kristo32

Hello all,

I just joined this forum having read a couple of similar threads that are ageing slightly so I thought Id ask a fresh question....

The title gives it away slightly but I am looking seriously into the possibility of moving to the USA to become a Police Officer. I currently work as a response officer in the UK and have done so for 7 years.

The Obvious question is......

1. Is this possible without going through hell and high water to do so?
2. I have family in the US who are citizens and have been so for many years, I understand there may be a sponsorship opportunity???
3. I have been told by a friend of a friend etc :-/ that a few areas such as Chicago were taking the lead on taking external people into the force as a 'trial' witht he possibilty of America looking at this as an immigrant option?

naturally I have a lot more to say but the above points pretty much cover it and I would be very grateful for anyone who has knowledge to give me a definative answer!

thanks for your time.

Kris

Noorah101

Not likely if you base it on trying to pursue being a Police Officer in the USA. I doubt you can find an employer to sponsor you for a work visa. Most law enforcement agencies require one to be a USC before they will hire you. Even if you find one that does not have that requirement, there are plenty of out-of-work US police officers they can hire before looking abroad for one.

If one of your USC family happens to be your spouse, parent, child or sibling, yes. Anything else, no.

You should get in touch with the friend of the friend and see what he can do for you, if anything.

Rene

scrubbedexpat099

Short version is very very unlikely.

Option 2 would be the most likely, are they Parents or a Spouse?

kristo32

thanks so much for the quick reply.

the family member i have is an Uncle so I I guess its a no go there!

I do hope things change as I have a lot to offer and seriously want to give that to the US but for now Ill leave it then and look to OZ or Canada where I know it is a possibility.

many thanks, kris

penguinsix

Basically turn the situation around. How would a US cop come to work in the UK? What local police department in the UK is currently hiring foreigners to do the job that UK citizens could be doing? Which police department would go to the immigration and say "we simply cannot find enough qualified UK citizens that we are willing to pay all the visa fees and hire someone from Canada to do this job". Yea, it's a bit like that, with the added hassle of state licensing rules in many states that *require* US citizenship to be a police officer. Oh, and add to that the large pool of potential police who are coming off active service of patrol duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's a really tough road.

One option (yes, there are options) are to develop a niche in your law enforcement / security skills. Become say an expert in cybersecurity (uni-degree needed), or join a large multi-national company in the UK as part of their executive security / safety team. Look for a transfer within the company to the US offices at a later date.

The other option is to come to the US for study. It costs quite a bit, but after you get a degree here you can apply for "practical work training" and make the case that an employer should hire you (though I'd get out of law enforcement).

It's a rough one--maybe the easier option is to goto Oz, but if you are willing to make some changes in your credentials and career it might still work out somewhere down the road.

Good luck.

Guindalf

It always makes me question motives whean I see someone asking about coming to the States, realizing it may be impossible and then saying "Well, maybe I can get into Oz or Canada"!

1. What are the reasons for wanting to get out of Blighty?
2. What makes you think that things are better in the USA/Canada/Oz?
3. Can you REALLY have done your homework when you make statements like this?
4. You DO realize that the grass is not always greener, don't you?

AmerLisa

What's wrong with having an adventure in your life?

Sally Redux

Good points and what on earth would be the attraction of police work here?

AmerLisa

I suppose only Kristo knows for sure.

Nutek

Guns.

Guindalf

Absolutely nothing. My point is that people think everything's better here because they've been to DisneyWorld or spent a couple of weeks visiting relatives. We all know this is true.

If someone really wants to come here, do so by all means, but do so with your eyes open!



Actually, Sally, this one I can see. Procedures are different here to back home and I can appreciate the professional curiosity.

What I don't understand is the willingness to give up everything you know to walk off a cliff into something that is literally totally alien, just on the off-chance it's better than what you have!

AmerLisa

But this is my point. He says he has read some older threads concerning his questions.. He doesn't seem like the typical "I've been to Disneyworld and all things US must be fantastic" immigrant, but then again, I don't know. He doesn't say he's looking for a better life, maybe he is.... However, he may be a single person who wants to see a bit of the world, experience life outside the UK. In which case I say good luck to him!

Guindalf

Me too. My comment was more generic than specific!

lansbury

I doubt very many UK police officers could do the job here. They would need to trained from scratch and need a huge mindset adjustment. Having served 30 years in the UK, and being actively involved in the hiring process for our city PD one thing I have learned is US cops police by force, UK cops police by consent. That is a massive difference, and it takes a lot of time to understand the differences in the way the job is done, and the way the public react to you.

I go on ride alongs with our guys, and when I first did them it was a real eye opener.

Sally Redux

It seems that way.

My neighbour was telling me she went on a ride along with her cousin who is police officer, the gun was out every 5 minutes apparently.