Obtaining a Security Clearance

[~ameriptian~ 54]

I do understand that you must be a USC in order to be able to start the process of obtaining a security clearance, but do you have to be a member of the US Military/Navy at some point to obtain one?

Anybody has an experience with obtaining a SC??

[Inky 1,111]

It depends on what security clearance you are trying to get but you don't give much info as to why or what you are looking to get it for.

[~ameriptian~ 54]

I am looking into obtaining a Secret or a Top Secret Clearance in the future (obviously I have to wait at least 3-4 more years until I am done with the Naturalization process). I found that most of the jobs that captured my interest during my current job search need a security clearance, and was wondering if only military members and veterans can obtain them, or any employer can sponsor any USC to obtain one?

I just wanna have my ducks in order, if I decide that that is the career path I am going to take in the future...

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Any USc can get one. Depending on the level and the SB attachments having near relatives that are NOT USCS can keep you from being cleared even with the security classification.

[~ameriptian~ 54]

Any USc can get one. Depending on the level and the SB attachments having near relatives that are NOT USCS can keep you from being cleared even with the security classification.

What are SB attachments?

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

special background requirement/ investigations. Sometimes referred to in job listing as SBI

[luckytxn 2,265]

Been many years but when I got a security clearance it was just a fingerprint check to see if I had ever been in trouble and record check. I ended up having to get a top secret later and that entailed a more in depth check where they sent investigator to check into me locally where I lived. They could then check with any friends and neighbors and even any ex co workers, landlord, etc. They can also request and get medical records and mental health records. Once you have gone through this it is supposedly good for life but when I was again needing it they redid the fingerprints and did a background check. They also wanted financial records for some reason and did a credit check.

I do know someone that was originally not from the U.S. and he was able to receive a secret clearance but it took forever to get his top secret as they had to go through an overseas investigator who did a background check where he was from. They went to his village and chatted up people there. He was denied a top secret but able to keep his secret and thus unable to be promoted to something he wanted.

Of course this was pre 911 so it may be different now.

[~ameriptian~ 54]

Been many years but when I got a security clearance it was just a fingerprint check to see if I had ever been in trouble and record check. I ended up having to get a top secret later and that entailed a more in depth check where they sent investigator to check into me locally where I lived. They could then check with any friends and neighbors and even any ex co workers, landlord, etc. They can also request and get medical records and mental health records. Once you have gone through this it is supposedly good for life but when I was again needing it they redid the fingerprints and did a background check. They also wanted financial records for some reason and did a credit check.

I do know someone that was originally not from the U.S. and he was able to receive a secret clearance but it took forever to get his top secret as they had to go through an overseas investigator who did a background check where he was from. They went to his village and chatted up people there. He was denied a top secret but able to keep his secret and thus unable to be promoted to something he wanted.

Of course this was pre 911 so it may be different now.

Sounds like a complicated process

Most of the positions I would like to apply for only require a SC, but obviously if I want to get promoted in the future I will have to obtain a TSC and that as you mentioned takes forever...

Thank you for the info!

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Any USc can get one. Depending on the level and the SB attachments having near relatives that are NOT USCS can keep you from being cleared even with the security classification.

Careful about that--unrenounced dual-citizenship can be a disaster when applying for an SC, as I found out the hard way in December 2007.

[luckytxn 2,265]

Sounds like a complicated process

Most of the positions I would like to apply for only require a SC, but obviously if I want to get promoted in the future I will have to obtain a TSC and that as you mentioned takes forever...

Thank you for the info!

It is not complicated at all. You just go and have fingerprints done and they do all the rest. The upgrade to a Top was just sign a form giving them permission to access what they wanted and they did the work. Most of what they need to do can be done online. They may or may not check out as thorough as they can. Mine they never went to visit my friends or neighbors at all but they did talk to one former employer.

My friend I was wrong in saying he was denied. He eventually did get his Top but it took a year as they were backlogged and he missed out on that promotion at that time. Since then he has done very well. I was also doing mine at the same time and the backlog was there but they upgraded mine anyway automatically until they found something to pull it if they did but he was not allowed to be automatically upgraded as he had been in country for less then 5 years and at that time it was required to do at the least a cursory check in his former country but that backlog made that tough.

