Customs and Border Protection Officers
Complete Customs and Border Protection Officers career guide. Discover required skills, average salary, day-to-day responsibilities, interview tips, and resume templates.
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What Does a Customs and Border Protection Officers Do?
Investigate and inspect persons, common carriers, goods, and merchandise, arriving in or departing from the United States or between states to detect violations of immigration and customs laws and regulations.
Day-to-Day Responsibilities
- 1Examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S.
- 2Detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation.
- 3Inspect cargo, baggage, and personal articles entering or leaving U.S. for compliance with revenue laws and U.S. customs regulations.
- 4Locate and seize contraband, undeclared merchandise, and vehicles, aircraft, or boats that contain such merchandise.
- 5Interpret and explain laws and regulations to travelers, prospective immigrants, shippers, and manufacturers.
- 6Institute civil and criminal prosecutions and cooperate with other law enforcement agencies in the investigation and prosecution of those in violation of immigration or customs laws.
- 7Testify regarding decisions at immigration appeals or in federal court.
- 8Record and report job-related activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions.
Required Skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Automated Manifest System AMS
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Global positioning system GPS software
- IBM WebSphere MQ
- Law enforcement information databases
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database
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Customs and Border Protection Officers FAQs
What skills do I need to become a Customs and Border Protection Officers?
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Key skills for Customs and Border Protection Officers include Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Writing. Strong foundational knowledge in your field plus continuous learning is essential.
How much does a Customs and Border Protection Officers make?
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Customs and Border Protection Officers salaries vary based on experience, location, and employer. Visit our salary guide section for detailed compensation data.
What does a Customs and Border Protection Officers do day-to-day?
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Investigate and inspect persons, common carriers, goods, and merchandise, arriving in or departing from the United States or between states to detect violations of immigration and customs laws and regulations.
How long does it take to become a Customs and Border Protection Officers?
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The path to becoming a Customs and Border Protection Officers varies. Many enter the field with a bachelor's degree (4 years) plus 1-3 years of entry-level experience, though bootcamps and self-study routes are increasingly common.
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