CBP officer

[goknights]

No longer a lurker!

I've been following this forum for a little while now and I can finally post.

I am a 17-10 CBPO Applicant. The announcement said Location Negotiable. I put my preferred location as Key West, FL but I am willing to go anywhere.

I met with my BI 3 weeks ago. I know at least 8 people have been interviewed and I am just waiting like everyone else is.
Do you think it would be okay to call the investigator in about another week to check in on the status of the investigation? He told me when we met he would submit my work in a few weeks.

Good luck to everyone going through the process

[Mike924]

3 weeks doesn't seem like that much. But, I don't think it could ever really hurt to call and ask. Worst they can do is tell you it will take time and they will let you know.

[J.C29]

Anyone with an EOD next month receive the email that explains everything yet?

[DallyDallington]

2 weeks before your EOD you will. I have the same EOD. see you in the academy!

[LouieK]

What Dally said, I'll be there starting 9/5.

[J.C29]

I received the email today

[MrAce]

Anyone know what the deal with the Polly is now? Keep hearing they made it less rediculas. What have they made easier about it besides it being an hour shorter? I don’t understand how it can be anything over an hour and a half... do they ask the same questions in a loop?

[epesguerra]

I'm not sure what changes they made, all I can tell is if you logged in around this time last year, all you'll see is how disappointing polygraph was. Recently though, the last few months, I only read may be 2 to 3 failures. That's a big difference compared to last year.

[Mike924]

Yeah when I first did this process in 2015, people were failing (including myself) at a crazy rate.

So far I am 50%, 2-2, on polygraphs through my different employments.

Hopefully this time around is the "new" poly. The one I took for CBP was almost 4 hours. Longest one I took before that was an hour.

[Sheridan1]

The biggest change they did is that they don't fail someone for an inconclusive result, which is what accounted for the large failure rate. That's why you see people retaking polys for a 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th.

[vik2500]

the style of questioning was very different for me than my first time. my first time was 8 hours long. i left in tears, he accused me of trying to cheat the exam because of the way i was breathing. he also repeatedly asked my about my "pillow talk" conversations with my bf and if they revolved around government secrets.

my 2nd time was much more pleasant, 5 hours tops. it was very straight forward and the questions were centered more towards certain things they were looking for.

i really think it all depends on who is administering the poly.i got a long great with my 2nd guy, we chatted before hand and after. he said that i passed, but he still needed to get it sent off for official review, and it would be a few weeks maybe. he emailed me two hours later saying they took a look at my stuff faster than he expected and they said no further testing was required.

best of luck!

[txm44]

Anyone know if you can change later in process and sign the provisional clearance sheet after you sent your original one in?

[Alexr3496]

Yes when you recetify your EQIP... After poly.

[epesguerra]

Alexr3496, so my eqip turned pending a few weeks after poly but haven't heard anything about recertifying. It's been over two weeks when it went pending. Is this a normal wait time?

[Alexr3496]

epesguerra
Hey I would contact your manager, because when I was informed I passed my poly is when I was told to recertify my EQIP.

[d2ep]

Hey Guys!! I just got my new NOR for 18-11 application to see if I qualified for higher grade and I did!! They used my old score from January. I hope this helps whoever wants to reapply for better location or what not.

[N.N.]

Thanks for the info man, that’s so strange though, I talked with MHC last week and they specifically said we would have to re-take the entrance exam. I suppose it’s like when they say you can’t take your poly before medical clears but then a bunch of people do lol. They just can’t keep their rules straight

[Hal29]

How long did it take for them to contact you on the new announcement? It might be a road I go.

[Jerseyboy94]

Reapplied today for direct hire , they are not taking old exams I guess he got lucky because I’m schedule to take new exam this upcoming Tuesday. It seems that the math is still on the exam but they are giving extra time to complete the exam also you have to finish a life experience test at home before taking the exam at the testing center. Boarder Patrol does the same thing minus the math section.

[d2ep]

I had received an email after I completed the external assessment. Asking me if I wanted to retake the exam or use old score. I had to click on a link which had me confirm use old score or take the new exam. I selected old score and two weeks later I received an email saying congratulation on passing the exam and at the bottom same old score with new GS grade.

[bcmking3]

So I have a few questions,and I’m hoping you all can help. I had my SI this week and got the noticed I passed the next day. I received my PT and medical appointments for this coming week and today I also got an email saying that my background was released to OPR. For those of you in background or completed, did anyone give you a heads up that they were going to start contacting your employers, etc before it happens? I ask because I’ve worked at the same place for 15 years and it would probably be a good idea to let them know before an investigator shows up and asks questions about me and they are blindsided. Thanks for the assist.

FYI I’m a 18-10 applicant GS-9 select for the VRA posting.
waived test
SI done
and the rest of my status above, seems super quick so far but as everyone has said I expect it to slow down soon..

[vik2500]

my investigator contacted me before contacting anyone else on my equip. we then set up a meeting at my current place of employment , but they all knew i was applying and have been nothing but helpful with my process. he even interviewed two of my coworkers that day before leaving.

