Discover a challenging and rewarding career with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the sole organization responsible for securing the nation's borders. CBP employees protect our Nation's borders from terrorism, human and drug smuggling, illegal migration, and agricultural pests while simultaneously facilitating the flow of legitimate travel and trade.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling on those who want to help protect American interests and secure our Nation. DHS Components work collectively to prevent terrorism; secure borders and our transportation systems; protect the President and other dignitaries; enforce and administer immigration laws; safeguard cyberspace; and ensure resilience to disasters. We achieve these vital missions through a diverse workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS.

The video: Securing America's Ports of Entry emphasizes the importance of CBP Field Operations' frontline role in helping CBP accomplish its mission. For more information on CBP's mission, activities, and careers, please visit our website at CBP.gov.

Being a Customs and Border Protection Officer makes you a valuable member of the Federal Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) profession. Typical assignments include:

• Enforcing customs, immigration, and agriculture law and regulations;
• Facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel;
• Conducting inspections of individuals and conveyances;
• Determining the admissibility of individuals for entry into the United States; and
• Preventing the illegal entry of individuals and prohibited good and the smuggling of illegal drugs and other contraband

Conditions of employment

• You must successfully pass a polygraph examination
• You must successfully pass a background investigation
• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position
• Referred for selection prior to your 40th birthday (waiver for Veterans)
• Convictions of misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are disqualifying
• You will be required to carry a firearm
• You will be required to work regular and recurring shift work
• You must have resided in the U.S. for the last 3 years
• You must meet job-related medical, fitness and drug-testing standards
• You must have a valid driver's license

This is an Excepted Service appointment. After successfully completing 2 years of service, you will be converted to the competitive service.

Firearm Proficiency: Firearm proficiency is required for all CBP Officers and is part of the training provided.

Current Federal Employees:  Current federal employees who apply to this announcement may be required to accept a change to lower grade which will reduce their current salary based on Federal pay regulations. Note: If you are a current GS-12 step 1, your salary may be reduced to a GS-5 step 10, which equates to an approximate $29,961 salary reduction (based on locality). Re-promotion is not guaranteed. Timeframes and grade level re-promotion is at the discretion of the agency.

Formal Training: You will complete a paid pre-academy orientation for approximately 30 days at their home port prior to attending the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) for approximately 17 - 19 weeks at Glynco, GA. Candidates selected for duty locations where they are required to be proficient in reading, writing and speaking Spanish will be required to either pass a Spanish language proficiency examination or attend a 6-week long Spanish immersion class at FLETC.

Uniform: This position requires wearing an officially approved uniform while in a duty status.

Shift Work/Overtime: You must be willing and available to work rotating shifts. You may also be rotated between assignments and work units. You may be required to work overtime on a regular and recurring basis. Fully trained officers may be compensated up to $45,000 in overtime in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Residency Requirement: To be considered for this position, an applicant must meet the residency requirement for three years before his or her application by:

1. Residing within the United States or its protectorate or territories; or
2. Working for the U.S. government as an overseas Federal or military employee; or
3. Being a dependent of a U.S. Federal or military employee serving overseas

Exceptions may be granted if you provide complete state-side coverage information regarding participation in "Study Abroad" programs, overseas church missions, or state-side addresses of anyone who worked or studied with you overseas. You must provide information and related documentation during the hiring process.

All agency employees are required to participate in Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer for salary payments.

Qualifications

The qualification requirements listed below must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

You qualify for the GS-5 grade level (starting salary $33,394 up to $78,394 with potential overtime) if your supporting documentation shows you possess one of the following:

   a.   Minimum of 3 years full-time general work experience that demonstrates the ability to meet and deal with people and the ability to learn and apply a body of facts; OR

   b.   A bachelor's degree or successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree, in an accredited college or university; OR

   c.   Will receive a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university within 9 months from the closing date of this announcement and will upload all official or unofficial transcripts before the closing date of this announcement; OR

   d.   A combination of successfully completed college education AND general work experience. This will be calculated using your resume and official or unofficial college transcripts submitted with your application.

