Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Refugee Officer

Department of Homeland Security
Citizenship and Immigration Services
Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate, Refugee and International Operations.

As a Refugee Officer (Protection Screening) you will adjudicate refugee applications, support refugee-related screenings, adjudicate other benefit applications managed by the Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations directorate to determine immigration benefit eligibility.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/07/2023 to 08/11/2023
This job will close when we have received 500 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$60,863 to - $114,741 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 12
Location
Miami, FL
24 vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
75% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
12065235-RIO-DE-23
Control number
741603100

Videos

Duties

Help
  • 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.
  • Conducts protection screenings for migrants interdicted at sea in Spanish or Haitian Creole as appropriate.
  • Interviews and adjudicates requests for refugee status to determine benefit eligibility and determine final eligibility to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
  • Researches immigration laws, policies, and relevant country conditions to analyze testimony, documentation, and credibility to determine eligibility for benefits.
  • Interprets and applies U.S. immigration laws and policies to make final eligibility determinations and produce written assessments supporting decisions for migrant protection, asylum, humanitarian parole and/or refugee status.
  • Reviews security check information to identify individuals who are ineligible due to national security or other grounds of inadmissibility.
  • Works with external federal agencies and non-governmental organizations, and/or private sector stakeholders involved in migrant protection and refugee resettlement.
  • Screens affidavits to determine eligibility for family reunification refugee cases.
  • Assists in additional projects as assigned, such as, responding to congressional inquiries, drafting policy documents, statistical analysis of program trends, and review of fraudulent applications and referring for further investigation.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

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
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.

DUTY LOCATION: THIS WILL BE A 100% LOCAL REMOTE WORK ARRANGEMENT. IF SELECTED, YOUR OFFICIAL WORKSITE WILL BE YOUR RESIDENCE (OR OTHER APPROVED ALTERNATE LOCATION) WHICH MUST BE WITHIN THE LOCAL COMMUTING AREA (50 MILES OR LESS) FROM MIAMI, FL, AS THIS POSITION REQUIRES FREQUENT AND RECURRING ASSIGNMENTS TO PORTS OF ENTRY, LOCATED WITHIN THIS 50-MILE RADIUS, TO PERFORM PROTECTION SCREENINGS. THERE IS NO DESIGNATED BRICK AND MORTAR LOCATION; THEREFORE, YOU MUST BE WILLING AND ABLE TO PERFORM THESE DUTIES FROM YOUR RESIDENCE OR OTHER APPROVED ALTERNATIVE LOCATION WITHIN THE LOCAL COMMUTING AREA.

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.

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

Qualifications

The qualifications for this position must be met by 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on 08/11/2023.

Time in Grade does not apply to Delegated Examining Announcements, any reference to Time in Grade in the questionnaire will not apply to the rating and ranking of applicants.

This announcement is issued under the Direct Hire Authority to recruit for positions for which the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, has a critical hiring need.

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: Language Proficiency: To qualify for this position, applicants must be able to communicate fluently (i.e. speak, read and write) in either Haitian Creole or Spanish languages. Your ability will be tested during an oral interview.


GS-09: You qualify at the GS-09 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-07 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:

  • 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 degree or 2 full years of graduate education leading to such a degree in any field 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.
GS-11: In addition to the requirements at the lower grade level(s), to qualify at the GS-11 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-09 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:
  • 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. 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. GS-12: There is no educational substitution at this grade level.
GS-12: In addition to the requirements at the lower grade level(s), to qualify at the GS-12 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-11 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:
  • 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 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 08/11/2023

.

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.

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.

Education

COMBINING QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION (at the GS-9 and GS-11 level/s only): If you do not qualify based on experience or education alone, you may be able to qualify based on a combination of your experience and education. For more information on combining education and experience, visit the following website: General Schedule Qualification Standards. Transcript required: If you don't submit a transcript, we will not use your education when deciding if you're qualified for the job. For verification purposes, the transcript submitted must include your name and educational institution.

Training: If you have not already done so, you will be required to attend the training that relates to this position as required by the agency. The trainings may last multiple weeks and may be held in-person or virtually. 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.

TRAVEL: Frequent travel will be required, including circuit rides to international locations that generally last between six and eight weeks. Protection screenings may also require frequent travel, and work may be conducted telephonically or in-person. At times, protection screenings will be conducted at sea on U.S. Coast Guard cutters. While overseas and at sea, a Refugee Officer performs work in a variety of locations, some of which may be physically challenging and may involve working in inhospitable climates, in remote camp settings, or in environments of high security. Political or other unpredictable events may sometimes force sudden adjustments of schedule or work hours. On-call duty and/or shift work may be required. The officer must possess the ability to adjust to unexpected changes in work assignments while maintaining a courteous and professional demeanor. The officer must be physically resilient adaptable and flexible enough to adjust to living and working in demanding conditions that sometimes involve extreme temperatures, harsh working environments, and austere living facilities, and long arduous travel.

Medical Requirements: As a condition of employment, you will be required to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of State Class 1 medical clearance, certifying that you are eligible to complete work assignments worldwide. Medical inoculations/vaccinations may also be required. You will be required to undergo periodic physical examination to qualify for deployment to international locations where adequate medical care is not always readily available. Vaccinations and other precautionary and/or prophylactic measures may be required before traveling to countries with high risk for infectious diseases.

Additional information

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.

USCIS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

It is our responsibility to eliminate any risks to national security, public health, and public safety that could be posed by individuals who use illegal drugs. This position may be subject to random testing as a condition of employment. A positive drug test or refusal to be tested will result in disciplinary action, up to and including removal from Federal service.

Note: If you previously retired from the Federal service and are receiving an annuity, your salary may be offset by the amount of your annuity.

How you will be evaluated

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

Under the provisions of the Direct Hire Authority, veterans' preference and category rating do not apply.

Your resume must support your responses to the 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.

NOTE: Your resume and supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your consideration for employment.

You may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be contacted for an interview.

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.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.