Career Opportunities | USCIS (2023)

FAQs

What degree do I need to work for USCIS? ›

Education. While not always mandatory, many immigration officers hold a bachelor's degree. Criminal justice, international studies or law, political science, and a foreign language are popular fields of study. Some roles require a master's degree in similar areas.

How Much Does US Citizenship and Immigration Services Pay In California? The average salary for a US Citizenship and Immigration Services employee in California is $50,827, ranging between $28,000 to $91,000 per year.

You must submit a resume as part of the application process. If your resume is longer than five pages, the USCIS human resources office will only review the first five pages to determine your eligibility and qualifications for the position.

Desire to protect citizens: Immigration officers help to ensure the safe and legal immigration of people coming into the U.S. You may want to work in this role because you have a desire to protect U.S. citizens by defending the country's immigration processes.

Complete in the training process

Your training will begin with a six-week basic training course with the USCIS Academy. This basic training includes information about working with people of different backgrounds and preparing you to handle immigration issues properly.

Graduation Requirements

ICE-D is a 13-week Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) integrated basic training program that consists of both FLETC training and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) training.

Salary Ranges for Immigration Officers

The salaries of Immigration Officers in the US range from $55,870 to $187,200 , with a median salary of $124,683 . The middle 50% of Immigration Officers makes between $124,683 and $145,450, with the top 83% making $187,200.

USCIS is the government agency that administers lawful immigration to the United States. USCIS has nearly 20,000 government employees and contractors working at more than 200 offices around the world.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services has an overall rating of 3.3 out of 5, based on over 520 reviews left anonymously by employees. 56% of employees would recommend working at US Citizenship and Immigration Services to a friend and 50% have a positive outlook for the business.

If you entered the U.S. unlawfully, have prior immigration violations, failed to attend removal proceedings, or otherwise abused the U.S. immigration process, you may be ineligible for a green card.

How does USCIS know you are working? ›

You may be wondering how will the USCIS know that you're working without authorization. In many cases, they will know through your tax returns, resume, or visa support letter. In addition, the government is increasingly searching the internet for evidence of unauthorized employment.

Does USCIS Check Your Work History? The USCIS will check an applicant's work history. With that, you will need to provide certain information for each employer—whether you have worked abroad or in the United States for the past five years.

Answer all questions fully, succinctly, and truthfully, but do not volunteer information unless asked. If you're unsure of the answer or do not understand a question, you should always say so rather than guess.

USCIS plans to hire more than 4,000 employees by the end of this calendar year, and set new, more aggressive “cycle time” goals for fiscal 2023. Renaud said these are an internal management metric comparable to median processing time.

Visa Officer salary in U.s. Consulate ranges between ₹ 3.6 Lakhs to ₹ 4.4 Lakhs per year. This is an estimate based on salaries received from employees of U.s. Consulate.

In the coming months, USCIS will hire more than 4,400 additional staff to help us carry out our USCIS mission. With the goal to onboard 95% of authorized positions by Dec. 31, 2022, all USCIS program offices and directorates are working together to promote high-performing employees and attract new talent.

How long will the interview last? A typical citizenship interview lasts about 20 minutes, but the exact timeframe varies by applicant.

The exam is given verbally during the U.S. citizenship interview. There are 100 questions in the citizenship test. During the interview, the immigration officer will ask the applicant 10 questions out of the 100, and the applicant must answer six correctly in order to pass the civics test.

How long is USCIS citizenship? ›

The processing time for naturalization (citizenship) averages 8-14 months according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). During this time, as the government works to process the Application for Naturalization, applicants must complete several steps before becoming citizens.

Average U.S. Customs and Border Protection Customs Officer yearly pay in the United States is approximately $56,684, which is 19% above the national average.

How much does an Immigration Specialist make in the United States? The average Immigration Specialist salary in the United States is $83,045 as of May 25, 2023, but the range typically falls between $72,035 and $96,700.

As a working professional, you may qualify for a green card by receiving a job offer from a United States employer. This can be one of the best ways to get your green card. The process is straightforward and can be completed quickly.

Immigration Services Officer - Grant or deny immigration applications and petitions efficiently and fairly and assist other federal agencies in identifying individuals who pose a threat to national security and public safety.

Free, confidential counseling services available 24/7 for you and your family. Free referrals for child care searches, elder care evaluations, financial planning, legal assistance, discounts on goods and services, and more. Backup care when your normal dependent care is unavailable on a day you are supposed to work.

In California, the jobs most frequently held by immigrants are agricultural position. This is not surprising, as California is the nation's leading agricultural producer.

How much does an Immigration Officer make? As of May 31, 2023, the average hourly pay for an Immigration Officer in the United States is $39.96 an hour.

Whether you are applying for a green card, to become a United States Citizen, or for some other immigration benefit, you are bound to be nervous for your immigration interview. Most of that fear comes from the unknown. So, arming yourself with knowledge about the process will greatly decrease that anxiety.

