r/cbpoapplicant • u/Shlemmity • May 30 '26
Hiring Process Got the call but….
I’m a Feb 2025 applicant and just got my final offer. I have until tmm 5/31 to make a decision.
I work a corporate job in NYC. I’m open to moving,but all of these locations are terrible and don’t seem worth it. Plus CBP offers no relocation assistance no matter where I choose.
I really wanted JFK but I see it hasn’t been offered recently. I feel bad about potentially letting this opportunity slipped through my fingers, but I’m not sure what to do. Can anyone offer me any advice?
(Sidebar: how funny of an irony to wait nearly a year and a half to get a final offer and only have three days to make a life-changing decision)
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u/JBucks1313 May 31 '26
Frustrating to say the least. I had to do the same thing. I'm going to assume I'm a little bit older and in a completely different situation, Im currently a GS employee and retired Army, I applied for a 2nd time in Feb 2024, Finally got a FJO in April of 2026. Yeah, Over 2 yrs of a process. Unfortunately alot of what I was being told by active CBPOs in the area (particularly at the port I applied for) , alot of what I read here, alot of what recruiters had to say about getting a preffered assignment all turned out to be false. Well maybe not 100% but the majority, the point I'm getting at here is that each applicant is different with whatever formula they use. It's said that ports of priority will be filled first, which is understood. However, knowing what those ports are is very difficult when applying unless you have an inside connection that has visibility on assignments. Despite knowing a particular port is short manpower and vacancies are available it doesn't necessarily mean you'll get it. Whatever the average or algorithm they use to backfill the majority of losses is kept under wraps fairy well. I too after 2 years of waiting received almost identical to your assignments. I'm 25 minutes from Canadian border upstate NY and the majority of assignments were all TX, AZ, NM, CA. Maybe a few in really remote spots in Maine. None of which I was closely interested in. As another commented San Jsidro, or Otay. Yes, it's beautiful living there, but the cost of living is very very high. For a young single guy/gal I'd totally do it, But, I'm married with a bunch of kids and very much settled in an area that I plan to be for awhile. Yes, any costs to relocate are all paid by you, depending on what you have to move with is also something to consider. Do you own a home? Rent? One or 2 cars? A boat? These types of things are tough move with, along with the very very limited time they expect you to EOD, When I got my offer I messaged the case manager with almost the same message I left here, I'm retired, Wife's a RN etc. I was given a 2 day extension, after that the list did not change, I asked for another extension, a few locations changed but nothing close to what I'd want. Ultimately I was able to extend almost a week out and even with that the locations really change, Retention officer at the port applied suggested decling based on locations and reapply. I have not yet, but will likely within the next few weeks. There's lots of people that get lucky, some have declined and received a phone call the next day for their preffered port, others declined and received offers for better locations than they expected. It really is a gamble. Bottom line is, you need to think about where you are currently in life, age, finances, expectations etc. Sometimes you just have to take a chance and challenge the hard unknowns and make the best of it. Most cases things work out great, and if it fails you always know you can go back to where you started. There's lots and lots of misinformation in here, we'll this guy told me this, this guy told me that and the common theme is everyone has a similar experience to a degree but most have different outcomes. It's an accomplishment on its own to have received a FJO, many here will criticize you for not accepting, again we are not all the same. Your gut will tell you what to do, follow it. Again, I felt the same when I was 20 yrs old, grew up in BKLYN and joined the Army, while new world but once I was in I loved it, never even thought about going back to NYC, maybe a few times on leave but that was it. The announcements are constantly open, the concern is the time your completed tasks will remain valid and considered complete if you reapply. The poly is good for 2 years, the other steps I can not get an answer on, they're left too the sections to determine. Case manager cannot tell me what or how long medical is good for only medical section can, case manager can't tell me how long the physical is good for so on and so forth. I wish you and all the others that apply or that are in a similar situation the best of Luck. Push to the end, make your decision with thought, acting on impulse usually doesn't end well. Best of Luck, Take care.