Border Patrol Agent

[EnforceTheLawBro]

Has anyone applying for BPA received a NOPA? (Notice Of Proposed Action). I received one for marijuana usage that was over 6 years ago, while I was in high school. I currently work for a county jail and have a bachelors degree, no other arrests, or detains. I was wondering if anyone has had the same experience, and what was the outcome of that? Thanks in advance.

[Dyno93]

HonorFirst has a good write up on NOPA’s and how to respond to them. You should check there,if you articulate why you won’t do it again and present a case you should be okay. A lot of people get NOPA.

[EnforceTheLawBro]

Is there any upcoming dates for FLETC for BPA that you guys know of?

[Mf821]

I believe it's every 2 weeks a class starts.

[BG12345]

[barddy]

18-8 GS-7 applicant, received a vacancy notification and "have been tentatively selected to begin the pre-employment process for the position of Border Patrol Agent". I am graduating with my BA in December, and am just wondering if there any sort of timeline I should be expecting? I only ask as I am on various amounts of exam lists here in NY.

[NC/336-SSUD]

I just applied to a BPA announcement. Ive been through the whole hiring process for the USSS UD and waiting on a call from them, but I am really interested in the Border Patrol. Does anyone know if the process will move quicker because I have already had a polygraph and a background investigation done by the Secret Service?

[battlewagon]

I just applied to a BPA announcement. Ive been through the whole hiring process for the USSS UD and waiting on a call from them, but I am really interested in the Border Patrol. Does anyone know if the process will move quicker because I have already had a polygraph and a background investigation done by the Secret Service?

If you have a favorably adjudicated polygraph with another federal agencies, you can apply for a polygraph waiver when you get to that step with the Border Patrol. However, BP will still conduct its own background. Good news for you is your eQip will be the same so you wont have to do much work there.

[NC/336-SSUD]

Typically how long is the process for Border Patrol?

[FederalHopeful]

Mine took 10 months from application to academy. It is different for everyone

[battlewagon]

I believe the current estimates from the agency are 5/6 months up to 11. Though the lower end is unlikely, many of my friends who went through managed to get to the end of the process right under a year. If you BI goes quickly and you don't have any 'medical issues' or followups needed, you will be at job offer pretty quick.

[mxxdude]

Quick question, I am getting reading to apply to one of the VRA announcements for BPA and I was wondering if I would qualify for the GS-9 grade.

I am currently a GS-6 step 2 with CBP in an 1802 series, I will be finishing up my BA in Criminal Justice with SAA, and I am a 5 point Vet. However I was only a reservist (Army Corrections and Detention) with a year deployment to Guantanamo Bay. Im basing my year of specialized experience on what i did in Cuba (Detainee Ops). I would be fine taking the GS-7 obviously but I'm wondering if i should just apply for the 9 and if I don't qualify then apply for the 7? Or just apply for both announcements? Thanks

[battlewagon]

Apply both.

[mxxdude]

Thanks, your info has been good reference when I am browsing these forums. So I assume I apply under both announcements and then follow the rest of the announcement to whichever one i am eligible for?

[battlewagon]

They will determine your eligibility for both announcements. If you are found eligible for the 9, you'd be found eligible for the lesser as well. But in case they dont find you eligible for the 9, youll still move forward on the 5/7

[J2H]

VRA applicants can get up to GS-11 as long as they meet the experience requirements

[Exbpa340]

VRA applicants can get up to GS-11 as long as they meet the experience requirements

By policy VRA appointments can be made up to GS 11 but under BPA VRA announcements the maximum grade is GL 9.

[Indians56]

Does anyone know if there are plans to expand the polygraph waiver for Veterans? From what I hear, there was a bill for it, but wound up getting stalled in the House. Any developments?

[hexen220]

that would be nice because i'm doing my second poly next week :/

[lrjackson]

Is credit score a large determining factor? Also does state certified officers get any preference or does it even matter?

[BPRIO]

If you have collection accounts, start paying on them. Even if it's minimal payments. Show you have a plan to get out on whatever credit issues you may have, it will pay dividends during the adjudication process.

[battlewagon]

Is credit score a large determining factor? Also does state certified officers get any preference or does it even matter?

If you have a 410 with accounts in collection and defaulted accounts and a bankruptcy, yeah, that will be an issue. However a low credit score with no derogatory remarks is fine. Remember, there are plenty of 18 and 19 year olds appyling who probably have sub 600 scores simply because they dont have a history of credit, but they don't have derogatory issues.

You get no preference other than being eligible for a higher starting pay, GL7 or GL9

[LEO 1234]

What about a voluntary car repo and two credit cards accounts show up as closed

[hexen220]

i had my 2nd polygraph today which was pretty much the same thing as the 1st one, i'm getting sick of this

[MIRACLE]

Does anyone happen to know if the BP entrance exam has changed recently?

[JJ221]

It may have. According to the latest job announcement, test scores prior to August 5, 2018, are no longer valid. Also states "A new entrance examination will be in effect with this announcement. All applicants applying to this announcement must take the new entrance examination, regardless of whether you passed or failed in the last six months."

[KJB]

So I applied for BPA under VRA GL9 18-12, I got an email this morning from USAStaffingOffice saying I was referred and tentatively selected for Border Patrol Agent GL-1896-9. So I go and fill out the onboarding stuff, go back to check my USAJobs and it says I was Not Referred.

I look at my CBPO VRA GS9 18-12 and despite getting an almost identical email, applying the same day with the same resume, it say I was selected. What the heck.