Home / Federal careers / GS-0967
Passport and Visa Examining
Federal position examining, adjudicating, and processing passport and visa applications, verifying documentation, and making eligibility determinations at State Department facilities.
What GS-0967 pays
2025 base rates, before locality. Most federal employees add a locality adjustment on top.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $34,454 | $35,603 | $36,752 | $37,901 | $39,050 | $40,199 | $41,348 | $42,497 | $43,646 | $44,786 |
| GS-7 | $42,679 | $44,102 | $45,525 | $46,948 | $48,371 | $49,794 | $51,217 | $52,640 | $54,063 | $55,486 |
| GS-9 | $52,205 | $53,945 | $55,685 | $57,425 | $59,165 | $60,905 | $62,645 | $64,385 | $66,125 | $67,865 |
| GS-11 | $63,163 | $65,268 | $67,373 | $69,478 | $71,583 | $73,688 | $75,793 | $77,898 | $80,003 | $82,108 |
| GS-12 | $75,706 | $78,229 | $80,752 | $83,275 | $85,798 | $88,321 | $90,844 | $93,367 | $95,890 | $98,422 |
| GS-13 | $90,025 | $93,026 | $96,027 | $99,028 | $102,029 | $105,030 | $108,031 | $111,032 | $114,033 | $117,034 |
| GS-14 | $106,382 | $109,928 | $113,474 | $117,020 | $120,566 | $124,112 | $127,658 | $131,204 | $134,750 | $138,296 |
| GS-15 | $125,133 | $129,304 | $133,475 | $137,646 | $141,817 | $145,988 | $150,159 | $154,330 | $158,501 | $162,672 |
Base pay only. Locality pay adds 15 to 40 percent or more depending on where the job sits. Source: OPM 2025 General Schedule.
Qualification requirements
OPM's standard for GS-0967, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements:
Education:
- GS-5: 4-year course of study leading to bachelor's degree
- GS-7: 1 year graduate education OR Superior Academic Achievement
OR
Experience: General experience in work requiring analysis of information, application of regulations, and dealing with the public.
Education and Experience Requirements (Group Standard):
This is a two-grade interval series. Positions follow the GS-5, GS-7, GS-9, GS-11, GS-12 progression pattern.
| Grade | Education | Experience | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | Bachelor's degree in any field from accredited college/university | 3 years progressively responsible experience, 1 year equivalent to GS-4 | Equivalent combinations qualifying |
| GS-7 | 1 full year graduate education OR Superior Academic Achievement | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 | Combinations of graduate education and experience |
| GS-9 | 2 years graduate education or master's degree | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 | Combinations of graduate education (excess of GS-7 requirement) and experience |
| GS-11 | 3 years graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-9 | Combinations of graduate education (excess of GS-9 requirement) and experience |
| GS-12+ | Not applicable | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to next lower grade | N/A |
Superior Academic Achievement (for GS-7):
- Upper third of graduating class in college/university or major subdivision
- GPA of 3.0 or higher out of 4.0 as recorded on official transcript, OR 3.5 or higher in major field
- Election to membership in national scholastic honor society
Graduate Education: One year of full-time graduate education is the number of credit hours the school determines represents 1 year of full-time study. If unavailable, 18 semester hours satisfies the 1-year requirement.
Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.
What this means if you served
- Write the duties, not the billet. OPM credits military experience on the work performed, and does not use rank or pay to judge specialized experience.
- Put the training and certifications you earned in service on the page. They count here.
- Claim your veterans preference on the application. It is not applied for you.
- No positive education requirement here, so qualifying experience can stand in for the education.
How to qualify for GS-0967
1Review Qualification Requirements
Read the OPM qualification standards above to understand the education and experience requirements for your target grade level.
2Find Your Grade Level
Grade follows the scope and complexity of the work you can document against the announcement, not the rank you held. OPM does not use military rank or pay when it evaluates specialized experience. Roughly: GS-5 entry, GS-7/9 junior, GS-11/12 journey, GS-13 and up senior.
3Gather Documentation
Collect your DD-214, SF-50 (if applicable), transcripts, certifications, and any training records that demonstrate your qualifications.
4Build Your Federal Resume
Two pages. USAJOBS has enforced that limit since 27 September 2025 and will not accept a longer resume from a Title 5 agency posting, so the space has to answer every qualification requirement. Include hours worked per week, supervisor contact details, and the accomplishments with numbers on them.
5Apply on USAJOBS
Search for open positions, carefully answer all assessment questions, and submit your application before the closing date.
Typical duties
- Review passport applications
- Verify identity documents
- Adjudicate eligibility
- Interview applicants
- Detect fraud
- Process travel documents
- Apply immigration law
- Maintain records
- Provide customer service
- Coordinate with agencies
Key competencies
Document Examination
Skill in examining documents for authenticity and completeness.
Regulatory Application
Ability to apply passport/visa regulations accurately.
Fraud Detection
Skill in identifying fraudulent documents and applications.
Customer Service
Ability to assist applicants professionally and efficiently.
Decision Making
Skill in making adjudicative decisions on applications.
Attention to Detail
Ability to carefully review applications and supporting documents.
Communication
Skill in explaining requirements and decisions to applicants.
Security Awareness
Understanding of security protocols and identity verification.
Words the announcement will use
Use the ones your record actually supports. A rater is matching your experience against the specialized experience statement, and a keyword with nothing behind it does not survive that.
Questions about GS-0967
What is a Passport and Visa Examiner?
GS-0967 Passport and Visa Examiners review applications, verify identity documents, adjudicate eligibility, interview applicants, detect fraud, and process travel documents. They work at State Department passport agencies and embassies/consulates worldwide determining citizenship and travel document eligibility.
How much does a federal Passport Examiner make?
GS-0967 follows a two-grade interval: GS-5/7/9/11+. Entry at GS-5 ($34,454), journeyman at GS-9 ($52,205-$67,865), senior examiners at GS-11 ($63,163-$82,108). Supervisory positions reach GS-12/13. Foreign Service positions have different pay scales.
What are the requirements for GS-0967 positions?
At GS-5, you need a bachelor's degree or 3 years of general experience. Higher grades require specialized adjudication experience. Strong document examination skills, attention to detail, and knowledge of immigration/citizenship law are essential. Security clearance required.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-0967?
Yes. Military experience in document review, security screening, personnel processing, or administrative adjudication qualifies. Your attention to detail, fraud awareness, and experience processing official documents translates well. Security clearance holders have an advantage.
What is the career progression for Passport Examiners?
Entry at GS-5/7, journeyman at GS-9, senior examiners at GS-11. Supervisors and program managers reach GS-12/13. State Department offers domestic passport agency positions and overseas consular positions. Some transition to immigration or diplomatic security careers.
How do I apply for GS-0967 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS for 'Passport Specialist' or 'Passport Examiner.' State Department is the primary employer with passport agencies in major cities. Emphasize your document review experience, attention to detail, and customer service skills. Veterans with security or admin backgrounds are competitive.
Ready to apply for GS-0967?
A rater matches your record against the announcement's specialized experience statement, inside two pages. BMR writes that shape from your own experience: competency headers, real scope, hours per week, and the supervisor detail the rater checks.