Protecting the country and representing those seeking a better life: those are just two of the different facets of working in the immigration and naturalization service field. Many find the hands-on experience of working directly with immigrants can reap immediate results. And since the law changes constantly, many find the field intellectually stimulating and exciting.

But just getting into the immigration field requires some education and training. Depending on the type of position you are seeking you may be required to obtain not only a bachelor's degree but a higher level of education as well as complete a basic training course.

Consider the following information:

1. Realize that there are many different positions under the generic heading of immigrant naturalization service, and each position may involve different requirements, education and physical skills. From an immigration lawyer to a field enforcement officer, the options are wide open.

2. In order to work for the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (formerly the Immigration and Naturalization, or INS), you must take a test administered by the Office of Personnel Management. Doing well on the test may score you an interview.

3. You can work in immigration throughout the U.S. as there is an immigration service center in every state.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Read more about the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS)

If you're interested in becoming an immigration officer or work in a related field, research more about what the career with the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service) is all about. A number of online articles can help you make your decision to pursue this career path.

I recommend: Get a glimpse into the life of an immigration officer and read about specific examples at TopHomelandSecurityColleges.com. Learn more about the history of immigration law and the entire process from this article from the Cornell University Law School.

Obtain a degree pertaining to emigration services

When choosing a school and a degree program, choose from top schools and major in areas like criminal justice and law. Some schools may have specific programs just for immigration law as well. Consider taking a foreign language, too.

I recommend: Browse Stanford University's immigrant law program and check out the curriculum offered. The University of Texas at Austin School of Law offers an immigration clinic in which law students actually represent cases in immigration courts.

Receive ongoing training in naturalization services

Once you get a job in immigration services, you most likely will have to undergo further training. Typically this is done after you've been hired but before you're really given a specific assignment and post. But even once you've settled into your career, there will be plenty of other opportunities to further your education.

I recommend: Learn more about the required basic training course through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. Check out continuous learning opportunities from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Even after you get a degree and pass basic training, some workers at an immigration advisory service are subject to a probationary period of up to one year.

Your business needs to know the country's immigration and naturalization service rules and regulations. You do not want to get caught violating any laws, nor lacking resources available to employees or potential new hires. There are U.S. citizenship and immigration services available to help your business resolve any citizenship issues for employees.

Before you access any outside consultation, tools or software for naturalization services, figure out your business needs. Consider the following questions about your business and U.S. immigration services:

1. What forms or online tools do you need to verify U.S. citizenship of new hires?

2. Do you need to hire workers outside the United States? Do you know the rules and regulations for emigration services?

3. What kind of employees can you afford to hire? Do you need to budget for workers to sponsor in our country or pay to hire foreign nationals?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Be informed on the laws for immigration services

Any business needs to know the laws and resources available for immigrants and employees. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly Immigration and Naturalization Service) offer forms and advice online to guide you through the latest laws and issues.

I recommend: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has forms available for employers on immigration regulations and procedures. That site also gives useful information if you need emigration services to hire a foreign national or sponsor an employee trying to get resident status. U.S. Immigration Support sells guides for businesses and individuals on immigration issues.

Seek outside consultation for employees with immigration services

If your business hires employees from around the world, you likely need outside consultation on the immigration laws and regulations. Problems often arise with immigration applications and it may be necessary to pay a third party to help resolve them.

I recommend: Visa Now can help you save time on the immigration process by giving you access to legal experts and automating the process. VisaPro.com helps your business complete Visa applications and access legal advice.

Get tools for employees with immigration services

There are online tools, kits or guides you can have available for employees on immigration naturalization services. For example, there are many businesses that offer kits or services for Green Card worker permits.

I recommend: American Immigration Center sells kits for work sponsorship or priority workers. ImmigrationDirect.com is an immigration service center that offers services such as help with Green Cards.

Use immigration and naturalization service to verify new hires

Make sure you run employment verification as part of any U.S. immigration and naturalization service you use. New hires must complete an I-9 form and give documentation to provide proof they are eligible to work in the United States. Foreign workers must access emigration and naturalization services for more required forms.

I recommend: Form I-9 Compliance is an immigration advisory service that has advice for any business on how to simplify the work authorization process and stay compliant with the laws. E-Verify allows your business verify whether employees are eligible to work in the United States.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't fall behind on the latest laws for immigration and naturalization services; they are easy to access online.

