Language Specialist

Full Job Description

Protect your homeland and defend your culture. Join USCIS, America's frontline defense against illegal foreign infiltration and fraud.

As a Language Specialist, you will provide interpretation and translation services during immigration benefit interviews with USCIS, translate public information materials related to immigration benefits, and other language services in support of the Department Homeland Security (DHS) mission.

The qualifications for this position must be met by 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on 01/16/2026.

Time in Grade does not apply to Delegated Examining Announcements, any reference to Time in Grade in the questionnaire will not apply to the rating and ranking of applicants.

This announcement is issued under the Direct Hire Authority to recruit for positions for which the Department of Homeland Security, U.S.

Citizenship and Immigration Services, has a critical hiring need.

Basic Requirements: All applicants must meet the following basic requirements: (Must be supported in Transcripts from an accredited institution, Resume and/or Applicable Certificate) Undergraduate and Graduate level education: Major study-the appropriate foreign language from an English speaking college or university, English from a college or university in the other country, or translating or interpreting where English and the foreign language were prerequisites.

OR Experience in translating, interpreting, or other work requiring the use of English and the other language; or a combination of work (that required English and the other language) and training at the Defense Language Institute, Foreign Service Institute, or comparable training.

(Examples of work in the required language that may have provided the required abilities: translator; interpreter; librarian or information specialist required to make abstracts, screen, index, and scan material; intelligence; writer or editor; international organizational work, such as the Peace Corps, World Bank, United Nations, business, or other organizations; or professor, teacher, or instructor work at the high school or college level that required use of the foreign language).

Selective Placement Factor: You must have demonstrated advanced specialized experience in providing complex and consecutive interpretations in English from Arabic, Vietnamese, Russian, Spanish, or Korean and vice-versa.

This experience must be documented in your resume.

You must possess a certification in interpretation and/or translation issued by a professional organization or government entity (i.e., educational institution, American Translators Association, U.S.

Federal or State Courts, etc.), or testing equivalent to an Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) score of at least 3 in interpretation or translation.

GS-09: You qualify at the GS-09 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position.

You must have experience performing the following duties: Interpreting in legal settings in at least one foreign language. Researching and analyzing terminology to interpret accurately and fluently.

Rendering sight translation of basic documents. OR You may substitute a Master's degree or two (2) full years of graduate education leading to such a degree in any field, or a J.D. or L.L.B.

degree for experience required at the GS-09 grade level.

Such education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise two years of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 36 semester or 54 quarter hours.

GS-11: You qualify at the GS-11 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position.

You must have experience performing the following duties: Interpreting and translating legal and technical documents in at least one foreign language.

Researching terminology to interpret and/or translate accurately and fluently. Researching, analyzing and summarizing technical and non-technical documents.

OR You may substitute a doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent degree) or three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in any field, or L.L.M.

if related for experience at the GS-11 grade level or such education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise three years of graduate study. If that information is not available, use 54 semester or 81 quarter hours.

GS-12: You qualify at the GS-12 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position.

You must have experience performing the following duties: Interpreting and translating subject matter related to immigration, asylum laws and regulations in addition to medical, legal, financial, intelligence, scientific and military content.

Reviewing translated documents into and from the source language to ensure technical and grammatical accuracy. Performing advanced research on terminology and the aforementioned subject matter.

Providing interpretation advice to determine correct protocol and resolving difficult communication problems.

Please read the following important information to ensure you submit everything we need to consider your application: It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit your responses and appropriate documentation prior to 01/16/2026.

Your resume will be used to determine your qualifications for the position advertised in this announcement.

Therefore, your resume must highlight your most relevant, significant experience related to the requirements found in the qualification section of this announcement, as well as any applicable education.

Limit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.

To help ensure your resume remains clear and easy to read, we recommend using margins of at least 0.8 inches and a font size of at least 11 point.

Be clear and specific when describing your work history since human resources cannot make assumptions regarding your experience.

Your application will be rated and ranked based on your responses to the online questions.

Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information: Job Title (include series and grade if Federal Job) Duties (be specific in describing your duties) Employer's name and address Supervisor name and phone number Start and end dates including month, day and year (e.g.

June 18 2007 to April 05 2008) Start and end dates for each grade/pay level if you've held a federal position.

Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week) Salary Note: Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

Federal Experience: If you are using current or prior federal experience as a basis for qualifying for this position, the grade levels and length of employment (mm/dd/year) at each grade level must be listed in your work history.

This information will be further validated if selected for this position.

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 criteria 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 service. Major Duties:

• Organizational Location: This positions are located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, within the External Affairs Directorate and are assigned based on the need of the agency.
• 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.
• Performs consecutive interpreting for Department Homeland Security (DHS) component employees, immigration officers, attorneys, aliens, and other parties during all types of immigration proceedings.
• Subject matter of interpretation, translation, and transcription includes, but is not limited to legal; communication; correspondence; documentation.
• Researches, analyzes, and critiques foreign language documents based on Department Homeland Security (DHS) investigation requirements.
• Performs advanced research incident to translating and/or interpreting.
• Reviews foreign media in the Foreign Language, and, as needed, provides translations into English or English language summaries.