Experience (Special Agent)
Applicants or selectees who have completed part or all of their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. An evaluation is required before human resources can make an official job offer. We will only accept the completed foreign education evaluation.
The announcement will list details to help you determine whether you are qualified for the position. We encourage you to pay close care to these descriptions and guidelines so that you are fully aware of the specifics of the position and desired qualifications/requirements. We highly encourage you address the specialized experience requirements in your resume. Do not copy and paste the specialized experience into your resume; provide examples, illustrations and achievements instead, so we can better assess your experience.
Everyone hired for a federal job undergoes a basic background check of his or her criminal and/or credit histories to ensure that all federal employees are “reliable, trustworthy, of good conduct and character and loyal to the United States.” The U.S. Office of Personnel Management, a central agency that serves as the corporate human resources organization for the federal government, performs the majority of background checks. In addition, federal positions that include access to sensitive information generally require a security clearance. This clearance must be obtained to determine the applicant’s trustworthiness and reliability before granting him or her access to national security information.
Types of Security Clearances and Background Checks
Positions in the federal government are classified in three ways: Non-Sensitive Positions, Public Trust Positions and National Security Positions. Each of these positions requires some level of background investigation. The elements that make up a background investigation vary depending on the level of clearance that is deemed necessary for a position. Background investigations for lower risk levels generally rely on automated checks of an individual’s history. For a secret clearance in a national security position, the investigation requires agents to interview people who have lived or worked with the candidate at some point in the last seven (or more) years.
Once the agency has selected a candidate to hire, the applicant will typically receive a job offer contingent upon successfully obtaining a security clearance. The extensive background investigation takes place after the initial offer has been accepted.
The length and depth of the background investigation will depend on the position’s requirements, as well as the type of security clearance needed (if applicable) for a particular job or internship. This process may take several months or up to a year depending on backlog, need for more information, depth of the investigation process and other factors.
In order to help speed the process along, begin to gather relevant information now. Once you are offered the position, you’ll be asked to submit a series of forms and information about yourself. Gather this information now so you can save time on your end. You can view the forms for background checks (SF-85: Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions) and security clearances (SF-86: Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions) on the Office of Personnel Management’s website.
Once you have submitted the documentation, the designated agency will proceed with the investigation, depending on backlog and priority.
Filing a Claim, Petition, or Contesting Forfeiture of Property
TO CONTEST THE FORFEITURE OF THE PROPERTY IN UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT YOU MUST FILE A CLAIM. Failure to file a claim may result in the seized property being forfeited to the United States.
- To file a claim: A claim must be filed with the agency that gave notice of the seizure and intent to forfeit. To contest the forfeiture, the claim must be sent to the notifying agency’s address which is identified within the notice. A claim should be sent by mailing it with the U.S. Postal Service, or by using a Commercial Delivery Service, and sending it to the notifying agency’s address. If no address is provided in the notice, then the claim should be sent to Associate Chief Counsel; Office of Chief Counsel; 99 New York Avenue, NE; Mail Stop 3N 600; Washington, DC 20226.
- Time limits: A claim must be filed by the deadline date identified in the notice. See 18 U.S.C. § 983(a)(2). A claim is deemed filed on the date received by the agency if mailed with the U.S. Postal Service or if sent by Commercial Delivery Service.
- Requirements for claim: A claim must (1) be in writing, (2) describe the seized property, (3) state your ownership or other interest in the property, and (4) be made under oath, subject to penalty of perjury. See 18 U.S.C. § 983(a)(2)(C) and 28 U.S.C. § 1746.
- Claim forms: A claim need not be made in any particular form, but a claim form is available in PDF format. You may print and deliver the form to the agency pursuant to the instructions above. See 18 U.S.C. § 983(a)(2)(D).
- Supporting evidence: Although not required, you may submit supporting evidence (for example, title paperwork or bank records showing your interest in the seized property) to substantiate your claim.
- When you file a claim: A timely claim stops the administrative forfeiture proceeding. The seizing agency forwards the timely claim to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for further proceedings.
