Immigration attorneys (immigration lawyers) must have a doctorate of jurisprudence degree and pass the bar exam. Working in US embassies in foreign countries is possible, so travel is expected.
Immigration attorneys in the United States handle various aspects of United States citizenship, admitting or deporting illegal or criminal immigrants, issuing temporary citizenship to those who desire or need asylum for political, religious or other reasons, and naturalizing immigrants into US citizens.
Immigration attorneys also work with legal and difficult immigration issues. They also assist those seeking to obtain student or business visas. And they help those who have overstayed their visas.
Additionally, they provide immigrants with legal counsel on lawful entry into the country, employment issues, and new laws for new residents.
They need to be proficient at working with all kinds of people from any country, speaking several languages, and understanding other cultures and religions. Sadly, they sometimes need to turn down citizenship or asylum requests from those who don’t qualify, and they sometimes uncover horrific human trafficking. But they also get the joy of helping reunite long lost families.
And lastly, immigration lawyers work with US citizens on issues such as helping replace lost passports, helping families adopt children abroad, and helping get non-citizen spouses into the country.
