Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA)
Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA) is an excepted authority that allows eligible veterans who meet the basic qualifications for a position to be exempted from the traditional competitive hiring process and placed into an appointed hiring status, expediting the hiring process. In turn, we are able to maintain a workforce that is highly skilled and diverse.
Eligibility
You are eligible for this appointing authority if you are a:
- disabled veteran; or
- veteran who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during a war, or in a campaign, or expedition, for which you received an authorized campaign or expedition badge or medal; or
- veteran who, while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces, participated in a United States military operation for which you were awarded an Armed Forces Service Medal; or
- veteran who has separated from active service within the last three years.
Note: The highest grade level you may be appointed under this authority is GS-11 or equivalent.
You must be able to provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility, a copy of your DD214, or "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.” If you are claiming 10 point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form SF-15, an Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and applicable supporting documents as noted on the form.
Additional Hiring Process Benefits
If you are a separating service member, your recent military fitness test and military medical examination may provide credit for successful completion of the required CBP medical qualification and fitness test requirements (which may reduce the amount of time it takes to be hired). In addition, you may meet the criteria to receive a waiver for the polygraph examination.
Medical Evaluation Requirement: VRA applicants have the option of requesting medical reciprocity by providing Department of Defense (DOD) medical records in lieu of attending a CBP Medical Examination. DOD medical exam and documentation must be dated within one year CBP's request to complete the physical fitness requirement. DOD applicants may be requested to submit a supplemental health history questionnaire to meet CBP medical information requirements.
Polygraph Waiver: CBP has the authority to grant waivers to certain veterans under section 1049 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017 as outlined below:
- Veteran status, as defined in section 2108 or 2109a of title 5, USC
- Possess an active Top Secret/SCI level security clearance granted without a waiver and currently “read-in” to access SCI
CBP’s Personnel Security Division reviews waiver requests under this authority to ensure the VRA applicant meets all criteria and makes a recommendation to the Assistant Commissioner, Office of Professional Responsibility for the final approval/denial determination.
Polygraph Reciprocity: The CBP Reciprocity Directive allows applicants who have passed a previous federal pre-employment polygraph examination to apply for polygraph reciprocity. CBP’s Credibility Assessment Division reviews all reciprocity requests under this authority to ensure the VRA applicant meets all criteria for the final approval or denial determination. All VRA applicant will receive instruction on how to apply for the polygraph waiver or reciprocity within their background information packets. Submissions received outside of this process are not accepted.
How to Apply
To apply under the VRA process, go to the Apply Now webpage and click on the VRA announcement that corresponds to the position that you are interested in.
