Customs and Border Protection Officer

Summary

U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP): Securing America's Borders Discover a challenging and rewarding career with the sole organization responsible for securing the nation's borders from terrorism, human/drug smuggling, illegal migration, agricultural pests, and enforcing legitimate travel and trade. CBP employees demonstrate the highest level of commitment to exemplify the core values of Vigilance, Service to Country and Integrity. Learn more at https://www.cbp.gov/about

Duties

• 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; Enforcing 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 goods and the smuggling of illegal drugs and other contraband Want to speak to an actual Officer? Click here to contact one of our recruiters! They are ready to assist you from application to your start date. Salary: Selections from this announcement will be at the GS-5 or GS-7 grade levels with promotion potential to GS-9, GS-11 and GS-12. Promotions are not guaranteed and are at the discretion of the agency. Your pay will be determined after you successfully complete all pre-employment processes. Pay rates are based on the 2026 OPM Salary Tables - these tables do not take into consideration any potential overtime earnings, recruitment incentives, location incentives or yearly cost of living increases. Duty Locations: You will be asked to select your preferred location for one of the following mission critical locations: Douglas, Lukeville, Nogales and San Luis, AZ; Andrade, Calexico, Los Angeles, Otay Mesa, San Francisco, San Ysidro, and Tecate, CA; Miami, FL; Honolulu, HI; Calais, Eastport, Houlton, Jackman, Madawaska, Van Buren, and Vanceboro, ME; Detroit, MI; Grand Portage and International Falls, MN; Raymond, Roosville, Sweetgrass, and Wild Horse, MT; Columbus, NM; Alexandria Bay, Buffalo, Champlain, Massena, and Ogdensburg, NY; Dunseith, Maida, Pembina, and Portal, ND; Philadelphia, PA; Eagle Pass, Presidio, and Tornillo, TX; Beecher Falls, Derby Line, Highgate Springs, Norton, and Richford, VT; Blaine, Oroville, and Sumas, WA. NOTE: The above preference locations are expected to have vacancies available in the future, however, if the duty locations do not have vacancies at the time of your final offer, you may be offered a duty location in another geographic location within the United States. Locations offered at the time of your final offer are based on operational and mission requirements as determined by the CBP Office of Field Operations. This announcement is open to the public to attract new entry-level applicants. Current CBP Officers looking for lateral opportunities within the Office of Field Operations should apply under the National Reassignment Opportunity Bulletin (NROB), Lateral Reassignment Opportunity Bulletin (LROB) and/or other reassignment opportunities identified in the National Collective Bargaining Agreement (NCBA). **Recruitment Incentive** Newly appointed Customs and Border Protection Officers will be offered up to a $15,000 incentive per year, for a three-year service contract, in the following locations: Arizona: Douglas, Lukeville, Nogales, San Luis California: Calexico Hawaii: Honolulu Maine: Calais, Eastport, Houlton, Jackman, Madawaska, Van Buren, Vanceboro Michigan: Detroit, Port Huron, Sault Sainte Marie Minnesota: Grand Portage, International Falls Montana: Raymond, Sweetgrass New York: Alexandria Bay, Champlain, Massena, Trout River North Dakota: Dunseith, Portal Vermont: Beecher Falls, Derby Line, Highgate Springs, Norton, Richford Washington: Blaine, Oroville **Recruitment Incentive** Newly appointed Customs and Border Protection Officers will be offered up to a $15,000 incentive per year, for a four-year service contract, in the following locations: California: Otay Mesa, San Francisco, San Ysidro, Tecate Florida: Key West North Dakota: Pembina Texas: Presidio Bargaining Unit: This position is covered under the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU). For more information, please visit https://www.nteu.org/who-we-are/what-we-do Firearm Proficiency: This position requires you to carry a firearm. Firearm proficiency is required for all CBP Officers and is part of the training provided.

Qualifications

Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement. You qualify for the GS-5 grade level if you possess one of the following: Experience: A minimum of 3 years of general experience, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least GS-4, performing duties that required the ability to meet and deal with people and the ability to learn and be able to apply a body of facts; OR Education Substitution: A conferred bachelor's degree or successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; OR Combination of Experience and Education: A combination of general experience AND successfully completed college education. This will be calculated using your resume and official or unofficial transcripts submitted with your application. You qualify for the GS-7 grade level if you possess one of the following: Experience: A minimum of 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, that includes: Performing physical inspections of persons, documents or goods for criminal activity, fraud, and/or illegal operations. Utilizing observational techniques, evaluating facts, and reviewing documentation while applying Federal, State, or local laws and regulations. Making determinations in compliance with laws and regulations that may lead to arrests, seizure of property, fines, and/or penalties based on findings. The above experience will be applied in connection with the CBPO Individual Occupational Requirement: Performing 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. Education Substitution: A conferred bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement, which is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average (i.e., GPA of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0), or (3) honor society membership. Submitted transcripts must show the applicant does not have more than 10% pass/fail courses in order to qualify for SAA with GPA. Go to Superior Academic Achievement to see if you qualify under this provision; OR Successful completion of one full year of graduate level education from an accredited college or university; OR Combination of Experience and Education: A combination of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level AND successfully completed graduate level education. This will be calculated using your resume and official or unofficial transcripts submitted with your application. More information on the qualifications can be found on our CBP.gov CBP Officer Qualifications Aid If you have previous or current law enforcement or military law enforcement experience, you may qualify at the GS-9 grade level - Apply Here! National Service 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. Experience as a CBP Explorer may be qualifying if your resume provides sufficient information to credit your experience. To receive full credit for your experience, please be sure to describe your duties, roles and responsibilities in detail. Background Investigation: This position is a sensitive National Security position and, upon selection, applicants will be required to undergo, and must successfully pass, a Tier 5 investigation or equivalent for placement and retention. For more information, please see the Hiring Process Deep Dive Video: The Background Investigation. Uniform/Grooming Standards: While in a duty status, this position requires wearing an officially approved uniform and complying with established grooming standards.

