Immigration Services Officer

Citizenship and Immigration Services; Colchester (VT); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

USCIS in Vermont seeks an Immigration Services Officer for the Field Operations Directorate. You may conduct in-person interviews to adjudicate immigration benefits and support other federal agencies in identifying security risks.

GS-09/11/12 level with specialized experience or advanced degrees; duties include examining evidence, applying laws, and issuing final determinations in alignment with policy. Time-in-Grade requirements apply by 09/28/2026.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience at GS-09 level or higher, or equivalent.
• Ability to examine, evaluate, and analyze evidence for immigration benefits.
• Ability to apply immigration laws, policies and procedures.
• Ability to make determinations for immigration benefits in coordination with policies.

Responsibilities

• Examine, evaluate evidence, and analyze immigration benefits documents for authenticity.
• Research, analyze, and apply appropriate immigration laws, policies, and procedures.
• Make determinations for immigration benefits based on reviews of applications and policies.

Skills

Specialized experience

Evidence evaluation

Legal analysis

Interviewing

Education

Master's degree or 2 years of grad education

J.D. or LL.B.

Doctoral degree (PhD) in related field

Job description

Protect your homeland and defend your culture. Join USCIS, America's frontline defense against illegal foreign infiltration and fraud. As an Immigration Services Officer with the Field Operations Directorate, you may conduct in-person interviews to adjudicate applications for immigration benefits and assist other federal agencies in identifying those who pose a threat to national security and public safety.

The qualifications for this position must be met by 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on 09/28/2026.

Eligibility

The Time-in-Grade requirement must be met by 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on 09/28/2026.

Current Federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the lower grade or equivalent grade band in the Federal service.

GS-09

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 majority of the following duties:

• Examining, evaluating evidence, and analyzing immigration benefits documents received for authenticity.
• Researching, analyzing and applying appropriate immigration laws, policies and procedures
• Making determinations for immigration benefits based on reviews of applications in coordination with policies.

OR You may substitute a Master's degree or two (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-09 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

GS-11: You 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 majority of the following duties:

• Making final determinations on non-sensitive, routine immigration matters related to the Immigration and Nationality Act, or representing applicants on non-sensitive, routine hearing or appeal requests involving immigration matters.
• Determining applicant credibility, analyzing evidence, and applying statutory requirements, regulations, judicial and administrative precedents.
• Researching and writing well-organized, complex legaL decisions consistent with adjudicative standards and legislation.

OR You may substitute a doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent degree) or three (3) 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 or 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

GS-12: You 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 majority of the following duties:

• Researching and analyzing immigration laws, policies, regulations, and precedent decisions to determine the eligibility and entitlement of immigration benefits.
• Analyzing information and documents to determine credibility and eligibility and writing final determinations with legal analysis to support decisions.
• Making final determinations on sensitive, complex immigration cases involving eligibility for citizenship and immigration benefits; or preparing legal briefs or other written memoranda that advocate for a determination in complex hearing or appeal cases.