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Immigration Officer
Government & Civil ServiceYou review visa applications, conduct interviews, and decide who gets to stay in the country — decisions that change people's lives forever. You'll hear stories that range from inspiring to heartbreaking, process mountains of paperwork, and navigate immigration law that's complex enough to make lawyers cry. The responsibility is immense and the emotional toll is real.
Salary Range
Low
$45k
Median
$72k
High
$105k
10-Year Growth
average
US Workers
34K
Education
Bachelor's degree + federal law enforcement or immigration officer training
Environment
indoor
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸Immigration and nationality law (INA)
- ▸Visa and asylum application adjudication
- ▸Background check systems (IDENT, TECS, ELIS)
- ▸Interview and credibility assessment techniques
- ▸Document fraud detection
- ▸Case management and administrative record keeping
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Impartiality
- ▸Cultural competency
- ▸Active listening
- ▸Decision-making under ambiguity
- ▸Empathy balanced with enforcement
What you'll actually do
- 01Review visa and immigration applications against criteria that fill multiple binders
- 02Conduct interviews with applicants and assess whether their stories and documents are consistent
- 03Make decisions that determine whether families stay together or are separated — no pressure
- 04Navigate immigration law that changes with every administration and policy update
- 05Process enormous case backlogs while each case represents a real person waiting for an answer
- 06Maintain objectivity and professionalism while hearing stories that would test anyone's composure
Related Shifts
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