Requirements

All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English. Polygraph Examination: You will be required to undergo a polygraph exam and must have favorable results in order to continue in the process. For more information, see Polygraph Examination. NOTE: CBP may accept the results of a prior federal polygraph exam in lieu of a CBP polygraph exam. Certain veterans may be eligible for a polygraph waiver. Formal Training: You will be detailed to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, GA, for 103-days of intensive instruction in basic law enforcement skills, immigration laws, etc. Candidates assigned to certain duty locations may be required to pass a Spanish training program. For more information, please visit CBP Field Operations Academy. Successful completion of the academy is required for this position. Age Requirement: In accordance with Public Law 110-161, this position is covered under enhanced retirement provisions. Candidates must be referred for selection to this position before their 40th birthday in accordance with DHS Directive 251-03. 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). The age restriction does not apply if you are a Veterans' Preference eligible. Firearm Requirement: This position requires that the incumbent meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996. An applicant whose background includes any of the following will be ineligible for consideration: 1) convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year; 2) has any outstanding warrants or is a fugitive from justice; 3) unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; 4) adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution; 5) illegally or unlawfully in the United States; 6) renounced U. S. citizenship; 7) subject to a court-ordered restraining (protection) order from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner (spouse, former spouse, parent of applicant's child, individual who cohabitates or has cohabitated with the applicant), or child; or 8) convicted under Federal, State, or Tribal Court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against an intimate partner or child. More requirements listed below.

Education

See the Qualifications Section for education substitution. Entrance Exam: As part of the pre-employment process, you must complete and pass the CBP Officer Entrance Exam. For more information, videos, and study guides, visit CBP.gov CBP Officer Entrance Exam. Medical Requirements: Following a tentative job offer, candidates must undergo and successfully complete a medical screening process. Individuals must be medically and physically capable of performing the essential job functions and duties of the position safely and efficiently without endangering the health and safety of the individual, others, or national security. For more information, visit CBP's Medical Exam Process Drug Testing Requirements: Employees are subject to drug testing in compliance with the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Program. You must complete a drug test as a condition of employment. For more information, visit our Drug Testing FAQs and the Hiring Process Deep Dive Video: The Drug Test Physical Fitness Test: You will be required to successfully pass the Fitness Test. For more information, please see the Pre-Employment Fitness Test Physical Readiness Program and the Hiring Process Deep Dive Video: The Fitness Test Interview Process: You will be required to pass a structured interview. For more information, please see the Hiring Process Deep Dive Video: Structured Interview Primary CBPO Special Retirement Coverage: This is a primary position subject to mandatory retirement under the special retirement provisions for Customs and Border Protection Officers (5 CFR 842.1003, Conditions for Coverage; 5 USC 8425(b) and 5 USC 8335(b), Mandatory Separation; and 5 USC 8412(d), Immediate Retirement). For more information on required years of service and retirement age, click on this link. If you have questions regarding your retirement coverage provisions, please contact the CBP Retirement Operations Center at (202) 863-6180. The Customs and Border Protection Officer mandatory separation provisions of 5 USC 8425 do not apply to an individual first appointed as a Customs and Border Protection Officer before July 6, 2008.

How to apply

Before you apply, it is critical that you acknowledge each of CBP's Conditions of Employment. We expect our employees to uphold these conditions throughout their tenure with CBP. This video will detail each of our main categories: appearance and health; examinations, investigations, and tests; fitness and the academy. The goal of this video is to provide you with upfront knowledge of CBP's expectations - Hiring Process Deep Dive Video: Conditions of Employment To begin your online application, click "Apply Online" to create a login.gov account or sign in to your existing login.gov account. Your USAJOBS application packet must include a resume and any applicable and/or required supporting documentation. See the Required Documents section for additional information. If you are planning to apply using your phone or tablet, see Browser Compatibility. Upload your resume under the "Resume" document type. Any other relevant supporting documents should be uploaded under their appropriate document types as mentioned above. Note that only the most recently uploaded version of your resume will be reviewed. Only resumes up to a total of two pages will be accepted. Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. You may only submit one application for this announcement. Duplicate applications to this announcement will not be considered. It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Applicants may not update any part of their application after initial submission. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. The email address posted below is for inquiries only. The vacancy questionnaire includes four short, free-response essay questions. This provides an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions. View more information on applying for federal employment. Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you 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.