Demo

SEVP Appeals Adjudicator

INTERNAL OPERATIONS DIV
Vienna, VA Other
POSTED ON 5/21/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 6/4/2026
View Common Definitions of terms found in this announcement.

Organizational Location: This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, in Vienna, Virginia.

This is a bargaining unit position.

Qualifications:

Please limit your resume to 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-13 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as:
  • Supporting the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) adjudication process or the SEVP Appeals Process by reviewing SEVP petitions and/or appealed decisions, researching references provided in supporting documentation by the petitioners, drafting and issuing decisions which either grant or deny petitions or which affirm, overturn, and/or remand cases which are appealed;
  • Reporting to one of the following related to adjudication of petitions or appeals of those petitions: the Chief of the School Certification Unit (SCU), the Chief of the Analysis and Operations Center (SAOC), or the Final Appeals Authority (FAA) for all guidance and direction;
  • Leading special project teams related to SCU/SAOC petition adjudication or SEVP appeals adjudication functions comprised of lower graded staff; and
  • Displaying an expert understanding and use of SEVP-related policies, regulations, and statutes which govern non-immigrant students and the certified institutions which enroll them.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

Note:
One or more positions may be filled using this vacancy announcement. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

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 critical 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 experience.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Responsibilities:

As a SEVP Appeals Adjudicator, you will perform the following duties:
  • Supports the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Appeals Process by reviewing appealed decisions, researching references provided in supporting documentation by the petitioners, drafting and issuing decisions which affirm, overturn, or remand cases;
  • Ensures program quality assurance, conducts training, serves as liaison and communicates decisions;
  • Acts as authority on the appeals of NSID adjudicated cases and functions as a subject matter expert in more complex appeal cases;
  • Develops standard operating policies and procedures designed to enhance the NSID appeals process, and monitor that progress to determine if objectives are being met;
  • Displays expert understanding and demonstrated use of SEVP-related policies, regulations, and statutes which govern non-immigrant students and the SEVP certified institutions that enroll them. Appeals adjudicators review and sometimes overturn or remand decisions made by other SEVP adjudicators; and
  • Displays advanced capability and experience in independently conducting legal research, preparing legal briefs, and drafting adjudicated decisions related to petitions by academic institutions for SEVP certification or recertification.

Salary : $143,913

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