US Citizenship and Immigration Services Jobs (USCIS Job) 2024

Looking for a meaningful career in public service? Explore USCIS job opportunities and make a difference in immigration and citizenship. Learn about diverse roles, requirements, and how to apply for rewarding positions at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Career Opportunities at USCIS

Are you passionate about shaping the future of immigration in the United States? U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offers rewarding career paths for those committed to public service. As the federal agency overseeing immigration benefits, USCIS invites you to join our diverse and dedicated workforce.

At USCIS, you’ll contribute to upholding America’s legacy as a welcoming nation, ensuring fairness, integrity, and respect in all our interactions. Whether starting your professional journey or seeking to advance your career, USCIS provides numerous opportunities to make a difference.

USCIS offers various positions that cater to various skills and experience levels. From entry-level roles to specialized positions, there’s a place for you at USCIS. To explore current openings, visit our job listings on USAJOBS.

Want to glimpse what working at USCIS is like? Check out “A Day in the Life of USCIS” feature on the website. Discover how you can positively impact others’ lives – and your own – by becoming part of the USCIS team.

Join USCIS and help write the next chapter in America’s immigration story. Your skills and dedication can make a real difference in people’s lives and contribute to our nation’s rich tapestry of diversity and opportunity. By joining USCIS, you’ll be part of a legacy that shapes our nation’s future.

Analysis

These roles involve conducting projects and studies, evaluating data and work processes to inform the agency’s current status, and making recommendations to enhance operational effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity.

• Immigration Services Analyst: Conduct projects and studies involving in-depth analysis to enhance operational effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity.
• Operations Research Analyst: Conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis to help senior leaders make decisions and solve problems related to operational issues.
• Statistician: Apply statistical theories, procedures, and techniques to design analyses and studies of USCIS programs, operations, and databases.

Financial, Contracting, and Accounting

These positions ensure sound stewardship of USCIS fiscal resources, deliver accurate and timely financial reporting, and improve financial management processes.

• Accountant: Conducted financial analysis and review, prepared financial statements and reports, and provided professional accounting advice and services.
• Business Operations Specialist: Perform program planning activities related to acquisitions and contracts; liaise between project team members.
• Contract Specialist: Responsible for contracting transactions from initiating a requirement to the contract award recommendation.
• Economist: Develop analytical techniques for economic studies, research, and analyze major economic issues.
• Financial Program / Cost Analyst: Review and implement procedures business processes, and recommend changes to systems requirements.

Fraud Detection, Intelligence and Security

These roles focus on combating fraud, detecting national security and public safety threats, and protecting the integrity of USCIS through investigation, reporting, and partnering with law enforcement organizations and intelligence agencies.

• Immigration Analyst (Fraud Detection and National Security): Verify and analyze information from USCIS databases to detect immigration fraud.
• Immigration Officer (Fraud Detection and National Security): Conduct inquiries, research, and liaise with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to investigate potential fraud and address security concerns.
• Intelligence Research Specialist: Identify fraud trends and patterns through analyses of data from immigration benefit applications and petitions.
• Investigative Specialist: This person investigates civil or criminal violations of law, rules, regulations, or official guidance within USCIS.
• Personnel Security Specialist: Review background investigations and make decisions regarding employment suitability and security clearances.
• Security Assistant (Office Automation): Provide technical and administrative personnel with physical or information security support.
• Security Specialist: Plan, direct, and coordinate security programs within USCIS.

Interested individuals can find current job announcements on USAJOBS. The USCIS website also features “A Day in the Life of USCIS,” which provides insight into the work and impact of USCIS employees.

Human Resources

Human Resources professionals at USCIS provide a strong foundation for the agency by supporting employees through various functions. These include recruiting and staffing, human capital policy development and oversight, labor and employee relations, and employee benefits and retirement guidance.

• Human Resources Assistant: Provide technical and administrative support in recruiting and staffing, employee benefits and retirement, personnel processing, position classification, and labor and employee relations.
• Human Resources Specialist: Serve as a technical expert, working with future, current, and former employees and USCIS offices in recruiting and staffing, employee benefits and retirement, personnel processing, position classification, pay, and labor and employee relations.

Immigration Benefits

Immigration Benefits Adjudication is critical in USCIS’s mission of administering the nation’s lawful immigration system. These positions involve making determinations on applications and petitions for various types of immigration benefits, often including conducting in-person interviews with applicants or petitioners.

