Border Patrol Agent

[Sink123]

Is it true you can only travel 100 miles away on the weekends? I am suppose to be in a wedding during the same time frame I’m in the academy and want to give him a heads up if he needs to find another best man.

[DiverB72]

Just get approval from academy staff, which means you will have to request it in the form of writing a memo. Be advised if you are late getting back to the academy due to weather, aircraft issues, ect, you risk missing too much training and possibly getting recycled.

[Gh3isT]

Good afternoon everyone. Long time lurker and its been a long time since I have updated any progress. I was originally 19-5 VRA, currently 19-8 VRA. Just had my polygraph today. Got a verbal pass, so here's hoping the rest goes smoothly. As far as locations go I have been really contemplating Laredo West, anyone have any insight on that location or any suggestions on locations would be greatly appreciated. I'm currently a K-9 officer and if all goes well and I begin my career with BPA I also plan on trying to do K-9 with BPA in the future if anyone has any insight on that as well. Well to everyone good luck, as I am going back to hurrying up and waiting!

[Gh3isT]

battlewagon thanks for the quick reply and insight. I really appreciate it. Hopefully when/and if I get the call I'll see what is offered. Mainly picked Laredo because I've been itching to move to Texas for some years now and also a former co-worker of mine is out that way, he kind of put the bug in my ear to join up. Just mainly trying to figure out which location would suit me, from what I hear, correct me if I'm wrong; I should expect to stay at my first station for probably 8-10 years?

[battlewagon]

You should be committed to it for a while. Yes you will be there for a while. Most people from South Texas consider Laredo a undesirable, I've never met someone who wasn't from Laredo who lived there for whatever reason and said 'i enjoyed it' or they liked it. The Rio grande valley would be much more desirable in my opinon. McAllen, etc. But that's just my two cents and experience, don't take it as gospel.

[Gh3isT]

Thanks again. Will definitely look into those locations as well.

[SHU]

I believe Laredo West is known as the Death Star.

[TsFost]

Got the call this morning for a GL9 position. After going over the list of locations for the day I called back and left a message with the information needed. Chose Brown Field CA for my duty location. I have one question though. If OFO calls me and offers me a better location at a GS9 pay rate that I was in the process for would there be any huge negative in accepting it and calling BP back to decline the final offer? I don't want to be suddenly black listed or anything. Although the chances of taking OFO over BP isn't huge.

[SHU]

Got the call this morning for a GL9 position. After going over the list of locations for the day I called back and left a message with the information needed. Chose Brown Field CA for my duty location. I have one question though. If OFO calls me and offers me a better location at a GS9 pay rate that I was in the process for would there be any huge negative in accepting it and calling BP back to decline the final offer? I don't want to be suddenly black listed or anything. Although the chances of taking OFO over BP isn't huge.

Hell no. Take the best location and quality of life you can get for yourself and your family. Nobody is getting their feelings hurt. Its just business. Good Luck

[TsFost]

CBP called me back today and asked if I would still like an offer from OFO. I said yes, so they said they would relay that and hopefully i'd get a call from them today. BP offer is on hold until I get a final offer from OFO to make a choice. Wish my phone would ring

[battlewagon]

Did they tell you that your BP could be put on hold? As far as I understand it they're pretty hardcore about the 48 hours to accept and decide a location, take it or leave it. The ideal thing to do would be accept the BP offer formally, and get an EOD date as far out as possible to give customs time to call you.

My good friend did this exact same thing with BP calling first, but he knew he was likely going to get a call for AMO. So he accepted the BP offer and got an EOD like 2.5 months away to give AMO a chance to call him.. they eventually did and he took it and backed out of his BP offer. It's no hard feelings on their end, they know that many candidates are in the process for multiple CBP components

[Buck_Macdonald]

While watching some of the intro vids to the CBP stuff I'm watching them jog like 4-5 miles and doing hundreds of crunches and push-ups all in one go.

Is there any chance I'll get booted from the academy? I consider myself to be in better shape then the random civvie but it ways heavy on my mind that I spent close to 12 months through the entire process only to get booted for not being like some of these younger guys who can do a 2 mile sprint and then 100 push-ups and 100 sit-ups without breaking a sweat...

for reference I've found to graduate, trainees must successfully meet the following Fitness Graduation Standards:
220 yard run in 45 seconds or less; 24 or more push-ups in one minute; and completion of a 1.5 mile run in 15 minutes or less.

