You must have a thorough understanding of your country’s immigration policies and regulations in order to work as an immigration adviser. An immigration adviser or consultant typically works for universities, assisting foreign students and professors in integrating into the school’s programs, or for businesses, assisting foreign employees in obtaining work visas. If you want to work as an immigration adviser, you’ll probably need a juris doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school. You should also learn one or more foreign languages, preferably the language of the emigrate base you intend to consult.
For the intelligent professional who wishes to work as an immigration adviser, obtaining a law degree will open many doors. While a JD is not required for work as an immigration consultant at a university, it is very useful for corporate and government positions. In these fields, immigration issues are more complicated, necessitating a deeper understanding of immigration law and procedure on the part of the consultant.
You’ll learn how to draft contracts, interpret legal jargon, advocate for clients, and more in law school. Many law schools offer specialized courses in immigration law at the graduate level. These courses will prepare you for the difficult cases you will face in the real world, such as assisting a high-profile executive in adjusting to a new job or assisting political refugees in settling in a new country. In addition, summer internships at an immigration advisory center or a law firm that specializes in assisting immigrants will be plentiful while in law school. Prepare to secure these opportunities early in your law school career so that you can plunge into the world of immigration law as an aspiring immigration adviser.
If you prefer to work as an immigration adviser in a university setting, you have a variety of options. “International applicant adviser” or “international scholar adviser” are common titles for these positions. Although a law degree is not required for these positions, you should have at least a bachelor’s degree. You should be able to communicate with immigrants from specific countries if you are bilingual or multilingual. China, Japan, most Latin American countries, and most Middle Eastern countries are examples of such countries, depending on the university. Students and professors from these countries will almost certainly need an immigration adviser who speaks their language.