Immigration Officer

Citizenship and Immigration Services•Charlotte, NC

About The Position

The Immigration Officer works within USCIS’s Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS), which supports national security and the integrity of the legal immigration system by aligning immigration benefit adjudication with identifying potential threats, detecting and deterring fraud, and using law enforcement and intelligence information. The officer provides guidance, conducts research to improve policies and procedures, and identifies, articulates, and pursues suspected immigration benefit fraud and related public-safety and national-security concerns. The role involves administrative investigations and site visits, including obtaining documents, conducting interviews and system checks, and making determinations about potential administrative or criminal violations. The officer coordinates with law enforcement and intelligence agencies, participates in task forces and partner investigations, develops anti-fraud tools and methods, and analyzes data to identify trends and vulnerabilities. The officer also prepares and shares intelligence-related information and training materials, and may serve as an expert witness and represent USCIS in court proceedings. The position requires operation of a motor vehicle and a current valid driver’s license. Applicants must meet citizenship and residency requirements and pass a background investigation and drug screening. A one-year probationary period may be required. Officers who have not completed the relevant courses must attend paid residential FDNS Officer Basic Training and a six-week USCIS Basic Officer training program, and successfully meet agency standards. The position is not a law-enforcement-covered position and is not considered essential when the facility is otherwise closed.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.
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 a federal or military employee serving overseas.
Successfully pass a background investigation, including financial disclosure.
Pass a drug screening; the position may be subject to random drug testing.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with the Selective Service.
Possess a current valid driver’s license and be able to operate a motor vehicle.
Current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the lower grade or equivalent grade band to meet the time-in-grade requirement.
GS-11: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-09, including the majority of the listed immigration-law application, benefit determination, evidence analysis, and fraud-reporting duties; alternatively, a doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a doctoral degree, or a related LL.M. may substitute. Combining qualifying experience and education may be possible at GS-11.
GS-12: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-11, including the majority of the listed duties involving immigration fraud schemes, review of benefit evidence, liaison with law enforcement or intelligence agencies, and review of fraud-detection policies and procedures.
GS-13: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-12, including the majority of the listed duties involving complex fraud and national-security concerns, research on enforcement or anti-fraud programs and policies, responses to inquiries, and recommendations for process or policy improvements.
Submit a transcript for education to be considered; it must include the applicant’s name and the educational institution.
A writing sample may be required during selection.
Successfully complete required residential FDNS Officer Basic Training and, if not already completed, six-week USCIS Basic Officer training.

Responsibilities

Identify, articulate, and pursue suspected immigration benefit fraud, public-safety concerns, and national-security concerns.
Conduct administrative investigations and site visits to obtain documents, conduct interviews, perform system checks, and determine whether potential administrative or criminal violations occurred.
Serve as a liaison to law enforcement and intelligence agencies and participate in inter-agency task forces and partner-agency investigations.
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.
Conduct research to enhance current policies and procedures.