Eyesight - instant rejection from USSS UD?

[macteam]

I applied for USSS UD during their last application period. There was nothing on my application that would have been an automatic disqualifier, except on the questions about eyesight, I checked the "other" box. My eyes don't currently meet their requirements, but I clicked "other" because I am scheduled to have Lasik in about a week and will have the required eyesight long before I would be hired.

Within a couple of days of applying, my application status was changed to something like "Ineligible for hire".

:mad:

I also have applications out there for the FBI and Secret Service special agent, and I clicked the same "other" box for my eyesight with those too. I'm guessing that when the agencies look at my app, they'll turn me down.

My question is what to do about changing this answer once my eyes are good? I can't alter my applications at this point (they are closed), and from what I gather, if I withdraw the application on USAJobs, I'm ineligible to reapply.

Any thoughts on how to approach this? Direct contact with the FBI field office and the Secret Service field office?

Thanks in advance!

[Joeyd6]

Some agencies havea waiting period after surgery before you are considered hireable. My agency is OK with Lasik, but you need to have had it at least 12 months ago and currently have a certain level of vision.

This is right off the USSS website:
Note: Lasik, ALK, RK and PRK are acceptable corrective eye surgeries for Uniformed Division officer applicants. Applicants will be considered eligible for the Uniformed Division officer position provided specific visual tests are passed three months after Lasik surgery and one year after all other surgeries. In addition, you will be required to submit a document from an optometrist at the time of the application, stating your visual acuity.

The FBI states:
Special Agent candidates need to have at least 20/20 vision in one eye and not worse than 20/40 vision in the other eye. If an individual has a satisfactory history of soft contact lens wear for more than one year and is able to meet correction to 20/20 in one eye and no worse than 20/40 in the other eye, safety concerns are considered mitigated and applicant processing may continue. [If an applicant has had laser eye corrective surgery, a six month waiting period is required prior to beginning New Agents' Training at the FBI Academy. The applicant must also provide evidence of complete healing by an ophthalmology clinical evaluation.
AKA. when you apply, you need to HAVE 20/20 vision in one eye, 20/40 in the other. Not willing to get, not scheduled, not will have, but HAVE.


Money is tight. Nobody is going to spend money on processing you when your surgery:
1) may or may not happen
2) may happen and not get vision you need

Get the surgery and then apply again after a few months. You can't assume it woudl take them months to process or hire you so you have time. We all know you do, but they don't look at that way.

[macteam]

Very cool. Thanks for the info.

My confusion, I guess, stems from the fact that the application form has boxes to mark if you have eyes that meet the standards (indicating whether naturally, through Lasik, through other surgery), a box for eyes that don't meet the standards, and a box marked "other". Why is there a box marked "other" on the application form if it's an auto-DQ? I figured checking the "other" box would have at least elicited a quick call from HR to figure out what the status of my eyesight was?

But in retrospect, I guess that they are flooded with applications and don't need to follow up with any applicant when there are 10,000 other applicants who have good eyesight.

I can see this turning into a very long application process...:(

[Joeyd6]

Very cool. Thanks for the info.

I can see this turning into a very long application process...:(

No problem! And lol...it is a ver long process!

[Maverick24]

I can see this turning into a very long application process...:(

Welcome to the Federal hiring process. Waiting is the name of the game :D

Also, USSS has one of the strictest eye standards in the FEDS. Get the LASIK done, reapply 6-12 months or so later. And you should be ok.