- Penalties for filing false or frivolous claims: If you intentionally file a frivolous claim you may be subject to a civil fine. See 18 U.S.C. § 983(h). If you intentionally submit a claim containing false information, you may be subject to prosecution. See 18 U.S.C. § 1001.
- If no claim is filed: Failure to file a claim by the deadline date may result in the property being forfeited to the United States.
- No attorney required: You do not need an attorney to file a claim. You may, however, hire an attorney to represent you in filing a claim.
Source: Forfeiture.gov
THE GOVERNMENT MAY CONSIDER GRANTING PETITIONS FOR REMISSION OR MITIGATION WHICH PARDONS ALL OR PART OF THE PROPERTY FROM THE FORFEITURE.
TO REQUEST A PARDON OF THE PROPERTY YOU MUST FILE A PETITION FOR REMISSION OR MITIGATION
- You may file both a claim and a Petition for Remission or Mitigation (Petition). If you file only a petition, and no one else files a claim, your petition will be decided by the seizing agency.
- The petition must be in writing and sent to the official address provided in the notice of seizure within thirty (30) days of the last date of publication on the forfeiture.gov website, or the deadline set forth in the personal notice letter. If no address is provided in the notice, then the petition should be sent to Associate Chief Counsel; Office of Chief Counsel; 99 New York Avenue, NE; Mail Stop 3N 600; Washington, DC 20226.
- The petition must include a description of your interest in the property supported by documentation and any facts you believe justify the return of the property and be signed under oath, subject to the penalty of perjury. See 28 U.S.C. § 1746.
- The authority to grant remission or mitigation in administrative forfeiture cases is given to the federal agency that seized the property. The ruling official in judicial forfeiture cases is the Chief, Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, Criminal Division, Department of Justice. See 28 C.F.R. § 9.1.
Final Rule - 2021R-05F
No, unless remanufactured after the enactment of the GCA, October 22, 1968.
The final rule clarifies that licensed dealers (including gunsmiths), manufacturers, and importers may conduct same day adjustments or repairs to firearms without recording them as acquisitions or dispositions, provided they are returned to the person from whom they were received on the same day. A licensed gunsmith may attach a scope (including drilling, if required) on a non-licensee customer’s firearm (not for sale or distribution) and is not required to be licensed as a manufacturer. This activity would be considered an adjustment, and if returned to the person from whom received on the same day, no entry into the acquisition and disposition record would be required. The mounting of a scope would also be considered a “customization” of the firearm, accordingly, no ATF Form 4473 is required to be completed, provided the licensee returns the firearm to the person from whom it was received. However, the firearm must be logged in the licensee’s A&D record if it is kept overnight.
Any cost associated with marking PMFs is to be determined by the licensee and the customer.
No. Firearm muffler or silencer parts transferred between qualified manufacturers for further manufacture or to complete new devices, and firearm muffler or silencer replacement parts transferred to qualified manufacturers or dealers to repair existing devices, need not be marked at the time of transfer. Any new device completed with such a part must be registered by the manufacturer. See 478.12(b). A subpart of a firearm muffler or silencer that is not a component part of a complete weapon at the time sold must be identified by an individual serial number. See 478.92(a)(1)(iv).
The timeframe is dependent on the activity conducted:
Licensed manufacturers must mark non-NFA firearms it manufactures not later than the seventh day following the date the entire manufacturing process has ended for the weapon, or prior to disposition, whichever is sooner. See 478.92(a)(1)(vi)(A).
Licensed importers must mark imported firearms within 15 days of the date of release from Customs custody. Pursuant to §478.92, licensed importers must place all required identification data on each imported firearm if same did not bear such identification data at the time of its release from Customs custody. See 478.112(d)(2).
Licensees must mark privately made firearms (PMFs) acquired into inventory not later than seven (7) days of receipt or acquisition, or before date of disposition, whichever is sooner. 27 CFR 478.92(a)(2).
