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Language Access in Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has long recognized the importance of effective and accurate communication between Agency personnel and the public we serve. Many individuals visiting the United States from other nations read, write, speak, and understand English. Many individuals, however, do not read, write, speak, or understand English as their primary language. Such individuals are referred to as being "limited English proficient" or LEP. Language barriers can negatively impact interactions with the public, provision of services, and law enforcement activities. Ensuring effective communication with all persons, including persons who are limited English Proficient (LEP), facilitates the CBP mission.
Authorities/References
Executive Order 13166
On August 11, 2000, President Clinton signed Executive Order 13166: "Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency." The Executive Order requires Federal agencies to examine the services they provide; identify any need for services to those with limited English proficiency (LEP); and develop and implement a system to provide those services so LEP persons can have meaningful access to them. It is expected that agency plans will provide for such meaningful access consistent with, and without unduly burdening, the fundamental mission of the agency. The Executive Order also requires that the Federal agencies work to ensure that recipients of Federal financial assistance provide meaningful access to their LEP applicants and beneficiaries.
Executive Order 13166, “Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency”
DHS Language Access
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recognizes the importance of being able to communicate effectively with individuals, including LEP person, across its many missions and functions. Each DHS Component agency is responsible for following the DHS Language Access Plan to the extent it provides programs, services, and activities to the public and has contact with LEP individuals.
CBP Language Access Plan (In Multiple Languages)
CBP has published a plan that establishes language access policy and creates a system to provide meaningful access to CBP programs and activities to persons with limited English proficiency.
US Customs and Border Protection Language Access Plan
CBP Language Access Plan Translations in Multiple Languages:
美国海关及边境保卫局语言服务计划 (Chinese)
Douanes et protection des frontières des États Unis Plan d'accès à la langue (French)
यू.एस. कस्र्म्स एंि बॉिटि प्रोर्ेक्शन लैंग्वेज एक्सेस प्लान (Hindi)
Serviço de Alfândegas e Proteção das Fronteiras dos Estados Unidos Plano de Acesso Linguístico (Portugese)
ਯੂ. ਐਸ. ਿਸਟਮਸ ਐਂਿ ਬਾਰਿਰ ਪਰੋਟੈਿਸ਼ਨ ਲੈਂਗਵੇਜ ਐਕਸੈਸ ਪਲੈਨ (Punjabi)
Protecția vamală și a frontierelor SUA Planul de acces lingvistic (Romanian)
Oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza de los Estados Unidos Plan de acceso lingüístico (Spanish)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Language Access Plan (Tagalog)
Customer Service
Customer Resources
Multilingual Resources - Find Information in Your Language
Arabic/عربى
- Carrier Information Guide/ المعلوماتدليللشركات نقلالمسافرين
Foreign Manufacturer Security Criteria Guide/ مشارآة الجمارك – التجارة ضد الإرهابمعايير الأمنمنتج أجنبي
Form 6059B Customs Declaration - Arabic (Fillable)/ نموذج إعلان جمركي 6059B - عربي (قابلللتعبئة)
Chinese/中文
Carrier Information Guide/ 旅运业者资讯指南
Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fact sheet/電子旅行授權系統（ESTA）實況報導
EVUS FAQs/ EVUS常見問題
Foreign Manufacturer Security Criteria Guide/國外製造商安全標準指南
Form I-736 - Guam CNMI Visa Waiver Information (Simplified Chinese)/ I-736表 - 关岛CNMI签证豁免信息
Form I-736 - Guam CNMI Visa Waiver Information (Traditional Chinese)/ I-736表 - 關島CNMI簽證豁免信息
Form 6059B Customs Declaration - Traditional Chinese (Fillable)/ 表格6059B海關申報表 - 繁體中文（可結算）
Form 6059B Customs Declaration - Simplified Chinese (Fillable) 6059B表格报关 - 简体中文（可填写）
Dutch/Nederlands
Carrier Information Guide/ Informatiegids voor de Vervoersmaatschappij
Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fact sheet/ Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) factsheet
Foreign Manufacturer Security Criteria Guide/ Handleiding veiligheidsgids voor buitenlandse fabrikanten
Form 6059B Customs Declaration -Dutch (Fillable)/ Form 6059B Douaneaangifte - Nederlands (invulbaar)
Farsi/فارسی
Form 6059B Customs Declaration Form - Farsi (Fillable)/ فرم 6059B اعلامیه گمرکی - فارسی (قابل پذیرش)
French/Français
Authorization (ESTA) fact sheet/ Autorisation (ESTA) fiche d'information
