Head Office
Washington, DC 20229
United States
Phone: 1-877-CBP-5511
Phone: 877-227-5511
Phone 800-232-5378 (report suspicious activity)
Email: evus@cbp.dhs.gov (Electronic Visa Update System queries)
____About U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency in the United States, operating since 2003. An important division of the Department of Homeland Security, CBP works to protect and secure the country’s borders and enforce hundreds of laws and regulations. Employing more than 60,000, the federal agency screens more than one million visitors each day, besides the 67,000 cargo containers that travel through truck, rail and sea. CBP is constantly on alert to detect and prevent threats and protect the American people againstterrorists. Each day the CBP arrests more than 1,000 individuals involved in suspicious activity, illegal trade or breaking immigration laws. Criminals are apprehended at various US ports of entry. Additionally CBP discovers and quarantines plant, meat and animal byproducts. It also seizes narcotics and illicit currency.CBP’s three core missions consist of counterterrorism, border security, and trade enforcement. It’s staff includes border patrol agents, pilots, marine interdiction agents, aviation enforcement agents and trade personnel. The website has a number of resources to help with trade or travel for citizens or visitors to the country. CBP’s security and facilitation operations are spread across the many ports in the country. You can locate a port of entry in your state on the website. International visitors can get information on the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors. You can apply for an ESTAA on the website. Additionally, get information on the visa waiver program that allows citizens of 38 countries to travel to the United States for stay up to 90 days without a visa.
If you are visiting the United States for the first time, you will need to complete Customs and Border Protection Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record or Form I-94W Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Arrival/Departure Record. Details on I-94 form and other admission forms are available online. The rules and formalities differ for US citizens and lawful permanent residents. US citizens can get information on bringing food, planning a trip to Mexico or filing the customs declaration form (6059B) online. Note that you can now report suspected criminal/illegal activity and trade violations on the e-Allegations portal. You can report immigration crime, human rights violations, human trafficking, smuggling of weapons, cybercrime, financial crimes, money laundering, forced labor violations and free trade agreement violations.
