# Federal Agencies Process Contractor-to-Civilian Hires

Community accounts describe variable timelines for federal contractors moving into civilian agency roles: one applicant reported applying in November 2021 and starting in early May, while other accounts cited roughly two to three months from job posting to start. A high-level security clearance and prior access to an agency’s systems did not eliminate the reported wait for agency processing and a background check. The accounts identify DHS and USCIS, but are anecdotal rather than an agency-wide hiring benchmark; commenters also raised concerns about job stability and probationary employment.

- Contractors and agency workforce planners should account for potentially variable onboarding periods when planning staff transitions and continuity of work; the reports do not establish a standard hiring timeline.
- Existing clearance or familiarity with agency systems should not be assumed to remove processing or background-check delays, based on these accounts.
- Job stability and probationary employment were concerns raised by commenters, relevant to workforce retention discussions but not verified as agency-wide conditions.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Published:** October 06, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

### Key Quotes
> I applied in late Fall 2021...I think in November. I got contacted in February for an interview. Then they wanted me to do a small exercise, which I did and returned. I got a TJO in March, and then it was a waiting game.
> — Community commenter

### Sources
- [Contractor to Civilian](https://www.reddit.com/r/FedEmployees/comments/1wzhng2/contractor_to_civilian) - reddit-fedemployees