Refugee Officer | US Citizenship and Immigration Services

 

Refugee Officer
Location: Miami, FL
Announcement Number: 12065235-RIO-DE-23
Salary: $60,863 - $114,741
Closing Date: August 11, 2023

This position is located in the Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate, Refugee and International Operations.

As a Refugee Officer (Protection Screening) you will adjudicate refugee applications, support refugee-related screenings, adjudicate other benefit applications managed by the Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations directorate to determine immigration benefit eligibility.

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.
• Conducts protection screenings for migrants interdicted at sea in Spanish or Haitian Creole as appropriate.
• Interviews and adjudicates requests for refugee status to determine benefit eligibility and determine final eligibility to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
• Researches immigration laws, policies, and relevant country conditions to analyze testimony, documentation, and credibility to determine eligibility for benefits.
• Interprets and applies U.S. immigration laws and policies to make final eligibility determinations and produce written assessments supporting decisions for migrant protection, asylum, humanitarian parole and/or refugee status.
• Reviews security check information to identify individuals who are ineligible due to national security or other grounds of inadmissibility.
• Works with external federal agencies and non-governmental organizations, and/or private sector stakeholders involved in migrant protection and refugee resettlement.
• Screens affidavits to determine eligibility for family reunification refugee cases.
• Assists in additional projects as assigned, such as, responding to congressional inquiries, drafting policy documents, statistical analysis of program trends, and review of fraudulent applications and referring for further investigation.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

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
• You must submit resume and supporting documentation
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service
• Political appointees may require OPM approval before on-boarding

This position IS in the bargaining unit.

This position IS NOT considered "essential" for purposes of reporting to work when the facility might otherwise be closed.

DUTY LOCATION: THIS WILL BE A 100% LOCAL REMOTE WORK ARRANGEMENT. IF SELECTED, YOUR OFFICIAL WORKSITE WILL BE YOUR RESIDENCE (OR OTHER APPROVED ALTERNATE LOCATION) WHICH MUST BE WITHIN THE LOCAL COMMUTING AREA (50 MILES OR LESS) FROM MIAMI, FL, AS THIS POSITION REQUIRES FREQUENT AND RECURRING ASSIGNMENTS TO PORTS OF ENTRY, LOCATED WITHIN THIS 50-MILE RADIUS, TO PERFORM PROTECTION SCREENINGS. THERE IS NO DESIGNATED BRICK AND MORTAR LOCATION; THEREFORE, YOU MUST BE WILLING AND ABLE TO PERFORM THESE DUTIES FROM YOUR RESIDENCE OR OTHER APPROVED ALTERNATIVE LOCATION WITHIN THE LOCAL COMMUTING AREA.

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

Qualifications

The qualifications for this position must be met by 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on 08/11/2023.

Time in Grade does not apply to Delegated Examining Announcements, any reference to Time in Grade in the questionnaire will not apply to the rating and ranking of applicants.

This announcement is issued under the Direct Hire Authority to recruit for positions for which the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, has a critical hiring need.

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: Language Proficiency: To qualify for this position, applicants must be able to communicate fluently (i.e. speak, read and write) in either Haitian Creole or Spanish languages. Your ability will be tested during an oral interview.

GS-09: You qualify at the GS-09 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. You must have experience performing the following duties:

• Assisting individuals applying for immigration benefits by examining supporting documentation for authenticity and relevance, as well as researching and analyzing appropriate information for eligibility; and
• Interpreting and applying immigration laws, policies and procedures as they relate to an individual's eligibility for immigration benefits.

OR

• You may substitute a Master's degree or 2 full years of graduate education leading to such a degree in any field or a J.D. or L.L.B. degree for experience required at the GS-9 grade level. Such education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise two years of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 36 semester or 54 quarter hours.

GS-11: In addition to the requirements at the lower grade level(s), to qualify at the GS-11 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. You must have experience performing the following duties:

• Recommending final determinations on or representing applicants in non-sensitive, routine hearing or appeal requests involving immigration matters that includes determining applicant credibility, analyzing evidence, and applying statutory requirements, regulations and judicial and administrative precedents.

OR

• You may substitute a doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent degree) or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in any field, or L.L.M., if related, for experience at the GS-11 grade level. Such education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise three years of graduate study. If that information is not available, use 54 semester or 81 quarter hours. GS-12: There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

GS-12: In addition to the requirements at the lower grade level(s), to qualify at the GS-12 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. You must have experience performing the following duties:

• Preparing legal briefs or other written memoranda that advocate for sensitive and complex hearing or appeal cases involving eligibility for asylum, suspension of deportation, or other immigration benefits; or
• Making final determinations on complex asylum, refugee, or other immigration cases involving eligibility for protection and resettlement and writing final determinations with legal analysis to support decisions.

Please read the following important information to ensure you submit everything we need to consider your application: It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit your responses and appropriate documentation prior to 08/11/2023