CBP officer

[Burrell707]

Anyone know why CBP and border patrol don't have the same standards?

I think it is because BPA's are roaming the desert and terrain out there while most CBPO's are working at checkpoints, usually behind a counter.

[D.Vader]

Hey, D. Vader. Check out my timeline. It appears we are pretty much dead on matches with our dates (including geo location and reapplication pref). I have not heard from my background investigator as well even though my case has been in the security office for approximately 2 months now. I would not sweat calling MHC considering it has only been 3 months since the date of our TO and we have all but one of our checks remaining. It just feels like a long wait since all of our green checks were accomplished within 4 weeks time (which I feel was expedited since we applied for the SW border). There really is no set order of operations when things get cleared. The BI always takes the longest and all you can really do is hurry up and wait. Good luck to ya. I'll be following your posts closely since we're in the same boat.

We have almost identical timelines. I will definitely post when I hear anything about starting the BI or any news about a new TO for SFO/Oak. Right now I would take either location. It would be funny to be in the same class at FLETC later down the road. Good luck to ya.

[merlin436]

Georgia people: does anyone know what the odds are for assignments? Does everyone end up at ATL airport or is there a good spread between Brunswick and Savannah and Atl? Looking for a good rumor here. Anything?

Atlanta is your most likely bet. It's far larger than any other GA port.

[merlin436]

Is there any merit to US citizens being fingerprinted and such on the way out?

I seriously doubt it.

[merlin436]

I think it is because BPA's are roaming the desert and terrain out there while most CBPO's are working at checkpoints, usually behind a counter.

I've never seen a CBPO working a checkpoint. That's a BP thing. Though, I suppose there's little reason a CBPO couldn't work a checkpoint...if things came to that.
CBPO's usually work ports, and I wouldn't say it's usually behind a counter...but that will of course depend on where one is working and what one is doing.

There are quite a few reasons why OFO and OBP standards differ. A couple, in no particular order:

1: Until recently, the CBPO job was an uncovered position that frequently hired many people in their 40's, 50's and 60's. It's only in the last year or so that we've been covered and limited hiring to those under 37.

2: They're different jobs and OFO has a much higher need for female officers than OBP has a need for female agents. Generally speaking, if you raise physical standards, you'll cull out more women than men. The day that OFO is satisfied being a mere 5% female, as is the BP, is the day OFO will mirror BP's hiring/training standards.

[Gaylord Focker]

I'm going out on a limb here to say that that probably is good news and I'm happy for you! Progress for anybody is progress for everybody in this strangely intertwined system of mysterious and vague time lines.

Hopefully I will let yall know soon about a time and place in Georgia. I guess I am in TSU (correct me if I am wrong) since CASS says that I am "Referred to Schedule EOD". Changed to that status this past Friday.

Is there any merit to US citizens being fingerprinted and such on the way out?

[barnaj]

I seriously doubt it.

Agreed. There is no reason to undertake such an extensive task.

[luckycharms]

Sounds good to me! Like you said, nobody has said anything about Georgia on here at all!

I have yet to see Alabama come up on the board either, not that im surprised... pretty sure Im in for a long wait to get a TO.

[Peteylaw06]

Agreed. There is no reason to undertake such an extensive task.

+1

[Rigrig22]

Below is all the dates as best i can remember them. I have been in TSU for 5 weeks now my GEO is Boston as a GS-7. I am trying to figure out if i should take a 2 month extension with the USCG which they arent letting me out of if CBP calls me or get off active duty and just wait for CBP. Has any one heard much about the Boston area. I tried calling today and the lady at MHC was really nice but really couldnt tell me much about what the wait looks like. Any thoughts will be helpfull
T.O.: 3-3-09
VBT: 3-30-09
Medical: 4-14-09
Fitness:4-14-09
Drug test: 4-14-09
Background Investigation: Done
TSU: 6-12-09
EOD: ?
FLETC:

[UofU76]

I've never seen a CBPO working a checkpoint. That's a BP thing. Though, I suppose there's little reason a CBPO couldn't work a checkpoint...if things came to that.
CBPO's usually work ports, and I wouldn't say it's usually behind a counter...but that will of course depend on where one is working and what one is doing.

There are quite a few reasons why OFO and OBP standards differ. A couple, in no particular order:

1: Until recently, the CBPO job was an uncovered position that frequently hired many people in their 40's, 50's and 60's. It's only in the last year or so that we've been covered and limited hiring to those under 37.

2: They're different jobs and OFO has a much higher need for female officers than OBP has a need for female agents. Generally speaking, if you raise physical standards, you'll cull out more women than men. The day that OFO is satisfied being a mere 5% female, as is the BP, is the day OFO will mirror BP's hiring/training standards.

interesting.
This whole time I have been thinking that it would save a whole lot of money to have the same standards because many of us test for both.

[UofU76]

Below is all the dates as best i can remember them. I have been in TSU for 5 weeks now my GEO is Boston as a GS-7. I am trying to figure out if i should take a 2 month extension with the USCG which they arent letting me out of if CBP calls me or get off active duty and just wait for CBP. Has any one heard much about the Boston area. I tried calling today and the lady at MHC was really nice but really couldnt tell me much about what the wait looks like. Any thoughts will be helpfull
T.O.: 3-3-09
VBT: 3-30-09
Medical: 4-14-09
Fitness:4-14-09
Drug test: 4-14-09
Background Investigation: Done
TSU: 6-12-09
EOD: ?
FLETC:

There are a couple of guys on here waiting for Boston, you should search the threads. One fo them has been in TSU since winter 2008. There is another guy on here from Boston waiting for SF/OAK, he may have some info.

[Thek9]

Sytes,

Thanks for the heads up and intel. Why are you up so late?

[merlin436]

interesting.
This whole time I have been thinking that it would save a whole lot of money to have the same standards because many of us test for both.

Never expect the Government to be fast at doing things that make sense or save money.

DHS and CBPO's have only been around since 2003. The likeliest biggest hurdle to identical standards in the past was hiring age/12D coverage. That's now broken. If I was to take a wild stab at the future I'd guess that at some point both standards(and both jobs) will be merged into one. Thinking broad, one might throw IEA's into the mix as well.

[ShowT1me78]

Good Evening people... Well I called IA this morning to see how the results of my NOPA is turning out since I paid my bills. She calls me back 2 hrs later of course and says to me I need to write a letter explaining what balance I have remainign on the bills that i paid. I tell her maam I have paid every bill you asked for and there is a $0 balance she says fine than write a letter of a break down of everything you have sent me. Than she tells me its due yesterday LOL. Amazing I tell you... I right the letter of course and fax it over within an hr of talking to her. No response back as of yet. I LOVE CBP