• Adjudications Officer: Analyze new or amended legislation and policy, prepare written reports of findings, and review and determine cases for immigration benefits.
• Appeals Officer: Review decisions made by USCIS adjudication officers on immigration benefits cases to ensure consistency and accuracy in interpreting immigration laws, regulations, and policies.
• Asylum Officer: Adjudicate asylum applications, conduct credible and reasonable fear screenings, and adjudicate other benefit applications managed by the asylum program, including motions to reopen and reconsider.
• Immigration Services Officer: This officer grants or denies immigration applications and petitions efficiently and fairly and assists other federal agencies in identifying individuals who pose a threat to national security and public safety.
• Refugee Officer: Conduct interviews at overseas locations, review applications, and conduct country conditions research to determine an individual’s status as a refugee and eligibility for resettlement to the U.S.

These positions represent key roles within USCIS, demonstrating the diverse range of career opportunities available in the agency’s human resources and immigration benefits adjudication departments.

Immigration Benefits Support

These positions support the immigration benefits adjudication process by conducting preliminary reviews of applications and petitions for immigration benefits and/or interacting with and assisting applicants and petitioners.

• Community Relations Officer: Maintain collaborative relationships with communities and conduct outreach activities to educate stakeholders on USCIS policies and programs. Gather information from key community groups and other governmental organizations.
• Congressional Liaison Specialist: Liaise, plan, direct, and coordinate congressional and intergovernmental activities related to the USCIS mission.
• CIS Assistant (Office Automation): Respond to written and oral inquiries from the public, organizations, governmental agencies, and Congressional offices. Provide information and assistance on applications to applicants, petitioners, and/or their legal representatives.
• Immigration Management Assistant (Office Automation): Aid analysts in areas such as records program support and problem resolution, contract oversight quality assurance, customer service, data analysis, management and reporting, and system and database updates.
• Immigration Services Assistant (Office Automation): Support the adjudication process by conducting security checks, supporting officers, managing correspondence, maintaining customer support, processing documents and fees, and analyzing files, reports, and information systems or databases.
• Immigration Services Clerk (Office Automation) and CIS Clerk (Office Automation): Conduct preliminary examinations of applications/petitions for immigration benefits, establish records files, and search databases for information.
• Legal Administrative Specialist: Interact with applicants to elicit and provide valuable information relating to their cases.
• Legal Instruments Examiner (Immigration Status Verification): Research, evaluate, adjudicate, and provide responses to Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) and E-Verify applicants.

These roles are crucial in supporting the broader immigration benefits process at USCIS, providing essential administrative, customer service, and preliminary review functions.

Information Technology (IT)

Information Technology professionals at USCIS design, develop, deliver, and deploy IT services and solutions that transform the nation’s immigration system while maintaining the security and integrity of the IT infrastructure.

• IT Specialist: Provide expert analysis and advice on programs related to various information technology issues or problems where new analytical techniques must be developed.
• IT Specialist (Application Software): Develop, adapt, and implement new application development methods, models, and programs incorporating new technologies.
• IT Specialist (Information Security): Help protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information systems and data across USCIS through effective security operations, security monitoring, incident response, and continuous monitoring.

Legal

Legal professionals review and research laws, policies, and procedures; support the agency and other governmental organizations in litigation matters; and provide legal education and advice to USCIS staff and leadership on legislative, regulatory, and national security issues.

• FOIA/PA Assistant (Office Automation): Review and analyze Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA) requests and manage the response to these requests.
• General Attorney: Provide legal advice to the agency, represent the agency in appeals cases and litigation, and present legal education and training to USCIS staff.
• Government Information Specialist: Advise and train agency staff and leadership on legal requirements related to topics such as the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act (PA).
• Paralegal Specialist: Analyze cases and other matters related to immigration benefits adjudication and litigation and assist USCIS attorneys in case preparation through legal research.

Mission and Operation Support

These roles support USCIS by assisting and guiding agency staff and leaders in various administrative areas.

• Operations Support Assistant (Office Automation) and Mission Support Assistant (Office Automation): These positions assist agency employees and programs in administrative areas such as human resources, employee services, training, equal employment opportunity (EEO), facilities, asset and financial management, and security.
• Operations Support Specialist and Mission Support Specialist: Guide agency employees and leadership in administrative areas such as human resources, employee services, training, equal employment opportunity (EEO), facilities, asset, and financial management, as well as security.
• Staff Assistant: Develop, evaluate, and advise leadership on administrative requirements, policies, guidelines, and processes.

