Employment Programs for Veterans

If you are a Veteran and would like to join USCIS, check out the special appointing authorities listed below. Note that all Veterans must meet the qualification requirements for a particular position to be eligible for consideration.

Veterans must provide the following:

• 10-Point Preference, SF-15
• Letter signed from the Veterans Administration defining preference level
• A copy of their DD-214

Veterans Recruitment Appointment Authority (VRA)

VRA (formerly Veterans Readjustment Appointments) is a special authority by which agencies can appoint eligible Veterans without competition to positions at any grade level through General Schedule (GS) 11 or equivalent (the promotion potential of the position is not a factor).

There is no limitation to the number of VRA appointments an individual may receive, provided the individual is otherwise eligible.

Who should apply:

• Disabled Veterans.
• Veterans who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized.
• Veterans who, while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces Service Medal was awarded.
• Recently separated Veterans.
• Veterans claiming eligibility on the basis of service in a campaign or expedition for which a medal was awarded must be in receipt of the campaign badge or medal.
  
• In addition to meeting the criteria above, an eligible Veteran must have been separated under honorable conditions (i.e., the individual must have received either an honorable or general discharge).

30 Percent or More Disabled Veteran

An agency may give a noncompetitive temporary appointment of more than 60 days or a term appointment to any Veteran. There is no grade level limitation for this authority, but the appointee must meet all qualification requirements, including any written test requirement. The agency may convert the employee, without a break in service, to a permanent appointment at any time during the employee's temporary or term appointment.

Who should apply:

• Those who retired from active military service with a disability rating of 30 percent or more.
• Rated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) since 1991 or later to include disability determinations from a branch of the Armed Forces at any time, as having a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA)

This authority allows a preference eligible or Veteran to compete for vacancies under merit promotion procedures that allow for outside candidates to apply.

Who should apply:

• Be a preference eligible.
• Have separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.
• Veterans who were released shortly before completing a 3-year tour are considered to be eligible.
• Active service" defined in title 37, United States Code means active duty in the uniformed services and includes full-time training duty, annual training duty, full-time National Guard duty, and attendance, while in the active service, at a school designated as a service school by law or by the Secretary concerned.