Australian looking to work in United States

[Ozcop]

Hi all, Just trying to get some information.
My wife and I (Both Australian) are looking at applying for a working visa for the Unites States as my wife has a job opportunity.

I am currently a Detective with an Australia police dept and prior to this worked in the Dept of Corrections as a Correctional officer for 8 yrs.

Q) Does anyone have knowledge about what is required re working in the United States, I understand that I can not be a police officer as I was born in Australia but what about working as a prison officer.

Any information would be a great help.

Thanks for your time
Brendan
brenkir@yahoo.com

[Valor55]

Being born in the US has nothing to do with it.

99% of agency's are going to require that you have citizenship. However there are some with only a residency requirement.

If I were you, I'd contact some agencies in the area where you will be living and discuss your qualifications and find out what their requirements are and if they will waive anything for you.

If you can get hired, expect to go through the academy and work in patrol.

Corrections may be a different animal, you have to contact the agencies and ask. Usually it is a state run correctional system, so look them up on the web for the state you will be living it.

[deputywave]

Q) Does anyone have knowledge about what is required re working in the United States

You should be able to get that information when you apply for your visas.

I understand that I can not be a police officer as I was born in Australia but what about working as a prison officer.

I don't believe that's true. You might have to become a citizen first, though. Check with the departments where you'll be living and see what they require.

[DetSarg1]

I'm pretty sure that not being born here will not keep you from being a police officer.

You can not, however, be President of the United States...sorry, you'll have to settle for law enforcement.

[Hop]

Where I worked before, we had an Irish lad that only had a Visa. He did this for a few years as a bit of an internship, going back and forth to Ireland. Last I heard he was a US citizen and a sergeant there now.

[APDSarge]

If you are coming to Florida, you MUST be a US citizen to be a sworn officer. (This is a state requirement) I am not sure about being a corrections (detention) officer.

There are some positions that you could work as a non-sworn employee - dispatcher, Service Aide, Crime Scene Tech.