Licensed manufacturers must mark NFA firearms not later than close of the next business day following the date the entire manufacturing process has ended for the weapon or device, or prior to disposition, whichever is sooner. See 478.92(a)(1)(vi)(B).
A PMF is a firearm, including a frame or receiver, completed, assembled, or otherwise produced by a person other than a licensed manufacturer, and without a serial number placed by a licensed manufacturer at the time the firearm was produced. The term shall not include a firearm identified and registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record pursuant to chapter 53, title 26, United States Code, or any firearm manufactured or made before October 22, 1968 (unless remanufactured after that date).
Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) must record “Privately Made Firearm” or “PMF” as the manufacturer in the A&D record and ATF Form 4473. If an FFL is remanufacturing a PMF, see question 33 for marking requirements.
No. Marking serial numbers on PMFs is a “customization” and a licensee’s return of a firearm, received solely for repair or customization, to the person from whom it was received does not require an ATF Form 4473 pursuant to 478.124(a) nor a NICS background check. However, licensees must record the acquisition and disposition of the PMF in the licensee’s A&D record.
A licensee is not required to mark a PMF received for same day adjustment or repair that the licensee returns – on the same day as it was received – to the person from whom it was received. Furthermore, a licensee is not required to record an A&D entry, nor execute an ATF Form 4473, nor run a NICS background check when such firearm received under these conditions is returned to the customer from who received.
Yes. A PMF acquired by a licensee, for any purpose, that is returned to a person other than the person from whom it was received requires the licensee to mark the PMF appropriately (if not already marked pursuant to 478.92(a)(2)), record the PMF as an acquisition and disposition in their A&D record, record the transaction on an ATF Form 4473, and conduct a NICS background check before transferring the firearm.
Licensees must legibly and conspicuously identify each PMF received or otherwise acquired (including from a personal collection) not later than the seventh day following the date of receipt or other acquisition, or before the date of disposition (including to a personal collection), whichever is sooner. PMFs must be identified by placing or causing to be placed under the licensee’s direct supervision, an individual serial number on the frame or receiver, which must not duplicate any serial number placed by the licensee on any other firearm. The serial number must begin with the licensee’s abbreviated FFL number, which is the first three and last five digits, as a prefix to a unique identification number, followed by a hyphen, e.g., ‘‘12345678-[unique identification number]’’. The serial number must be placed in a manner otherwise in accordance with 478.92, including the requirements that the serial number be at the minimum size and depth, and not susceptible of being readily obliterated, altered, or removed.
If the PMF is already marked by a non-licensee with a unique identification number that otherwise meets the marking standards in 478.92 (e.g., depth and size requirements), FFLs may adopt the unique PMF serial number by marking their abbreviated license number (first three and last five digits of their FFL number) as a prefix to the number, immediately followed by a hyphen (i.e., “12345678-[unique identification number]”), provided the unique identification number is not duplicated on any other firearm of the licensee.
If the unique identification number marked on the PMF does not comply with 478.92, the licensee may not adopt the unique identification numbers and must mark the firearm as required by 478.92(a)(2).
Final rule 2021R-05F amends the definition of the term “gunsmith” in 27 CFR 478.11 to include a person who places marks of identification on privately made firearms, as a regular course of trade or business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit.
The GCA provides no allowance for a mobile FFL business, and each location set forth on the issued ATF license must be where the intended activity will take place (with limited exceptions, such as conducting business at a qualifying gun show or event). A licensed gunsmith may not, therefore, travel to an individual customer’s location, even if that customer is another FFL, for the purpose of placing marks of identification on privately made firearms without violating the GCA and its implementing regulations.
ATF has long held that placing a serial number directly into polymer does not meet marking requirements since such serial number would be susceptible to being readily obliterated, altered or removed.
The final rule amends 27 CFR 478.92(a)(2) and explains that an acceptable method of identifying a polymer frame PMF is by placing a serial number on a metal plate that is permanently embedded into a polymer frame or receiver, or other method approved by the Director.
Licensees may not take into inventory PMFs they cannot mark pursuant to the requirements of 478.92(a)(2).
