Immigration Officer

Citizenship and Immigration Services•Boston, MA

12d

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. The position identifies potential threats to national security or public safety, detects and deters fraud, and uses law enforcement and intelligence information to support secure immigration benefit adjudications. The officer provides guidance, conducts research to improve policies and procedures, and pursues suspected immigration benefit fraud. Duties are performed with increasing independence and complexity at higher grade levels. The position may require shift work, operation of a motor vehicle, and successful completion of residential FDNS Officer Basic Training and USCIS Basic Officer training; RAIO Combined Training and division-specific courses may also be required. Training is paid, and the specified training courses must be completed successfully. This is not a law enforcement covered position.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship or U.S. national status.
Successfully pass a background investigation, including financial disclosure.
Pass drug screening; the position may also be subject to random drug testing.
For males born after December 31, 1959, registration with the Selective Service is required.
Applicants not currently employed by USCIS must meet the stated residency requirement: for three of the five years immediately before applying, they must have resided in the United States, worked overseas for the U.S. Government in a Federal or Military capacity, or been a dependent of an overseas U.S. Federal or Military employee.
A current valid driver's license; the position requires operating a motor vehicle.
Meet the qualifications for the grade sought. At GS-11, this may be met through one year of qualifying specialized experience at least equivalent to GS-09, or qualifying doctoral-level graduate education or an L.L.M. if related. GS-12 and GS-13 require one year of specialized experience at the next lower stated federal grade level.
GS-11 specialized experience includes applying immigration laws and procedures; making final determinations on routine, non-sensitive immigration benefit requests; analyzing evidence and applying legal requirements and precedents; and preparing written reports on immigration fraud and patterns.
GS-12 specialized experience includes applying immigration laws and procedures to uncover potential fraud schemes; reviewing immigration benefit evidence; liaising with law enforcement or intelligence agencies on immigration fraud; and reviewing fraud-detection, public-safety, and national-security policies and procedures.
GS-13 specialized experience includes identifying complex fraud schemes and national security concerns; researching the effects or implementation of enforcement and anti-fraud programs or policies; responding to inquiries about such actions or policies; and recommending procedural or policy enhancements.
Current Federal employees must meet the one-year time-in-grade requirement at the lower grade or equivalent grade band by the stated deadline.
A writing sample may be required during the selection process.
If relying on education for qualification, submit a transcript that includes the applicant’s name and educational institution.
Successfully complete required FDNS and USCIS training courses according to agency standards.
A one-year probationary period may be required.

Responsibilities

Identify, articulate, and pursue suspected immigration benefit fraud and public safety or national security concerns.
Conduct administrative investigations and site visits; obtain documents, conduct interviews, perform system checks, and determine whether potential administrative or criminal violations exist.
Liaise with law enforcement and intelligence agencies and participate in interagency task forces and partner-agency investigations to combat fraud and deter or detect national security and public safety threats.
Develop anti-fraud tools and methodologies to collect and analyze data, identify fraud trends and patterns, and recommend ways 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.
Research the impact or implementation of enforcement and anti-fraud programs, directives, or policies on agency mission performance.
Prepare responses to inquiries from peers, supervisors, management, or external customers about immigration enforcement and anti-fraud actions, programs, or policies.
Develop or recommend changes or enhancements to procedures and processes concerning anti-fraud, public safety, and national security programs or policies.