Visa Assistants at the U.S. Embassy

The U.S. Mission to Nigeria comprises of the Embassy in Abuja, FCT, and the Consulate General in Lagos. U.S. Consulate General Lagos is the Mission’s representative to the Nigerian people in the southern region.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Visa Assistant - All Interested Candidates

Announcement Number: Abuja-2022-014
Location: Abuja
Slots: 2 Openings
Hiring Agency: Embassy Abuja
Series / Grade: LE - 1415 7
Promotion Potential: LE-4
Work Schedule: Full-time - 40 hours per week

Overview

• Hiring Path: Open to the public
• Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency:
  • For USEFM - FP is 07.  Actual FP salary determined by Washington D.C.
  • All Interested Applicants / All Sources
• Security Clearance Required: Public Trust - Background Investigation
• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Appointment Type Details: Indefinite subject to successful completion of probationary period.

Summary

• The work schedule for this position is:
  • Full Time (40 hours per week)
• Start date: Candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time (6 weeks) of receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.
• Travel Required: Not Required

Duties

• The incumbent acts as a full Non-Immigrant Visa (NIV) Team member, performing challenging and complex clerical duties, pertaining to the full range of non-immigrant visa services. 
• Responsible for ensuring consistency and quality of his/her performance and ensuring that it complies with consular section quality standards for Mission Nigeria and is compliant with visa laws and regulations. 
• Position will be supervised by the NIV Team Lead.
• S/he screens incoming documents to process visa applications according to U.S. visa law. 
• Responsible for the complete life-cycle of NIV case processing, including appointment verification, document appointment intake, biometric processing, data entry, scanning of visa files, visa printing/pasting and return of passport.

Qualifications and Evaluations
Education Requirement:

• Two years of college or university studies is required.  

Evaluations:

• This may be tested. Please specify in your application your level of proficiency in the language listed.

Language:

• Level IV (Fluent) Speaking/Reading/Writing of English.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to process an NIV case through the entire life cycle; from initial receipt of visa application to retirement of files is required.
• Ability to quickly determine when it is appropriate to escalate problematic visa cases or technical difficulties with consular equipment or consular programs to the attention of the NIV Team Leader or NIV LE Staff Supervisor is required.
• Ability to observe the confidentiality of visa records at all times and exercise good judgment in a high fraud environment is required. 
• Ability to withstand external pressure from persistent visa applicants or their proxies is required. 
• Ability to accurately enter data in various systems with superior customer service skills is required. Strong computer service skills to include basic word processing, spreadsheets, and use of Consular applications.
• Ability to operate specialized office machines related to the issuance of visas, fingerprinting and photographic equipment is required.

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.

Qualifications:

• All applicants under consideration will be required to pass medical and security certifications.

Benefits and Other Info
Agency Benefits:

• Locally Employed Staff, including Members of Household (MOHs), and Third-Country Nationals (TCNs), working at the U.S. Mission in Lagos, Nigeria may receive a compensation package that may include health, separation, and other benefits.
• For EFMs, benefits should be discussed with the Human Resources Office. .
• The pay plan is assigned at the time of the conditional offer letter by the HR Office.

Other Information:

• Hiring Preference Selection Process:  Applicants in the following hiring preference categories are extended a hiring preference in the order listed below.  Therefore, it is essential that these applicants accurately describe their status on the application. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not eligible for a hiring preference.

Hiring Preference Order:

• AEFM / USEFM who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
• AEFM / USEFM
• FS on LWOP and CS with reemployment rights **

Important

• 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”), 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 Foreign Service employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.
• For more information (i.e., what is an EFM, USEFM, AEFM, MOH, etc.?) and for additional employment considerations, please visit the following link.

Marketing Statement:

• We encourage you to read and understand the Eight (8) Qualities of Overseas Employees before you apply.

COVID-19 Requirements for Eligible Family Members

• As required by Executive Order 14043, Eligible Family Members who will be employed on a Family Member Appointment (FMA) or a Temporary Appointment (TEMP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee’s duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law.
• If selected for the position, the agency will provide you additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a medical or religious accommodation.
• Eligible Family Members who will be employed on a Personal Services Agreement and compensated under the USG pay plan will be required to attest to their vaccination status using the Vaccine Attestation Form.
• If you are not fully vaccinated or decline to provide this information, you will be required to demonstrate proof of a negative COVID-19 test completed within 72 hours of entry to a Mission facility and comply with enhanced COVID-19 mitigation protocols.
• If selected for the position, the agency will provide you additional information regarding these requirements.

COVID-19 Requirements for Local Candidates

• Candidates who will be employed on either a Personal Services Agreement or a direct hire appointment and compensated under the Mission’s Local Compensation Plan will be required to follow all Mission COVID-19 policies applicable to Locally Employed Staff.
• If selected for the position, the agency will provide you additional information regarding these requirements.

Salary
NGN6,455,212 (USD $38,894) annually

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Important Information

• All candidates must be able to obtain and hold a Public Trust clearance.
• To apply for this position click the “Submit Application” button.  For more information on how to apply visit the Mission internet site.

Required Documents:
Please provide the required documentation listed below with your application:

• Residency and/or Work Permit
• Degree (not transcript)
• Degree with transcript

For EFMs, in addition to the above:

• Copy of 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 or skills test, or who are selected for an interview will be contacted via email.
• For further information - the complete position description listing all of the duties, responsibilities, required qualifications, etc. may be obtained by contacting the Human Resources Office.
• Thank you for your application and your interest in working at the U.S. Mission in Abuja, Nigeria

Application Deadline  23rd February, 2022.