But no minimum standards that Trainees must meet to start out with or meet on a monthly/Bi monthly basis like National Guard. All I've found is that you need to meet the standards by graduations and to have passed the PFT1 during the hiring process.

[battlewagon]

The only way you can be booted is if you quit. There will undoubtedly be extremely overweight people in your class. Remember, the PFT2 now is either not administered at all or is participation, you can't fail.

You will definitely have 8:30 1.5 mile studs in your class, and you will have people dying during the warmups. As long as you pass the standards on the tests that matter, otherwise, you can't be removed unless you quit. And by quit I mean you actually say "I quit" or you figuratively quit by refusing to train.

[Exbpa340]

Just an FYI... my son is currently at the academy and supposedly you can get sent to the med shed if you reach muscle failure (or for any injury). Ten med shed visits and you’re gone.

[SHU]

You can fail to complete just about everything in PT (except staking drills) but pass the final PT test and graduate. Or at least that was the case when I went through it but that was over a decade ago.

If you fail to keep up during PT you will be singled out and humiliated on a daily basis. It ain't pretty. PT can be a stress reduction class or stress overload on you. Your level of fitness will determine which it is for you. Don't worry about what anyone else can do. You only need to worry about what you need to do.

[Jgonz383]

Buck_Macdonald I’m about to graduate the academy and one thing I’ll tell you is that if you get hurt to the point where you’ll miss days of training you’ll get recycled. And to pass the 1 1/2 mile it’s 13:00 and under. 13:01 is failing. Had a guy in my class who started out at a 21 min mile and a half and passed it at 12 min during the final.

[Ebbo1227]

Good Morning, everyone, I am going through the hiring process of Border Patrol Agent. I received an email from my polygraph examiner this past Friday that quality control passes my polygraph and it also updated on CASS that I pass the polygraph. The last two process left for me on CASS is the Background and Drug. I signed the Provisional Clear, My question is how does that process work with the background investigation?
Do they just run a quick background to get it checked on CASS to enter the Academy, while they run the full background check? or Do the full background has to be run before we can go to the Academy? Because from my understanding the Provisional Clear lets you get hired quicker.
The whole background and the Provisional Clear process confuses me, Thank you

[battlewagon]

Good Morning, everyone, I am going through the hiring process of Border Patrol Agent. I received an email from my polygraph examiner this past Friday that quality control passes my polygraph and it also updated on CASS that I pass the polygraph. The last two process left for me on CASS is the Background and Drug. I signed the Provisional Clear, My question is how does that process work with the background investigation?
Do they just run a quick background to get it checked on CASS to enter the Academy, while they run the full background check? or Do the full background has to be run before we can go to the Academy? Because from my understanding the Provisional Clear lets you get hired quicker.
The whole background and the Provisional Clear process confuses me, Thank you

I don't know if the provisional shows as checked in CASS but to answer your question, yes, they do a preliminary sort of background. If they feel like you most likely will have a favorably adjudicated BI based on what they see, they issue the preliminary and you are eligible to be hired, EOD, and go to academy. It is indeed faster, as the full BI can take a while, so they let finish it up while you're at the academy, hopefully.

Once you complete your drug test, a call is likely around the near corner. Good luck.

[Ebbo1227]

Thank you. Do you have an idea how long it might take to hear from my investigator from when I received the email that I passed the polygraph which was October 11?
Thank you.

[David1984]

Ebbo1227 for me since I’m in the process for CBPO about a month. They will first email to re-certify your e-qip and then you will will get contacted by your background investigator.

[Gh3isT]

Almost at the finish line. I'm in the same boat. Just received my official email stating I passed the poly and CASS updated to 63% yesterday.

[Ebbo1227]

On my BPA CASS App went back to 50% from 63%. My e-QIP went from saying completed with a check back to in progress. Anyone knows if this is normal?

[Scrabulous]

Good day all. As of yesterday, 16 Oct 19, I completed and passed all the steps for BPA VRA GL9 19-11. It was a very speedy process. I am waiting for my BPA PFT-1 results to reflect in my application status and hopefully a call with an offer soon.

