The duties 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.

• Adjudicate complex and highly sensitive immigration benefits, asylum applications, other benefit applications managed by the asylum program, including motions to reopen and reconsider, and conduct credible/reasonable fear screenings.
• Review applications and supporting evidence, conduct interviews, and research appropriate information provided by the Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate, the Department of State, and other sources.
• Interpret and apply appropriate policy, regulations, statutes, and precedent decisions to make eligibility determinations.
• Produce written assessments supporting asylum, NACARA, credible fear and reasonable fear decisions. 
• Establish and maintain liaison with external federal agencies and non-governmental organizations, and/or private sector stakeholders involved in asylum benefits.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National to apply for this position
• Successfully pass a Background Investigation including financial disclosure
• You must pass a drug screening
• Meet relevant experience and/or education requirements
• You must submit resume and supporting documentation
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Must complete initial online questionnaire and additional assessment(s)
• Political appointees may require OPM approval before on-boarding.

Probationary Period: You may be required to serve a probationary period of 1 year.

The qualifications for this position must be met by 11:59pm (Eastern Time) on the closing date of this announcement (Tuesday, May 02, 2017).

Residency Requirement:  There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.  This residency requirement states that candidates must have, for three of the last five years immediately prior to applying for this position; (1) resided in the United States; OR (2) worked for the United States Government as an employee overseas in a Federal or Military capacity, OR (3) been a dependent of a U.S. Federal or Military employee serving overseas.

Travel:  Frequent travel is required for this position. Asylum Officers are required to travel to circuit-ride locations (locations established to serve applicants in distant locations from the home asylum office, generally at other USCIS District Offices and detention facilities) to conduct interviews.  As immigration emergencies arise, selectee may be required to travel to other locations as well, sometimes for extended periods, to conduct interviews.

Training:  If you have not already done so, you will be required to attend the residential, paid RAIO Combined Training course and the Division-specific course(s), that relate to this position, at a USCIS training facility. Depending on the position, the courses may last up to nine weeks, including six weeks of residential training and three weeks of online training. In addition, if you have not already done so, you will be required to attend the residential, paid BASIC Immigration Officer training program, lasting six weeks, at a USCIS training facility. The trainings must be completed successfully according to the standards of the agency. Failure to do so will be grounds for mandatory removal from the position. Such failure will result in either reassignment to a different position, demotion, or separation by appropriate procedures.

For  the Karnes City, TX and Dilley, TX locations, the following requirements apply - Texas Family Residential Center Requirements: The State of Texas requires individuals working in Family Residential Centers (FRCs) to obtain a state background clearance and medical clearance prior to beginning work. Failure to meet these requirements may result in withdrawal of the job offer.

Qualifications

Ideal candidates for the Asylum Officer position include individuals with graduate degrees in public policy, political science, international relations or studies, philosophy, clinical psychology, and law. Ideal candidates should possess strong verbal, written and analytical skills, as well as experience formulating and articulating research–based findings in time-sensitive environments.

GS-9:  You qualify at the GS-9 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-7 level in the Federal government, which has equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. You must have experience performing the following duties:

• Assisting individuals applying for immigration benefits by examining supporting documentation for authenticity and relevance, as well as researching and analyzing appropriate information for eligibility; and,
• Interpreting and applying immigration laws, policies and procedures as they relate to an individual's eligibility for immigration benefits. 

OR

• 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-9 grade level. Such education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and 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. This education must be in one of the following areas: public policy, political science, public administration, diplomacy, international relations or studies, philosophy, clinical psychology, law, social work, anthropology, mass communication, journalism, history, economics, or a related degree field.

GS-11: You qualify at the GS-11 if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-9 level in the Federal government, which has equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. In addition to the requirements for the lower grade level, you must have experience performing the following duties:

• Recommending final determinations on or representing applicants in non-sensitive, routine hearing or appeal requests involving immigration matters that includes determining applicant credibility, analyzing evidence, and applying statutory requirements, regulations and judicial and administrative precedents. 

OR

• You may substitute a doctoral degree (PhD 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 or such education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and 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. This education must be in one of the following areas: public policy, political science, public administration, diplomacy, international relations or studies, philosophy, clinical psychology, law, social work, anthropology, mass communication, journalism, history, economics, or a related degree field.

GS-12:  You qualify at the GS-12 if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal government, which has equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. In addition to the requirements for the lower grade levels, you must have experience performing the following duties:

• Preparing legal briefs or other written memoranda that advocate for sensitive and complex hearing or appeal cases involving eligibility for asylum, suspension of deportation, or other immigration benefits; or,
• Making final determinations on complex asylum, refugee, or other immigration cases involving eligibility for protection and resettlement and writing final determinations with legal analysis to support decisions.

Please read the following IMPORTANT information to ensure we have everything we need to consider your application.

It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.  Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience and education (if applicable), as it relates to this job opportunity.  Please be clear and specific when describing your work history as we cannot make assumptions regarding your experience.  Your application will also be rated and ranked among others, 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 ALL of this information may result in a finding of ineligible.

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 criteria 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 service. Please provide the dates and amount of time/hours worked earning this experience.

 Paid Internship Experience: Applicant's work as part of a paid internship, for which course credit is not received, may be evaluated as work experience. It is the applicant's responsibility to clearly identify in their resume any paid internship that would qualify for consideration. The applicant must provide their transcript for verification purposes.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your résumé and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, we will place you in one of three categories based on your responses to the on-line questionnaire regarding experience, education and training.

• Best Qualified: Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a superior level of all evaluation criteria.
• Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a satisfactory level of the evaluation criteria.
• Qualified: Applicants possessing the basic qualifications, with general knowledge, skills, and abilities.

The assessments for this job will measure:

• Oral Communication
• Decision Making
• Interpersonal Skills
• Organizational Awareness
• Technical Competence
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Flexibility
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Integrity/Honesty
• Reading
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

NOTE: Your resume and supporting documentation will be verified. If you rated yourself higher than what is supported by your application material, you may be excluded from consideration for this job. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment

If you fall into best qualified category, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.  To preview the job questionnaire, click here View Assessment Questions. 

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles:  If you have never worked for the Federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible.  Information about CTAP or ICTAP eligibility can be found by clicking here to access OPM's Career Transition Resources website.   To be considered well qualified under CTAP/ ICTAP, you mustbe placed in the Well-Qualified   categoryfor this position, as described above.   In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.

Veterans:   Veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify.   Veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific, professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher.  This position is not considered scientific/professional.   For information on veterans' preference, please click here.