Visa Assistant

Visa Assistant (Immigrant Visa)- All Interested Applicants

Open Period: 12/09/2024 – 12/23/2024
Format MM/DD/YYYY
Vacancy Time Zone: GMT+5.75
Series/Grade: LE – 1415 7
Salary: NPR ₨1,405,744 /Per Year
Work Schedule: Full-time – Full Time (40 hours per week)
Promotion Potential: LE-7
Duty Location(s): 1 Vacancy in Kathmandu, NP
Telework Eligible: No

For More Info:

HR Section
977-1-4234000
recruitktm1@state.gov

Overview

Hiring Path: • Open to the public

Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency:

This position is open to:

All Interested Applicants / All Sources

For applicants who are USEFMs, the final grade/step for this position will be determined by Washington DC. The proposed grade is FP-7.

Security Clearance Required: Public Trust – Background Investigation
Appointment Type: Permanent

Appointment Type Details:

Indefinite subject to successful completion of probationary period.

Marketing Statement: We encourage you to review the Eight (8) Qualities of Overseas Employees before you apply.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO): The U.S. Mission provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Summary: The U.S. Mission in Kathmandu, Nepal is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for the position of Visa Assistant (Immigrant Visa). This vacancy is open to all interested applicants.

The work schedule for this position is Full Time (40 hours per week).

Supervisory Position: No
Relocation Expenses Reimbursed: No

Travel Required:

Not Required

Duties

The Immigrant Visa (IV) Assistant is responsible for all aspects of processing immigrant visas. This includes in-person intake and customer service to immigrant visa applicants, as well US citizen and foreign clients; collects applicant and petitioner documentation and prepares cases for officers to conduct interview and adjudication; administer the online IV appointment system, communicate with applicants, petitioners, and legal representatives on immigrant visa related issues; data entry into the computerized consular systems; performs quality assurance and printing of authorized visas; flags suspect documents or other fraud indicators for the Consular Officer and Fraud Prevention Unit staff, as appropriate; and maintains physical and electronic records. The incumbent is fully cross trained to function in any role as required by visa demand and scheduling.

Qualifications and Evaluations

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

Start date: Candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time of receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.

Education Requirements: Completion of two years of college or university studies is required.

Please address this factor in your ERA application under Education.

Evaluations: 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. To qualify based on education, you MUST submit the requested transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position.

Qualifications:

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

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

These may be tested (Language, Skills and Abilities).

Language: Good Working Knowledge Speaking/Reading/Writing English is required. Fluent Speaking/Reading/Writing Nepali is required.

Please address this language requirement in your ERA application. Please specify in your application your level of proficiency in ALL languages listed above.

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: Must have good skills for drafting written correspondence in both English and local language. Intermediate knowledge of MS Word, and Outlook and basic knowledge of MS Excel and Power Point are required.

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

Benefits and Other Info

Benefits:

Agency Benefits: The U.S. Mission offers a competitive compensation and benefits package for local employees. Benefits will be explained in detail to the selected candidate during job offer.

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

2. AEFM / USEFM

3. 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 following link.

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: Please address all relevant experience, education, language skills, 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.

To apply, please click the “APPLY TO THIS VACANCY” button, create or log-in to your ERA account and begin the application process. For an instructional video on how to apply click here.

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

We foster a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplace where employees can be themselves. We invite qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply.

Required Documents: 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:

• Residency Permit (if applicable)
• Proof of Citizenship
• Education Transcript
• References
• Other Documents (e.g. Experience Certificates)

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

• Copy of Sponsor’s Travel Orders/Assignment Notification (or equivalent)
• DD-214 – Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)
• SF-50 (if applicable)

Next Steps:

Applicants who are invited to take a language, skills, or who are selected for an interview will be contacted via email.

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://np.usembassy.gov/jobs/

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