Cash in advance payment terms are used to eliminate credit risk, or the risk of non-payment. The logic behind the structure of such a transaction is that if an exporter this a product to an importer and the importer does not pay for the item, the exporter has very little recourse. This term can be used in a variety of businesses, but it is most common in the import / export business."CIA" is the abbreviation of Cash in advance that means a stipulation in some shipping agreements, requiring that an importer must pay the exporter in cash before the shipment is made.