CBP officer

[jfiguesilv94]

Hello, I'm a candidate for Gs-7 CBPO. There is something concerning me.

In the background investigation guideline, it's stated that the purpose of it is to see who's trustworthy and less vulnerable to coercion and such. I'm the son of emigrants. They all came to the U.S legally and became U.S citizens, they own businesses and contribute to the country with their taxes of course and have never been involved in Criminal acts.

I just feel like due to the bad image/stereotype regarding emigrants I can be put in doubt during the Investigation because they might think I have split loyalties, which I don't. I was born a U.S citizen, and have a strong desire to serve my country above all.

[stanford.west]

I don’t think you should feed into and crap you hear. Just do the right thing and concentrate on what you can control. Don’t put down the process and don’t lose focus. Applying for this job ——- CBP doesn’t owe you anything, just make sure they know how they benefit from hiring you and the rest is up to the man upstairs. Good luck and stay outta trouble. #everyones process is different and don’t believe everything you hear on here.

[ES90]

I'm exaggerating, but I feel like half of my FLETC class had a parent or immediate family member who were still LPR. Don't worry about it and don't believe the media stories on anti-immigrant BS. Some of the best Officers I work with weren't even born in the US.

[merlin436]

One set of my grandparents were immigrants. Much of CBP has a personal reference to immigration...especially those working land border ports. Most border communities have been inextricably interconnected, both north and south, especially under the lights of historical perspective.

The left likes to spin a narrative of an US society hostile to immigration and immigrants because immigration and law enforcement runs counter to the left's worldview of embracing illegality and dysfunction. The truth is that CBP, especially OFO, embraces diversity and eclectic backgrounds and experiences. If you and your extended family have no criminal history/security/terrorism concerns and zero problems as far as past immigration status issues, your family's immigrant past will not be viewed as a detriment and will likely be seen as an asset...especially if you are bilingual.

[ZOak93]

Short question: I just finished my eQIP and was wondering once it’s submitted if they start doing other things like the PFT, Medical, Poly while the eQIP is being investigated or do I have to wait for that to clear before those other steps?

[corsair]

Assuming all goes well when I'm scheduled for the polygraph I'll be looking way past 2 years for completion. I'm already at 16 months and I'm still waiting to be scheduled. I didnt have any holdups and I scheduled all tests ASAP.

[fonzi7979]

corsair I’m right with you hopefully we will get scheduled soon for the polygraph and sometime next year to FLECT.

[thelonelybum]

Rubicon Even without the pandemic its taking me 33 months from Application to EOD

[Tydaddy]

thelonelybum I'm at 14 months!? drug test today.

[Tydaddy]

First post but have been lurking for years.
Anyone else 19-6?

Long story short, my initial process was back in 2014. In 2016, I had both a CBPO and BPA offer. I'm a DPT, and had just signed a contract at a hospital - so I had to turn both down.

Fast forward to last year, I'd had it with healthcare and the unethical crap going on - I decided to reapply to CBPO - as the new age limit allowed me to do so. I started working with TSA last fall to get me into the airport swing of things.

So here I am. Background adjudication just completed and updated in CASS yesterday. Awaiting the drug test now.

I just wanted to see if anyone else was 19-6. I selected New Orleans - but seeing what others have been offered, that's looking highly unlikely.

Drug test tomorrow.

[Dodge_Guy19-4]

Make sure you study

[Jacktone22]

Hey Tydaddy I am also a 19-6. I met with my background investigator in September of 2019, and I've been waiting for adjudication since, feels good to see that some of us are moving along. If you don't mind sharing, when did you meet with your BI or approximately how long did your adjudication take? Congratulations on making it through!

[Tydaddy]

Jacktone22 Met with my BI in January - about 4 months.

[TsFost]

Take it with a grain of salt. Online chatter on a another CBP page has OFO starting back at Fletc June 17th, with a 2 week quarantine before they will get back to classes happening. My temp port Supervisor told me yesterday that one class was just a couple weeks out from graduation at the time of the closure. So keep ready everyone who's ready, and for those in the process keep aiming towards the finish line.

[Gixxerman]

Are you still on weather and safety leave? Quarantining will push class dates even further.

