Immigration Services Assistant (OA)

As an Immigration Services Assistant (OA), you will support the Adjudication Services Process by assisting Immigration Services Officers, manage files, databases, and correspondence, provide security checks, research, and analyze data, prepare reports and provide direct service to customers.

These positions are located in Field Operations Directorate, Office of Field Operations, Districts C31, C32, C33, and C34 Field Offices.

Announcement is open to multiple locations. Applicants are limited to selecting ONE location only. The actual salary will be set based on the grade, step, and location of the selectee(s) and/or position. You may be expected to report for work at a local USCIS facility based on the needs of the hiring office. View the 2024 Locality Pay Charts for more information.

This is a Recent Graduate position in the Pathways Program. Selected individuals are placed in a dynamic one year developmental program in the excepted service designed to lead to a civil service career in the Federal government. At the successful conclusion of this program, the agency may non-competitively convert individuals to a term or permanent position in the competitive service. Conversion to a Federal competitive service position will be at the discretion of the agency and is neither guaranteed nor implied.

RECENT GRADUATE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY To meet the Program requirements, you must have obtained a qualifying degree to include an Associates, Bachelor's, Master's, Professional, Doctorate, OR obtained a Vocational, Technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution, within the previous two years. Preference eligible veterans who were precluded from applying due to their military service obligation, begin their two year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty. Eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed six years from the date on which the degree or certification was completed.

If you have not yet conferred your degree or certificate, but will within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement, a letter from the school documenting current standing, degree being obtained and expected graduation date must be submitted with your application.

Transcript required: You must submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable). For verification purposes, the transcript submitted must include your name, the name of the institution, and the date your degree or certification was conferred. 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.

Duties

• 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-screening various applications and submissions by USCIS customers for accuracy and completeness of initial supporting documentation.
• Scheduling applicant appointments, communicating directly with applicants and their representatives.
• Performing analysis on files, reports, and information systems and databases to update information and maintain data integrity.
• Producing highly sensitive and secure documents.
• Identifying incoming applications that require expedited service or requests for fee waivers and channel those through the correct work process.
• Editing and creating office documents and correspondence using office automation software, i.e. graphics, databases, spreadsheets, and word processing.
• Managing individual case files, accounting for the movement of files to other locations, conducting audits of files and acting as a records liaison with other agencies

Requirements Conditions of Employment

Pathways Participant Agreement: All Pathways Participants are required to sign the Pathways Program Participant Agreement which outlines program requirements and non-competitive conversion eligibility.

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
• USCIS applies the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 to its telework and remote work programs

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.

Trial Period: The duration of a Pathways appointment under Sch D is a trial period.

Typing Certification: Applicants 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 up to 50 pounds.

Qualifications

The qualifications for this position must be met by 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on 06/07/2024.

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.

GS-05: You qualify at the GS-05 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-04 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:

• Performing office automation duties using word processing to edit and reformat correspondence and reports.
• Creating and maintaining spreadsheets/databases.
• Responding to inquiries by phone and/or in writing.
• Reviewing and verifying accuracy and completeness of submitted documents for benefits OR
• 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-06: You qualify at the GS-06 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-05 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 office automation duties requiring different approaches and methods from one assignment to another.
• 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.

Required Documents

Resume: You must submit a resume that clearly demonstrates you have experience that meets the requirements of this position as outlined in the "Qualifications" section. USCIS' Human Resources Office will only review the first 5 pages of your resume to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

In order to ensure that you include all necessary information within the first 5 pages of your resume, you are highly encouraged to save and submit your resume as a PDF instead of submitting it through Resume Builder or a word-processing program such as Word or Google Docs.

Your responses to the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12430663, which are submitted through the on-line application process in USAJOBS, DO NOT need to be attached as an additional document to your application.

Education: Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from an accredited institution. Once selected and prior to appointment, applicants must provide an official college transcript. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. Your foreign education accreditation must come from an evaluation service that is endorsed by the Association of International Credential Evaluators or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. Failure to provide foreign accreditation from one of these organizations will result in removal from consideration.

Are you a veteran? You must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility. The member 4 copy of your DD214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," is preferable. If claiming 10 point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form (SF-15), "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference." If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty within 120 days from the date on the certification. This must indicate your dates of service, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable conditions. View more veterans' information.