Australian Police working in the USA

[db41037]

I was hoping someone could help me with this. Is there anyone here who has moved over to the USA from Australia to work as a police officer?. I was hoping to do this but am finding it difficult with the whole immigration thing.
Any help would be good.

[VA Dutch]

There used to be an Aussie down in Richmond (VA) who was a sergeant with their police department. He was the spokesman you would always see on TV during those "crime stoppers" spots back in the early 1990s. For some reason, I think his last name was Randall or something like that.

He's retired by now, I am sure........but it was always neat to hear that accent of his.

[Tim Dees]

I was hoping someone could help me with this. Is there anyone here who has moved over to the USA from Australia to work as a police officer?. I was hoping to do this but am finding it difficult with the whole immigration thing.
Any help would be good.

The rules are going to be more or less the same as with any other foreign national/immigrant. First, you have to get an immigration visa to enter and live in the United States. Ideally, the visa should allow you to work. There are a few law enforcement agencies that will employ a non-citizen, but they are rare. Some states require all LE officers to be citizens, so that takes away the local option. After three to five years, you can apply for U.S. citizenship. Someone more knowledgeable than me will have to add in on what the residency requirements are for that. Once you become a naturalized citizen, you will be eligible for just about any job in the country except the President of the U.S. (and if Ahlnold gains any more political headway in California, that may go by the wayside, too).

There was a Brit who researched this rather thoroughly and posted his results here on the forum, but I haven't been able to find them again. It has been brought up and discussed before, mainly from Brits, but occasionally by other non-US citizens as well.

Another option you might consider is Canada, although their style of policing is different and it might not be what you're looking for. Canada is far more liberal with regard to hiring non-citizens as police officers.

[napes]

Heres the List!

Im the British guy, it can be done - somehow i managed to end up here and its worked out beautifully!


Heres the list...

Good Luck

Alaska - Can work in just about ANY department with just a Green Card
• Alabama – Citizenship required by state law
• Arkansas – Citizenship Required by state law
• Arizona – Citizenship required by state law
• California – Will take you on a green card provided you are eligible and have already applied for Citizenship
• Colorado – Can work in MOST departments with just a green card, no POST type requirement for citizenship.
• Connecticut – POST requirement for Certification
• Washington DC – POST requirement for Citizenship
• Delaware – No State requirement for citizenship, however I cannot find any department that doesn’t require it.
• Florida – State law requires Citizenship
• Georgia – POST requirement for Citizenship.
• Hawaii – Can work in any department with just a green card
• Iowa – ILEA (POST) requires citizenship.
• Idaho – POST requires Citizenship
• Illinois – No State requirement for Citizenship, SOME departments will take you on a green card (Incl. Chicago PD)
• Indiana – POST type requirement for Citizenship
• Kansas – State Law requirement for citizenship.
• Kentucky – POST type requirement for Citizenship.
• Louisiana – No state requirement for Citizenship, about 50% of departments will take you with just a green card.
• Massachusetts – No state requirement for citizenship, several departments available that will hire with green card.
• Maine – No state requirement for Citizenship, about 75% will take you (including state police) with just a green card and the state police academy doesn’t require citizenship.
• Maryland – State law requires Citizenship
• Minnesota – State POST requirement for citizenship.
• Michigan – MCOLES (Post type thingy) requires Citizenship.
• Mississippi – State Dept of Public Safety requires citizenship
• Missouri – POST Requirement for Citizenship
• Montana – POST requirements state that Quote “Must be a US citizen, but MAY be a lawful resident alien” whatever that means.
• Nebraska – State law requires Citizenship.
• Nevada – POST requirement for Citizenship.
• New Hampshire – State requirement for Citizenship.
• New Jersey – State requirement for Citizenship
• New Mexico – State requires citizenship
• New York – State requires Citizenship
• North Carolina – POST requires Citizenship
• North Dakota – POST requirements state that they will take you with just a green card – See the following link http://www.iadlest.org/ndakota/POSTS2.html
• Ohio – No state or post requirement for citizenship, Spoke to several departments who stated over the phone that they would hire Green card holders.
• Oklahoma – Will take you on a green card – see the following CLEET standards link - http://www.oscn.net/applications/os...p?citeID=91596/
• Oregon – Will take you on a green card – BUT you HAVE to attain Citizenship within 18 months else your certificate will be revoked.
• Pennsylvania – Citizenship required by state
• Rhode Island – Citizenship required but I cant find the legal basis behind the requirement.
• South Carolina - Citizenship required but I cant find the legal basis behind the requirement.
• South Dakota – Will take you on a Green card but you must “declare intent to become a naturalized citizen as soon as eligible”
• Tennessee – State law requires citizenship
• Texas – Recently changed law means that In order to be certified by the TCLEOSE (POST) agency you have to be a US citizen. Previously there was no Citizenship requirement.
• Utah - State requirement for Citizenship
• Vermont – no Citizenship Law - Will take Green card holders, Incl. the State Police
• Virginia – POST requires US Citizenship – BUT will waive the Citizenship requirement if good reason is shown and such a waiver is filed on form “DCJS Form w-1 application of waiver for minimum qualifications” Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs have the authority to approve this application for waiver – as does the POST agency.
• Washington – No legal requirement for citizenship, nor any POST type requirement, however I only found two small departments that will take you with a green card.
• West Virginia – No state requirement for citizenship, several major departments will take you on a green card
• Wisconsin – Cannot find any information as per a state requirement for Citizenship. Most departments websites require it – however the State police DOES NOT.
• Wyoming – Citizenship required by state law.
• Washington DC – Citizenship required by state law.

