How do I create and submit a USAJOBS application for ICE or CBP positions?
Executive summary
To apply for ICE or CBP jobs you must create a USAJOBS profile, find the agency job announcement, attach the required documents and submit the complete application by the announcement deadline; ICE and CBP direct applicants to USAJOBS and to agency portals that hook into USAJOBS (for example, CBP’s Applicant Portal) [1] [2] [3]. Recent procedural changes applicants must know: federal resumes are now limited to two pages for many ICE and CBP announcements and agencies began enforcing two-page limits and other new resume guidance in 2025 [4] [5].
1. How the system is organized — USAJOBS is the gateway
Every ICE and CBP vacancy is posted through USAJOBS or linked from agency career sites; the first step for the public is to create a USAJOBS profile and search for positions listed “Open to the public (all sources)” while current federal employees search merit-promotion listings (ICE guidance) [1] [6]. CBP also publishes career pages that surface job announcements and deadlines that match USAJOBS postings [7] [3].
2. Practical steps to build and submit an application
The agencies tell applicants to use the USAJOBS profile to build a federal resume, attach required documents (transcripts, veterans’ documents, certifications) and submit the complete application through the job announcement before the listed cutoff time; ICE explicitly instructs applicants to apply online and to follow the specific announcement requirements [1] [8]. For CBP positions the agency provides a linked Applicant Portal that you access by logging in with your USAJOBS credentials to continue the hiring workflow [2].
3. Deadlines and “open continuous” postings — watch the cutoffs
Many enforcement and border positions are posted as open-continuous announcements with periodic cut-off dates; for example ICE and CBP listings show specific cutoff dates and final deadline times in the announcement text (for instance, initial cut-offs and a 12/31/2025 complete-application deadline appear in ICE and CBP listings) [8] [7]. Read every listing’s “How to Apply” and “Required Documents” sections — missing the announcement-specific deadline means your package won’t be considered [1].
4. New resume rules and document limits you cannot ignore
Beginning in 2025 some federal agencies including CBP and ICE are enforcing a two-page resume limit for vacancy announcements; ICE announced a two-page limit for its vacancy announcements and CBP/other USAJOBS postings call attention to two-page resume requirements and resume-length policy changes [4] [5]. Treat this as a hard constraint for many postings and tailor your resume to the job, prioritizing clear descriptions of qualifying experience.
5. Agency-specific stages and extra portals
Submitting on USAJOBS often starts the process but does not end it: ICE and CBP may funnel applicants into agency-specific assessments, applicant portals, polygraph/multi-step background checks, training requirements or transition programs — the CBP Applicant Portal requires USAJOBS login to continue; ICE notes further assessment and referral steps after the USAJOBS submission [2] [9] [8]. The CBP officer posting also flags pre-employment processes such as polygraph exams [5].
6. Special hiring authorities, current-federal-employee rules and bonuses
Some announcements use special authorities (direct-hire, open-to-multiple-hiring-authorities) or are limited to federal employees; ICE tells public applicants to look for “open to the public” and federal employees to search “merit promotion” listings [1] [6]. Several job announcements advertise signing or retention bonuses and different eligibility rules — read the announcement benefits and hiring authority language carefully [10] [8].
7. What sources do and do not say — limits of available reporting
Available sources give step-by-step portal guidance, deadlines and resume rules but do not provide a single unified checklist for every job type; specific assessment tests, polygraph timing, or step-by-step screenshots are presented on individual announcements or agency portals rather than in a consolidated guide [1] [2] [5]. Sources do not mention a single universal timeline from application to hire; timelines vary by announcement and selection authority (not found in current reporting).
8. Practical advice and next actions
Create and verify a USAJOBS profile, prepare a tailored two-page federal resume and PDFs of required documents, search ICE and CBP pages for announcements and their cut-off dates, and use the CBP Applicant Portal when prompted by a CBP posting [3] [4] [2]. Always read the specific USAJOBS announcement’s “How to Apply” and required documents sections; failure to follow announcement-specific instructions is the most common way applications are disqualified [1].
Limitations: This briefing is based solely on agency guidance and USAJOBS postings provided in the available sources; internal hiring practices, interview scheduling norms and post-offer background timelines are described only in individual announcements and agency portals [1] [2] [5].