Customs clearance, the presentation of a valid passport, and sometimes questioning about the purpose of one’s trip and the length of time one plans to stay in a given country are all common requirements for entering a foreign country. Immigration agents are usually the ones conducting passport checks and asking questions. Immigration agents, also known as immigration officers in some countries, are government officials tasked with enforcing and upholding immigration laws. An immigration agent has a wide range of responsibilities. Immigration agents can work as international immigration liaisons, law enforcement and immigration control officers, and investigative detectives, among other things, in addition to border checks.
Immigration agents are employed national governments to carry out immigration laws and policies. At border checkpoints, the role of an immigration agent is perhaps most visible. At the border, immigration officers check the validity of travel documents and detain and deport those who attempt to enter the country illegally. At international airports, it is usually an immigration agent who searches luggage for drugs and other contraband, as well as random baggage searches to ensure that no illegal items are brought into the country. Immigration agents, in a sense, are border police officers whose mission is to protect the inside of the country from undocumented, unauthorized, or otherwise unwanted intrusions.
In this field, an immigration agent may also work. Agents may be tasked with looking for and arresting illegal immigrants, or they may be tasked with investigating suspected immigration violations or abuses. Immigration agents are occasionally stationed outside of the United States, usually to coordinate efforts with foreign immigration services in matters of international concern.
The requirements for becoming an immigration agent differ country, and then task or job requirement. In Australia, for example, a high school diploma is all that is required to work as an entry-level immigration officer. In the United States, a bachelor’s degree is required, whereas in Canada, immigration officers must have at least a master’s degree. Typically, more education leads to more opportunities.
To be considered in any country, an applicant must be a citizen. The application process for an immigration agent typically includes proof of citizenship, as well as a written test and a physical examination. Applicants will be asked to demonstrate their written and verbal abilities, as well as a basic understanding of national laws, on the test. The purpose of the physical exam is to ensure that the applicant is healthy and strong enough to perform the various tasks that may be required.
After being hired as an immigration agent, one typically goes through a period of immigration training and classes before being assigned to a full-time position. Agents can sometimes express their preferences for the type of work they want to do, but when they first start out, they will usually go where their country needs them. Seniority often buys more say in one’s career path, as it does in most fields. Immigration enforcement is a field that is rapidly expanding around the world, with significant opportunities for advancement.