# Exploring Asylum Officer Careers

Asylum Careers  (PDF, 3.53 MB)

Every year, people flee their countries to escape the risk of harm, with many seeking safety in the United States, where our laws allow them to apply for asylum once they arrive.

Asylum Officers interview these individuals to determine if they meet the U.S. legal definition of a “refugee” and are eligible for asylum status. In doing so, Asylum Officers uphold our nation’s historical tradition of providing refuge to those in urgent need of protection and safeguard the security and integrity of our immigration system.

Join U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and help uphold America’s promise as a nation of welcome and possibility with fairness, integrity, and respect for all we serve.

You should consider a career as an Asylum Officer with USCIS if you:
                - Enjoy analytical thinking, are flexible, are curious and enjoy speaking to people from all over the world;
                - Are interested in other cultures and languages;
                - Have strong verbal, written, and/or technology skills;
                - Have experience with or are comfortable talking to people about topics that may be sensitive, uncomfortable, triggering, or traumatic; and
                - Have education or a background in fields including but not limited to international studies, law, political science, humanitarian interests, public administration, law enforcement, social work, non-profit work, or other parts of government, including the Peace Corps. 

USCIS, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), determines whether non-citizens are eligible for legal immigration status in the United States. The Asylum Division, within the Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate of USCIS, is responsible for adjudicating applications for asylum status and other protection-related screenings. Trained Asylum Officers **interview asylum seekers** from around the world to determine whether they qualify for protection in the United States due to experiencing persecution in the past or having a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. These important humanitarian determinations are made while also protecting national security, combating fraud, and safeguarding the legal immigration system through careful screening, vigilant interviews, and sound adjudications. Every day, Asylum Officers change lives while ensuring the integrity of our country’s immigration system.

## The Work of an Asylum Officer

The work of an Asylum Officer can be very challenging. Every day, we engage with people who have gone through traumatic experiences and are making extraordinary efforts to survive and build safer, better lives. We conduct in-person and telephonic interviews with asylum seekers at locations throughout the United States, hearing stories of what led them to flee their home countries. We review applications and research country conditions to ensure we have an understanding of their experiences and where they come from.

Through our efforts, we assess asylum seekers’ eligibility for asylum status and offer protection to those who meet the U.S. legal definition of a “refugee” and are eligible for asylum status.

                    - Interview asylum seekers in a professional, non-adversarial manner and adjudicate their requests for asylum or conduct protection screenings based on U.S. immigration laws;
                    - Support fraud deterrence, and security initiatives; and
                    - Work in a fast-paced, ever-evolving, and dynamic job environment.

**Typical duties include:**
                    - Conducting interviews in-person and telephonically with asylum seekers, often through an interpreter, in a non-adversarial and sensitive manner to elicit and clarify information related to their eligibility for humanitarian-based immigration benefits.
                    - Identifying indicators of human trafficking, fraud, and detect potential threats to national security.
                    - Reviewing applications, evidence, and government records.
                    - Researching conditions in foreign countries.
                    - Performing legal analysis and exercising significant judgment in applying complex immigration laws to a wide variety of factual situations.
                    - Interpreting and applying appropriate policy, regulations, statutes, and precedent decisions to make eligibility determinations.
                    - Drafting written assessments outlining the legal analysis and benefit determination of the applicant’s case.
                    - Making sensitive legal decisions on whether applicants are eligible for asylum or other protection screenings.
                    - Establishing and maintaining liaison with external federal agencies and non-governmental organizations, and/or private sector stakeholders involved in asylum benefits. This often involves providing customer service for applicants and their attorneys/representatives throughout the asylum process.

Successful Asylum Officers are adaptable, flexible, and detail oriented. Ideal Asylum Officer candidates have:
                    - The ability to work with diverse populations;
                    - Strong verbal and written communication skills;
                    - Robust critical thinking and analytical skills;
                    - A desire to work on challenging humanitarian issues; and

A steadfast commitment to administer and uphold laws, regulations, and evolving policies.

By embedding the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) into our daily activities, we attract, recruit, train, and retain employees who successfully carry out the mission of USCIS, and we achieve our core value of championing people. This empowers employees to bring their best selves to USCIS, in service to the public and the USCIS mission. When people of all backgrounds are valued, heard, and respected in an inclusive manner, the nation reaps the reward.  We continue to develop and implement initiatives to foster DEIA at USCIS.

Some ways we foster diversity include:
                    - Participating in and partnering with these Employee Associations:  DHS Disability Alliance, DHS Society of American Indian Government Employees (SAIGE), DHS Blacks in Government (BIG), DHS and USCIS PRIDE, DHS and USCIS Adelante,  National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives (NAHFE) , and  DHS Asian American Pacific Islander Network .
                    - Participating in division-wide trainings on topics such as reasonable accommodations and unconscious bias.
                    - Hosting virtual small group discussions with staff (“coffee chats”) on a variety of topics including those relating to diversity and inclusion.  

