We hire talented individuals who are U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or those who demonstrate allegiance to the United States.
General Requirements
To apply for a job in the Judiciary, you must be:
- A U.S. citizen;
- A person who owes allegiance to the United States (i.e., nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408);
- A person who was admitted or granted asylum to the U.S. who has filed a declaration of the intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen; or
- A lawful permanent resident who is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B).
Lawful Permanent Residents
To apply for a position in the Judiciary as a lawful permanent resident, you must:
- have a green card; and
- apply for citizenship within six months of first becoming eligible to do so.
You are not eligible to apply for citizenship until you have been a permanent resident for at least five years (or three years if you are the spouse of a U.S. citizen). You must complete the process of becoming a naturalized citizen within two years of applying unless there are delays in processing your application.
If you are not yet eligible to apply for citizenship, you can be employed by the Judiciary if you submit an affidavit that you will apply for citizenship when you are eligible to do so.
Applicable Hiring Laws
Appropriations Law
Current appropriations law dictates who the Judiciary may hire in the continental U.S. as described under Citizenship Requirements. The law does not apply to employees in Alaska, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, or the Northern Mariana Islands. It also does not apply to unpaid volunteers.
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), mandates that all federal government agencies within the continental U.S. comply with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA). This law states that all federal agencies must hire only U.S. citizens and people who are authorized to work in the U.S. You must complete the Employment Eligibility Verification Form (Form I-9) to certify that you are able to work in the U.S.