Dual Citizenship & a Top Secret Security Clearance

[Auria 0]

Is it possible to be approved for a Top Secret Security Clearance if one has dual citizenship??

[Stella08 0]

Is it possible to be approved for a Top Secret Security Clearance if one has dual citizenship??

From everything I have heard - no.

[Otto 83]

There are different levels of security clearances - not sure which would be the same as the James Bond sounding 'Top Secret' though - am guessing there aren't that many dual-nationals holding high government security clearances.

[jamieswith 0]

Is it possible to be approved for a Top Secret Security Clearance if one has dual citizenship??

Yes it is in theory, HOWEVER it is A LOT MORE DIFFICULT to obtain and takes a lot longer - since they basically have to go through the whole interview process with individuals you've interacted with in two countries.

This is the same though, even if you do not have dual nationality but were ever a citizen of another country.

When you're a dual national it can take 18 months - 2 years minimum for the clearance to come back, with a Top secret classification.

In general this means unless someone REALLY wants you, you're unlikely to be considered for a position requiring top secret clearance if you're a dual national.

So in a practical sense - unless you're VERY special nobody is going to put you through the clearance process as a dual national - they simply don't want to wait that long to know if you will be allowed to do the job or not.

(edit) PS: One way to get around this would be to slowly work your way up the clearances - working your way up through the ranks so to speak - but you would need to plan for the long haul - as people have said, high security clearances are possible, but Top secret normally requires interviews of family, friends and even past collegues... a very involved process even when multiple countries are not involved.

Edited April 27, 2009 by jamieswith

[payxibka 10,045]

There are different levels of security clearances - not sure which would be the same as the James Bond sounding 'Top Secret' though - am

He was only "Licensed to Kill"

[ilikeallofu 0]

My understanding was in order to get TOP SECURITY clearance, ur "immediate" relatives all have to be US citizen... "immediate relatives" meaning ur mom/dad/brother/sister/wife/kids... at least that's what I was told when I was job hunting.

[jamieswith 0]

There are different levels of security clearances - not sure which would be the same as the James Bond sounding 'Top Secret' though - am

He was only "Licensed to Kill"

Well actually he was additionally "Licensed to Kill" - his actual clearance was never specified, but by nature of being a field operative in MI5/MI6 he would need a reasonably high clearance.

The nature of the information he was granted access to in the movies would indicate either a special exception was granted under the official secrets act, or he had "Top Secret" equivalent clearance (it's not called that hehehe)

My understanding was in order to get TOP SECURITY clearance, ur "immediate" relatives all have to be US citizen... "immediate relatives" meaning ur mom/dad/brother/sister/wife/kids... at least that's what I was told when I was job hunting.

This is true - immediate relatives must be US Citizens - but this does not preclude a dual national - as I said - as long as your immediate family is naturalized... or dead.

It's an incredibly lengthy process though for a dual national - there's not many positions they'll go to that level of trouble for.

[Flames9_RN 358]

There are different levels of security clearances - not sure which would be the same as the James Bond sounding 'Top Secret' though - am

He was only "Licensed to Kill"

Well actually he was additionally "Licensed to Kill" - his actual clearance was never specified, but by nature of being a field operative in MI5/MI6 he would need a reasonably high clearance.

The nature of the information he was granted access to in the movies would indicate either a special exception was granted under the official secrets act, or he had "Top Secret" equivalent clearance (it's not called that hehehe)

My understanding was in order to get TOP SECURITY clearance, ur "immediate" relatives all have to be US citizen... "immediate relatives" meaning ur mom/dad/brother/sister/wife/kids... at least that's what I was told when I was job hunting.

This is true - immediate relatives must be US Citizens - but this does not preclude a dual national - as I said - as long as your immediate family is naturalized... or dead.

It's an incredibly lengthy process though for a dual national - there's not many positions they'll go to that level of trouble for.

One can get as a USA citizen a TS security clearance even if ones immediate relatives are not USA citizens. It is handled by case by case and they can issue waivers. That I know as a fact.

[Stella08 0]

http://www.archives.gov/isoo/pdf/hadley-ad...-guidelines.pdf

[jaeja 0]

This is incorrect. My husband, a US Citizen, has a TS with SCI (higher than regular TS). My being a citizen of another country has made it more difficult to maintain as his five year reinvestigations take longer.To have SCI he had to get an Attorney General waiver. It is possible, but more difficult.

My understanding was in order to get TOP SECURITY clearance, ur "immediate" relatives all have to be US citizen... "immediate relatives" meaning ur mom/dad/brother/sister/wife/kids... at least that's what I was told when I was job hunting.

[Sylvia_n_Joseph 3]

Every increase in secuirty level is a lot harder to get and a lot harder to keep even for regular US citizens. There is usually the possility of a wavier for almost anything but it doesn't mean it is easy and it is usually much more costly. You may be talking about over 150000 in additional costs. Most complanies aren't going to pay that much extra.

[Stella08 0]

And your husband knows and is o.k. with you posting in a public forum. which can be accessed by anybody, what kind of clearance he has?

This is incorrect. My husband, a US Citizen, has a TS with SCI (higher than regular TS). My being a citizen of another country has made it more difficult to maintain as his five year reinvestigations take longer.To have SCI he had to get an Attorney General waiver. It is possible, but more difficult.

My understanding was in order to get TOP SECURITY clearance, ur "immediate" relatives all have to be US citizen... "immediate relatives" meaning ur mom/dad/brother/sister/wife/kids... at least that's what I was told when I was job hunting.