The U.S. Department of State, our country’s lead foreign policy agency, provides a rich international experience. Our champions all of our strengths and diversity – personal, professional, and educational.
A Limited Non-Career Appointment (LNA) in the Foreign Service is a distinctive opportunity to serve your country and can offer candidates who are considering a career in the Foreign Service first-hand insights and exploration of potential Foreign Service career paths.
The U.S. Department of State, our country’s lead foreign policy agency, provides a rich international experience. Our champions all of our strengths and diversity – personal, professional, and educational.
A Limited Non-Career Appointment (LNA) in the Foreign Service is a distinctive opportunity to serve your country and can offer candidates who are considering a career in the Foreign Service first-hand insights and exploration of potential Foreign Service career paths.
Must be a U.S. citizen and available for work outside the United States. You may not have applied within the past 12 months. If a State Department Suitability Review Panel denied suitability in the last two years, you may not apply (except denials for Diplomatic Security Special Agent (SA) candidates based solely on the SA requirements.)
For more details on the duties and responsibilities of a Consular Fellow please https://careers.state.gov/work/foreign-service/consular-fellows/what-we-do/
Special Circumstances
The Department of State will place language-qualified U.S. citizen Consular Fellows serving in Limited Non-Career Appointments (LNA) in language-specific positions at overseas posts. These Fellows will be fully professional members of embassy and consulate teams. LNAs, however, do not provide expedited, alternate, preferential, or otherwise special access into either the Department of State Foreign Service. These appointments do not lead to onward employment with the Department of State or with the U.S. government. LNA Consular Fellows may apply to become Foreign Service Specialists or Officers, as well as Civil Service employees, but they must meet all applicable qualifications and complete the standard application and assessment processes.
Service time and benefits earned as a Consular Fellow can be counted as federal employment, and credited towards federal retirement eligibility.
Consular Fellows who may subsequently enter the Foreign Service as Entry Level Officers are still required to fulfill the consular service requirement.
Periodic service rotating as an embassy or consulate duty officer requires a 24/7 commitment, typically for a one-week period of time.
Successful candidates who earn a job offer must be able to pass the Basic Consular Training Course. Failure to successfully complete this training would constitute grounds for separation.
Essential Physical Requirements
A Consular Fellow who issues a visa for admission to the United States is required by law to personally certify in writing that he or she has performed the necessary visa lookout check, a process that includes (but is not limited to) reviewing returns from Facial Recognition checks and from Automated Biometric Identification and Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System fingerprint clearances; checking the Consular Lookout and Support System and other appropriate post records; and reviewing nonimmigrant visa and immigrant visa case notes and any other post files for information that would render an applicant ineligible for a visa.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
General knowledge of the United States, including customs and culture, society, trends, history, economy, government, political system, and constitution.
Skill in written and oral communication, including English grammar and usage, techniques for effective interpersonal communication, techniques for handling interviews, complaints, sources of information, and public speaking ability.
General skills in computers, including computer operations, common office software programs (e.g., Microsoft), e-mail systems, internet. Successful applicants will receive training in specialized Consular software applications.
General subject matter, including psychology and human behavior, interacting with individuals undergoing stress. Basic mathematics.
Required language fluency as outlined above.
There is no minimum Education requirement for this position.
Health and medical coverage, federal retirement benefits, paid leave, and an unprecedented chance to see the world and experience different cultures. Overseas benefits include housing overseas, education allowance for eligible dependent children between K-12 overseas.
As of October 1, 2020, the Department of State no longer offers recruitment incentive bonuses for Consular Fellows Program employees.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Candidates will be evaluated on their total background including experience, education, awards, training, and self-development as it relates to the position. Selection for this position will be made only from among candidates possessing the best qualifications.
Health and medical coverage, federal retirement benefits, paid leave, and an unprecedented chance to see the world and experience different cultures. Overseas benefits include housing overseas, education allowance for eligible dependent children between K-12 overseas.
As of October 1, 2020, the Department of State no longer offers recruitment incentive bonuses for Consular Fellows Program employees.
Online application which contains the completed required Accomplishments Questionnaire and Statement of Interest.
Accomplishments Questionnaire
This section is required and provides an opportunity to describe examples and accomplishments from your education, life, and/or work experience that demonstrate your qualifications for becoming an LNA Consular Fellow. Examples can be drawn from any part of your professional or personal experience. The information you give may be used in your oral assessment should you be invited and is an important factor in the competitive evaluation of applicants. Responses are limited to 300 words or fewer (maximum length 1,300 characters) for each item. You should compose your replies carefully, as one of the skills necessary to succeed as an LNA Consular Fellow is the ability to write clearly and concisely.
The following items must be completed as part of the online application.
Substantive Knowledge: What skills, knowledge and experience do you have that are applicable to performing the work of a Consular Fellow?
Intellectual Skills: In the Foreign Service you will confront challenging situations that require identifying the problem, collecting relevant information, and formulating or advancing innovative solutions to resolve the problem. Describe a time when you responded innovatively to unanticipated circumstances to solve a problem.
Interpersonal Skills: In the Foreign Service, you will be called upon to interact effectively and diplomatically with people in difficult situations. Describe how you have used your interpersonal skills in a specific situation to resolve a problem or achieve a goal.
Communication Skills: Communication skills are critical to successful diplomacy. Describe a situation in which you used your communication skills, including foreign language skills if appropriate, to further an aim or achieve a goal.
Management Skills: Foreign Service LNA Consular Fellows are often required to manage projects, demonstrating the ability to plan and organize, set priorities, employ a systematic approach, and allocate time and resources efficiently. Describe a project you managed or helped to manage and how you sought to achieve the project’s goals.
Leadership Skills: Leadership can be defined as motivating others, encouraging creative solutions, establishing positive team relationships, or significantly influencing the direction of the work. Describe how you have demonstrated leadership, either on one particular occasion or over time.
Statement of Interest
Required narrative Statement of Interest equivalent to two-to-three paragraphs typed and no more than 1800 characters, which discusses your:
As with the Accomplishment Questionnaire, the Statement of Interest must be completed inside the online application.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Steps to Apply:
If you are having technical difficulty with the application process, please contact the Customer Service Desk by calling 1-866-389-8339 (toll free), 1-952-905-7483 (toll) or by utilizing the Chat function on www.pearsonvue.com. The Help Desk is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time; closed on local holidays.
For more information on the Consular Fellows hiring process, please visit www.pearsonvue.com/cfpt/ or http://careers.state.gov/work/foreign-service/consular-fellows/selection-process. If you have any questions regarding the program, please email CFPInfo@state.gov
Candidate CFPT results and applications are forwarded to the Department of State on a quarterly basis. After the information is received by the Department, all applicants will be notified via e-mail from the U.S. Department of State.
We recommend adding the Department of State domain (@state.gov) as an approved sender.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
