support of an appeal, motion, or certification. Writes decisions for diverse audiences using plain language, summarizing procedural history, citing applicable statutes and regulations, applying binding law and USCIS policy, in determining whether eligibility for a benefit has been established. Assists attorneys representing USCIS in Federal court litigation by providing subject matter expertise to the legal issues and evidence presented. Supports the adjudication process through quality assurance, mentoring, and providing training support. USCIS field offices and support centers utilize AAO decisions for training purposes.

Requirements

Qualifications

The qualifications for this position must be met by 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on 01/17/2025. Time in Grade does not apply to Delegated Examining Announcements, any reference to Time in Grade in the questionnaire will not apply to the rating and ranking of applicants. GS-14: You qualify at the GS-14 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-13 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: Adjudicating applications and petitions for employment-based and/or humanitarian-based immigration benefits. Writing legal briefs in support of applications and petitions for employment-based and/or humanitarian-based immigration benefits. Writing legal briefs in support of appeal from denial of immigration benefits (e.g., as an attorney or paralegal in an immigration practice). Writing decisions for an appellate authority (e.g., Board of Immigration Appeals). Writing legal briefs or motions relating to immigration litigation (e.g., Office of Chief Counsel, Office of Immigration Litigation, Civil Division within Department of Justice) for immigration benefit applications/petitions or matters involving complex or novel issues of law or fact. 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 01/17/2025. 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 5 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 5 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 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

EDUCATIONAL SUBSTITUTION: There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address
• Name: HROC Staffing Help Desk
• Phone: 952-697-8380
• Email: HROCStaffingHelpDesk@uscis.dhs.gov