By all means do not despair of going for any job that requires a clearance. Let them do the work but I will say now that some jobs that require but not all require you to take a lie detector exam at times. I hate the things myself and found the game they play with them boring. The machines actually do not tell if you are lying or not but the head games and stuff they did break many so understand this may be a unwanted intrusion. As for myself anyone I think that has been interviewed from a country for a visa that is a high fraud country and were successful can go through a polygraph easily.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Careful about that--unrenounced dual-citizenship can be a disaster when applying for an SC, as I found out the hard way in December 2007.

Technically even a nonUSC could get one it is just very very rare ( and expensive for the company)

[DaveE111 10]

It is not complicated at all. You just go and have fingerprints done and they do all the rest. The upgrade to a Top was just sign a form giving them permission to access what they wanted and they did the work. Most of what they need to do can be done online. They may or may not check out as thorough as they can. Mine they never went to visit my friends or neighbors at all but they did talk to one former employer.

My friend I was wrong in saying he was denied. He eventually did get his Top but it took a year as they were backlogged and he missed out on that promotion at that time. Since then he has done very well. I was also doing mine at the same time and the backlog was there but they upgraded mine anyway automatically until they found something to pull it if they did but he was not allowed to be automatically upgraded as he had been in country for less then 5 years and at that time it was required to do at the least a cursory check in his former country but that backlog made that tough.

By all means do not despair of going for any job that requires a clearance. Let them do the work but I will say now that some jobs that require but not all require you to take a lie detector exam at times. I hate the things myself and found the game they play with them boring. The machines actually do not tell if you are lying or not but the head games and stuff they did break many so understand this may be a unwanted intrusion. As for myself anyone I think that has been interviewed from a country for a visa that is a high fraud country and were successful can go through a polygraph easily.

I don't know how long it has been since you have had an updated clearance, but in the more than 40 continuous years I have had a clearance, it has never been "get the finger prints and let them do the rest". Google SF-86 and you will see what it takes to get a civil service/US government contractor/military security clearance. I go through it every five years.

[ScottThuy 140]

I don't know how long it has been since you have had an updated clearance, but in the more than 40 continuous years I have had a clearance, it has never been "get the finger prints and let them do the rest". Google SF-86 and you will see what it takes to get a civil service/US government contractor/military security clearance. I go through it every five years.

Mine took a great deal more than just fingerprints.. And they did a lengthy investigation on my background, friends, relatives etc... IMO it was quite a high hurdle...

[Used to be broken 147]

Mine took a great deal more than just fingerprints.. And they did a lengthy investigation on my background, friends, relatives etc... IMO it was quite a high hurdle...

I used to think that too until I read the story about Nadia Nadim Prouty.

Didn't mean to sidetrack the thread, but as to the original OP and some comments made in this thread.

Being from Middle East is going to make security clearance more difficult. You should do a lot of research into what not to do as far as travel, how many passports, ties to home country etc, etc.

Edited June 1, 2011 by brokenfamily

[luckytxn 2,265]

I don't know how long it has been since you have had an updated clearance, but in the more than 40 continuous years I have had a clearance, it has never been "get the finger prints and let them do the rest". Google SF-86 and you will see what it takes to get a civil service/US government contractor/military security clearance. I go through it every five years.

Been maybe 15 years and I was in military when I had the initial secret clearance just to go into my MOS and that was all that was done. I was overseas and needed an upgrade to Top and there was no hurdle for me. I did have to sign a form allowing them access to any info they wanted. 15 years ago I needed a Top again and was told that once you have one it is always good so just needed to do a background. I was sent to do a polygraph. Month later I asked when the investigation would be complete and was told there was a huge backlog and that I was OK unless when they investigate they find something wrong. I was puzzled by this. I came back home about a year later and asked around and was told no one had been asked me at all. I went to a former employer to drop off a resume and was told that someone had called on my behalf. Of course this is just what I went through. What I needed a clearance for I had thought was ridiculous and definitely low level. What I needed it for in the military I thought was more of a reason as I had to type up communications that could be classified on up and even had a guard during them times to not approach me during these sessions. I also would receive communications that I had to read to at least determine who to deliver to and who had to deliver it and what classification.

Of course this was long ago so was just saying what I had to do. Since you are ongoing doing it then you would be in a better position to give the advice. I did figure that since 911 and Homeland security acts that the process is a bit more cumbersome.