Duties

• The duties of an immigration officer can vary depending on the needs of his or her duty station. Some common duties are ensuring that applications for immigration benefits are not fraudulent; conducting investigations and interviewing applicants to determine the validity of immigration benefit requests; and doing research and reporting findings. Immigration officers need to be knowledgeable about local, state and national procedures and policies that are relevant to the immigration process.
  
  

Characteristics

• Immigration officers must demonstrate the following qualities: confidentiality and good judgment; strong research and analytical skills; and good communication skills, both written and verbal, especially in interactions with the public.
  
  

Immigration Officers as Fraud Detectors

• The USCIS's Office of Fraud Detection and National Security has a Fraud Detection and National Security Data System, which immigration officers use in conjunction with law enforcement agencies to help detect and deter immigration benefit fraud.
  
  

Job Requirements

• You must be an American citizen (U.S. born or naturalized) or a U.S. national
  You must pass a background investigation
  You must pass a drug test
  You must have resided in the U.S. for at least three years within the last five years prior to your application
  
  

Applying for the Job

• Immigration officers are USCIS employees, and the availability of positions depends on the agency's needs. To find out about job openings, go to USAJOBS.com and enter "immigration officer" in the search field.