Immigration adviser (non-government)

Career path and progression

With experience, you could work on more complex and high-profile cases.

You could specialise in a particular area, like working with children, providing consular services or advising international students at a university.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
• knowledge of public safety and security
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• to be flexible and open to change
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• customer service skills
• thinking and reasoning skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Law - Immigration advisers work directly with immigration, asylum, and nationality law on a daily basis. They draft grounds for appeal, prepare witness statements, and represent clients in tribunals, all of which require a thorough understanding of legal principles and court procedures.
• Politics - Immigration advisers need to understand government policy, legislation, and how political decisions shape immigration rules. Changes in government can directly affect asylum policies, visa categories, and deportation procedures, so staying informed about the political landscape is essential.
• English Language - Immigration advisers read complex legal documents, draft appeal grounds, and write witness statements that must be precise and persuasive. They also need to explain legal options clearly to clients who may have limited English, making strong communication skills vital.
• Modern Foreign Languages - Immigration advisers often work with clients from all over the world who may not speak English fluently. Being able to communicate in another language – even at a basic level – helps build trust and understand a client's situation more accurately.

Also relevant

• Sociology - Immigration advisers deal with issues like social inequality, migration patterns, and the experiences of marginalised communities. Understanding how society is structured and how factors like race, class, and culture affect people's lives helps them support clients more effectively.
• Geography - Immigration advisers benefit from understanding global migration patterns, the conditions in countries their clients have fled, and the political and environmental factors that drive people to seek asylum. This contextual knowledge helps when building a client's case.
• Psychology - Immigration advisers work in emotionally demanding situations with clients who may have experienced trauma, persecution, or detention. Understanding how stress and trauma affect people helps them communicate sensitively and support vulnerable clients through difficult legal processes.
• History - Immigration advisers benefit from understanding the historical context of migration, colonialism, and conflict that shapes why people move between countries. This background knowledge can be important when building asylum cases that reference conditions in specific regions.