<p>Is it hard to get into a defense company in R&D as a foreigner? More specifically, a Mexican. Given that M</p>
<p>You can’t get a security clearance unless you are a U.S. citizen. Depending upon the level of clearance, people who are married to non-U.S. citizen/family members living in foreign countries etc. have been turned down. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.clearancejobs.com/security_clearance_faq.pdf[/url]”>http://www.clearancejobs.com/security_clearance_faq.pdf</a></p>
<p>I had to be a U.S. citizen in order to get my security clearance, so if the job in question requires a clearance, then it is a no go. At the federal defense contractor that I work at, there is such a thing as a foreign person where foreigners do work on site. But I am not at all familiar with how that works.</p>
<p>For most defense contractors, you probably will need a security clearance. It is one reason why so many former/retired military work for defense contractors. They usually have a clearance and they can go to work immediately. </p>
<p>Clearances can take a very long time to process depending on the level (secret, Top Secret) and how much they have to investigate (if you have traveled overseas extensively, family in other countries etc.). The adjudication process can take up to a year. </p>
<p>If you are interested in working for a defense company, I would suggest you become a citizen as it will make the process easier for you.</p>
<p>“No. Non-US citizens cannot obtain a security clearance; however, they may be granted a Limited Access Authorization (LAA). LAAs are grant 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 requirement involving access to specified classified information (no higher than Secret), and a cleared or clearable US citizen is not readily available.”</p>
<p>(<a href=“http://www.clearancejobs.com/security_clearance_faq.pdf[/url]”>http://www.clearancejobs.com/security_clearance_faq.pdf</a>)</p>
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<p>The operative wording there is “a cleared or clearable US citizen is not readily available”. I don’t know how many times this occurs but I haven’t heard of anyone having this type of authorization plus you would still have to undergo an investigation to get this LAA. The company that hires you will have to do the work of getting you this LAA. It sounds like even more hoops to jump through in addition to the paperwork (SF-86) required for the investigation plus you can’t “work” for them until it is processed. </p>
<p>I foresee them tightening the rules on clearances especially what happened with Mr. Snowden. There is already talk about cutting back on the clearances for contractors so who knows what will happen in the future.</p>
<p>Once again, best bet is to become a US citizen if you want to work for the govt./defense contractors.</p>
<p>IMO, post #5 can refer to things like translators in an operational environment.</p>
<p>I agree it would be something like a translator but the DOD have their own translators who are US citizens with TS clearances. For it to be contracted out, it would be stuff that foreign nationals can see and a very rare language where translators cannot be easily found. Once the assignment is completed the LAA will be pulled so this is not the way to go for a steady job.</p>
<p>Just remember you still have to undergo the full investigation and the company hiring you have to jump through extra hoops to get the LAA.</p>
<p>Your best bet would be to get a PhD or something of the sort in a desirable field. When you have as narrowly defined a skillset as a PhD can offer, then it’s a lot easier to make the case there’s nobody inside the US can offer what you do.</p>
<p>actually permanent residents (Green Card) can obtain security clearance. I know a person who immigrated here on a student visa that currently works at boeing on top secret military aircraft project. If you are an international student, first try to get H1 B/work visa, then after working for a number of years, apply for Green Card. I think you can get US citizenship after being on Green Card for a number of years as well.
Or you can get a Green Card through marriage to a US citizen but I am not sure how it will look upon your employment status.</p>
<p>^No, they have to be a US citizen to get a security clearance. It is stated on ALL the federal guidelines for the various federal agencies (DOD, CIA, State Dept etc. etc.). If the person who has a green card became a naturalized citizen, then they would be able to get a security clearance. </p>
<p>Perhaps your friend received the LAA but that has been discussed above.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/security-clearance-jobs/us-department-of-state-security-clearance.html[/url]”>http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/security-clearance-jobs/us-department-of-state-security-clearance.html</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.state.gov/m/ds/clearances/c10977.htm[/url]”>http://www.state.gov/m/ds/clearances/c10977.htm</a></p>
<p>There are PLENTY of people who wait upwards of a year for their clearance especially if they have relatives living in foreign countries and if they traveled to foreign countries. The investigation will take longer and then the adjudication can take months. Just be sure to answer ALL the questions truthfully on the forms.</p>
<p>You definitely have to be a U.S. citizen to be granted a security clearance. You can’t even have dual citizenship. Everything is spelled out for you once you start the paperwork for the clearance.</p>