How Do I Become an Immigration Officer?
If you possess solid analytical abilities, leadership skills and an interest in law enforcement and homeland security, you might wonder how to become an immigration officer. Immigration officers serve as part of the federal government’s Department of Homeland Security, in the Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) division. In this role, federal officers work with the Office of Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS).
The primary responsibility of immigration officers is to ensure that immigration laws are properly enforced. If any risk to national security or public safety arises out of a matter relating to immigration, immigration officers report to the USCIS on the subject. Immigration officers communicate regularly with intelligence and law enforcement agencies and personnel at the national, regional and even local level.
Immigration officers face the task of identifying instances of immigration benefits fraud. Benefits fraud often takes the form of misrepresenting information in order to allow illegal immigrants to enter or remain in the country. Fraud may be a threat to national security, and at times instances of fraud have been linked such serious crimes as human trafficking. Once fraud is suspected, immigration agents must lead investigations and perform interviews in order to determine if fraud has indeed occurred and pursue actions in accordance with immigration legislation. It is also an immigration officer’s responsibility to study all immigration benefits fraud policies and procedures at the national and local levels. Immigration officers use their assessments and research to determine the course of future immigration legislation, policies and procedures.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services agency considers several qualities in evaluating potential candidates for roles as immigration officers. To locate and understand immigration procedures, candidates should have solid research skills and be able to interpret legal information effectively. Additionally, aspiring immigration officers must display good decision-making abilities and strong communication skills through both written and oral channels of communication. To prepare for a career as an immigration officer, you may choose to pursue studies in the field of law enforcement, such as an undergraduate or graduate-level college degree in a criminal justice. A two-year internship through the Federal Career Intern Program may help you gain valuable experience working in immigration for the USCIS.
While the pay rate for immigration officers varies with experience, education level and location, SimplyHired.com lists the average salary of an immigration officer as $63,000 per year. Immigration officers have significant earning potential, but there are other benefits to this profession, as well. As employees of the federal government, they are eligible for benefits such as health benefits, retirement benefits, vacation time and paid leave, savings plans, student loan repayments and incentive awards. Additionally, immigration officers report personal job satisfaction that results from working to protect homeland security.
If you have a desire to protect national security, the analytical skills to understand immigration laws and the leadership abilities to spearhead benefits fraud investigations, knowing how to become an immigration officer may help you begin a rewarding new career.
