# USCIS Opens ISO Training Positions

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has opened approximately 100 Immigration Services Officer (ISO) positions at a service center, initiating interviews but not yet extending offers. Candidates must complete a mandatory ISO Basic Training to secure and maintain these roles. Recent feedback indicates the training has become more challenging with higher failure rates, raising concerns among current employees about job security if they do not pass. The possibility of returning to previous lower-level positions after failing the training is uncertain, prompting advice for candidates to obtain written confirmation from leadership on job retention policies and to prepare thoroughly for the training.

- **Why this matters:** Procurement and HR professionals should anticipate impacts on workforce stability and training resource allocation due to the increased difficulty and risk of attrition during ISO Basic Training.
- Agencies managing similar certification-dependent roles may need to review training support and retention policies to mitigate operational disruptions.
- Contractors providing training or workforce development services could find opportunities to assist USCIS and related agencies in enhancing candidate preparation and success rates.
- Organizations should consider the implications of certification requirements on recruitment strategies and employee transition planning within federal service centers.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Professional Services
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** September 18, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

### Key Quotes
> I would see if you can get some confirmation in writing from your leadership chain on what will happen one way or the other, but if you want to be an ISO and you have a brain, go for it, work hard and pass.
> — Community commenter

> If you fail BASIC, you will be fired. Seems fair to me. It happens at most jobs. If you cannot pass the certification needed for your job, then you cannot do the job.
> — Original poster

### Sources
- [USCIS- ISO Basic Training](https://www.reddit.com/r/FedEmployees/comments/1wjf1ys/uscis_iso_basic_training) - reddit-fedemployees