Legal Careers
Immigration Judge
Suite 2300
Falls Church, VA 22041 - United States
This position is in the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), Office of the Chief Immigration Judge. EOIR is seeking retired immigration judges as part-time and intermittent reemployed annuitants to support EOIR’s mission to adjudicate immigration cases by fairly, expeditiously, and uniformly interpreting and administering the Nation’s immigration laws. Reemployed annuitants selected for these immigration judge positions will support the adjudication of cases nationwide, serving on an as-needed basis, sometimes with limited advance notice, either in-person or via video to hear cases when a permanent IJ is not available.
Positions may be available in any of EOIR’s 58 immigration courts nationwide. For a complete listing of courts to which you may apply, please see https://www.justice.gov/eoir/eoir-immigration-court-listing.
As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
This position is for intermittent employment of reemployed annuitant immigration judges only.
Individuals selected for the position of reemployed annuitant immigration judge must be a prior immigration judge with the skill set to perform the duties highlighted above. Reemployed annuitants may be eligible to receive a dual compensation waiver during their appointments, allowing them to receive their full annuity and full salary.
The Office of Personnel Management has authorized this reemployment opportunity under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015. Reemployed Annuitants hired under this authority will serve on temporary appointments limited to one year or less with possible extension for one year with a new approved waiver request. This program is open to both CSRS and FERS retirees.
Immigration Judges preside in formal, quasi-judicial hearings. Proceedings before Immigration Judges include but are not limited to deportation, exclusion, removal, rescission, and bond. Immigration Judges make decisions which are final unless formally appealed. In connection with these proceedings, Immigration Judges exercise certain discretionary powers as provided by law, and are required to exercise independent judgment in reaching final decisions. Immigration Judges may also conduct video conference hearings. Additionally, Immigration Judges may be required to conduct hearings in penal institutions and other remote locations.
This is a non-supervisory position.
In order to qualify for the Reemployed Annuitant Immigration Judge position, applicants must be former immigration judges who have retired from federal service. Applicants must provide a letter, indicating their interest, resume with their past experience as an immigration judge, and the location(s) to which they would be willing to report on an intermittent basis to hear cases; a Standard Form 50, and an Annuity Statement. Employment is contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Selectee(s) must be able to maintain a top secret clearance.
We will evaluate the qualifications and eligibility of all applicants, and then assess those who meet the minimum qualifications. All candidates who meet all the minimum requirements will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration. We will notify you of the final outcome after all of these steps have been completed.
Only U.S. Citizens or Nationals are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Dual citizens of the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ applicants, both U.S. citizens and non-citizens, whose job location is with the U.S., must meet the residency requirement. For a total of three (not necessarily consecutive years) of the five years immediately prior to applying for a position, the applicant must have: 1) resided in the U.S., 2) worked for the U.S. overseas in a Federal or military capacity; or 3) been a dependent of a Federal or military employee serving oversees.
Applicants must provide a letter, indicating their interest, resume with their past experience as an immigration judge, and the location(s) to which they would be willing to report on an intermittent basis to hear cases; a Standard Form 50, and an Annuity statement.
Key Requirements
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You must be a former immigration judge that is currently retired from federal service.
- You must be a U.S. Citizen or National
- You must undergo a pre-employment security investigation.
- Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.
- Moving and Relocation Expense are not authorized.
- Relevant experience (see qualifications below.)
Benefits differ for reemployed annuitants. For more information, please contact the EOIR Office of Human Resources who can provide you with a fact sheet with information specific to reemployed annuitants, or see OPM guidelines at https://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/publications-forms/csrsfers-handbook/c100.pdf.
Applicants are required to email applications to: EOIR.HR_Application_Review@usdoj.gov. Please reference “Immigration Judge Reemployed Annuitant Position” in your cover letter and the subject of the email. Please submit applications no later than cut-off dates listed below:
May 17, 2019
June 18, 2019
July 18, 2019
August 16, 2019
September 18, 2019
$132,606.00 - $174,500.00/per year
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Department Policies
Equal Employment Opportunity: The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex - including gender identity, sexual orientation, or pregnancy status - or because of age (over 40), physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor. The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department of Justice. For more information, please review our full EEO Statement.
Reasonable Accommodations: This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities: The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements. Qualified applicants with targeted/severe disabilities may be eligible for direct hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A (5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u)) hiring authority. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department’s Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position. See list of DPOCs.
Suitability and Citizenship: It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment. Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/). Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee’s Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years. The three-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement. This is a Department security requirement which is waived only for extreme circumstances and handled on a case-by-case basis.
Veterans: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that their retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).
USAO Residency Requirement: Assistant United States Attorneys must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.
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This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships. The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.