kandidatu USA

Customs and Border Protection Officer

Customs and Border Protection · Department of Homeland Security

This job in plain English

CBP Officers enforce customs, immigration, and agriculture laws at U.S. borders, seaports, and airports, for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This is a permanent, full-time law enforcement job with many vacancies nationwide, and it may include rotating shifts, overtime, and occasional travel. It is a direct hire announcement, and the job is represented by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU).

Many vacancies in CBPO Nationwide

Can you apply?

Yes, if you are a U.S. citizen: this job is open to everyone.

  • VeteransPeople who served on active duty and left under honorable conditions, through the veterans' hiring authorities (VEOA, VRA, 30% disabled veterans).
  • Open to everyoneAny U.S. citizen or national can apply. Some jobs also accept non-citizens; the announcement says so.
  • Displaced federal employeesFederal employees who lost or are losing their job through a reduction in force (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).

Other groups listed above may get extra consideration, for example veterans' preference.

The job is open to the public, but you must be a U.S. citizen, national, or someone who owes allegiance to the U.S. Federal employees eligible under career transition programs and veterans or certain military spouses may also apply, and there is an age limit of 40 unless an exception applies.

What you would do

  • Enforce customs, immigration, and agriculture laws and regulations.
  • Inspect people and the vehicles or transport they arrive in.
  • Decide whether people may legally enter the United States.
  • Prevent illegal entry, drug smuggling, and prohibited goods.
  • Enforce the flow of legitimate trade and travel.

Do you qualify for GS-5 to GS-9 (up to GS-12)?

With experience: For GS-5, you need 3 years of general experience dealing with people, with 1 year at GS-4 level or higher. For GS-7 and GS-9, you need 1 year of specialized experience at the next lower grade, such as inspecting people, documents, or goods for crime, or detaining or arresting violators.

With education: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college can qualify you for GS-5. For GS-7, you can use a bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement (GPA of 3.0 or higher, high class standing, or honor society membership) or one full year of graduate study. For GS-9, you can use a master's or higher degree, two or more years of graduate study toward one, or a law degree (LL.B. or J.D.), or a combination of experience and graduate study beyond the first 18 semester hours.

Licenses and certifications you need:

  • Valid driver's license with no legal restrictions, needed to operate a government vehicle

How to apply well

What to send:

  • Resume up to two pages, uploaded under the Resume document type
  • Resume must show full legal name, phone number, work history, and dates in MM/DD/YYYY format
  • Resume must show hours worked per week for each job
  • Current or former federal employees should list grade and step on resume and submit SF-50 forms
  • College transcript if you qualify through education, unofficial is acceptable now
  • SF-50 for federal experience, recommended
  • DD-214 and SF-15 if you claim veterans' preference
  • SF-50s showing law enforcement retirement code if claiming an age waiver through federal law enforcement service
  • Separation notice, latest performance rating, and SF-50 if claiming CTAP or ICTAP priority

How you will be rated: Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are reviewed based on their application materials, and veterans' preference and traditional ranking do not apply. Missing required information may result in an ineligible rating or a lower rating, and you must pass all pre-employment steps before a final offer. The four essay questions in the questionnaire are optional and not scored, and you must certify that your answers are your own words and not from a consultant or AI tool.

Tips for this job:

  • Keep your resume to two pages or less, because longer resumes are removed from consideration.
  • For each job, list exact dates in MM/DD/YYYY format and hours worked per week, or that experience may not count.
  • If you qualify through education, upload a transcript showing the degree and dates from an accredited school.

Good to know before you apply

Schedule: Full-time, may include rotating shifts, assignments, and regular recurring overtime. Occasional travel may be expected. A fully trained officer may earn up to $45,000 in overtime pay.

Incentives and relocation: New officers who choose a prioritized duty location at final offer may be offered up to $15,000 per year with a three-year or four-year service contract.

Conditions of employment:

  • U.S. citizenship required
  • Must meet initial and continuing firearm qualifications and firearm eligibility rules
  • Must have lived in the U.S. for at least 3 of the last 5 years, unless an exception applies
  • Polygraph exam with favorable results
  • CBP Officer Entrance Exam for GS-5 and GS-7 selections
  • Medical screening to confirm you can do the job
  • Drug test
  • Pre-employment fitness test
  • Structured interview
  • Tier 5 background investigation
  • 103 days of training at FLETC in Glynco, Georgia
  • One-year probationary period
  • Wear an approved uniform and follow grooming standards
  • Age limit of 40 unless an exception applies
  • Certain duty locations may require Spanish training
  • Mandatory retirement under special law enforcement retirement rules

We wrote this summary automatically from the official announcement. The announcement on USAJOBS is the only one that counts: read it before you apply.

Job details

Salary
$41,863 – $127,464 per year
Pay scale and grade
GS-5 to GS-9 (up to GS-12) · General Schedule
Location
CBPO Nationwide
Appointment
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Openings
Many
Security clearance
Not Required
Travel
Occasional travel
Drug test
Not required
Supervisory
No
Occupation
Customs And Border Protection (1895)
Announcement
CBPO DH 27-2

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