Asylum Officer

Citizenship and Immigration Services•Miami, FL

About The Position

The Asylum Officer provides subject matter expertise and training support to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) asylum offices. The role focuses on asylum and protection screening policy, procedures, and law, including country condition information and analysis, and on the duties and responsibilities of asylum staff. The officer works with management to identify training needs, develops and delivers local training, and supports national asylum officer certification. The position also provides coaching and mentoring, and reviews asylum casework to help maintain appropriate adjudication and quality standards.

Requirements

Be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
Successfully pass a background investigation, including financial disclosure.
Pass a drug screening; the position may also be subject to random drug testing.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with the Selective Service.
Applicants not currently employed by USCIS must meet the residency requirement: for three of the five years immediately before applying, have resided in the United States, worked overseas as a U.S. Government employee in a Federal or Military capacity, or been a dependent of such an employee serving overseas.
Current Federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the lower grade or equivalent grade band in Federal service.
At the GS-13 level, have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level, including experience performing the majority of the listed duties: researching or developing immigration training curriculum or materials; evaluating or recommending changes to immigration training programs or strategies; conducting courses, workshops, or training covering immigration law, regulations, or organizational guidelines; and providing guidance, direction, or support on immigration services, case management, or legal compliance.
Successfully complete agency-required training; failure to meet agency standards may result in reassignment, demotion, or separation.
Submit a resume of no more than two pages and include the required work-history details and documentation by the application deadline.

Responsibilities

Provide subject matter expertise and guidance on asylum and protection screening policy, procedures, and law; asylum staff duties and responsibilities; and country condition information and analysis.
Work with management to identify training needs and develop and deliver local training on asylum and protection screening policy, procedures, and law.
Develop a quarterly training schedule and monitor compliance with mandatory training.
Conduct local asylum officer training for certification to adjudicate asylum and protection screening requests.
Support national asylum officer training certification by reviewing and providing input on course materials, reviewing and grading coursework, and administering graded practical exercises.
Coach, monitor, and mentor local asylum officers who need additional support, including officers not meeting performance standards.
Review asylum benefit applications and other asylum workloads to ensure appropriate adjudication and quality in interviewing, case write-ups, and outprocessing.