Immigration Services Assistant (Office Automation) (Recent Graduate)
Every day, we change lives.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States. We are 19,000 government employees and contractors working at more than 200 offices across the world.
Our Mission: USCIS upholds America’s promise as a nation of welcome and possibility with fairness, integrity, and respect for all we serve.
Visit uscis.gov/careers to learn more about what it means to work for USCIS.
This position is in the Field Operations Directorate, Office of Field Operations, Northeast Regional Field Offices in Hartford, CT; Indianapolis, IN; Louisville, KY; Boston, MA; Lawrence, MA; Portland, ME; Manchester, NH; Mount Laurel, NJ; Newark, NJ; Albany, NY; Brooklyn, NY; Buffalo, NY; Holtsville, NY; Kings, NY; New York, NY; Queens, NY; Cincinnati, OH; Cleveland, OH; Columbus, OH; Philadelphia, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Providence, RI.
This position goes from GS-05, step 01 ($36,118 per year) to GS-06, step 10 ($60,836 per year), with promotion potential to GS-07, step 10 ($67,598 per year). The actual salary will be set based on the grade, step, and location of the selectee(s) and/or position. View the 2022 Locality Pay Charts for more information.
As an IMMIGRATION SERVICES ASSISTANT (OFFICE AUTOMATION), you will support the Adjudication Services Process by assisting Immigration Services Officers, manage files, databases, and correspondence, provide security checks, research, and analyze data, prepare reports and provide direct service to customers.
Duties
As a participant in the Pathways Recent Graduates Program, you will receive both formal and on-the-job training to develop the required knowledge and skill to successfully perform the responsibilities of the position.
The responsibilities described are for the GS-07 grade level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope performed with less independence, and limited complexity.
- Pre-screening various applications and submissions by USCIS customers for accuracy and completeness of initial supporting documentation.
- Scheduling applicant appointments, communicating directly with applicants and their representatives.
- Performing analysis on files, reports, and information systems and databases to update information and maintain data integrity.
- Producing highly sensitive and secure documents.
- Identifying incoming applications that require expedited service or requests for fee waivers and channel those through the correct work process.
- Editing and creating office documents and correspondence using office automation software, i.e. graphics, databases, spreadsheets, and word processing.
- Managing individual case files, accounting for the movement of files to other locations, conducting audits of files and acting as a records liaison with other agencies.
Qualifications
This is a Recent Graduate position in the Pathways Program. Selected individuals are placed in a dynamic one year developmental program in the excepted service designed to lead to a civil service career in the Federal government. At the successful conclusion of this program, the agency may non-competitively convert individuals to a term or permanent position in the competitive service. Conversion to a Federal competitive service position will be at the discretion of the agency and is neither guaranteed nor implied.
GS-05: You qualify at the GS-05 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is 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:
- Performing office automation duties using word processing to edit and reformat correspondence and reports.
- Creating and maintaining spreadsheets/databases.
- Responding to inquiries by phone and/or in writing.
- Reviewing and verifying accuracy and completeness of submitted documents for benefits.
OR
- You may substitute successful completion of four (4) years of education above high school for the experience required at the GS-5 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. Appropriate combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience also may be used to meet the total qualification requirements for the GS-5 grade level.
GS-06: In addition to the requirements at the lower grade level(s), to qualify at the GS-06 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 office automation duties requiring different approaches and methods from one assignment to another.
- Reviewing and screening applications for benefits to ensure validity of documentation submitted.
- Providing routine information and assistance on applications for benefits.
- Maintaining subject matter files, technical instructions, and/or operating procedures.
The qualifications for this position must be met by 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on the closing date of this announcement.
Other Information
- Locations: The physical duty station for the Queens Field Office, New York Field Office and Brooklyn Field Office is the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building at 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278. The physical duty location for the Long Island Field Office is Holtsville, New York. The Newark Field Office will be opening a Central New Jersey office in Cranbury Township, NJ in calendar year 2022. Some positions filled through this announcement may be relocated to the new office location once it opens. This field office will be located in Cranbury Township Middlesex, NJ at the following address: 8 Cedarbrook Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512.
- RECENT GRADUATE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY: To meet the Program requirements, you must have obtained a qualifying degree to include an Associates, Bachelor's, Master's, Professional, Doctorate, OR obtained a Vocational, Technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution, within the previous two years. Preference eligible veterans who were precluded from applying due to their military service obligation, begin their two year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty. Eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed six years from the date on which the degree or certification was completed.
- Pathways Participant Agreement: All Recent Graduates are required to sign the Pathways Program Participant Agreement which outlines program requirements and non-competitive conversion eligibility.
- Typing Certification: Applicants must be able to type at least 40 words per minute. You can self-certify by submitting a statement that you can type this speed.
- General Office Skills: Applicants must possess knowledge of general office automation software, practices, and procedures.
- Physical Demands: Applicants must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.
Who May Apply
Recent graduates (individuals who have graduated from an accredited educational institute or certificate program within the last two years, or up to 6 years for veterans who were precluded from applying within the two years due to military service).
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through USAJOBS to be considered.
- Visit www.usajobs.gov and log in to your user account, or create an account if you do not have one.
- Once you have created an account and logged in, visit https://www.usajobs.gov/job/655807200 to view the full job opportunity announcement and apply.
- Review the entire announcement for any additional requirements of the position and the required documents.
- Follow all directions in the "How To Apply" section of the USAJOBS announcement referenced above. Your complete application and all supporting materials must be received by 11:59pm Eastern Time on the closing date of the job announcement listed in USAJOBS.