Clarification from the agency

Current Federal Employees with competitive status, Reinstatement, OPM Interchange Agreement, Surplus/Displaced eligibles, and VEOA eligibles.

• As an Asylum Officer you are a crucial member of the Department of Homeland Security team tasked with upholding our nation’s citizenship and immigration laws. Typical assignments include:
• Adjudicate complex asylum cases through a non-adversarial interviews.
• Make a determination as to whether an individual qualifies for asylum, statutory withholding of removal, or withholding or deferral of removal under the Convention Against Torture (CAT).
• Conduct research of specific specific Country Conditions in coordination with RAIO Research Unit as part of adjudications process, using appropriate databases and other electronic and written resources.
• Identify noncitizens believed to be involved in defrauding the U.S. Government.
• Analyze new or amended legislation, and interpret policy covering USCIS programs, activities, or functions for which the agency has responsibility.
• Develop all relevant lines of questioning and elicit testimony focusing on likelihood of persecution according to the higher withholding of removal standard of proof and any potential CAT claim according to the higher standard of proof.
• Elicit testimony to determine the possibility of deferral of removal under CAT, which will be granted if the person shows it is more likely than not that they would be tortured in the country of removal (and is not subject to any mandatory bars).
• Write well-organized, logical legal decisions that cover essential issues & are clear, consistent with adjudicative standards & legislation & are applicable to the facts of the case or which communicate USCIS policies and procedures.
• Adjudicate other complex affirmative asylum and prescreening cases such as those involving national security and egregious public safety concerns, high profile cases that have high visibility.

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

The qualifications for this position must be met by 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on the closing date of this announcement.

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 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on the closing date of this announcement.

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.

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.

Background Investigation:To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a review of financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. The background investigation process is initiated after a selection is made. For more information visit the OPM Mythbuster Page.

If a SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance is needed or the position is designated a Sensitive National Security position, all selected candidates must meet the requirements for these clearances or Sensitive National Security position prior to placement AND maintain that level of clearance or national security eligibility while encumbering the position.

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

Qualifications

The Asylum Division within USCIS is responsible for interviewing asylum seekers to determine whether they qualify for protection in the United States due to persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. These determinations are made while protecting national security, combating fraud, and protecting the legal immigration system through careful screening, vigilant interviews, and sound adjudications. Every day, Asylum Officers change lives while ensuring the integrity of our country’s immigration system.

Ideal Asylum Officer candidates have strong verbal, written, interpersonal, and critical thinking and analytical skills, as well as a steadfast commitment to administer and uphold laws and regulations. 

GS-13: You qualify at the GS-13 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-12 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:

• Writing legal decisions on novel and complex cases to clarify or address new aspects of USCIS policies and procedures;
• Adjudicating complex asylum adjudications through non-adversarial interviews and applying knowledge of Immigration and Nationality law to make a legal determination, including but not limited to Title 8 C.F.R., the Convention Against Torture, and the Immigration and Nationality Act;
• Communicating effectively in writing and orally to elicit information in informal and non-traditional settings; and
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with applicants, interpreters, and representatives.

The assessments for this job will measure the following competencies:

• Technical Credibility
• Organizational Awareness
• Decision Making
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Interpersonal Skills
• Oral Communication
• Problem Solving
• Self-Management
• Teamwork
• Technology Application
• Writing

Please read the following important information to ensure you submit everything we need to consider your application:  It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit your responses and appropriate documentation prior to the closing date. Your resume will be used to determine your qualifications for the position advertised in this announcement.  Therefore, your resume must highlight your most relevant, significant experience related to the requirements found in the qualification section of this announcement, as well as any applicable education. USCIS will only review the first 5 pages of your resume to determine your initial eligibility/qualifications for a position.  As such, please be sure to include content to support your eligibility/qualifications for this position within the first 5 pages. Please note that your full resume will be made available to the hiring manager if you are referred.  Be clear and specific when describing your work history since Human Resources cannot make assumptions regarding your experience.  Your application will be rated and ranked 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.

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

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.

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, the selectee may be required to travel to other locations as well, sometimes for extended periods, to conduct interviews.

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.

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.

Newark location only: Employment at the Newark Asylum Office provides an exciting opportunity for staff to work in both downtown Newark and our newly established Manhattan Branch. Both locations are accessible through public transportation, and travel between the two offices is quick and convenient. While staff members’ will be assigned to the Newark Branch duty station, employees may be expected to work out of the Manhattan Branch on a rotational, periodic or as needed basis.

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 for this position based upon information reflected in your resume. Your resume must support your responses to the job specific assessment questionnaire, level of education claimed, experience, and/or training. To remain in consideration for this position, please ensure your resume covers this requirement and that your resume has been successfully submitted as part of your on-line application package.

Creation of this package includes completing the on-line assessment questionnaire, uploading your resume, and uploading any required supporting documents.

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 are found best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.

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). View Feds Hire vets for more information.

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. View information about CTAP or ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under CTAP/ ICTAP, you must be placed in the Well-Qualified category for this position, as described above. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job announcement.

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.

Conditions of Employment Reminder: If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing any of the scheduled appointments, the hiring agency may rescind their tentative offer of employment.

Guidance from the Task Force is available at: Protecting the Federal Workforce.