Criminal Justice Career Option: Immigration and Customs Inspector
Interests
Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Tasks
1. Keeps records and writes reports of activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions.
2. Examines visas and passports and interviews persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in U.S.
3. Inspects cargo, baggage, personal articles, and common carriers entering or leaving U.S. for compliance with revenue laws and U.S. Customs Service regulations.
4. Testifies in administrative and judicial proceedings.
5. Collects samples of merchandise for examination, appraising, or testing and requests laboratory analyses.
6. Institutes civil and criminal prosecutions and assists other governmental agencies with regulation violation issues.
7. Issues or denies permits.
8. Interprets and explains laws and regulations to others.
9. Determines duty and taxes to be paid, investigates applications for duty refunds, or petitions for remission or mitigation of penalties.
10. Examines, classifies, weighs, measures, and appraises merchandise to enforce regulations of U.S. Customs Service and prevent illegal importing and exporting.
11. Determines investigative and seizure techniques to be used, and seizes contraband, undeclared merchandise, vehicles, and air or sea craft carrying smuggled merchandise.
Skills
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Knowledge
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Education: Most occupations in this area require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.
Training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.
Wages
In 2002, the NY annual wage range was between $38,591 - $72,774. This range represents the middle 50% of workers. Some (25%) earned more than this, while others (25%) earned less.
Job Outlook
We estimate that in 2007 there will be 12,946 employed in NY alone. This represents an increase of 36 new positions each year (0.28%). Additionally, 1,279 jobs per year (10.16%) will become available due to employee turnover.