Security Clearance as a GC holder?

[Stuart and Katie 13]

Can anyone explain to me what, if any, level of security clearance a GC holder is eligible for please.

I keep reading differing opinions here on VJ without anyone giving a definitive answer and can't seem to find the answer online.

[Boiler 45,715]

I am going to assume it will vary, FBI may be different to your local Mall.

[AmyWrites 593]

Generally none with very few exceptions, assuming you mean DoD or DoS. Even if you were able to get clearance, having had citizenship in another country will delay your getting said clearance and most employers don't wait that long.

[mike411 15]

Companies looking for you to get a DoD security clearance will not hire you because you are not a citizen. It's a costly process and your risk of not getting approve is high as hell.

[kzielu 1,149]

Can anyone explain to me what, if any, level of security clearance a GC holder is eligible for please.

I keep reading differing opinions here on VJ without anyone giving a definitive answer and can't seem to find the answer online.

I think none, last time I looked at those. Fellow pole that went into Navy, had to renounce polish citizenship to get (I think) secret clearance.

[Tina and Johan 206]

I am going to assume it will vary, FBI may be different to your local Mall.

I hope this varies! My fiancé's line of work in Ireland was "security engineer," and he's already got a tentative job offer once he has his EAD card. I think more research is in order. Damn. ?

[bubblebubble 16]

As far as I encountered during past years of job searchings and re-searchings, needing a security clearance means that you have to be a U.S. citizen. There might be some exemptions with extreme expertise required (read below). Even having foreign relatives, especially from sensitive countries, could jeopardize the security clearance screening. And the screening including homeland security agents knocking on your references' doors to interview them, and it can take more than a year. I had several friends going through that. They are all U.S. citizens (also their references, I believe).

Non-US citizens can not obtain a security clearance; however, they may be granted a Limited Access Authorization (LAA). LAAs are granted in those rare circumstances where the non-US citizen possesses unique or unusual skill or expertise that is urgently needed to support a specific US Government contract involving access to specified classified information (no higher than Secret), and a cleared or clearable US citizen is not readily available.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

For low level there are extremely rare exceptions for world experts in the field and those exceptions will cost the petitioning company over 100k just to apply. For higher levels NONE. For commercial ones there are more exceptions but still rare and costly. Net security engineering don't need a government security clearance. But be careful when job hunting not to make a false claim of USC as that will really mess up your journey, Locking up someone network doesn't mean you have access to government sensitive data.

[Stuart and Katie 13]

The definitive answer is this:

As a non-US citizen, you cannot obtain a security clearance. However, you can obtain a public trust clearance.

Even after obtaining US citizenship, you will still be limited in the clearances you can obtain.

Basically, as I had figured out, if you're not a US citizen don't bother applying for any jobs that need a security clearance unless it is a public trust clearance.

[milimelo 4,505]

Less than a year since my naturalization I obtained a security clearance. No issues.

[quimolum 12]

Less than a year since my naturalization I obtained a security clearance. No issues.

That is great. How long did the investigation take?

What level of Clearance did you get? Did you have to give up your Nationality first?

Did you ever live in a country else than yours and USA?

Sorry for the questions. But it seems to me that the clearance depends on all that and I would really much like to be proven wrong.