Telework with USCIS

[Anonymous]

how good/bad USCIS specifically DHS is in terms of telework?
I am thinking about leaving my DOS position to move to DHS

[Anonymous]

Wow lots of posts about USCIS these days. It depends on where you will be working. I’ve seen a minimum of two days per week and as much as pretty much FT telework but you have to show up 2x per pay period. Even the folks with 2x per week can add more on an ad-hoc basis (like- my car won’t start, is it ok to telework?). In general it’s a very friendly and flexible culture. There are many former DOS people there (including me) and it is significantly more family and telework friendly than DOS. The work is much more technical and much less sexy. As a result, it lends itself to telework- you don’t need to be in the office and briefing your DAS on a hot issue on a regular basis and here’s no “high side” to deal with. The agency doesn’t command a fraction of the influence or input that DOS has in the Inter-Agency (although that is shifting due to POTUS relationship with the acting director), and of course, the politics are fraught. Not knowing where you come from at DOS or where you are going at USCIS I can’t offer more, but on telework aloneUSCIS wins. Also, we are slated to move our HQ to southern Maryland next year, and everyone anticipates much more liberal telework then (even for mangers, many of whom are not permitted to TW except situationally).

[Anonymous]

thanks for your insight. i will be moving to the Asylum Office, which might be different since you have to interview people on a daily basis

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:thanks for your insight. i will be moving to the Asylum Office, which might be different since you have to interview people on a daily basis

Oh, you didn't mention that before. There is no telework at the Asylum Offices, at least not yet. They are piloting it (the idea is that, if the interpreters can conduct the interviews at home, the asylum officers could be able to do so as well). Personally, I think it's an awesome idea, but that's months-to-years away.

I do think being an Asylum Officer is a great way to launch a career in government. Not sure I'd leave DOS for the Asylum Office though, if telework is your main motivation.

[Anonymous]

of course it is not the main motivation. Curious why everyone talks about AO is a way to launch the career in the government

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:of course it is not the main motivation. Curious why everyone talks about AO is a way to launch the career in the government

I wrote the response and I mentioned telework as the main motivation because of how the OP phrased the question. Personally, I think it is a great way to launch a career in government because USCIS is desperate for Asylum Officers (AO) right now so it is a good way to get a job right off the bat with no previous experience!

If that person later wants to transition to another job, they will have had a lot of training and opportunity to work directly with people- it would be a great transition to anything having to do with intelligence, investigations, conflict mediation and resolution, law, immigration, and international affairs (because you will develop a lot of knowledge about country conditions), foreign policy, immigration policy, and homeland security, and there would be opportunities to transition to multiple DHS components (DHS, ICE, CBP, FEMA, etc).

In addition, it's important and hard work that carries a lot of responsibility, so it is great experience and would reflect well on a resume. An AO has to work hard, work interdependently, be very organized, and be very dedicated.