Canadian Firewood fact sheet/ Proteger les agro-ressources des Etats-Unis
Carrier Information Guide/ Guide d’information à l’usage des transporteurs
Foreign Manufacturer Security Criteria Guide/ Guide des critères de sécurité des fabricants étrangers
Form 6059B Customs Declaration -French (Fillable) Electronic System for Travel/ Formulaire 6059B Déclaration en douane - Système électronique français (remplissable) pour les voyages
German/Deutsche
Carrier Information Guide/ Informationsleitfaden für Transportunternehmen
Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fact sheet/ ESTA (elektronisches System für die Reisegenehmigung)
Foreign Manufacturer Security Criteria Guide/ Leitfaden für Sicherheitskriterien für ausländische Hersteller
Form 6059B Customs Declaration -German (Fillable)/ Formular 6059B Zollerklärung - Deutsch (ausfüllbar)
Hebrew/עִברִית
Form 6059B Customs Declaration -Hebrew (Fillable)/ טופס 6059B הצהרת מכס - עברית (מילוי)
Italian/Italianao
Carrier Information Guide/ Guida informative per il vettore
Form 6059B Customs Declaration - Italian (Fillable)/ Modulo 6059B Dichiarazione doganale - Italiano (Fillable)
Japanese/日本語 (Nihongo)
Carrier Information Guide/ 輸送機関情報ガイド
Electronic System for Travel Authorization fact sheet/旅行許可用電子システム（ESTA）のファクトシート
Foreign Manufacturer Security Criteria Guide/外国製造業者のセキュリティ基準ガイド
Form I-736 - Guam CNMI Visa Waiver Information (Japanese)/ Form I-736 - グアムCNMIビザ免除に関する情報
Form 6059B Customs Declaration - Japanese (Fillable)/ フォーム6059B税関申告 - 日本語（塗りつぶし可能）
Korean/한국어 (Hangug-eo)
- Carrier Information Guide/ 운송사 대상출입국 요건안내서
Foreign Manufacturer Security Criteria Guide/외국 제조업체 보안 기준 가이드
Form 6059B Customs Declaration - Korean (Fillable)/ 양식 6059B 세관 신고 - 한국어 (작성 가능)
Form I-736 - Guam CNMI Visa Waiver Information (Korean)/ Form I-736 - 괌 CNMI 비자 면제 정보
Polish/Polski
Form 5069B Customs Declaration- Polish (Fillable)/ Formularz 6059B Deklaracja celna - polska (do wypełnienia)
Portuguese/Português
Carrier Information Guide/ Guia de informações para transportadoras
Form 6059B Customs Declaration - Portuguese (Fillable)/ Formulário 6059B Declaração aduaneira - Português (preenchido)
Foreign Manufacturer Security Criteria Guide/ Guia de Critérios de Segurança do Fabricante Estrangeiro
Punjabi/ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
Form 6059B Customs Declaration Form - Punjabi (Fillable)/ ਫਾਰਮ 6059 ਬੀ ਕਸਟਮਜ਼ ਘੋਸ਼ਣਾ - ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (ਭਰਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ)
Russian/Pусский
- Carrier Information Guide/ Справочник для перевозчиков
- Form 6059B Customs Declaration - Russian (Fillable)/ Форма 6059B Таможенная декларация - русский (заполняемый)
- Form I-736 - Guam CNMI Visa Waiver Information/ Форма I-736 - Информация о выдаче визы CNAM в Гуаме
Spanish/Español
- ACE Briefing/ ACE y la Ventanilla Unica de Estados Unidos
- ACE Portal E-Manifest Error/Remedy Guide/ El Diario de los Errores de e-Manifiesto
- Carrier Information Guide/ Guia de Informacion para el Transportista
- CBP Launches Testimonial Series/ CBP Lanza Serie de Testimonios en Español de Migrantes Centroamericanos
- Comment/Complaint form found at “Communicarse con Nosotros”/ Formulario de comentario / queja
- Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) video/ Video de la Asociación Aduanera-Comercial contra el Terrorismo (C-TPAT)
- Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fact sheet/ Sistema electrónico de autorización de viaje (ESTA) hoja informativa
- FAST Application Guide/ Procesamiento en GOES/FAST
- FAST Commercial Driver Guide/ Conductor Comercial Guía del Participante
- Foreign Manufacturer Security Criteria Guide/ Guía de criterios de seguridad del fabricante extranjero
- Form 6059B Customs Declaration - Spanish (Fillable)/ Declaracion de Aduanas
- Highway Carrier Security Criteria/ Criterios Mínimos de Seguridad Transportista de Carretera
- I-94 FAQ/Aplicación en línea del Formulario I-94 y Automatización de Pago para Ingreso Terrestre
- I-94 Application Online, Payment Information/ I-94 Solicitud en línea, información de pago
- Information for Travelers/Temas Principales para Viajeros
- Sexual Abuse and Assault Prevention and Response Zero Tolerance poster/ Prevención y respuesta al abuso sexual y a la agresión Póster de cero tolerancia
- Visa Waiver Program FAQ / Las actualizaciones del Programa de Exencion de Visa de 2016
Thai/ไทย (Thịy)
Foreign Manufacturer Security Criteria Guide/ H̄lạkkeṇṯh̒ d̂ān khwām plxdp̣hạy k̄hxng p̄hū̂ p̄hlit t̀āng pratheṣ̄
Vietnamese/Tiếng Việt
Form 6059B Customs Declaration - Vietnamese (Fillable)/ Mẫu 6059B Tờ khai Hải quan - Tiếng Việt (Có thể điền đầy đủ)
