Immigration Officer

Citizenship and Immigration Services•Kansas City, MO

About The Position

The Immigration Officer works within USCIS’s Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS), which strengthens national security and the integrity of the legal immigration system by aligning immigration benefit adjudication with threat identification, fraud detection and deterrence, and the use of law enforcement and intelligence information. The role provides guidance, conducts research to improve policies and procedures, and identifies and pursues suspected immigration benefit fraud, public safety concerns, and national security concerns. The officer conducts administrative investigations and site visits, gathers documents, interviews individuals, performs system checks, and makes determinations regarding potential administrative or criminal violations. The role also coordinates with law enforcement and intelligence agencies, contributes to inter-agency investigations and task forces, develops methods to identify fraud patterns and system vulnerabilities, and shares intelligence-related information and training materials. Officers may serve as expert witnesses and represent USCIS in court proceedings. This position is not a law enforcement covered position. It requires a valid driver's license and operation of a motor vehicle, and may involve shift work. Depending on prior training, the employee must successfully complete residential, paid FDNS Officer Basic Training and a six-week residential, paid USCIS Basic Officer training program. The position may require a one-year probationary period. Qualifications are offered at GS-11, GS-12, and GS-13 levels, with specialized experience requirements varying by grade; certain doctoral or graduate education may substitute for experience at GS-11.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship or U.S. national status.
Successfully pass a background investigation, including financial disclosure.
Pass a drug screening; the position may also be subject to random drug testing.
For males born after December 31, 1959, registration 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.
Possess a current, valid driver's license and be able to operate a motor vehicle.
Meet the applicable federal time-in-grade requirement if a current Federal employee: 52 weeks at the lower grade or equivalent grade band.
GS-11 experience route: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-09, performing the majority of specified duties in applying immigration laws and procedures, making routine non-sensitive benefit determinations, analyzing evidence and applying legal requirements and precedents, and preparing reports on fraud detection and patterns.
GS-11 education substitution: A doctoral degree or equivalent, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in any field, or a related LL.M., from an accredited institution and demonstrating the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. A transcript is required for education to be considered.
GS-12: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-11, performing the majority of duties involving application of immigration laws to uncover potential fraud schemes, review of immigration benefit evidence, liaison with law enforcement or intelligence agencies, and review of relevant policies and procedures.
GS-13: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-12, performing the majority of duties involving complex fraud and national security concerns, research on the effects or implementation of enforcement and anti-fraud programs or policies, responses to inquiries about immigration enforcement or anti-fraud actions, and recommendations for process or policy changes.
Successfully complete required residential, paid FDNS Officer Basic Training and USCIS Basic Officer training, if not already completed.
Submit application materials and qualifications documentation by the stated deadline; resume must be no more than two pages and uploaded under the Resume category.
A writing sample may be required during the selection process.

Responsibilities

Identify, articulate, and pursue suspected immigration benefit fraud, public safety concerns, and national security concerns.
Conduct administrative investigations and site visits; obtain documents, conduct interviews, perform system checks, and make determinations regarding potential administrative or criminal violations.
Serve as a liaison to law enforcement and intelligence agencies and participate in inter-agency task forces and partner-agency investigations to combat fraud and detect or deter national security and public safety threats.
Develop anti-fraud tools and methodologies to collect and analyze data, identify fraud trends and patterns, and recommend actions to address vulnerabilities and weaknesses in the immigration system.
Develop, document, and disseminate intelligence-related data and training materials to internal and external partners.
Serve as an expert witness and represent USCIS in related court proceedings.
Provide guidance and conduct research to enhance current policies and procedures.