Once you have submitted the documentation, the designated agency will proceed with the investigation, depending on backlog and priority. Each of these positions requires some form of background investigation, which may vary depending on the necessary level of clearance for a position. For a secret clearance in a national security position, the investigation requires agents to interview people who have lived or worked with the applicant at some point in the last seven years or more.
There are four main types of security clearances for national security positions. These are confidential, secret, top secret and sensitive compartmented information. This type of security clearance provides access to information that may cause damage to national security if disclosed without authorization.
It must be reinvestigated every 15 years. This type of security clearance provides access to information that may cause serious damage to national security if disclosed without authorization. It must be reinvestigated every 10 years. Once you are in a job that requires a security clearance even if you are simply a hired consultant , a cleared contractor or a government agency will sponsor you. How does the process work then? In its turn, OPM farms the work of background checks to outside contractors e.
The entire clearance process currently lasts anywhere from three months to one year, although the government is trying to shorten the time period. The first step in your security clearance process will be filling in the lengthy Standard Form 86 , a. You will also be asked to list any criminal records, civil court actions, financial problems, subversive activities, drug involvement, mental health problems, alcohol-related incidents and misuse of IT systems.
Following up on the SF86, the government will conduct a background investigation BI , a. It will review and verify your:. Investigators may be sent into the field to check your police records. You will also undergo a security interview. The wheels of U. Nevertheless, as the writers of Security Clearance FAQs point out, there a few ways to ensure your application does not get held up:.
NOTE: The government has the option to grant candidates an interim security clearance interim eligibility pending the results of a full BI. This can be withdrawn at any time if authorities discover unfavorable information. Investigators do not like to be lied to about alcohol, drugs or criminal records. If you are up-front about your mistakes, your misconduct especially if it occurred a long time ago could be excused. As we noted in the section on Types of Security Clearances , your clearance is reinvestigated after a predetermined number of years: 15 for Confidential, 10 for Secret and 5 for Top Secret.
You will be required to submit an updated security package and the government will conduct another BI. They will use your previous BI as a starting point. Expired clearances are pretty straightforward. If you leave a job that required a security clearance, your clearance will also be terminated.
At that point, your clearance may be downgraded to Current. That leaves room for the government to reinstate it at a later date. Some of the fastest-growing jobs are in information security.
Jump-start your career by learning about the best online cybersecurity degrees. An online master's in cybersecurity can boost your career options and earning potential. The security clearance must be administratively removed when the employee no longer has need for access. Does having a security clearance guarantee employment with the Department of State?
The hiring process addresses whether someone will be initially selected for a particular position within the Department of State. The security clearance process does not begin until after a conditional offer of employment is given.
Are members of my family or people living with me subject to a security check? There are circumstances in which limited records checks or an investigation may be conducted on a spouse or cohabitant. How often is a security clearance renewed? An individual is normally subject to reinvestigation approximately every five years for a Secret or Top Secret clearance.
For what reasons would I be denied a security clearance? Various reasons exist for denial of a security clearance. Honesty, candor, and thoroughness are very important factors in the process of obtaining a security clearance. Every case is individually assessed, using the National Security Adjudicative Guidelines, to determine whether the granting or continuing of eligibility for a security clearance is clearly consistent with the interests of national security.
See Security Executive Agent Directive 4, National Security Adjudicative Guidelines , for more information about the guidelines and specific concerns and mitigating factors. How long does it take to process a typical security clearance? Each case varies based on the specific circumstances of the individual subject and the level of security clearance requested. Is there an appeal process? If you are denied a security clearance, or your continued eligibility for access to classified information is revoked, you will be notified of the reason s and be provided with the procedures for filing an appeal.
You will be given the opportunity to address derogatory information that is provided as the basis for denial or revocation. What is e-QIP? The Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing e-QIP system is a web-based automated system, owned by the Office of Personnel Management and mandated for federal government use, that facilitates the processing of standard forms used when conducting background investigations for security, suitability, fitness, and credentialing purposes.
The e-QIP system allows the user to electronically enter, update, and transmit their personal data over a secure internet connection to a requesting agency. What are some typical delays that occur in the security clearance process? Some of the most common areas of delay include the submission of incomplete forms and information, poorly collected fingerprints, and investigations that involve coverage of extensive overseas activities.
Applicants can help the process by ensuring that they have completed all forms thoroughly and accurately, and when possible, providing additional references who can verify their activities. A lot of detailed information is required to conduct a background investigation. When preparing to fill out your e-QIP, collect and verify information such as names, addresses, telephone numbers, and dates of birth for immediate relatives.
Collect additional references, when possible, in case we are unable to reach those provided initially. Who should I contact if I have questions about my background investigation? For assistance with background investigations being conducted by a federal agency other than the Department of State, please contact that agency directly. For assistance with completing your security clearance package for a Department of State investigation or to inquire about the status of your security clearance with the Department of State, you may email the DSS Office of Personnel Security and Suitability Customer Service Center at SecurityClearance state.
EST at or DSS only releases information about the status of an investigation directly to the subject of a Department of State investigation or the hiring authority. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Security Clearances. Security Clearances Bureau of Diplomatic Security.
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