CBP deploys advisors in select overseas locations to provide on-site training and technical assistance to foreign Customs administrations or border control agencies. The CBP Advisory program helps foreign Customs administrations achieve a higher level of efficiency, effectiveness, and professionalism in their border operations through individualized program objectives and work plans. The success of these programs can be seen in increased revenue collections, faster movement of trade and travelers, and a greater number of arrests and seizures of drugs and other contraband.
Funding for CBP Advisory programs can come from host country governments, the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Department of Defense, or the U.S. Agency for International Development. Advisors are CBP employees chosen for their technical skills, knowledge, or experience in a particular operational environment (airport, seaport, canines, etc.). Their assignments may be short-term, six months or less, or long-term, lasting up to five years. Although not operational, these advisors work closely with their foreign counterparts, coordinating their efforts with local U.S. Embassy officials and program managers at CBP Headquarters.