U.S. Customs & Border Background Check

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency requires stringent background checks of all potential hires.

To gain employment with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency, applicants must meet eligibility requirements and complete a mandatory background check. The scope of the background check process varies by the nature of the position being sought.

Function

According to CBP, background checks are conducted "to ensure that the candidate is reliable, trustworthy, of good conduct and character and loyal to the United States." Applicants who successfully pass the background investigation are granted security clearance applicable to the role they are hired for. Additional background checks may be required if the employee advances to another position.

Features

CBP background investigations include checks into the applicant's credit, criminal, employment and military histories, as well as citizenship verification of applicants and their family members. Poor credit history, previous criminal involvement and association with "undesirable individuals" are issues that could prevent an applicant from being deemed suitable for employment.

Time Frame

The length of time to process a background check varies depending on multiple factors. Applicants who do not answer truthfully or have complex or international backgrounds may experience delays in the investigative process.

References

• CBP: FAQs - Mandatory Background Investigation
• CBP: Becoming a Customs Broker