You qualify for the GS-7 grade level (starting salary $41,365-$86,365 with potential overtime) if your supporting documentation shows you possess one of the following:

   a.   Minimum of 1 year of specialized full-time work experience that entails performance of  substantive duties in inspections work at borders, seaports, airports or other ports of entry and/or work involving preliminary screening of persons for entry and immigration status, or compliance/regulatory work; OR

   b.   A bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement, which is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average (ie. GPA of 3.0 or higher of a possible 4.0), or (3) honor society membership; OR

   c.   One full year of graduate level education (equivalent to 18 semester of 27 quarter hours) in a field of study related to law enforcement (e.g., criminology, criminal justice, law enforcement, courts and judicial systems, corrections and rehabilitation, justice studies, homeland security, forensic technology and forensic psychology) at an accredited or pre-accredited college or university; OR

   d.   Will receive a bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement or one full year of graduate level education in a field related to law enforcement (e.g., criminal justice, homeland security, justice studies, law enforcement, courts and judicial systems, forensic technology, or corrections and rehabilitation) from an accredited college or university within 9 months from the closing date of this announcement and will upload all official or unofficial transcripts before the closing date of this announcement; OR

   e.   A combination of graduate level education completed in a field of study related to law enforcement (e.g., criminology, criminal justice, law enforcement, courts and judicial systems, corrections and rehabilitation, justice studies, homeland security, forensic technology and forensic psychology) at an accredited college or university AND specialized work experience. This will be calculated using your resume and official or unofficial transcripts submitted with your application.

To be eligible for overtime, employees must be fully trained.

If you have previous or current law enforcement or military law enforcement experience, you may qualify at the GS-9 grade level.  Please refer to the CBPO VRA GS-9 announcement here.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Age Requirement: Effective May 14, 2016, the Commissioner of CBP has approved a temporary increase in the maximum allowable age for original placement into a CBPO position; therefore, candidates must be referred for selection before reaching their 40th birthday. In accordance with Public Law 110-161, this position is covered under enhanced retirement provisions. However, the age restriction may not apply if you are currently serving or have previously served in a federal civilian law enforcement (non-military) position covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or Title 5 U.S.C. 8412(d). This measure will increase the statutorily mandatory retirement to an age of up to 60 to allow individuals the opportunity to complete 20 years of Enhanced Customs and Border Protection service (See U.S.C 8425 (b)(1) and 8335 (b)(1)). The age restriction does not apply if you are a veterans' preference eligible. For more information on eligibility as a veterans' preference eligible please see the OPM veterans' guide.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on your passing the CBP Officer Entrance Examination score (external Assessments), resume, supporting documents, and responses to the job questionnaire.

The entrance exam (external assessment) contains the following four (4) assessments: Logical Reasoning Skills, Arithmetic Reasoning Skills, Writing Skills and CBP Officer Experience Record. To be eligible, applicants must pass the exam with a score of at least 70. Proper test preparation is essential for the successful candidate; therefore, we strongly encourage you to review the entry-level CBP Officer Study Guides. Test scores prior to August 8, 2016, are no longer valid. You should take the CBP Officer Entrance Exam Pre-test (sample entrance exam). The pre-test will give you a preview of the types of questions you can expect to see on the actual entrance exam. You will not be able to retake the exam for six months regardless of whether you pass or fail.

Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990, as amended, that would interfere with completing the CBP Officer Entrance Exam, click here for more information about the request process: Reasonable Accommodations Request Process. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the CBP Officer Entrance Exam must be received before the announcement closes to be considered for this job opening. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. After notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the CBP Officer Entrance Exam.

If you pass the entrance exam and meet minimum qualifications, you will be considered as follows:

1. Eligible applicants are considered as defined by 5 CFR 302.304(b).
2. Each qualified 10-point preference eligible who has a 10 percent or more compensable, service-connected disability is first, followed second by other 10-point preference eligible, and third, by 5-point preference eligible and last, by non-preference eligible.