All licensees are required to mark all PMFs they acquire. Licensees may mark PMFs themselves or they may have any person, licensee or non-licensee, mark PMFs on their behalf. However, such other person may only mark a PMF on-the-spot under the direct supervision of the original federal firearms licensee (FFL). In this scenario, the person physically marking the PMF for the FFL will mark the PMF with the acquiring licensee’s abbreviated FFL number in accordance with 478.92(a)(2). In addition, a licensee who marks a PMF for the FFL who acquires the PMF need not log the PMF into its records.
Licensees have seven days to properly mark a PMF it acquires into inventory.
Licensees may mark PMFs themselves or they can take a PMF to any person, licensee or non-licensee, who has the ability to mark the PMF. However, such other person may only mark the PMF on-the-spot under the direct supervision of the original federal firearms licensee (FFL). This person shall mark the PMF with the original licensee’s abbreviated FFL number in accordance with 478.92(a)(2).
PMFs are marked “under the direct supervision” of the FFL who received or acquired the PMF when the FFL required to mark the PMF has not disposed of the PMF to the person doing the marking. In no case may the licensee who receives or acquires a PMF dispose of an unmarked PMF, whether to a licensee or non-licensee, until the firearm is properly marked, and the serial number is recorded in the record of the licensee who received or acquired the PMF.
The final rule amends 27 CFR 478.92(a)(2) and explains that an acceptable method of identifying a polymer frame privately made firearm (PMF) is by placing a serial number on a metal plate that is permanently embedded into a polymer frame or receiver, or other method approved by the Director.
A marking variance can be applied for under 478.92(a)(4), as amended, which states:
Exceptions—(i) Alternate means of identification. The Director may authorize other means of identification to identify firearms upon receipt of a letter application or prescribed form from the licensee showing that such other identification is reasonable and will not hinder the effective administration of this part.
Yes. Except for a firearm received for adjustment or repair that is returned to the person from whom it was received on the same day, any federal firearms licensee (FFL) who takes an unmarked PMF into inventory must mark the PMF in accordance with 27 CFR 478.92(a)(2).
27 CFR 478.12(a)(c) states:
The terms ‘‘frame’’ and ‘‘receiver’’ shall include a partially complete, disassembled, or nonfunctional frame or receiver, including a frame or receiver parts kit, that is designed to or may readily be completed, assembled, restored, or otherwise converted to function as a frame or receiver, i.e., to house or provide a structure for the primary energized component of a handgun, breech blocking or sealing component of a projectile weapon other than a handgun, or internal sound reduction component of a firearm muffler or firearm silencer, as the case may be. The terms shall not include a forging, casting, printing, extrusion, unmachined body, or similar article that has not yet reached a stage of manufacture where it is clearly identifiable as an unfinished component part of a weapon (e.g., unformed block of metal, liquid polymer, or other raw material). When issuing a classification, the Director may consider any associated templates, jigs, molds, equipment, tools, instructions, guides, or marketing materials that are sold, distributed, or possessed with the item or kit, or otherwise made available by the seller or distributor of the item or kit to the purchaser or recipient of the item or kit.
All situations are unique, and a determination can only be made based on an analysis of the facts specific to the individual scenario. Licensees may contact ATF’s Firearms and Ammunition Technology Division (FATD) at fire_tech@atf.gov if they require a determination whether the items in question are regulated under federal law and regulation.
Yes. The final rule amended the definition “engaged in the business” as it relates to a ‘‘gunsmith’’ in 478.11 to mean, in part a person who, as a service performed on existing firearms not for sale or distribution, devotes time, attention, and labor to repairing or customizing firearms, making or fitting special barrels, stocks, or trigger mechanisms to firearms, or placing marks of identification on privately made firearms in accordance with this part, as a regular course of trade or business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit but shall not include a person who manufactures firearms (i.e., frames or receivers or complete weapons) by completion, assembly, or applying coatings, or otherwise making them suitable for use, requiring a license as a manufacturer.