[duocbpo]

Do you guys know for TSL, is email the only way they notify you? Not phone calls or postal letters?

[Hal29]

N.N. What do you mean only 98% make it through pre employment? What part of the process do you think is the hardest part to get through? I would figure if you made it past the poly your all but a shoe in and just becomes another waiting game from there. They are rather desperate these days.

[cs333]

Hal29 thats definetly not an accurate number lol not even close espescially with the poly seeing way better results. Think a lot of ppl do not want to wait for the whole process and take other jobs though.

[Hal29]

Yeah I took my poly back in May. I'm just waiting to hear from bi. I was told though that the investigators are also backlogged right now.

[N.N.]

Hal29 and cs333 it was in the GAO report that came out in June. Given it doesn't have data for this year yet, but over the previous 3 years, it said only around 2-3% of people made it thru everything. The poly was probably a huge part, around 75% of people failed last year, but like cs333 noted, it has seemed to have improved this year. I'm sure a fair number of people get tired of dealing with the wait times too and just drop out.

[duocbpo]

@N.N yeah...it's a waiting game...lol...did you finish your medical and fitness test?

[N.N.]

I passed fitness, I took my medical in mid-April, but am still waiting for clearance. I waited 2.5 months for them to request additional info, it took a couple weeks to get everything they wanted together, now I’ve been waiting a month already for them to review my additional info. It’s insane.

[Lethal]

Got my NOR yesterday (August 11) and am now patiently waiting for the TSL and SI.

As mentioned before, this is my 2nd go around with CBP after having an unfavorable Polygraph in 2016. Hoping things go smoother this time. I'm on the 18-11 announcement under location negotiable (San Francisco Airport).

[cs333]

Lethal good luck the poly is supposedly way better now

[epesguerra]

Lethal ...so reapplied for 18-11 as well but it's only showing location negotiable upon selection United States. Did you get an option to pick San Francisco?

[Lethal]

cs333 thanks, I've heard it's been much better and that the duration has been cut.

[Lethal]

epesguerra no but that's the Port I plan on selecting if I make it all the way through the process. I also selected San Francisco to be the location of my SI and Polygraph.

[DP23]

Not new to the forums but first time posting in this particular subforum. I applied in May to CBP posting/announcement 18-8 DH & am formerly 18-3 with BP. I selected Nogales as my preferred station however I may take Lukeville if it's available since it's close to Phoenix. It is slightly under the 100 mile distance but we'll see if it offered granted if I'm fortunate to make it through. I qualified for GS-5, my E-Qip/Medical transferred over & are both green. I retook physical 7/16 which went green the same day & recently took SI/fingerprints 8/8 & got NOR results that I passed the next day. I am now waiting to schedule the poly, currently sitting at 50% complete.

[DP23]

Thank you, best of luck to you as well. Would look forward to that, did they give you a timetable of when you should EOD.

[Dr.Andromeda]

DP23 My recruiter last week told me that if "all goes well" I should EOD this autumn/winter.

[JJ221]

Deleted...

[DP23]

JJ221 Thanks, that's where I come from so you can understand my confusion. In that case if hired I will select Lukeville over Nogales.

[N.N.]

Anyone else having trouble logging into CASS today? I go thru all the sign in steps then it just takes me back to the first login page :/

[cs333]

Nah mines working maybe you need an update

[N.N.]

Ahh looks like it’s working now, I just started getting a bit concerned when it didn’t work for like 3-4 hours lol.

[Hal29]

They are hiring for Nogales, Lukeville and Douglas. Along with one or two other places in Arizona. I selected nogales.

[N.N.]

Has anyone confirmed that you can be offered anything within the 100m zone for Direct Hire? All I’ve heard is Direct Hire is “Southern Border only”, but if it’s 100 miles, that could include places like Houston.

[DP23]

Southern border includes AZ, New Mexico, Texas & California but I believe for Texas Laredo is the main one with openings.

[merlin436]

@DP23

There is no 100 mile rule for OFO hiring.

[DP23]

Oh really? Sweet!!!

[DP23]

Double post!!!

[Dr.Andromeda]

Deleted!!!!!!!!

[DP23]

Oh ok so not much longer hopefully. I haven't seen your timeline but I can only assume I'm not that much behind you.

[Dr.Andromeda]

Good Sunday Morning everyone. I trust we're all doing well. Just wanted to update my timeline and make it a current post. Can't wait to run into y'all either at FLETC or somewhere else. Networking is key, remember that.

[gaston]

Been 2 months since I emailed further medical information for medical review. Can anyone comment on whether this is average, below average, etc, in the amount of time until a decision is made? Anyone with similar experience.

Thanks

[cs333]

Alexr3496 idk i was told until my med is cleared i won't be scheduled hopefully thats not the case

[gaston]

All good information. I appreciate it. So i guess i will just hurry up and wait.

[dawoobie]

I'm in the same boat as Alexr3496. Medical is still not cleared after submitting additional info the end of June. Have since taken and passed the poly, taken drug test, and recertified e-QIP.

[Dcherise18088]

Going on 13 weeks since submission for me.