What Do Immigration and Customs Inspectors Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Immigration and Customs Inspectors 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. They also examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S.

Other tasks include:

• 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.

We asked Immigration and Customs Inspectors how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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70% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 72% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Immigration and Customs Inspectors examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S. They inspect cargo, baggage, and personal articles entering or leaving U.S. for compliance with revenue laws and U.S. customs regulations.

A typical day for an Immigration and Customs Inspector will also include:

• Record and report job-related activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions.
• Interpret and explain laws and regulations to travelers, prospective immigrants, shippers, and manufacturers.
• Determine duty and taxes to be paid on goods.
• Detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation.
• 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.

We asked some Immigration and Customs Inspectors a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	84% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	69% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	83% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	82% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	59% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	84% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Immigration and Customs Inspectors also detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation. They may also locate and seize contraband, undeclared merchandise, and vehicles, aircraft, or boats that contain such merchandise.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Immigration and Customs Inspectors 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. They might also Record and report job-related activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions.

In addition, they Collect samples of merchandise for examination, appraisal, or testing.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Determine duty and taxes to be paid on goods.

To some Immigration and Customs Inspectors, it is also their responsibility to Investigate applications for duty refunds and petition for remission or mitigation of penalties when warranted.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Immigration and Customs Inspector, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm

https://www.bja.gov/

http://www.theiacp.org/

http://www.dhs.gov/