Please limit your resume to 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess one of the following: Experience: One (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as: Ensures that all records and property are maintained and/or destroyed in accordance with security requirements; Writes well-organized, logical, often complex legal decisions and opinions; and Grants (or tantamount to denies) applications based on evidence generated by requests for evidence or researches and refers cases to appropriate channels where fraud is suspected. OR Education: You may substitute successful completion of a Ph.D. (or equivalent doctoral degree such as LL.M) or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree for the experience required at the GS-11 level. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of successfully completed education and experience. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application. You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as: Ensures that all records and property are maintained and/or destroyed in accordance with security requirements; Writes well-organized, logical, often complex legal decisions and opinions; Grants (or tantamount to denies) applications based on evidence generated by requests for evidence or researches and refers cases to appropriate channels where fraud is suspected; and Appropriately communicates final adjudicative decisions to applicant or petitioner; writes legal decisions and opinions. You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as: Functions as subject matter expert (SME) in more complex adjudication case types; Appropriately communicates final adjudicative decision to petitioners and or legal representatives; Grant or deny petitions for schools requesting non-immigration benefits of significant complexity based on electronic or paper petitions; and Independently conduct legal research and prepare briefs, position papers, legal decisions and opinions, notices of intent, and motions/responses to the court. Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. 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 [contact via apply link](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.