What is the 5 year rule green card? ›

A. Continuous Residence Requirement

An applicant for naturalization under the general provision must have resided continuously in the United States after his or her lawful permanent resident (LPR) admission for at least 5 years prior to filing the naturalization application and up to the time of naturalization.

You must have your permanent resident status for 5 years before filing Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. Your time as a permanent resident begins the day you were granted permanent resident status. You can find the date on your green card next to "Resident Since."

Even someone with a green card (lawful permanent residence) can, upon committing certain acts or crimes, become deportable from the United States and removed. By Ilona Bray, J.D. U.S. law contains a long list of grounds upon which non-citizens or immigrants may be deported (removed) back to their country of origin.

Immigration officers may not enter your home unless they have a “warrant.” A warrant is a document issued by a court or government agency. There are two types of warrant — one for when they are coming to arrest you, and another for when they have permission from a judge tosearch your home.

If you want to work while you're waiting for your green card to be approved, you have to apply for a work permit using Form I-765: Application for Employment Authorization. In this article, we take a closer look at work permits, including how to get one while waiting for a green card.

Foreign nationals who engage in unauthorized employment can face serious consequences, including deportation. While officials may in select cases forgive unauthorized work, it is best not to take the risk even if you don't plan on pursuing permanent residency or citizenship in the U.S.

If the USCIS official feels it necessary to secure other background investigations, they have the authority to do so. However, the three most common parts of this check include the investigation of your background, fingerprints, and a name check.

Does USCIS Screen Your Social Media Activity? Yes, USCIS may survey your social media accounts. Their surveillance is strictly for the evaluation of your application for immigration benefits. Their findings can influence a decision about your eligibility.

What are 4 questions the immigration officer might have asked in the legal interview? ›

Immigration Status-Related Interview Questions

Which country's citizenship do you have? What is your legal status in the United States? When did you come to the United States? How do you come to the United States?

Your interviewer will either be a USCIS immigration officer (if your interview is in the United States) or a consular officer (if your interview is outside the United States), who is specifically-trained for your application type.

It may take up to 90 days from the date you entered to receive your permanent resident card. You entered the U.S. using your immigrant visa, You paid the immigrant visa fee AFTER you entered, It may take up to 90 days from the date you made your payment to receive your permanent resident card.

If you do not pass the green card interview, USCIS may investigate your case further. Additionally, USCIS may provide you with the opportunity to submit additional evidence. They may otherwise issue a Notice of Intent to Deny your Green Card application.

All adjustment of status applicants must be interviewed by an officer unless the interview is waived by USCIS. The decision to waive the interview should be made on a case-by-case basis. The interview enables USCIS to verify important information about the applicant to determine eligibility for adjustment.

Green card interviews usually do not take longer than 15 to 20 minutes. Applicants who are scheduled for a USCIS adjustment of status interview must: Arrive at least 15 minutes early to the local USCIS office.

If you have an inquiry that cannot be resolved through our self-help tools, you may call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833). The USCIS Contact Center is changing its hours of operation to ensure that we have the maximum number of representatives available during the busiest times of day.

How do I become a U.S. immigration consultant? ›

First, you need to get your license from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL). Then you must pass the licensing exam and meet other requirements before becoming a registered immigration consultant, or RIC. After this step, you can then register with the USDOL as an RIC or renew your registration if necessary.

To become a USCIS-approved regional center, a business or organization must complete and submit Form I-924, Application for Regional Center Under the Immigrant Investor Pilot Program, and any necessary supporting documentation. Filing this form with the USCIS presently carries a cost of $17,795.

Can anyone serve as an Immigration Forms Specialist? According to the USCIS, anyone may provide limited, non-legal help with immigration forms and charge for those services. However, the states determine the qualifications required, including whether or not you need to be an attorney.

Anyone can be a paid tax return preparer as long as they have an IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). However, tax return preparers have differing levels of skills, education and expertise. Learn about tax preparer credentials and qualifications.

In the coming months, USCIS will hire more than 4,400 additional staff to help us carry out our USCIS mission. With the goal to onboard 95% of authorized positions by Dec. 31, 2022, all USCIS program offices and directorates are working together to promote high-performing employees and attract new talent.

Immigration Services Officer - Grant or deny immigration applications and petitions efficiently and fairly and assist other federal agencies in identifying individuals who pose a threat to national security and public safety.

The average Immigration Consultant salary is $69,160 as of May 25, 2023, but the salary range typically falls between $60,307 and $80,496.

Average USCIS Immigration Officer yearly pay in the United States is approximately $82,000, which is 41% above the national average.

Becoming a refugee officer begins with the job application and hiring process. Refugee officer job opportunity announcements are posted on usajobs.gov – visit USCIS job opportunities on USAJOBS and type “refugee officer” in the keywords. You must apply online through the job opportunity announcement to be considered.

$52,000 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $297,175 is the 90th percentile. Salaries above this are outliers.