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Immigration Services Officer (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; Albany, NY; Buffalo, NY; Holtsville, NY; Kings, NY; New York, NY; Queens, NY; Cincinnati, OH; Providence, RI.

This position goes from GS-05, step 01 ($36,118 per year) to GS-07, step 10 ($67,598 per year), with promotion potential to GS-09, step 10 ($82,693 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 OFFICER, you will independently research, interpret and analyze an extensive spectrum of sources in order to accurately adjudicate immigration benefits and petitions.

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-09 grade level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope performed with less independence, and limited complexity.
  • Grant or deny applications and petitions for immigration benefits and determine appropriate level of adjudicative review and update databases with appropriate information and decisions.
  • 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.
  • Gather information using a variety of methods including document review, electronic systems checks, interviews, etc. to make adjudicative decisions on immigration benefit applications/petitions.
  • 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 who pose a threat to national/public security.
  • Conduct security checks in accordance with all applicable DHS/USCIS laws and policies.
  • Provide applicant/petitioner/beneficiary support including liaison with internal and external stakeholders, problem resolution, and in-person services. 

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 three (3) years of progressively responsible experience, one (1) year of which was experience equivalent to the GS-04 grade level, which has 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 and providing excellent customer service.
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: In addition to the requirements at the lower grade level(s), to 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 drafting appropriate 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 a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, class standing in the upper third of a graduating class or major subdivision or membership in a national scholastic honor society.
 
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.
  • 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.

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.
 
  1. Visit www.usajobs.gov and log in to your user account, or create an account if you do not have one.
  2. Once you have created an account and logged in, visit https://www.usajobs.gov/job/655806900 to view the full job opportunity announcement and apply.
  3. Review the entire announcement for any additional requirements of the position and the required documents.
  4. 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.