What You'll Do

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Inspect cargo, baggage, and personal articles entering or leaving U.S. for compliance with revenue laws and U.S. customs regulations.
  • Record and report job-related activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions.
  • 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.
  • Determine duty and taxes to be paid on goods.
  • Collect samples of merchandise for examination, appraisal, or testing.

Essential Skills

Active Listening 4.0/5
Speaking 4.0/5
Critical Thinking 4.0/5
Reading Comprehension 3.88/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.88/5
Writing 3.62/5
Monitoring 3.62/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.62/5
Active Learning 3.38/5
Coordination 3.38/5
Persuasion 3.12/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.12/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.

Common styles

Integrity, Dependability, Attention to Detail, Cautiousness, Stress Tolerance

Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 4.0/5
Oral Expression 4.0/5
Problem Sensitivity 4.0/5
Inductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Near Vision 4.0/5
Written Comprehension 3.88/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.88/5
Speech Clarity 3.88/5

Technologies & Tools

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 SAP software Treasury Enforcement Communications System TECS

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Integrity (High importance: 4.95/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.77/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.75/5)
  • Cautiousness (High importance: 4.72/5)
  • Stress Tolerance (High importance: 4.7/5)

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How to Become One

This career typically requires vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some specialized training or certification may also be required.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Agriculture Specialist Air Import Specialist Border Patrol Agent Canine Enforcement Officer (K-9 Enforcement Officer) Customs and Border Patrol Agent Customs Import Specialist Customs Inspector Customs Officer Customs Opener Customs Packer Customs Specialist Customs Verifier Deportation Officer Drug Enforcement Agent Drug Inspector Duty Officer Immigration Services Officer Import Specialist Marine Interdiction Agent (MIA) Ocean Import Specialist Passport Specialist Passport Support Associate Patrol Inspector Special Agent US Customs and Border Officer US Customs and Border Protection Officer (US CBPO)

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.