Clarification from the agency

Current Federal Employees with competitive status; Reinstatement, OPM Interchange Agreement, VEOA, VRA, Schedule A, Surplus/Displaced eligibles.

• 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.
• Pre-screen various applications and submissions by USCIS customers for accuracy and completeness of initial supporting documentation and schedule applicant appointments, communicating directly with applicants.
• Perform analysis on files, reports, and information systems and databases to update information and maintain data integrity.
• Produce highly sensitive and secure documents.
• Identify incoming applications that require expedited service or requests for fee waivers and channel those through the correct work process.
• Edit and create office documents and correspondence using office automation software, i.e. databases, spreadsheets and word processing, manage individual case files, and act as a records liaison with other agencies.

Conditions of employment

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 07/26/2019.

Current Federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the lower grade or equivalent grade band in the Federal service. The Time-in-Grade requirement must be met by 11:59pm (Eastern Time) on the closing date of this announcement 07/26/2019.

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.

Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

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.
• You must submit resume and supporting documentation.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Political appointees may require OPM approval before on-boarding.

Qualifications

Relocation expenses are authorized if you are a USCIS employee assigned to the Refugee, Asylum and International Operations program and have been approved for rotation from an overseas assignment. Relocation expenses for USCIS employees assigned to an OCONUS location will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

GS-5: You qualify at the GS-5 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to the GS-4 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 complex office automation duties using word processing to edit and reformat lengthy correspondence and reports, creating and maintaining spreadsheets and databases, responding to inquiries by phone and/or in writing, reviewing and verifying accuracy and completeness of submitted documents for benefits.

You may substitute successful completion of 4 years above high school 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-6: In addition to the requirements at the lower grade level(s), you qualify at the GS-6 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to the GS-5 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:

• 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.

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

GS-7: In addition to the requirements at the lower grade level(s), you qualify at the GS-7 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to the GS-6 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:

• Analyzing and evaluating cases where expedited screening or resolution of requests for immigration benefits is necessary, determining whether requests for immigration benefits sought are valid and whether applicant is eligible;
• Reviewing and screening applications for immigration benefits to ensure validity of documentation submitted and completeness of supporting documentation;
• Preparing a variety of reports utilizing a number of software applications, and retrieving information from other software systems (e.g., databases, spreadsheets, graphics, and word processing).

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Typing Certification: You 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 moderately heavy items such as file tubs and record boxes or bins weighing up to 50 lbs.

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 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 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.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Flexibility, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Reading, Reasoning, Self-Management, Manages and Organizes Information, Oral Communication

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

If you are found best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be contacted for an interview. To preview the job questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10550160.

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligible
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 must be rated at a minimum score of 80 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.

Veterans
Certain veterans are eligible to apply as a status candidate under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) or the Veteran's Recruitment Appointment (VRA). For more information, please click here.

Note: Applicants who are referred to the hiring office for selection consideration may be required to complete a writing sample and/or other writing exercise as part of the interview/selection process. If the hiring office decides to request a writing sample and/or other writing exercise as part of its selection process, a designated contractor or Agency representative will contact you to: (1) inform you of this requirement; and (2) provide further instructions.

Note:

• For definitions of terms found in this announcement, please click here.
• We will notify you by email at various stages in the process click here.
• This position is in the bargaining unit.
• This position is not considered "essential" for purposes of reporting to work when the facility might otherwise be closed.
• USCIS may fill one or more positions using this vacancy.