These positions represent key roles within USCIS and showcase the diverse range of career opportunities available in the agency’s IT, legal, and mission support departments.

Program and Project Management

These positions involve planning, executing, analyzing, and recommending programs and projects within USCIS.

• Business Interface Representative: Manage IT systems that support program operations and liaise with IT professionals to execute the program requirements.
• Management & Program Analyst: Implement, coordinate, analyze, and provide recommendations on agency programs.
• Management & Program Analyst (Quality Assurance): Identify, design, and implement process improvement projects and analysis.
• Program Manager: Coordinate, administer, and manage agency programs and projects.
• Space Management Specialist: Serve as a project manager responsible for developing and implementing policies and procedures for space acquisition, design, and construction for offices within the USCIS portfolio.

Student Interns

USCIS hires students under the Pathways Internship Program. Student Trainees work in various career fields in USCIS offices throughout the country. These paid internships allow students to explore federal careers while still enrolled in an educational institution. Work may be full or part-time, with flexible schedules to support educational requirements and career development.

The availability of student internship opportunities varies. Interested individuals can view the current Student Trainee job opportunity announcements to learn more and apply.

Important Notes:

1. The list of positions provided is not exhaustive of all available USCIS positions.

2. The positions listed may not be available in all USCIS locations.

3. Specific descriptions for each position may vary; official descriptions, duties, and requirements are listed in job opportunity announcements on USAJOBS.

These roles demonstrate the diverse range of career opportunities available at USCIS in program and project management and opportunities for students through internships.

How to Apply

There are numerous opportunities to join the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and embark on a meaningful career. Our job opportunity announcements are posted on USAJOBS. Explore our job opportunities and review the information below for additional guidance on applying for a job with USCIS.

Two Ways to Apply for a Position

There are two types of job opportunity announcements posted on USAJOBS.

Jobs Open to All U.S. Citizens

Some job announcements are open to all U.S. citizens. USCIS selects applicants using a competitive hiring process. This process includes evaluating the applicant’s education, experience, and other attributes needed for the position and may include a written test.

Jobs Open to Federal Employees

Some job announcements are available to permanent federal employees through the merit promotion process. This process allows current federal employees to compete based on their current or prior federal experience, education, competencies, and performance. Merit promotion may also be open to applicants under special hiring authorities.

How to Apply for a Position at USCIS

Create an Account and Search for Job Announcements on USAJOBS

• Create an account on USAJOBS to save searches and apply for jobs.
• Tip: Use the Saved Searches feature to have USAJOBS automatically search for jobs based on your criteria and email you daily, weekly, or monthly.

Apply for an Opening

Read the job announcement and follow all instructions carefully.

Check out the USAJOBS Resource Center for tips.

Ensure your application is complete.

Follow all required steps and submit all required documents listed in the job announcement and any instructions outlined in subsequent email notifications.

Review the guidance for submitting your resume.

Log in to your USAJOBS account to monitor your application status. You will also receive written notifications during the application process.

Review the Hiring Tip Sheet (PDF, 161.77 KB).

Submitting Your Resume

You must submit a resume as part of the application process. If your resume is longer than five pages, the USCIS human resources office will only review the first five pages to determine your eligibility and qualifications.

Using Resume Builder

Here are some important tips about using the USAJOBS Resume Builder:

• Page Count: Resume Builder does not show a page count while building a resume.
• Automated Conversion: The Resume Builder adds spaces and page gaps to resumes during the automated resume conversion process. This means that our human resources office may receive a version of your resume from Resume Builder with a different page layout than the one you viewed when you built your resume.
• PDF Conversion: We strongly recommend that if you use Resume Builder, you convert your resume to a PDF file, confirm that the first five pages contain all the necessary information, and submit your resume as a PDF file.

You are responsible for manually checking your resume and ensuring you include all content relevant to your eligibility and qualifications in the first five pages. Our human resources office will not read beyond the first five pages.

