CBP officer

[Nextrunnerup]

Hey guys I’ve been trying to do research and reached out to ICE recruiting but have not received feedback or answers yet. I need insight if anyone has it regarding this topic.

I accepted my CBPO position. I’m excited and happy I’m in. I would like to eventually be an ice agent for DHS. Is that possible? The academy for an ICE agent is still FLETC. I did see some additional training (56 days + 71 days) besides the academy. So I assume.... I get my experience for a few years, apply and just do the additional training if accepted? I’m just wondering if there is an age limit once you’re in and if you have to go baaaaack through the whole process of (apply, written test, oral board, poly, background etc). Took me over a year. More like a year and a half. I mean it is what it is. Just curious if anyone has insight. Hope everyone is getting some decent if not great news.

[Staerr]

merlin436 Do you know if you still have to go through the second part of academy if you’re fluent in Spanish? Was told there was an extra 5 weeks if you pick south. I brought it up with a recruiter and he was unsure because they were making everyone go through it at one point.

[merlin436]

It used to be that one could test out of Spanish. Then things changed, and everyone attended academy Spanish.

I cannot tell you what the situation for new hires currently is.

[Staerr]

merlin436 Alright, thanks!

[ROBYM88]

You take a Spanish test at FLETC. If you score high enough, you don't have to stay for the class.

[TheChicagoKid1990]

Sitting at 88% on the CASS app pumped to get the call soon!!

[Swsports22]

How long after your poly did your BI contact you?

[TheChicagoKid1990]

Kinda weird I did my poly in February the BI contacted me 2 weeks later. Took about a month after I met him to get it cleared in CASS. As soon as CASS updated it I got a call for a drug test. I applied for BPA and CBPO but BPA called me the same day I took the test which was 2 or 3 weeks ago but I really want CBP in Chicago which is why I’m hoping they call me soon.

[Swsports22]

My LT at work just informed me the BI called about me. So things are moving.

[pnw360]

What are the odds a rookie could get an overseas port? 0%? Looking at the list there's a few places I wouldn't mind working at.

[merlin436]

Virtually zero.

Apply and ask. Maybe you'll get lucky.

[Sheridan1]

Nobody goes overseas as a new hire. You have to be a gs12 at the very minimum.

[mariosa83]

Sitting at 88% on the CASSS app pumped to get the call soon!!

I'm hoping you do! But like Swsports22 I want know too waiting for BI call after poly.

[TheChicagoKid1990]

Just commented about it lol but everyone has different timelines. I was a first time go on the poly some people have to retake it or sometimes fail. If not I’d say 2-4 weeks?

[mariosa83]

Thank you! @thechicagokid1990 hopefully this week is the week.

[Nextrunnerup]

Are CBP officers now considered actual law enforcement and get the same retirement benefits and health benefits lol. I know before 2008 CBP wasn’t looked at as LE officers. Right? Correct me if I’m wrong.

[Nextrunnerup]

merlin436 thanks man. Yeah I’ve done prior research and I was looking it up again. I guess I was just getting confused as to if we would be covered under LE retirement and be subject to the same benefits. It looks like we are now. I mean. Lol. I can care less if someone tells me I’m not a LE officer as long as I can do my job, work my way up the ranks, support the mission, and get the retirement benefits we deserve like other LE or firefighters.

So I’m guessing it’s still 37 to 57. I know they moved up the minimum age to 40 years old. I just wasn’t sure if it went to 40 - 60.

Before it was 1% of your high 3 x 20 years of service. But now I assume it’s 1.7%. Correct me if I’m wrong merlin436. My bad to be annoying. Just getting a little confused about the specifics. Thanks man.

[merlin436]

Double post...

[merlin436]

It's currently age 40 entrance maximum with 20 year retirement. Prior military pretty much can come in at any age and work the full 20 years until retirement. Those who enter prior to age 37 face mandatory retirement at age 57. Unless they're hires prior to 2008...they face no mandated retirement.

1.7% each year for 20 covered years. Any years at 1%.

High three in salary. Up to 50% of the salary cap in overtime earnings counts towards retirement. No other differentials or holiday pay count towards high three calculations.

[Nextrunnerup]

merlin436 thank you for all the insight sir! Greatly appreciated for real.

[JStyleszx]

I constantly reread this thread over & over. Super old posts to recent posts. Lololol. Im attached

[Staerr]

JStyleszx I haven’t read from the start but I think I went back to like 2017 and read from there. It’s just interesting and exciting while we wait lol

[merlin436]

Some of the older posts have lost some of their relevance since there have been some significant changes that have happened over the years.

Nevertheless, the history on this board is a decent archive. Much of present CBP is structured by influences from years, even decades ago. Some things even go back to the 1950s and before. If you don't have a working grasp on the history of the "whys"... you really won't fully understand the nature of present and recent past.

[JStyleszx]

Im JFK 19-3 . 25% in. Anybody in the same range as me in announcement & live in the NYC area should message me & we can make some form of group chat . Lmk!

