Non-Immigrant Visa Assistant Full Time NEW

Job Description

The Non-immigrant Visa (NIV) Assistant performs a wide range of consular duties associated with delivering non-immigrant visa (NIV) services, in accordance with the NIV unit’s standard operating procedures and established visa processing guidelines. Incumbent performs data-entry, document review, correspondence, passport manifesting, visa printing, and other general office work. Customer service focus is essential in a visa unit that addresses applicants in person daily. The position requires a high-level of attention to detail to spot trends or potential issues and escalate those as necessary. The job holder is fully cross trained to function in any role as required by visa demand and scheduling.

Qualifications and Evaluations

All selected candidates will be subject to a background investigation and may be subject to a pre-employment medical exam.

Selected candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time (4 weeks) upon receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.

Education Requirements:

•  Completion of high school is required.
• You will be evaluated against the qualifications and requirements in this vacancy announcement.
• You may be asked to complete a pre-employment language or skills test.
• You must complete the application form and provide the required documents.  Your application
• must address all the position qualifications and requirements including education, experience,
• language, and any knowledge/skills/abilities listed.
• If you fail to submit a complete application,  then your application may be disqualified for this position.

Minimum two years of experience involving the application of regulations and law, extensive public contact, customer service, or problem-solving experience is required.

Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.

Language:

• Good working knowledge in speaking/reading/writing English is required.  Fluent in speaking/reading/writing Amharic is required. (These may be tested)
• Please address this language requirement in your ERA application. 

 Job Knowledge:

• Good understanding of local governmental organizations, immigration law and practices, and cultural and social practices.
• Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.

Skills and Abilities:

Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Word and Outlook, and basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Power Point is required. Must be able to perform work with accuracy at a quick, rapid pace. Must be able to deal effectively with the public, exercising tact, and be able to work under continuous pressure and time constraints. Must demonstrate attention to detail, ability to work effectively as a member of a team as well as independently with minimal supervision, and strong interpersonal skills. Must have good skills for drafting written correspondence in both English and local language. Must be able to apply good judgment in evaluating evidence and to apply regulations correctly. (These may be tested)

Benefits and Other Info

The U.S. Mission offers a competitive compensation and benefits package for local employees.

For Eligible Family Member (EFM) applicants, benefits should be discussed with the HR Office. The pay plan is assigned by the HR Office and confirmed by Washington, D.C.

Other Information:

HIRING PREFERENCE SELECTION PROCESS: 

A hiring preference is extended to eligible and qualified applicants in the order listed below.  It is essential you accurately describe your status in your application, failure to do so may result in a determination that you are not eligible for a hiring preference.

HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER

1. 1. Appointment Eligible Family Member (AEFM) / U.S. citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*

1. 1. AEFM / USEFM

1. 1. Foreign Service (FS) on Leave without Pay (LWOP) and Civil Service (CS) with reemployment rights **

* IMPORTANT:  US citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”) preferably Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs which indicates the present existence of a service-connected disability, equivalent documentation, or certification.  A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service.  Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given.

** This level of preference applies to all FS employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.

For complete definitions of AEFM, USEFM, EFM, Member of Household, etc., please visit the 3 FAM 7210 Definitions.

ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERATIONS

The following apply to EFMs, USEFMs, and AEFMs only:

• • Current employees who used a hiring preference to gain employment who are within their first 90 calendar days of employment are not eligible. This does not apply when the hiring mechanism is TEMP or the work schedule is intermittent or irregular.

• • Candidates with a hiring preference who have already accepted a conditional offer of employment may NOT be extended a second conditional offer of employment unless and until they withdraw their candidacy for the first position in writing.

The following apply to Locally Employed (LE) staff only:

• • Current employees serving a probationary period are not eligible.

• Current employees with an Overall Summary Rating of Needs Improvement, Unsatisfactory, or an MBC score of less than 100 points on their most recent Employee Performance Report are not eligible.

How to Apply:

Click the “Apply to This Vacancy” button at the top of the page to begin your application.  For an instructional video on how to apply click here.

https://erajobs.state.gov/dos-era/vacancy/viewVacancyDetail.hms?_ref=euo5sfznpt0&returnToSearch=true&jnum=71997&orgId=79
Please address all relevant experience, education, language skills (including English), and job related skills or requirements in your application.

You may edit your application any time before the vacancy closing date. If you fail to submit a complete application by the vacancy closing date of this vacancy, then your application may be disqualified for this position.

For a copy of the complete position description, please contact the HR Office.

To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the HR Office.

Required Documents:

Note: Please upload all work experience copies of yours under “Other Document 1 or 2”

Please upload all applicable documents to your application. If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position.

All Applicants:

• • Work Experience (required)

• • Completion of high school (required)

• • Computer Training Certificate (if applicable)

• • Resume/CV (if applicable)

In addition, Eligible Family Member (EFM) Applicants must submit:

• • Copy of Sponsor’s Travel Orders/Assignment Notification (or equivalent)

• • Passport copy

• • DD-214 – Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)

• • SF-50 (if applicable)

Next Steps:

The HR Office will contact successful applicants.  For more information on applying for jobs or employment with us, please visit the U.S. Mission website https://et.usembassy.gov/jobs/

Thank you for your application and your interest in working with us.