What to Include in Your Resume

The following items are the most relevant to your eligibility and qualifications for a position, and you should include them in the first five pages of your resume:

• Contact and Location Information
• Job Objective(s)
• Description of Work Experience(s): Include specific dates (month, date, year)
• Competencies and Skills: Related to the advertised job
• Education, Training, and Certifications
• Relevant Volunteer Work
• Relevant Interests, Awards, References, and Professional Associations

What Not to Include in Your Resume

You should not include separate supporting documents or forms, such as:

• Military Service Documents: DD Form 214s
• Federal Employment Documents: Standard Form 50s, Standard Form 15s
• Educational Documents: Transcripts
• Cover Letters

If the job announcement requires separate supporting documents as part of your application, please submit these documents where prompted during the online application process.

Additionally, do not include certain personal information, such as:

• Picture
• Social Security Number
• Date of Birth or Age
• Health Information

If you have questions, please email or call the human resources office using the email and phone number listed in the job announcement.

What Happens After You Submit Your Application

HR Specialists Review Your Qualifications

• HR specialists review all self-assessments, resumes, and supporting documentation to determine the top-rated applicants. They will compare your resume with the minimum qualifications for the position.

Top-Rated Applicants Are Referred to the Hiring Manager

• Competitive Hiring: If you meet the minimum qualifications and eligibility requirements, you are placed into one of three categories based on your rating: best-qualified, well-qualified, or qualified. Applicants in the top-rated category will be referred to the hiring manager.
• Merit Promotion: The HR specialist will provide the hiring manager with the best-qualified applicants.
• Non-Competitive Hiring: All non-competitively eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualifications and eligibility requirements will be referred to the hiring manager. The hiring manager can select any of the referred non-competitively eligible applicants.

The Hiring Manager Reviews the Referred Applications

If you are referred, the hiring manager will review your application and other supporting documentation, such as a performance appraisal, to decide whether or not to interview you. Some offices may use interview panels to review applications. Additionally, some offices may request that applicants submit writing samples or complete additional assessments.

The Hiring Manager Sets Up Interviews

USCIS hiring managers will interview top-rated applicants for most positions before selecting. Hiring managers may choose to interview one, none, or all of the referred applicants.

The Hiring Manager Makes a Tentative Selection

The hiring manager informs the HR specialist of the top choice for the position. The HR specialist then validates that the selection meets all applicable rules and regulations.

What Happens After a Selection Is Made

If Selected, You Will Receive a Tentative Job Offer

An HR specialist or assistant will email you a tentative job offer, including your salary, important information about the job opportunity, and instructions for you. The email will specify a deadline by which you should respond with your acceptance or declination and provide any additional information.

If You Accept the Offer, You Will Undergo a Security Investigation

Upon accepting the position, you will receive instructions for completing the online security forms and scheduling your drug screening (if applicable).

Once You Are Cleared Through Security, the HR Specialist or Assistant Makes the Final Offer

An HR specialist or assistant will contact you about formally accepting the position and scheduling your start date.

You Prepare to Start Your New Job

An HR specialist or assistant will send you information on where and when to report for your first day. This includes a link to www.uscis.gov/newemployee and instructions on forms you must complete before your first day.

Welcome to USCIS!

You will be sworn in on your first day and complete the required first-day paperwork (such as Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification). Depending on your office, you will also attend an orientation session, either with a group of new employees or individually.

USCIS Notifies Other Applicants That a Selection Has Been Made

Once the final selection is made, USCIS will notify the other applicants that a selection has been made.

Conclusion on USCIS Job

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offers diverse career opportunities for individuals seeking to contribute to the nation’s immigration system. From immigration benefits adjudication to fraud detection, human resources to information technology, and legal services to program management, USCIS provides a wide spectrum of professional paths.

These positions cater to various skill sets and experience levels, allowing entry-level and seasoned professionals to find rewarding roles within the agency. USCIS jobs not only offer the chance to serve in the federal government but also provide the opportunity to significantly impact the lives of immigrants and the broader American community.

For those interested in pursuing a career with USCIS, it’s important to regularly check USAJOBS for current openings, as availability may vary by location and time. Additionally, students can gain valuable experience through the Pathways Internship Program, which can serve as a stepping stone to a full-time career in federal service.

By joining USCIS, individuals can become part of an organization dedicated to upholding America’s promise as a nation of welcome and possibility, contributing to the fair and efficient administration of immigration benefits. Whether in direct service roles or supporting functions, USCIS employees play a crucial part in shaping the future of immigration in the United States.

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