Here's my timeline:

27 Aug 19 - Applied
4 Sep 19 - Received selection notification
10 Sep 19 - Submitted polygraph waiver request
17 Sep 19 - Structured interview and fingerprinted
21 Sep 19 - Submitted e-QIP (previously kicked back twice for minor corrections)
24 Sep 19 - Received notification e-QIP submitted to OPR
24 Sep 19 - Received approved polygraph waiver request
24 Sep 19 - Medical screening
8 Oct 19 - Drug Screening
16 Oct 19 - PFT-1

When I received notification my e-QIP was submitted to OPR on 24 Sep 19, approximately two days later, 26 Sep 19, my application status showed my Background Investigation as completed: "You were found suitable for employment with CBP". I DID NOT elect to EOD under a provisional clear status. I currently hold a TS/SCI with the Air Force. My clearance was renewed and adjudicated in the beginning of 2019. Is CBP still conducting my BI? Will I wait a bit to receive a call for an offer?

Thank you. Any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out.

[showtime15]

I had the same thing happen with the background investigation - I too hold an active TS/SCI from the Air Force. Took a bit longer for me to get the green check mark, but they only ran my credit - never did a full investigation. I EOD to OFO in 2 months.

[Scrabulous]

Thanks for the information.

I’m in the process with CPBO VRA GS9 20-1. I have to schedule the PFT-1. I’m surprised the BPA PFT-1 doesn’t carry over to the CBPO. Smh.

[RGVmore]

Good afternoon everyone I have received an email from IA HQ-Contractors which states this:

During the course of
your background investigation, derogatory information was identified. This letter notifies you
that we propose to find you ineligible for employment in a National Security Position and/or
unsuitable for Federal employment. Based on this determination, CBP proposes to withdraw its
tentative offer of employment.

Before a final decision is rendered, you are afforded the opportunity to provide a written
response that explains, refutes, clarifies, and/or mitigates the information that has raised a
question as to your eligibility for employment in a National Security Position and/or Suitability
for Federal employment. Any written reply to this proposal must be received by the addressee
listed below no later than 15 calendar days after the date of this letter. Your reply may include
documentation and/or affidavits in support of your explanation. If you fail to respond to this
letter within the allotted time or fail to comply with the instructions as stated herein, a final
determination as to your eligibility for employment in a National Security Position and/or
Suitability for Federal employment will be made based on the information available.

The information that I am supposed to provide is in regards to relatives that are illegally in the U.S., according to the email I am supposed to provide information as to what contact do I have with them as well why was i terminated from a previous job i had almost 5 years ago. I have not met with the BI, do any of you guys know if I will be taken off the BPA Application process because I have relatives that are illegally here ? Anyone familiar with this type of email? Or do I still have a chance continuing with the process? any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Levithane]

The previous job thing isn't a huge issue as long as you're upfront about it. The relatives who are illegally here will most likely be what makes you unsuitable. If this was for any other position, and you weren't enforcing immigration laws, depending on your answers it could be adjudicated.

[battlewagon]

You can't be held accountable for your third cousin who is here illegally who lives three states over. End of the day no one here can answer your question, reply and see what happens

[RGVmore]

Levithane, battlewagon thank you all for your insight, hopefully I pass the BI and am given a chance.

[Scrabulous]

Since CBP is adopting Glock 47, has the academy started training with the new Glock? Will the academy issue agents with the duty Glock at graduation or will it be issued in the field?

[Klumper23]

It is not at the academy yet. From what I have heard (which is just from the rumor mill) is that the northern border will start to receive the new glocks in January and it will trickle down to the southern border.

[RGVmore]

Good afternoon everyone So I responded to the email I received last Thursday from IA HQ-Contractors in regards to the NOPA, and they said they will respond me as soon as possible with a final decision, but today I received an email stating i have been assigned another case manager and requesting me to re certify my E-qip. Has this happened to anyone? Does it mean I continue with the hiring process? or should I still wait an email from NOPA?

[Ebbo1227]

I also received an email last week that due to internal office organizational changes the HR professional currently working on my background investigation paperwork has changed. And they asked me to recertify my e-QIP., I did that last week Thursday and I submit it.

[Scrabulous]

I received a voicemail at 12:59 this afternoon with a final offer of employment. I received an e-mail as well. Waiting on a return call to find out offered locations.

[Gh3isT]

I know this question has been beaten to death, I will admit am lazy to browse through the 600+ pages, so figured I would ask away. How long after getting confirmation on passing poly do you scheduled for the drug test? Or is it just hurry up and wait again? Just anxious is all. Thanks in advance for answering this question probably for the 1000th time.