[Scrappydoo]

Hal29 they offered me El Paso for BP

[fonzi7979]

I was there at 25% I’m in 19-2 announcement it’s normal once you complete fitness an SI then it will update to 50%. I am waiting for my Polygraph appointment.

[Ilee25]

Im sitting at 25% ...got my fitness completed as well as my SI. Still waiting on my eqip and medical to clear....also waiting on a date to take the Poly. Applied Sept of last year

[nickg317]

im in a group chat on WhatsApp with a couple of other 19-3 guys for JFK, message me if youre interested in joining

[Wendygx]

For those of you who have gotten "the call". How long after meeting with your BI did it take for you to receive "the call"?

[Scrappydoo]

5 months for me

[raudy06]

first your background has to get adjudicated (anywhere from 2 months to a year i have heard) then you have to take drug test, and then wait for the TSU(Training & Scheduling unit) email; they give you "The Call" when a spot on an academy class is available.

[Wendygx]

Got it! My BI confused me a bit. Thank you for clarifying.

[raudy06]

Wendygx you got it.

[Thinkmango]

SI on Wednesday, hopefully I don't get too nervous.

[corsair]

Don't overthink it - It was much easier than I thought. After I finished it, I was like wtf was I so nervous for.

[fonzi7979]

You will be fine don’t over think it.

[s4mr]

32484.1

Applied originally to CBP DH 18-5, declared unsuitable with no explanation, reapplied to CBP DH 18-10, CBP NH 19-1, BPA DH 18-13. Over the last few days i’ve gotten “the call” from both agencies offering only SWB locations. Yesterday finally received a NH offer, chose JFK EOD 8/12 - Academy 8/27 to 1/9. Took a whole damn year but hey!

[s4mr]

I was declared unsuitable before the BI even began and didn't get an actual "answer" when i asked why i was unsuitable, when i reapplied i fixed my resume a bit and double checked my equip before i sent my application in.

[DMC1988]

Wait, u were unsuitable without a BI, but they called after you applied the second time and offered you a job, without having a BI done?

[s4mr]

I had the BI done the second time and everything went smooth sailing after that.

[fonzi7979]

Congrats to you one whole year from start to finish with the hiring process is not bad at all. There are many other applicants still waiting on Polygraph over a year or two so be thankful you have been selected. If I can complete it within a year I will be very happy. Good luck and God Bless

[MrAce]

Where all the 18-9s at?

[fonzi7979]

@18-8 &18-9 announcement how long has your wait been since your SI. It seems like the polygraph appointments are either immediately or it can be a long wait. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

[MrAce]

Currently waiting for Polly call. Had my SI in August

[nhb_zoey]

18-9 waiting since July 2018, resubmitted equip January 2019. Applied as Regular announcement 19-4 Im at 50% for both, still waiting for poly

[Steve40]

I had my SI right at the end of July. I was held up in "Nurse review" for quite some time but finally cleared that hurdle last month.

[JS513]

Hey everyone!

Does anyone know what the overtime opportunities are like at the New Orleans field office? I saw a PDF from CBP that had a recap of overtime budgets from 2014-2016 and New Orleans appeared to have the least amount of funding.

[merlin436]

NO Field Office staffing is several times smaller than most FOs. About 10X smaller than NY.

It stands to reason that their overall overtime budget is comparably smaller.

Having said that I don't know what their overtime situation is. Like most FOs off the southern land border pretty much lacking many major airports, seaports and other influential and significant ports...I imagine their overtime totals are more to the average than high earning.

[merlin436]

If working overtime is your thing, your best bet is a major southern border land port(SYS, Laredo, etc.). Followed by most of the other southern border ports and the major airports/seaports(JFK, LAX, Long Beach, Miami, etc.).

In much of the rest there's simply not "lots" of overtime...especially if you've drank the recruitment Koolaid and have delusions of an easily obtainable 45K cap and plentiful overtime opportunities.

[JS513]

Really appreciate the insight! Thanks!

[fonzi7979]

Anyone from announcement 19-2 for JFK. I am curious if anyone received an email or call for the polygraph appointment. I know they say that it will be a long wait but maybe some cancellations from previous announcements may have us next in line.

[Mreurodance]

How does one select a port without actually being hired yet? Mine says negotiable after selection. Does it mean you can select (JFK for example) if you get the offer? Or one gets assigned to you based on need? Or one need to select location when signing up on the usajobs website / login! Thanks for your replies!

[fonzi7979]

You selected your preference on start of your application once you get the call it becomes negotiable if your announcement had many ports or locations as long as there is an opening. Never hurts to ask when you get to that point of the process from my understanding.

[Camelbak]

When you get the call, they'll have a list of ports to select. If there is a certain one you want, but it's not on the list, you can request it. They'll call that port to see if there are openings. If there are openings they'll generally work with you, so you can get it. If not, select one of the listed ones or decline the offer.

[Hopejoy]

Can they let you wait for the location you selected or do you have to select one from the list?

[JDalhoff]

Any classmates on here going to be at the academy Sept.17-Jan 31st?

[fonzi7979]

Congrats JDalhoff which announcement are you in. I am just curious I hope it was not a long wait for you too.

[JDalhoff]

17-10 it took awhile.