JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

AMERICAN CONSULATE GENERAL, SHENYANG, CHINA
Tel: 0086-24-2322-1198 Fax: 0086-24-2322-1733
ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: 08-005 
          
OPEN TO:                          All Interested Candidates

POSITION:                         Visa Clerk (N31-1415-004/006) - 2 positions

OPENING DATE:                  08/19/2008 

CLOSING DATE:                  09/01/2008 (Only applications received by the closing date will be considered) 

WORK HOURS:                    Full-time; 40 hours/week

SALARY:                            Not-Ordinarily Resident: FP-08 US $29,379 (Starting annual salary, final grade and salary will be determined by Washington).

                                          Ordinarily Resident: FSN-6 RMB 81,638 (Starting annual salary, includes allowance and bonus)

NOTE: This position is advertised under the Locally Employed Staff Program of the United States Mission. Applicants must be able to obtain the required work and residency permits before the position’s start date to be eligible for consideration.

The U.S. Consulate Shenyang is seeking two individuals to fill the Visa Clerk position in the Consular Section. 

BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION

The main purpose of this position is to screen incoming documentation and information from a variety of sources, including NIV DS-156 applications in both English and Chinese, to organize and track visa requests according to U.S. visa law and procedures, ensuring that application procedures are according to U.S. legal requirements; to use knowledge of U.S. visa law and local conditions to advise supervisors of potential difficulties in applications, including fraud indicators and security concerns and bear particular responsibility for drafting non-Congressional correspondence in English for clearance by American supervisors.

A copy of the complete position description listing all duties and responsibilities is available in the Management Office. Please contact Hao Linlin at 2322-1198, ext. 8151

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

Applicants must address each qualification requirement detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each requirement.  Applicants who fail to provide detailed information supporting each requirement will not be considered for this position.

Education:

• Two years’ college level education (Da Zhuan)

Experience:

• Minimum 1 year of experience in office clerical work.

Languages:

• Level IV (fluent) in speaking/reading/writing in English.
• Level IV (fluent) in speaking/reading/writing in Chinese.
• Ability to draft lucid, grammatically correct sentences in English and Chinese required.

Knowledge:

• Thorough understanding of U.S. visa laws. Understanding of local conditions.
• Excellent English writing skills required for drafting component of job. Must have considerable knowledge of  computers, including software troubleshooting.

Skills and Abilities:

• Exercise of tact in dealing with the public and with American citizens and to apply good judgment in sensitive visa
  matters in high stress atmosphere. 
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing and to type effectively both Chinese
  (Pinyin filling system) and English. 
• Advanced ability to manage computer software.
 
SELECTION CRITERIA:

When equally qualified, Appointment Eligible Family Members (AEFMs) and U.S. Veterans will be given preference.  Therefore, it is essential that the candidate address the required qualifications above in the application.

ADDITIONAL SELECTION CRITERIA:

• Management will consider nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, and residency status in determining successful candidacy.
• Current LES employees are ineligible to apply for advertised positions within the first 90 calendar days of their appointment.
• Currently employed AEFMs who hold a PIT/FMA appointment are ineligible to apply for advertised positions within the first 90 calendar days of that appointment.
• Currently employed NORs hired under a Personal Services Agreement (PSA) are ineligible to apply for advertised positions within the first 90 calendar days of their employment unless currently hired into a position with a When Actually Employed (WAE) work schedule.

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested candidates for this position should submit the following or the application would not be considered:

• Application Form or Application for U.S. Federal Employment (OF-612); OR
  
• A current resume or curriculum vitae that provides the same information as an OF-612; plus
  
• Any other documentation (e.g., essays, certificates, awards, copies of degrees earned) that addresses the qualification requirements of the position as listed above.
  

SUBMIT APPLICATION TO

Management Office
Attention: Hao Linlin
Email: shenyanguscg@yahoo.com.cn
Fax: 024-2322-2374  

DEFINITIONS:

AEFM: A type of EFM that is eligible for direct hire employment on either a Family Member Appointment (FMA) or Temporary Appointment (TEMP) provided s/he meets all of the following criteria:

• US citizen;
• Spouse or dependent who is at least age 18;
• Listed on the travel orders of a Foreign or Civil Service or uniformed service member permanently assigned to or stationed at a US Foreign Service post or establishment abroad with a USG agency that is under COM authority;
• Is resident at the sponsoring employee’s or uniform service member’s post of assignment abroad, approved safehaven abroad, or alternate safehaven abroad; and
• Does not receive a USG annuity or pension based on a career in the US Civil, Foreign, or uniform services.

EFM: Family Members at least age 18 listed on the travel orders of a Foreign or Civil Service or uniformed service member permanently assigned to or stationed to a US Foreign Service post or establishment abroad with a USG agency that is under COM authority who do not meet the definition of AEFM above.

Member of Household: A MOH is a person who: 1) Has accompanied, but is not/not on the travel orders of a U.S. citizen Foreign or Civil Service employee or uniform service member permanently assigned to or stationed at a U.S. Foreign service post or establishment abroad; 2) Has been declared by the sponsoring employee to the Chief of Mission as part of his/her household; and 3) Resides at post with the sponsoring employee.

Ordinarily Resident (OR): A citizen of the host country or a citizen of another country who has shifted the main residency focus to the host country and has the required work and/or residency permits for employment in country.

Not-Ordinarily Resident (NOR): Typically NORs are AEFMs and EFMs of FS, GS, and uniform service members who are on the travel orders and under Chief of Mission authority, or other personnel having diplomatic privileges and immunities.

CLOSING DATE FOR THIS POSITION: September 1, 2008

The U.S. Mission in China 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.  The Department of State also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs.

The EEO complaint procedure is not available to individuals who believe they have been denied equal opportunity based upon marital status or political affiliation.  Individuals with such complaints should avail themselves of the appropriate grievance procedures, remedies for prohibited personnel practices, and/or courts for relief.