Summary
Protect your homeland and defend your culture. Join USCIS, America's frontline defense against illegal foreign infiltration and fraud. As an Immigration Officer, you will provide guidance, conduct research for the purpose of enhancing current policies and procedures, and identify, articulate, and pursue suspected immigration benefit fraud.
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.
Identify, articulate, and pursue suspected immigration benefit fraud, public safety, and national security concerns.
Conduct administrative investigations and site visits to obtain documents, conduct interviews, perform system checks, and make determinations regarding potential administrative and/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 deter and detect national security and public safety threats.
Develop anti-fraud tools and methodologies to collect and analyze data to identify fraud trends and patterns and to make recommendations 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.
Requirements
The vacancy announcement shows the location to be Lee's Summit, MO; however, the National Benefits Center has two sites, Lee's Summit, MO and Overland Park, KS. The determination as to what location the position is assigned to has not been made at this time. 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 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 program This position IS NOT considered "essential" for purposes of reporting to work when the facility might otherwise be closed. THIS IS NOT A LAW ENFORCEMENT (COVERED) POSITION. 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. Probationary Period: You may be required to serve a probationary period of 1 year. Motor Vehicle Operation: This position requires operation of a motor vehicle. You must possess a current valid driver's license. Writing Sample: May be required during the selection process.
Education
COMBINING QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION (at the GS-11 level only): If you do not qualify based on experience or education alone, you may be able to qualify based on a combination of your experience and education. For more information on combining education and experience, visit the following website: General Schedule Qualification Standards. Transcript required: 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. The Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS) was established within USCIS to strengthen national security and the integrity of the country's legal immigration system by closely aligning the adjudication of immigration benefits and services with the identification of potential threats to national security and/or public safety, the detection and deterrence of fraud, and the use of law enforcement and intelligence information to ensure optimal security for U.S. communities. FDNS systematically identifies updates, and records indicators of fraudulent activities; manages fraud cases; identifies vulnerabilities and other weaknesses that compromise the integrity of the legal immigration system; and coordinates and provides logistical support in law enforcement and national security matters. FDNS is the primary conduit for information sharing and collaboration with law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Training: If you have not already done so, you will be required to attend the residential, paid FDNS Officer Basic Training course. Additionally, if you have not already done so, you will be required to attend the residential, paid USCIS BASIC Officer training program, lasting six weeks, at a USCIS training facility. Both trainings must be successfully completed according to the standards of the agency. Failure to do so will be grounds for mandatory removal from the position. Such failure will result in either reassignment to a different position, demotion or separation by appropriate procedures. Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP): Per 5 CFR 576.202, An employee who receives a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) and later accepts employment for compensation with the Government of the United States within 5 years of the date of the separation on which the VSIP is based, including work under a personal services contract or other direct contract, must repay the entire amount of the VSIP to the agency that paid it (proof of payment is required) before the individual's first day of reemployment. Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Personnel Management guidance and U.S. Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions. Common definitions for hiring terms found in this announcement.
How you will be evaluated
Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13071769. Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) Eligible: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP eligible. View information about CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under CTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 77 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job announcement. Special Employment Consideration: The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement. Note: Applicants who are referred to the hiring office for selection consideration may be required to complete a writing sample and/or other writing exercise as part of the interview/selection process. If the hiring office decides to request a writing sample and/or other writing exercise as part of its selection process, a designated contractor or Agency representative will contact you to: (1) inform you of this requirement; and (2) provide further instructions.