## Hear Our Stories

**Asylum Officers talk to people from all over the world. Read about our experiences.**

*“After Peace Corps I wanted to continue doing international and humanitarian work. As an Asylum Officer my job is to stay up to date on current events in international conflict zones and humanitarian crises and then listen to the experiences of people who have lived in those areas. Though the work can be challenging, helping people who have escaped trauma to become a part of the American dream gives me a sense of purpose that is not available in most other careers.”*

*–*David, Asylum Officer

*“As a first-generation American, witnessing the struggles that many people go through to secure basic rights has deeply impacted me. Working at USCIS as an Asylum Officer has been an immensely fulfilling experience; I am able to interact with people from all over the world and be a small part of their immigration journey. Being part of USCIS has allowed me to embody and uphold the values of integrity, fairness, and respect that are deeply rooted in the agency’s culture. I am proud to know that I contribute to a dedicated workforce that embraces the agency’s mission and supports the Unites States’ tradition as a land of opportunity and inclusiveness.”*

*–*Danielle, Asylum Officer

*“Being an Asylum Officer is not easy. A typical day consists of imminent deadlines, sensitive claims, and mental exhaustion. But, after four years as an Asylum Officer, what I remember most is how I was able to make a difference. From Afghan evacuees, to unaccompanied minors, and migrants making the dangerous journey across the Darién Gap, Asylum Officers routinely hear stories of human perseverance and make lasting changes in individual lives. It’s these stories and the satisfaction of positively impacting someone’s life that makes asylum work unlike any other work.”*

– Oscar, Asylum Officer

*“The Asylum Officer position is one of the most interesting and exciting jobs I have ever had. I have learned so much about our applicants’ lives, world history, current events, and global migration patterns.  It is so rewarding to play a part in welcoming asylees to the United States.  Every day, I also feel lucky to work with some of the brightest and most compassionate colleagues in public service. They constantly inspire, challenge, and support me. It has been a great experience working here.”*

– Kayla, Asylum Officer

As a federal employee, you will enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance your wellness, education, and life balance. Learn more about the benefits available to USCIS employees.

Additional benefits include:
                    - Eligibility for the  Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program .
                    - Opportunities for occasional domestic travel.
                    - Overtime opportunities. (*Based on current directives, overtime may be required.) 

Becoming an Asylum Officer begins with the job application and hiring process. Asylum Officer job opportunity announcements are posted on usajobs.gov – visit USCIS job opportunities on USAJOBS and type “Asylum Officer” in the keywords. You must apply online through the job opportunity announcement to be considered.

**Office Locations**

This position is in the Refugee, Asylum and International Operations (RAIO) Directorate, Asylum Division. Our offices are located across the United States in the following cities:
                    - San Francisco, CA;
                    - Tustin, CA;
                    - Miami, FL;
                    - Tampa, FL;
                    - Atlanta, GA;
                    - Chicago, IL;
                    - New Orleans, LA;
                    - Boston, MA;
                    - Newark, NJ/Manhattan, NY;
                    - Bethpage, NY;
                    - Houston, TX;
                    - Arlington, VA;

Our headquarters is in:
                    - Camp Springs, MD.

**Where to Apply**

Asylum Officer job announcements can be found on usajobs.gov during the open period for the posting. Note that the bottom of the www.usajobs.gov page contains a section that explains different hiring paths (such as special hiring authorities, open to the public, veterans, students & recent graduates, and individuals with disabilities).

**Asylum Career Opportunities**

Visit USCIS job opportunities on USAJOBS and type “Asylum Officer” in the keywords to see if there are any open postings.

**Qualifications**

The requirements for each of the Asylum Officer positions are described in their related job announcements on www.usajobs.gov.

**Education Requirements**

There is no educational requirement to become an Asylum Officer; you may meet the requirements based solely on experience, or education level, or a combination of both. Refer to the job opportunity announcement on usajobs.gov for more information.

**Salary**

The salary will be set based on the grade and step you qualify for and either your location or the location of the position. To learn more about the General Schedule (or GS) pay system and associated salaries, visit the Office of Personnel Management’s Pay & Leave webpage for more information.

**Training**

All Asylum Officers are required to receive extensive training on U.S. asylum and immigration law.  Trainings may last multiple weeks and may be held in-person or virtually. Asylum Officers must achieve a minimum cumulative score of 70% on course exams. Since training is a condition of employment for the Asylum Officer position, not successfully completing the training will be grounds for mandatory removal from the position. In circumstances where someone does not successfully complete the training, this will result in either reassignment to a different position, demotion, or separation from the position by appropriate procedures.

**Travel**

Occasional travel is required for this position. Asylum Officers may travel to other USCIS offices or DHS detention locations to conduct interviews. This includes traveling to locations at other USCIS offices that are established to serve applicants that live in locations far from the main asylum office that covers that area. As immigration emergencies arise, selectees may be required to travel to other locations as well, sometimes for extended periods, to conduct interviews.  For the required initial condition of employment training, when conducted in-person at a residential or other location, travel is required, and when conducted virtually, travel is not required.

**Application Evaluation**

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in the job posting. You will be evaluated for this position based on information reflected in your resume. Your resume must support your responses to the job-specific assessment questionnaire and the level of education, experience, and training you claim. To remain in consideration for the position, please ensure your resume covers these requirements and that you successfully submit your resume as part of your online application package. Creating this package includes completing any online assessments, uploading your resume, and uploading any required supporting documents. (See the “How to Apply” section of the job announcement.)

**Timeline for Setting Your Start Date**

The timeline for starting your job after being selected for a position varies. Some factors that may impact onboarding timelines include:
                    - Submitting all required items for your background clearance; and
                    - Successful adjudication of your background clearance.

Human Resources finalizes processing your paperwork for your start date after we receive your background clearance.

To learn more about other positions within the Asylum Division, see our Career Brochure (PDF, 3.53 MB).

The Asylum Division has a number of other positions that are important to the daily operations of the office and support the humanitarian work including:
                - CIS Assistant.
                - Legal Administrative Specialist.
                - Mission Support Specialist.
                - Management and Program Analyst.

If you are interested and have questions about the hiring process to become an Asylum Officer, please email hrocstaffinghelpdesk@uscis.dhs.gov.

03/08/2024

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