Federal Employment: How to Get Hired by the U.S. Government as a Foreign Applicant

When you hear federal employment, jobs with the U.S. government that include roles in agencies like the Department of Defense, NASA, or the IRS. Also known as U.S. government jobs, it refers to positions funded and managed by the federal government, not state or local levels. Most people assume you need to be a U.S. citizen to get one. That’s true for most roles—but not all. Hundreds of federal jobs are open to non-citizens, especially in technical, scientific, and academic fields. The key? Knowing where to look and how to apply correctly.

Federal hiring, the official process used by U.S. agencies to recruit for permanent and temporary roles. Also known as federal employment process, it runs through USAJobs.gov, the only official portal for federal job postings. The system isn’t built for foreigners, which is why so many skip it. But if you have the right skills—like engineering, data analysis, or language expertise—you can compete. Background checks are strict, visa sponsorship is rare, and you’ll need to prove you’re legally allowed to work in the U.S. But if you’re already on a work visa, studying at a U.S. university, or have specialized credentials, federal employment isn’t out of reach.

Federal job application, the multi-step process of submitting documents, passing screenings, and interviewing for U.S. government roles. Also known as USA government employment application, it includes everything from filling out the OF-306 form to taking security questionnaires. Most applicants fail because they treat it like a regular job application. Federal forms are long, detailed, and require exact wording. Your resume must match the job’s keywords. Interviews often involve panels and scenario-based questions. But the posts below break this down step-by-step—showing exactly how foreign applicants have succeeded, what documents to prepare, and how to pass the background check without a Social Security number.

What you’ll find here isn’t theory. It’s real advice from people who applied from India, Nigeria, the Philippines, and beyond. You’ll see how someone with a Master’s in Computer Science from Delhi got hired by the National Institutes of Health. How a teacher from Kenya landed a contract role with the State Department. And why some applications get ignored—not because of nationality, but because of sloppy formatting.