Customs and Border Protection Officers

What the job really is

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.

At a glance

• Sector: Protective Service
• O*NET-SOC code: 33-3051
• O*NET job zone: 3 — medium preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 11
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S.
• Detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation.
• Inspect cargo, baggage, and personal articles entering or leaving U.S. for compliance with revenue laws and U.S. customs regulations.
• Locate and seize contraband, undeclared merchandise, and vehicles, aircraft, or boats that contain such merchandise.
• Interpret and explain laws and regulations to travelers, prospective immigrants, shippers, and manufacturers.
• Institute 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.
• Testify regarding decisions at immigration appeals or in federal court.
• Record and report job-related activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions.
• Determine duty and taxes to be paid on goods.
• Collect samples of merchandise for examination, appraisal, or testing.
• Investigate applications for duty refunds and petition for remission or mitigation of penalties when warranted.

Tools and technology

IBM WebSphere MQ, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, SAP software, Automated Manifest System AMS, Barcode scanners, Compound light microscopes, Corel WordPerfect Office Suite, Desktop computers, Digital video cameras

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Customs Brokers
• Detectives and Criminal Investigators
• Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
• Compliance Officers
• Transit and Railroad Police
• Transportation Security Screeners
• Private Detectives and Investigators
• Cargo and Freight Agents

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 3 (medium preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Customs and Border Protection Officers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.