[Tydaddy]

What cbp page? Trying to read as much as possible before I make a selection.

[TsFost]

Gixxerman yes I'm still on leave. yea initially it will by 2 weeks but once it really gets rolling I don't think it'll matter as much.

Tydaddy delphi

[ncavazos]

TsFost Here's offical link.

https://www.fletc.gov/press-release/...-site-training.

FLETC Headquarters FB page also posted it

[ncavazos]

You're welcome. Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly with the new procedures implemented and we get to go sooner than later. I'm 531 so I'm trying to figure out timing too lol. For sure i read on another FLETC post they are resizing classes for smaller blocks and doing single occupancy in rooms so that's going to affect how many attend at one time..unless they have changed that modification..eitherway. ....only time will tell AND time we have plenty of lol : /

[showtime15]

I’m in the first phase of people returning, we’re under the impression from various instructors that the single occupancy is only for the quarantine period.

[ncavazos]

showtime15 have you received the official call back? If so how did they notify you?

[DoD88]

showtime15
Seriously? Hopefully that won't happen. The FLETC director was pretty adamant that students would be in single rooms with "no exemptions" were his words on that townhall. I also don't get why they would if only 900 students are allowed back. Keep us posted.

[Tydaddy]

I was hoping someone could provide some guidance on seaport vs airport vs land crossing.

My goals are to learn as much and gain as much experience doing as much as possible, as soon as possible in hopes of making this a career. It seems large vs small, city vs remote would have huge differences. Perhaps more opportunities at a larger POE, but more staff so it will take way longer, whereas, a tiny remote border crossing might require new officers to take on many more tasks or jobs earlier, at the expense of schedule flexibility and/or the ability to transfer.

I've also read on Delphi forums that seaports seem to be preferred by many. Location? Savannah, Norfolk, etc?

I'm just trying to be as prepared as possible when I get the call in the next couple days.

I selected New Orleans sector - but seeing what others have been offered recently that's looking highly unlikely. Coincidentally, a coworker was at NOLA for a while and he loved it, but he also worked himself on to a MIU before leaving for FAMs.

Thanks for any and all advice!

[merlin436]

If you're looking for creature comforts and ease of life/work...go seaports and airports. Most seaports and airports are "mostly" attached to cities...and cities have the amenities, the jobs for spouses, the exposure to opportunities for kids that most land border locations simply lack. In many areas, location is king. Seaports tend to be preferred because most seaports mean mostly cargo, most cargo is far more flexible than passenger traffic.(in that you can take a container of auto parts and sit it for 8 hours in a secure location and take your time to figure out what the plan is for it without much blowback or problems...you can't(or at least shouldn't) take a planeload of people and sit them on the tarmac for 8 hours...if you do...expect issues). Most seaport(and airport) traffic is predictable and known in advance...unlike passenger traffic at the land border...who show up whenever they want to show up. That sort of predictability and limited functionality tends to breed a more relaxed and enjoyable setting...masking seaports more desired.

I would mostly agree with your assessment of city/large vs remote/small. I would add that a lot depends on what you're really looking for and why? Small ports/rural ports offer the chances of "gaining experience" along the lines of the philosophy of "if you do something once...you've done it." In other words, if you're just looking for "checklist" items to be able to say..."Yes, I've done that"...well, that's the bread and butter of a smaller port. They create generalists who are the "Jack of all trades and the master of none". Yes, I would say that it's easier for a less senior person to be on a "team" in a smaller port...especially if the goal is just titular in nature...and yes, expect much less flexibility in scheduling and in relocation opportunities in a smaller port. When looking at tiny, remote ports you also need to consider that typically the see the same traffic, day after day, and that little of interest typically goes on in a tiny, remote port. It takes a special person to thrive in a location where the nearest Walmart is a 140 mile drive one-way...where you work with the same handful of co-workers...day after day...where doing things that most people consider mundane and uneventful, like going to the dentist or even making a run the grocery store, becomes an all-day event because it's two hours to get there...and two hours to get back.

