CBSA Agents! need your help
 

Can you tell me what its like working for the CBSA?
I really want to have a career with them after I graduate from SFU at the end of summer.

Also what were some of the requirements that they looked at before hiring?

I work for them up north in BC. It's not easy to get in right now as they are phasing out the student program and hiring the students instead of externally. They pay is good, around 32 an hr. They job can be extremely stressful depending on which ports you work at and which mode you are in (marine, hwy, postal, rail, air). All in all it's an excellent career but be prepared to move. You will not be working in your home town more than likely.

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My Godbrother works for the CBSA in the YVR Airport, and he absolutely loves his job. They do shift work, and if I remember correctly it's 3 days on and 3 days off, but don't quote me on that though. The hours can be long and abormal, but if you're like me who has a weird lifestyle I wouldn't mind.

He said the hardest part was the 3 hour test that they had to undergo, aside from that everything else was pretty easy, even the training in Rigaud, Quebec was pretty easy, the physical examination was pretty much non-existent, but waiting to get in was long.

He said everybody started off with the same pay, and it increases every year for 4 years, then it maxes out at four years, unless there's an opening for a promotion, and thats where having an education comes in handy for the promotion.

The CBSA is not only posted at the airport and the USA/Canada Border, but they're around the Marinas too, and if you get into a specialty field you can be working the field and be kicking down doors, and not just sitting down looking at passports.

Thank you guys for the responses!

So if i am from Surrey and i am positioned in Northern BC, do they provide some type of housing and can I transfer back down to the lower mainland if there is a position available?

Thank you! Where you working full time at another job while applying to the CBSA?


That would be ideal for me, I would love working at the Airport

this is the sort of job i'd love to have at the airport, my job seems so hurt compared to all the other jobs people are doing at the airport like security checks and whatnot

Getting a transfer if you are posted up north, will take at least 3yrs as everyone has one in and are way ahead of you. As for Riguad, it's 2 months if think, you get class room learning, simulations, and control and defense tactics training. Make no mistake, it is not easy, and requires self study and so on. Basically you learn the customs act, irpa and cites stuff during training, once you finish training and go to your port, you get trained again totally different lol port policy is always different.

I would not bank on this job as someone said there essentially an hiring freeze much like RCMP. If you are going to pursue this definitely do something in the mean time and don't put all your hopes in landing this job asap.

how is the background check compared to RCMP's?

Hachisix is correct. CBSA over hired during the whole 2010 olympic and with the budget cuts it doesn't look too good for the next 3 to 5 years?
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Got a friend working in there while schooling at SFU. In the Fall and Spring semester, he goes to school while working part-time, and in the summer (May to Aug), he has to work full-time. I believe he said he had to work 5 days and 4 days off. The first 3 of the 5 days was day shift, and last 2 of the 5 days was night shift (4pm - 2am?). Don't think he ever worked graveyard, but yah, that's what he told me. Btw, he works at YVR.

how do you apply to be a CBSA?

They have postings every now and then but there hasn't been a posting in probably 2+ years. Like most federal positions like this there has been a freeze.

ffuuccckk i wanted to go into the CBSA :( currently in my 2nd year Criminology student

what kind of jobs should one look into during the meantime

You're right. Day 1 & 2 (6am-4pm) Day 3 (9am-7pm) Day 4 & 5 (4pm-2am) then 4 days off.

X

When was the last time you used?
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so someone gets paid $32 per hour to sit down and check passports at the local airport?

correct me if i misunderstood.

X

They're contacting people for the 2011 summer already.

any comments on the student cbsa program? How was the test?

My gf has been working there for years and she loves it! she did training here and did part time since she was at sfu. Hearing all the stories (the peeps you meet) just sounds super awesome. The hours are and can be tiring but from what I know it is worth it. And from what I remember they DO drug tests. And plus, they hire on some mighty fine looking guys. MMmmm if you're. A single girl.
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Bumping up an old thread... but for those that are interested in info regarding CBSA, Ive found a great forum with ppl discussing the recruiting process.
http://forums.blueline.ca/viewtopic....bsa&start=7290

I applied to the FSWEP program in January 2011, I guess i'm probably going to get contacted for 2012?

You should check your junk folder for emails....they email you, they don't call
Training for summer of 2011 starts in May...

I applied in October and got contacted to write the test 3 weeks later in November. Passed the test and was asked to come in for an interview in late December. During this time my friends applied and they too were asked to write the test(they failed). They applied in December and wrote test at the end of January. Anyways fast forward to end of February and was emailed saying I was not successful and will not be contacted further. During the interview the officer said that if I was not successful this time to try again next year (for summer of 2012) because I had already gotten the biggest hurdle (the test) over with.
I think i was rejected because I didn't have any volunteer experience nor did I have any interaction with the general public.