[ForegoneReality]

Good Morning one and all.

I firstly wish to apologise for digging up an old post however I felt it was better than starting a new one.

I'm currently a serving officer in Ireland and am quite keen on making the move to the US and joining a United States force. Is there anyone here that may have gone through the transition from a Common Law country that may have words of wisdom regarding the change?

That is; policing powers/practices and the general implementation of same. Is it better, worse..In their opinions of course..?

Of course; along with the professional aspect did they find the social aspect envigourating? I'm sure the Irish approach to things is very different so it must be a blast when things go pear shaped.

EDIT: My Apologies to any moderators who are of the opinion that my post is off topic/inappropriate to this forum. Thanking you!

[IMachU]

Welcome to the boards ForegoneReality! Your post is in the right place. Don't worry about that. Lws in the US are Common Law based. But I'm a 4th Generation US-Irish descendant, so I can't say what it's like in the "Old Country." Come on down....the water is fine!

[ForegoneReality]

Thanks for the welcome, IMachU.

I've been very interested in a move to the US for quite some time now. Having spoken with many representatives from various Police Departments I felt I had the requirements to make the transition without too many headaches however it was always the minefield of legal-residency that caused problems for me.

The list posted above does make life a little easier, though. I was getting a major headache when trying to establish which forces would accept green card holders/non US citizens. It's nice to know that I can submit an application for, say, the Fargo PD in North Dakota and presumably work something along the lines of private security until that application comes through. I don't have to wait several years for citizenship before returning to my chosen career path.

Come on down....the water is fine!

Now that sounds like a plan .

[Shimokitazawa]

I'm a Canadian interested in exploring career opportunities south of the border. Does anyone have any concrete information on the specific work Visa documentation that is required to apply for police jobs to those departments that will hire non-citizens?

Can Canadians use the TN-1 NAFTA Visas to obtain police officer jobs?

I know that in Canada many police services, with the exception of the RCMP, hire non-citizens from the U.K., U.S., Australia and N.Z. as police officers. Are there any city P.D.s that do the same in the U.S.?

Thanks for any info.

[pulicords]

Considering the current state of the economy, it's doubtful that any agencies in California would want to hire new officers that weren't citizens. When there were more openings than applicants (during the "boom" years), it could be justified as a necessary move to get qualified applicants. Right now, there's plenty of qualified citizen applicants for a minimum number of available positions.

[mikeymedic]

Come down to Colorado and work for the Colorado State Patrol.

[Narco]

my cousin just started their academy ^^

[LSExplorer22]

I'm a Canadian interested in exploring career opportunities south of the border. Does anyone have any concrete information on the specific work Visa documentation that is required to apply for police jobs to those departments that will hire non-citizens?

Can Canadians use the TN-1 NAFTA Visas to obtain police officer jobs?

I know that in Canada many police services, with the exception of the RCMP, hire non-citizens from the U.K., U.S., Australia and N.Z. as police officers. Are there any city P.D.s that do the same in the U.S.?

Thanks for any info.

You would have to go to a US embassy or consulate and speak with them. If you were to get a work visa, the closest one that I think would fit you best would be a H-1B. But with the current state of the economy and the lack of law enforcement jobs out there, I would venture to say you would have a tough road ahead of you to get one. TN NAFTA visas are more for people who are engaging in "business" type work. Nonetheless, you don't know if you don't try.

[LSExplorer22]

I'm a Canadian interested in exploring career opportunities south of the border. Does anyone have any concrete information on the specific work Visa documentation that is required to apply for police jobs to those departments that will hire non-citizens?

Can Canadians use the TN-1 NAFTA Visas to obtain police officer jobs?

I know that in Canada many police services, with the exception of the RCMP, hire non-citizens from the U.K., U.S., Australia and N.Z. as police officers. Are there any city P.D.s that do the same in the U.S.?

Thanks for any info.

You would have to go to a US embassy or consulate and speak with them. If you were to get a work visa, the closest one that I think would fit you best would be a H-1B. But with the current state of the economy and the lack of law enforcement jobs out there, I would venture to say you would have a tough road ahead of you to get one. TN NAFTA visas are more for people who are engaging in "business" type work. Nonetheless, you don't know if you don't try.

[LSExplorer22]

Canadians

I'm a Canadian interested in exploring career opportunities south of the border. Does anyone have any concrete information on the specific work Visa documentation that is required to apply for police jobs to those departments that will hire non-citizens?

Can Canadians use the TN-1 NAFTA Visas to obtain police officer jobs?

I know that in Canada many police services, with the exception of the RCMP, hire non-citizens from the U.K., U.S., Australia and N.Z. as police officers. Are there any city P.D.s that do the same in the U.S.?

Thanks for any info.

You would have to go to a US embassy or consulate and speak with them. If you were to get a work visa, the closest one that I think would fit you best would be a H-1B. But with the current state of the economy and the lack of law enforcement jobs out there, I would venture to say you would have a tough road ahead of you to get one. TN NAFTA visas are more for people who are engaging in "business" type work. Nonetheless, you don't know if you don't try.

[johnny943]

Aimed at the british guy: Can I ask, were you an officer serving in britain before you left and what department are you working for now? Regards, John.