Large ports are more likely to produce the "specialist", the "subject matter expert", the guy who can carve out a niche for himself as the "go-to" guy in a specific area...and milk that for all it's worth. Large ports also typically have all that goes on in a smaller port and more...so if gaining meaningful experience is the goal, it's typically found easiest in a larger port setting. As is most of the overtime, scheduling opportunities, and transfer options. Generally, I would say that the positives of the large port/urban port outweigh the positives of the small/rural port...especially when you consider seniority as a factor and the opportunities to bid into various taskings that are the staples of large ports.

New Orleans is a very small Field Office. Not a whole lot of openings there in even the best of circumstances.

[Tydaddy]

merlin436 thanks for such a detailed reply. It helps knowing that my thought process is generally correct. It's sort of intimidating to pick a spot for the foreseeable future without knowing anything...

[invertedPanda]

Take it with a grain of salt. Online chatter on a another CBP page has OFO starting back at Fletc June 17th, with a 2 week quarantine before they will get back to classes happening. My temp port Supervisor told me yesterday that one class was just a couple weeks out from graduation at the time of the closure. So keep ready everyone who's ready, and for those in the process keep aiming towards the finish line.

More than one session was close to graduation. 5 sessions had less than 4 weeks left.

[TsFost]

That's awesome. I wonder how many classes they invited back for the initial relaunch. I remember the last town hall mentioned half student capacity for a while. If thats across all agencies there I wonder how many of the 18 classes that left early will be brought back. If you hear of anything lmk please. I'm trying to do some math and figure out a round about time for 527 to get in lol.

[invertedPanda]

We were told the plan was 12 sessions but everything has been very fluid, so who knows yet.

[Ed1990]

I’m class 539 it’s probably going to be a while before fletc for me.

[Dodge_Guy19-4]

539? When is your EoD?

[A3PO1]

Schedule for classes to go back

[DoD88]

About how many students is that?

[A3PO1]

Standard is 48 per class but could be less because of those who get injured, fail out, etc.

[Ed1990]

Thanks for the update

[jamoranto]

17-11 CBPO GS 9

After applying back in Novmber of 2017, I was hit with a NOPA and replied. Just received official notification that I was found unsuitable.
I am 33 years old and too old to wait another almost 3 years chasing a dream.

Thanks for all the info and insights to everyone that helped. Good luck to everyone still in the process.

[ncavazos]

SAS-CBPO I'm class 531. Eagle Pass POE. fort1978 join the club lol

[jamoranto]

Sheridan1 I think I have to wait a year before I reapply. I would be almost 35 at that time. I’ve been in this process before being found unsuitable for almost 3 years. If eventually, get hired on, I would be 38 by that time. I wouldn’t want to go in at that age or even try chasing a dream.

[jamoranto]

Thanks for the words of encouragement everyone. I will try again in a year.

[AdamF2882]

jamoranto If u don’t mind, did they ever tell u what made u unsuitable? I only ask because I’m in the process since Dec 2017 and don’t wanna get hit with any surprises.

[Florida_Man]

18 months = No Poly

[fonzi7979]

Florida_Man hang in there I’m right with you 18 months and no polygraph exam yet but good things come to those who are patient and wait. Keep your head up.

[Florida_Man]

fonzi7979 I’m trying to be as patient as I can be but I’ve just about had it. I wouldn’t mind waiting 2-2.5 years for a job but to go 18 months and not even be half way through and still have to test for a poly that 70% of applicants fail? That’s tough bro.

[fonzi7979]

I hear you and understand the frustration. If it is like they said during that telephone call from the polygraph division as soon as the Pandemic COVID 19 closures are lifted the scheduling shall resume. Did you receive the call last month.

[standtheman]

Florida_Man i am on the same boat with you.... 15 months of waiting for poly

[ncavazos]

Deleted post

[Tydaddy]

ncavazos Right there with ya sister!!

[ncavazos]

Deleted post

[Ed1990]

539? When is your EoD?

I eod June 8th

[Dodge_Guy19-4]

I figured it was in the next two weeks based on your class number.

Using fuzzy math, based on the recently posted restarts vs grad dates, if things keep at that pace, and as a class graduates another is brought in... I would estimate 539 to be sometime in October.

But again that's just a logical guesstimate... and as most here already know, nothing about this entire process is ever logical.

[kc.lin55]

How is Port Canaveral, FL ?