General Attorney

Protect your homeland and defend your culture. Join USCIS, America's frontline defense against illegal foreign infiltration and fraud. Do you desire to be a part of the vibrant United States immigrant admission process, to protect American interests and to secure our nation while building a meaningful and rewarding career? If so, United States Citizenship and Immigration (USCIS), and its Office of the Chief Counsel are calling!

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.

Provides legal advice to the Chief Counsel, USCIS personnel, and other Departmental components on issues relating to the adjudication of immigration benefits, asylee and refugee processing, immigration enforcement matters, and related litigation.

Advises on the legal consequences that affect immigration benefit processing and adjudications (including visas, inadmissibility, parole, adjustment of status, abandonment, deportability, citizenship, naturalization, and national security issues).

Reviews regulations, policy memoranda, and field guidance for legal sufficiency, and often provides litigation support to the Department of Justice in federal lawsuits involving USCIS regulations, adjudications, practices, and/or policies.

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. 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. A two-year trial period is required for all appointees to a federal attorney position. Based on the documentation we have, you will be subject to this requirement. If you previously met this requirement, and you have not had a break in service, please submit any SF-50s that support this claim.

EDUCATIONAL SUBSTITUTION: There is no educational substitution for this position. Applicants must possess a J.D. or LL.M. degree from an ABA-accredited law school or serve a legal apprenticeship in California, Virginia, Vermont, or Washington and pass the bar exam in order to be permitted to practice law in one (1) of those jurisdictions. Bar Requirement GS-13 thru GS-15: Be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction). Do you possess a J.D. or LL.M.? Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from an accredited institution. Once selected and prior to appointment, applicants must provide an official college transcript. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. Your foreign education accreditation must come from an evaluation service that is endorsed by the Association of International Credential Evaluators or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. Failure to provide foreign accreditation from one of these organizations will result in removal from consideration.