If your company relies on foreign workers in the United States, you need to be familiar with the terms used in immigration and naturalization to refer to the people and policies involved. Based on the nature of employment, you may employ individuals who are documented as temporarily residing in the United States or who are going through a process of naturalization to become full citizens.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

The Bureau of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a government agency, formerly known as Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS). The USCIS governs policies for immigration, visas, naturalization and refugee or asylum status.

I recommend: Read more about the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency.

Naturalization

Many people immigrate to the United States with hopes of becoming citizens by naturalization. People coming to the United States may become full citizens through this process, which generally requires applicants to have been legal residents for five years and to take a naturalization test. Different procedures are followed for people married to U.S. citizens or qualifying by military service.

I recommend: Legal Language Services explains the process and requirements for naturalization.

Green card

Individuals who would like to become permanent residents of the United States may be granted permission to do so with a green card. Green card holders are documented by the U.S. government and are given the right to live and work permanently in the United States, without being granted complete citizenship rights.

I recommend: United States Immigration Support explains what a green card is and how the renewal policy works for permanent residents.

Human trafficking

Human trafficking refers to the type of unregulated transfer of people from one country to another that typically involves some form of involuntary labor or servitude. One role of the USCIS is not only to process individuals wishing to come to the United States for work but also to prevent the unauthorized entrance of individuals for work which they are not free to leave.

I recommend: The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific has an official definition of human trafficking used by many governments throughout the world.

Small business non-retaliation policy

In support of recent initiatives by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the USCIS has adopted a small business non-retaliation policy. This policy stipulates that small businesses filing complaints against the USCIS over its policies and procedures will not be subject to retaliation of any kind.

I recommend: Read a more detailed description of the small business non-retaliation policy from the Visa Lawyer Blog.

I-9

The I-9 form is an employee eligibility verification form used by the USCIS to verify an individual's eligibility to work. Employees are typically required to fill out an I-9 form and submit valid identification documents, and this information is then filed with the USCIS by the company.

I recommend: Learn more about Form I-9 Compliance to ensure that your company understands the I-9 procedures.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services governs the laws and regulations for immigration and naturalization service. It is important to stay abreast of the laws and regulations about how to employ immigrants to ensure that you are compliant with these. An immigration and naturalization service can help you with the forms to file for employment authorization or to verify a potential hire's eligibility to work in the U.S.

Naturalization services - those services that help an immigrant to become a citizen - as well as immigration services that provide the procedures for immigration to the U.S. can help your employees or potential employees become employed legally in the U.S. An immigration service center or an immigration advisory service are good places to get information on the laws and regulations for hiring and employing people born outside the U.S. There are a few questions to consider when investigating immigration and naturalization service laws and regulations:

1. Have you verified with citizenship and immigration services that your employee is legally entitled to work in the U.S.?

2. Do you know about how workers are authorized to work in the U.S.?

3. Do you need to sponsor an employee for a work visa?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Check with citizenship and immigration services to verify your employee's work status

The Immigration and Nationality Act requires that all employers verify an employee's eligibility to work by submitting Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. This form requires that the employee provide supporting documents that are approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as proof of work status in the U.S.

I recommend: For more detailed information on the Employment Eligibility Verification form and the regulations and requirements for it, visit the USCIS site. Form I-9 Compliance is an independent firm that assists with filing Form I-9. Their website provides information about law regarding employment eligibility.

Use the immigration and naturalization service to learn about employment authorization regulations

Employment authorization is granted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and is obtained through different classes of non-immigrant aliens who enter the U.S. If your employee is not a U.S. citizen nor is he being sponsored for a visa by you, and he falls under the categories for requirements for an employment authorization document, the employee can submit an application for an employment authorization document.

I recommend: Immihelp.com provides detailed information about employment authorization, the documents needed to obtain this and the categories of persons eligible for this. VisaPro also provides a list of requirements for persons to be able to apply for employment authorization in the U.S.

Learn the US immigration services laws and regulations surrounding the H-1B visa

Some employers may choose to sponsor an employee work permit, which allows the employee to work in the U.S. for your company. This is the H-1B visa. There are several regulations regarding the requirements and process in which you may sponsor an employee for this visa that is governed by US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

I recommend: The United States Department of Labor provides information about the regulations and requirements for an employer to petition for a non-immigrant worker. Global Emigration Services gives an overview of the H-1B, what it is and how it is obtained.