Mary's Page

Valuable Information from the Twin Cities Hiring Center

Mary has retired and is hopefully enjoying this new chapter in her life of service.

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These are Mary's words and this is her page to do with as she sees fit.  If it is updated, you will see an annoucement in the forum.

The only way someone can be considered again for a Border Patrol Agent position is to go into USAJOBS.gov website. They will go in as if they are applying for a new job, a series of questions will be asked, one of the questions is, "When did you take the Border Patrol Test?"  Once they give the date, the system will determine if they have a current test on file. If they do, the system will let them by the testing process, and their name will be added to the register. If they have problems with this website, they need to send a message to Deu.bpa.nhc@dhs.gov. Let them know the problems they are having and someone will respond to the message as quickly as they can. They must understand that we get hundreds of messages daily.


If they haven't heard something within 7-10 days, I would recommend they send another message to that address. The phone doesn't stop ringing, so to get someone on the line is difficult. The more efficient way to get a response is through the e-mail address.


Current BPA's: It will slow the process down if someone that is a current Border Patrol Agent goes in to sign up to get back on the register before leaving the position. HQ Border Patrol doesn't want current Agents to apply for entry level positions as a way to get to another location.


They are looking at other avenues to get people to other locations, so that anyone coming through the hiring process would be considered a new hire and it will increase the number. If someone hasn't been removed from the position, their file will not be put actively in process.


 

When the "tentative selection letter" is issued there is supposed to be a phone number that the applicant can call to check on the progress of their application. It is an automated system. Once they have cleared the process, they will get a letter that says they have cleared, and that they should receive a call within 60 days. We are doing our best to hold to that. Once we start scheduling double classes, this could be a shorter period of time.
 

In this letter there is a number they can call, and we ask that people wait the 60 days before calling. A number of people call to tell us they got the letter . . . we already know that!


Termination or Resignation. Same difference. When the backgrounds are done, if we have received adverse information regarding their removal from their position, we let security know so they can look further into the reason they were removed.

How long are things valid for:


Test Score - good until they develop a new test. Current one was created in 2006.


Medical Evaluations - Once someone has entered on duty, they have used up their medical, drug test and fitness test. They all have to repeated.


Background Checks - These are brought up to date from where they left off the first time they cleared them. That's why we ask for adverse actions to be noted so we can alert security.


Oral boards - Good for 3 years


If applicants/trainees feel the need/desire, whatever to call this office for any reason, I respectfully request that they use the 612-467-7018 telephone number. This is the training office. If they are calling with a question, extension #1 will be the best place to leave a message. We call it the status line. I have three people that answer, when they can, and check the mailbox three times daily. If the question cannot be answered by my staff, then it will be forwarded to the appropriate unit to answer the question. This is same number they will get in the letter that says it is anticipated they will be called in 60 days with a firm job offer.


The training unit schedules Border Patrol Agents, Customs and Border Protection Officers, Immigration Enforcement Agents, Criminal Investigators, Agriculture Specialist and Intelligence Research Specialist.


We have a series of extensions on this phone line because we need to have calls directed to the right people. When we leave someone a message to call us back, that's when we direct them to another extension. If someone is calling randomly we ask that they use extension 1.


This is not a fast and quick process. At this time, I am telling people it will be 4-6 months, best guess. A part of getting back to the scheduling unit does depend on them getting things accomplished in a timely fashion.


Get the medical and fitness test set up quickly, report when they are scheduled. Those kind of common sense things. The applicant needs to understand that they will be required to provide all of the paperwork again. With the first job acceptance, that file went forward to made into a permanent personnel file. Now, they are applying for a new position for all intents and purposes.


As I tell the applicants there are two rules you must learn about the government:

1) always make a copy of whatever you are asked to submit.  

2) get the name of the person you are having the conversation with.


 

This office at the time of this writing is processing 15,237 applications.  This includes Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Officers; Criminal Investigators; Immigration Enforcement Agents; and Agriculture Specialists.


And you wonder why we don't answer the phone instantaneously!